Use this free online word counter for essays, assignments, blog posts, and content briefs. Count words, characters, sentences, and paragraphs instantly, then review reading time and keyword frequency without leaving the page.
Set a target and track progress while you write.
Set a realistic target to stay consistent while writing.
Word Count Guide
The Common App essay has a maximum of 650 words, and most applicants aim for 550 to 650 words. UC essays are 350 words each, while Coalition App essays usually sit between 500 and 650 words. This tool helps you stay inside those limits without switching to another app.
Other common limits also matter in practice: short scholarship responses often sit around 150 to 300 words, research abstracts often land between 150 and 300 words, and longer university essays can run from 1,000 to 5,000 words depending on the brief. Seeing the live count while you write is usually faster than checking inside a word processor after every paragraph.
Assignment briefs, blog outlines, and content drafts all depend on length. This free word count checker shows words, characters, paragraphs, and estimated reading time instantly, so you can draft faster and edit with more control.
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Your text never leaves your browser. All counting is done locally for 100% privacy.
FAQ
The Common App essay has a maximum of 650 words with no strict minimum. Most applicants aim for 550 to 650 words.
Yes. Reading time is estimated at 225 words per minute and updates instantly as you type or paste text.
Yes. It works well for essays, blog posts, assignments, briefs, and any draft where length matters.
No. All counting and analysis run locally in your browser. Your text is not uploaded or stored.