Free Character Counter Tool

100% Free Online Character Counter & Word Count Tool

The Viraly online character counter tool helps you track the length of your text in real-time. Whether you're crafting the perfect social media post, writing content with specific length requirements, working on essays and assignments, or optimizing your resume, our character count tool makes it simple and fast. Count characters, words, and lines instantly with our easy-to-use character calculator.

Why Use a Character Counter?

Character counters are essential tools for modern writers, marketers, students, and professionals. Whether you need to meet minimum word requirements for college applications, stay within Twitter's character limit, optimize meta descriptions for SEO, or ensure your SMS messages fit within standard limits, a reliable character count tool is invaluable.

Our tool goes beyond basic character counting by providing real-time feedback for all major social media platforms, helping you optimize your content before posting.

Features of Our Character Counter

• Real-time character counting: See your character, word, and line count update instantly as you type
• Social media character limits: Built-in limits for Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Threads, Bluesky, and Mastodon
• Word count calculator: Track both character count and word count simultaneously
• Visual feedback: Color-coded indicators show when you're close to or over platform limits
• Resizable text area: Adjust the text box size to fit your needs
• Multi-platform comparison: Check multiple social platforms at once
• 100% free: No registration, no login, no hidden fees
• Mobile-friendly: Works perfectly on all devices (desktop, tablet, and mobile)
• Privacy-focused: Your text is never stored or sent to any server

Character Counter for Social Media Platforms

Character Counter for Instagram

Instagram allows up to 2,200 characters for post captions. Our Instagram character counter helps you maximize engagement by crafting the perfect caption length while staying within limits. Use our tool to count characters for Instagram posts, bios, and stories.

Character Counter for X (formally Twitter)

X (formally Twitter) has a 280 character limit for tweets. Every character counts when you're trying to make an impact in a short space. Our Twitter character counter shows you exactly how much room you have left, helping you craft concise, powerful messages that fit perfectly.

Character Counter for Facebook

Facebook posts can be up to 63,206 characters long, but optimal engagement typically occurs with shorter posts. Our Facebook character counter helps you find the sweet spot between comprehensive content and reader engagement.

Character Counter for LinkedIn

LinkedIn posts have a 3,000 character limit. Professional content requires precision, and our LinkedIn character counter ensures your posts, articles, and summaries stay within platform limits while maintaining impact.

Character Counter for TikTok

TikTok captions are limited to 2,200 characters. Make every character count with our TikTok character counter, helping you create engaging captions that complement your videos perfectly.

Character Counter for YouTube

YouTube video descriptions can be up to 5,000 characters. Our YouTube character counter helps you write comprehensive, SEO-friendly descriptions that provide value to viewers while maximizing discoverability.

Character Counter for Pinterest

Pinterest pin descriptions are limited to 500 characters. Use our Pinterest character counter to craft compelling descriptions that drive clicks and engagement.

Character Counter for Threads

Threads allows 500 characters per post. Our Threads character counter ensures your posts fit perfectly within the limit.

Character Counter for Bluesky

Bluesky posts are limited to 300 characters. Our Bluesky character counter helps you stay within the limit while expressing your thoughts clearly.

Character Counter for Mastodon

Mastodon's default character limit is 500 characters, though this can vary by instance. Our Mastodon character counter uses the standard limit to help you craft engaging posts.

How to Use the Character Counter

1. Type or paste your text: Enter your content into the text area above
2. Watch counts update: Character, word, and line counts update automatically in real-time
3. Select platforms: Click on social media icons to see how your text fits within each platform's character limit
4. Monitor color indicators: Green means you're good, orange means you're close to the limit, red means you're over
5. Edit as needed: Adjust your text to stay within limits while maintaining your message
6. Copy and post: Once satisfied, copy your optimized text and post it to your chosen platform

Common Use Cases for Character Counters

• Social Media Marketing: Optimize posts for maximum engagement across all platforms
• Academic Writing: Meet minimum and maximum word requirements for essays, assignments, and college applications
• Resume Optimization: Keep resume sections concise and impactful
• SEO Content: Optimize meta descriptions (typically 150-160 characters) and title tags
• SMS Marketing: Stay within the 160-character SMS limit
• Email Subject Lines: Keep subject lines under 50-60 characters for mobile optimization
• Product Descriptions: Meet e-commerce platform requirements for platforms like eBay, Amazon, and Etsy
• Blog Writing: Track article length and ensure consistency
• Professional Writing: Meet publication guidelines for magazines, newspapers, and journals

Character Counter vs Word Counter: What's the Difference?

While a character counter counts every individual letter, number, symbol, and space in your text, a word counter counts the number of words. Both are important for different purposes. Social media platforms typically use character limits, while academic assignments use word counts. Our tool provides both metrics simultaneously, giving you complete visibility into your text length.

Tips for Writing Within Character Limits

• Use concise language and eliminate unnecessary words
• Replace long phrases with shorter alternatives
• Use abbreviations when appropriate, but maintain clarity
• Break long content into multiple posts or threads
• Use line breaks strategically to improve readability
• Front-load important information (put the key message first)
• Use emojis to replace words and add visual interest, but use sparingly
• Edit ruthlessly. Every character should serve a purpose

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the character counter include spaces?

Yes, our character counter includes spaces in the total count, as this is how most platforms calculate character limits.

Is my text saved or stored anywhere?

No, your text is processed entirely in your browser and is never sent to our servers or stored anywhere. Your privacy is completely protected.

Can I use this tool on my mobile phone?

Absolutely! Our character counter is fully responsive and works perfectly on all devices including smartphones and tablets.

What's the difference between characters and words?

Characters include every letter, number, punctuation mark, and space. Words are groups of characters separated by spaces. For example, "Hello world!" is 2 words but 12 characters when you include spaces.

Why do different platforms have different character limits?

Each platform has different design philosophies and user experiences. Twitter/X emphasizes brevity, while platforms like Facebook allow longer-form content. Understanding these limits helps you optimize content for each platform.