Free Online Character Counter
Count characters, words, sentences & check social media limits instantly
Platform Limits
Character Frequency Analysis
Enter text to see character frequency analysis
How to use this character counter
Our free character counter tool makes it easy to count characters, words, and check social media limits. Here's how:
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Enter your text
Type directly or paste your content into the text area. The counter updates instantly as you type.
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View real-time statistics
See instant counts for characters (with or without spaces), words, sentences, paragraphs, and estimated reading/speaking time.
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Check platform limits
Visual progress bars show exactly how your text fits within Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, and other platform limits.
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Transform your text
Use the text utilities to convert to UPPERCASE, lowercase, or Title Case. Remove extra spaces with one click.
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Copy or download
Click Copy to save to clipboard, or Download to save as a .txt file for later use.
100% Private: All counting happens in your browser. Your text is never sent to any server or stored anywhere.
Character limits for social media platforms (2026)
Different social media platforms have different character limits. Here's your complete guide to writing within limits:
Twitter/X character counter
Twitter (now X) remains one of the most character-conscious platforms. Understanding these limits helps you craft effective tweets:
| Content Type | Character Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Tweet | 280 | Standard limit for all users |
| X Premium Tweet | 25,000 | For verified/premium subscribers |
| Direct Message | 10,000 | Private messages between users |
| Profile Name | 50 | Display name shown on profile |
| Bio | 160 | Profile description |
| URL in Tweet | 23 | All URLs count as 23 characters |
Pro tip: Emojis count as 2 characters on Twitter. URLs are always shortened to 23 characters regardless of actual length.
Instagram character counter
Instagram has different limits for different content types. Optimizing for these limits improves engagement:
| Content Type | Character Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bio | 150 | Profile description |
| Caption | 2,200 | Only first 125 chars show before "more" |
| Comment | 2,200 | Same as caption limit |
| Username | 30 | Letters, numbers, periods, underscores only |
| Hashtags | 30 max | Per post (optimal: 3-5) |
| Story Text | 2,200 | Text overlay on stories |
Pro tip: Keep captions under 125 characters for full visibility in feed, or use a hook in the first line for longer posts.
LinkedIn character counter
LinkedIn's professional audience expects quality content. Here are the limits to work within:
| Content Type | Character Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Post | 3,000 | First 140 chars show before "see more" |
| Article | 125,000 | Long-form content |
| Headline | 220 | Professional tagline |
| About/Summary | 2,600 | Profile summary section |
| Connection Note | 300 | Personalized connection request |
| Comment | 1,250 | On posts and articles |
TikTok character counter
TikTok has expanded its caption limits significantly. Here's what you need to know:
| Content Type | Character Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Caption | 2,200 | Increased from 300 in 2022 |
| Bio | 80 | Profile description |
| Username | 24 | Unique identifier |
| Comment | 150 | On videos |
Pro tip: While you can use 2,200 characters, TikTok's algorithm favors engagement. Keep captions under 150 characters for full visibility.
YouTube character counter
YouTube titles and descriptions significantly impact discoverability:
| Content Type | Character Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Video Title | 100 | ~70 chars visible in search |
| Description | 5,000 | First 100-150 chars most important |
| Channel Name | 100 | Your channel's display name |
| Comment | 10,000 | On videos |
| Playlist Title | 100 | Playlist name |
Platform character limits comparison table
Quick reference comparing character limits across all major social media platforms:
| Platform | Post/Tweet | Bio | Comment | Username |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twitter/X | 280 | 160 | 280 | 15 |
| 2,200 | 150 | 2,200 | 30 | |
| 3,000 | 2,600 | 1,250 | 100 | |
| TikTok | 2,200 | 80 | 150 | 24 |
| YouTube | 5,000 (desc) | 1,000 | 10,000 | 100 |
| 63,206 | 101 | 8,000 | 50 | |
| 500 | 160 | 500 | 30 |
Who uses character counters?
Character counters are essential tools for various professionals and use cases:
Social media managers
Craft perfect posts that fit within platform limits. Ensure tweets, captions, and bios are optimized for engagement without getting cut off.
Content writers & bloggers
Write meta descriptions that display fully in search results. Create headlines that capture attention within character limits.
Students & academics
Meet essay word count requirements. Stay within abstract character limits for research papers and applications.
SEO professionals
Optimize title tags (60 chars) and meta descriptions (155-160 chars) for maximum visibility in search engine results pages.
Developers
Test form field validation, database column limits, and API constraints. Ensure user inputs fit within system requirements.
SMS marketers
Craft text messages that fit within the 160-character SMS limit to avoid message splitting and additional costs.
Character counter vs word counter: what's the difference?
While both tools analyze text, they measure different things:
Character counter
- Counts every individual symbol
- Includes letters, numbers, spaces, punctuation
- Best for: Social media limits, SMS, meta descriptions
- Example: "Hello!" = 6 characters
Word counter
- Counts groups of characters separated by spaces
- Ignores punctuation in word count
- Best for: Essays, articles, content length requirements
- Example: "Hello world!" = 2 words
Our tool provides both! You get comprehensive text analysis with characters, words, sentences, paragraphs, and more in one place.
Frequently asked questions
What is a character counter?
A character counter is a free online tool that counts the number of characters, letters, words, sentences, and paragraphs in any text. It's essential for ensuring your content fits within platform character limits like Twitter's 280 characters or Instagram's 150-character bio limit.
What is the Twitter/X character limit in 2026?
Twitter/X has a 280 character limit for regular tweets. X Premium (formerly Twitter Blue) subscribers can post up to 25,000 characters. URLs count as 23 characters regardless of length, and emojis count as 2 characters each.
What is the Instagram character limit?
Instagram has different limits: Bio is 150 characters, Captions are 2,200 characters (only first 125 show before 'more'), Comments are 2,200 characters, and you can use up to 30 hashtags per post.
What is the LinkedIn character limit?
LinkedIn posts allow 3,000 characters, articles up to 125,000 characters, headlines 220 characters, and the About/Summary section 2,600 characters. Connection request notes are limited to 300 characters.
Does the character counter include spaces?
Yes, our character counter shows both options: characters with spaces and characters without spaces. You can toggle between them using the checkbox. Most social media platforms count spaces as characters.
How many characters are in an SMS?
A standard SMS message allows 160 characters using GSM-7 encoding. Messages with emojis or special Unicode characters are limited to 70 characters per segment. Longer messages are split into segments.
What's the difference between characters and words?
Characters include every individual symbol: letters, numbers, spaces, punctuation, and emojis. Words are groups of characters separated by spaces. "Hello World!" has 12 characters but only 2 words.
How is reading time calculated?
Reading time is calculated at 200 words per minute (WPM), the average adult reading speed. Speaking time uses 150 WPM, typical for presentations. These are averages; actual times vary by content complexity.
Is my text private when using this tool?
Yes, 100% private. All character counting happens directly in your browser using JavaScript. Your text is never sent to any server, never stored, and never shared. You can even use this tool offline.
What is the TikTok caption limit?
TikTok captions allow up to 2,200 characters, increased from the previous 300-character limit. For optimal engagement, keep captions under 150 characters so they're fully visible without expanding.
What is the YouTube title limit?
YouTube titles can be up to 100 characters, but only about 70 characters display in search results. For SEO, keep important keywords within the first 60 characters of your title.
How do I count characters in Word?
In Microsoft Word, go to Review > Word Count, or click the word count in the status bar. For quicker results with more metrics, paste your text into our free online character counter.