Character Counter Pro is now a privacy-first text tools hub. The character counter remains the homepage tool because most publishing checks start with one question: will this text fit?

Character counts update in real time as you type.

Live statistics

0
Characters
with spaces
0
Characters
without spaces
0
Words
0
Sentences
0
Paragraphs
0 min
Reading time

Platform limit presets

The bars show remaining space and turn red when the text is over the planning limit.

X / Twitter
280 characters, or 25,000 for Premium long posts
280 remaining
Instagram caption
2,200 characters, up to 30 hashtags
2,200 remaining
LinkedIn post
3,000 characters
3,000 remaining
Meta description
155 to 160 character display target
160 remaining
SEO title
roughly 60 character display target
60 remaining
SMS
160 GSM characters per single segment
160 remaining
Facebook post
63,206 character hard limit, preview matters first
63,206 remaining
YouTube title
100 characters
100 remaining

What this tool does

The counter reads text inside your browser and updates six everyday editorial numbers: characters with spaces, characters without spaces, words, sentences, paragraphs and reading time. It also checks the same draft against platform presets for social posts, search snippets, SMS, titles and captions.

Use it when a draft has to fit before it reaches a CMS, scheduler, app store, inbox or product interface. Paste the rough version first, review the count, then trim against the channel. The text is not uploaded to a Character Counter Pro server, which matters for unreleased campaigns, support examples, customer copy and internal launch notes.

Why character limits matter

Limits change the job of a sentence. An X post at 280 characters can carry a claim and a link, but not a whole argument. An Instagram caption can reach 2,200 characters, yet the useful hook still needs to appear before the reader scrolls. A LinkedIn post can run to 3,000 characters, but the first two visible lines decide whether anyone opens it.

Search copy is even less forgiving. A title around 60 characters and a meta description around 155 to 160 characters are practical display targets, not ranking magic. SMS has a cost boundary: 160 GSM characters fit one segment, while a small overrun can create a second billable segment. Counting early keeps the conversation factual: this version is 171 characters, this shorter version is 148, and the shorter version still keeps the offer.

How to use it

  1. Paste the full draft, even if it is too long. Preserve the idea before editing.
  2. Check the headline numbers, then choose the relevant platform preset.
  3. Rewrite the opening line first. Most truncation problems are preview problems.
  4. Copy the statistics into tickets, approval notes or briefs when a reviewer needs context.
  5. Test the final copy in the destination platform, especially for emoji, links and mentions.

Take the counter with you in Chrome

The same counter is available as a free Chrome extension, which suits the moment you are drafting rather than the moment you are analysing. It opens with the cursor already in the text box, keeps your draft when you close the popup, and adds a page checker that reads the title and meta description of the page you are on so you can see whether they will fit a live search result.

The extension runs entirely in your browser, makes no network requests, collects nothing, and asks only for the permissions its features need. You can read exactly what it does before installing.

See the Chrome extension Add to Chrome

Limits reference table

SurfaceLimit or targetEditing note
X / Twitter280 standard, 25,000 PremiumPut the point in the first 100 characters.
Instagram caption2,200 characters and 30 hashtagsCount hashtags as visible copy.
LinkedIn post3,000 charactersWrite the preview as a standalone opener.
Meta descriptionAbout 155 to 160 charactersLead with the page promise.
SEO titleAbout 60 charactersReserve room for brand suffixes.
SMS160 GSM charactersEmoji or special characters can change segmentation.

Text tools

Frequently asked questions

Does Character Counter Pro save my text?

No. Counting runs in your browser for the current page session. The site does not need to upload your draft to calculate characters, words, paragraphs or reading time.

Why can counts differ between tools?

Tools make different choices about emoji, punctuation, URLs, contractions and non-Latin scripts. Use this counter for editorial planning, then test the final copy in the destination platform when a hard limit matters.

What reading speed is used?

The homepage uses 225 words per minute as a practical web reading estimate. For dense policy or technical copy, use the dedicated reading time calculator and lower the speed to 180 or 200 words per minute.