WordCounter.net is a popular, reliable free word counter, and if simple word and character counting is all you need, it does the job well. UltraWordCounter covers that same core for free, then adds a set of Pro tools for people who write for Amazon, search, and social media, plus dozens of free writing guides. Here is the honest side-by-side.
| Feature | WordCounter.net | UltraWordCounter |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Core tools free forever; the three Pro tools are free up to 800 words, then $12 a month for unlimited use |
| Account required | No | No |
| Word, character, and sentence count | Yes | Yes |
| Reading time and reading level | Yes | Yes |
| Keyword density | Basic | Single and multi-word, with over-optimization alerts |
| Amazon FBA listing optimizer | No | Yes |
| Social media character tracker | No | Yes, all 10 platforms |
| Passive voice and readability grade | Reading level only | Readability grade plus passive voice |
| Free writing guides | Limited | Dozens |
| Text stays in your browser | Web app | Yes, processed client-side |
| Characters with and without spaces | Yes | Yes |
| Paragraph count | Yes | Yes |
| Speaking time estimate | Yes | Yes |
| Set a word, character, or page goal with progress | - | Yes |
| Distraction-free focus mode | - | Yes |
| Amazon banned-word and compliance check | No | Yes |
| Repurpose one post into a thread, carousel, and quote graphic | No | Yes |
| Multiple client workspaces for agencies | No | Yes |
| See where your post gets cut off before publishing | No | Yes |
| Copy a share link, or export a PDF or Markdown report | - | Yes |
| Word counter bookmarklet for any web page | - | Yes |
| Embeddable widget for your own website | - | Yes |
A dash means the feature is not a focus of that tool. Comparison based on each tool's standard free offering.
What WordCounter.net does well
WordCounter.net earned its popularity for good reason. It loads fast, needs no setup, and shows an instant word and character count the moment you paste your text. Its details panel adds reading time, reading level, and keyword density, which covers what most writers need for a quick check. If your job is simply to confirm a total or trim a draft to a limit, it is a dependable, no-friction choice, and it is free.
Where UltraWordCounter goes further
UltraWordCounter starts from that same free, no-login core and builds on it in three directions.
First, more depth on analysis: single and multi-word keyword density with over-optimization alerts, a readability grade, and passive-voice flagging, rather than a reading level alone.
Second, specialized tools most word counters do not attempt: an Amazon FBA listing checker that catches banned words and mobile title cutoffs, a ten-platform social media character tracker with repurposing and client workspaces, and an SEO keyword density analyzer, all in one place.
Third, the extras that make your work portable: a share link that reloads your text, PDF and Markdown export of your report, a browser bookmarklet that counts highlighted text on any page, and an embeddable widget you can drop onto your own site.
How each handles your text
Both are web-based, so you can use either from any browser with nothing to install. UltraWordCounter's tools run client-side, which means your text is processed in your own browser rather than sent off and stored on a server. If you regularly paste sensitive or unpublished writing, that local processing is worth knowing about.
The bottom line
Neither tool is wrong. WordCounter.net is a clean, reliable counter for quick checks. UltraWordCounter is the better fit if you want that same free counting plus deeper analysis, specialized Amazon, SEO, and social tools, and export options, without creating an account. The easiest way to decide is to try both on the same piece of writing and see which one saves you more steps.
Which should you use?
If you just need a quick, dependable word count, either tool works and both are free. If you also write product listings, optimize for search, or manage social posts, and you want your drafts processed in your own browser rather than a login-gated account, UltraWordCounter gives you the counting plus the extra tools in one place.
Try the free word counter and see for yourself.
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