Word counter.
Count words, characters, sentences, and paragraphs, plus reading, speaking, and typing time. Paste your text — nothing leaves your device.
What the counts mean.
Common platform character limits.
Writing for a specific channel? Check your total against these limits. For an interactive checker that highlights when you go over, use the character counter.
| Platform | Limit |
|---|---|
| X / Twitter post | 280 characters |
| SMS (one message) | 160 characters |
| SEO title tag | ~60 characters |
| SEO meta description | ~160 characters |
| Instagram caption | 2,200 characters |
| LinkedIn post | 3,000 characters |
Common questions.
What counts as a word?
A word is any run of characters separated by spaces or line breaks — the same way word processors and most platforms count.
How is reading time calculated?
Reading time uses an average adult pace of about 238 words a minute. Speaking time uses about 150 words a minute, and typing time about 40.
What's the difference between characters with and without spaces?
Characters with spaces include every space, tab, and line break. Characters without spaces count only the visible characters, which helps when you need to hit an exact limit.
Is my text private?
Yes. The counter runs entirely in your browser — your text is never sent anywhere, stored, or tracked.
A long email takes minutes by voice.
A 500-word email is about twelve minutes of typing, or roughly three by voice. Spiel turns that difference into time back in your day, transcribing on your Mac and dropping the words where you're already writing.