Word Counter vs Markdown Editor
Both tools are 100% free, browser-based, and require no signup. Here is how they differ so you can pick the right one for your task.
Word Counter
Free word counter and character counter. Paste or type any text to instantly see word count, character count, sentence count, paragraph count, and estimated reading time. Free to embed on your website. No signup required.
Use Word Counter →Markdown Editor
Free online Markdown editor with live split-pane preview. Write Markdown on the left, see the rendered HTML on the right. Download your .md file or copy the rendered HTML. No signup.
Use Markdown Editor →Feature Comparison
| Feature | Word Counter | Markdown Editor |
|---|---|---|
| Live word, character, sentence, and paragraph counts | ✓ | — |
| Characters with and without spaces | ✓ | — |
| Estimated reading time (200 wpm) and speaking time (130 wpm) | ✓ | — |
| Word frequency analysis — see your most-used words | ✓ | — |
| Works with any language | ✓ | — |
| 100% browser-based — text never leaves your device | ✓ | — |
| Live split-pane editor with instant preview | — | ✓ |
| Full CommonMark Markdown: headings, lists, code, tables, links | — | ✓ |
| Toolbar shortcuts for bold, italic, headings, lists, code | — | ✓ |
| Word count and character count in footer | — | ✓ |
| Download as .md file | — | ✓ |
| Copy rendered HTML to clipboard | — | ✓ |
| 100% free — no signup, no watermarks | ✓ | ✓ |
| Browser-based — files never uploaded | ✓ | ✓ |
When to Use Each Tool
- →Type directly in the text area or paste any text from your clipboard.
- →Word count, character count, sentence count, and reading time update instantly as you type.
- →Scroll down to see which words appear most often in your text.
- →Type your Markdown in the left pane. The preview on the right updates instantly.
- →Click the toolbar buttons (Bold, Italic, H1–H3, Code, List) to insert formatting at the cursor.
- →The right pane shows the rendered HTML. Scroll both panes independently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Words are counted by splitting on whitespace and punctuation. Hyphenated words like "well-known" count as one word. Numbers count as words.
Reading time uses the average adult silent reading speed of 200 words per minute. Speaking time uses 130 words per minute, the average conversational speaking pace.
Standard CommonMark: headings (#, ##, ###), bold (**text**), italic (*text*), inline code (`code`), fenced code blocks (```), unordered lists (- or *), ordered lists (1. 2. 3.), blockquotes (>), horizontal rules (---), links ([text](url)), images (), and tables (| col | syntax).
Use pipe | characters to separate columns and a row of dashes for the header separator. Example: | Name | Age | on line 1, then | --- | --- | on line 2, then data rows.
Related comparisons: