Embed the counter on your site
Pick what it shows, copy one line of HTML, paste it in. It works anywhere you can add an iframe — WordPress, Ghost, Webflow, Squarespace, plain HTML.
What you are embedding
A self-contained counter that loads in about 4 KB and uses your visitors' system fonts, so it downloads no webfonts and adds no measurable weight to your page. It sets no cookies, runs no analytics, and sends nothing anywhere: the text your visitors type is counted in their own browser, exactly as it is on this site.
The only thing it asks for is a small attribution link back to counter-word.com beneath the counter. That link is how the widget stays free.
The attribution line
The snippet includes one line of text under the counter crediting counter-word, with a link. Please keep it: it sits in your own page rather than inside the frame, which is the only reason it means anything, and it is the whole price of the widget.
The anchor text is deliberately plain. Keyword-stuffed widget links are treated as a link scheme by search engines and can hurt the site carrying them, so a simple branded credit is safer for you as well as more honest.
Making it fit your page
The iframe is fluid: it fills whatever container you put it in. The snippet includes a short listener that resizes the frame to match its content, so you never get an inner scrollbar.
If your CMS strips inline scripts, drop the listener and set a fixed height instead — min-height:300px suits four metrics, and around 340 px suits eight.
URL parameters
The builder writes these for you, but you can edit them directly.
| Parameter | Values | Default |
|---|---|---|
| show | words, chars, charsNoSpace, sentences, paragraphs, lines, readSec, speakSec, pages | words,chars,sentences,readSec |
| theme | light, dark | light |
| label | any text up to 40 characters | Word counter |
Who this is for
- Writing and blogging sites — give readers a counter without sending them away to get one.
- Course and university pages: a counter beside the assignment brief that states the word limit.
- Agencies and freelancers: a brief-submission page where clients can see their own copy length.
- Documentation and style guides — anywhere you specify a length and readers need to check it.
Common questions
Is it really free?
Yes, for any site including commercial ones. There is no account, no key, no request limit and no charge. The attribution link is the only condition.
Will it slow my page down?
Almost immeasurably. The widget is about 4 KB, loads lazily by default, and pulls no fonts or third-party scripts. It loads after your own content because the iframe carries loading="lazy".
Does it track my visitors?
No. No cookies, no analytics, no fingerprinting, and no text ever leaves the visitor's browser. Embedding it does not create a disclosure obligation under GDPR or similar rules.
Can I remove the attribution link?
Not on the hosted widget. It is what pays for the tool being free. If you need an unbranded version for an internal product, write to contact@counter-word.com.
Will the embed code keep working?
The URL and parameters are treated as a stable interface. New parameters may be added; existing ones will keep behaving as documented.