How is this different from other online PDF tools?

Most online PDF tools send your files to a remote server for processing. This tool processes everything locally in your browser using client-side JavaScript. Your files are never transmitted to any server, which means your document content stays entirely under your control.

Are my PDF files uploaded?

No. Your files are read directly by your browser. Your files are never transmitted over the network. The tool works entirely within the browser tab you have open.

Can I verify that files are not uploaded?

Yes. Open your browser's developer tools (F12), go to the Network tab, and watch for any outgoing requests while using the tool. You will see no file data leave your browser. The site may record an anonymous page-view count, which never includes your files and can be disabled.

Does this tool work offline?

Yes, once the page has loaded the tool processes your files entirely in your browser; tool functionality needs no network connection. You can disconnect from the internet and continue using it.

What happens when I refresh the page?

Because nothing is stored on a server, refreshing the page clears your current session. Any files you had selected will need to be selected again.

Does this tool store my files?

No. Files are held in browser memory only for as long as the page is open. Closing or refreshing the page discards them. Nothing is written to disk by the tool, and nothing is sent to a server.

Can this tool unlock password-protected PDFs?

No. This tool does not attempt to remove or bypass PDF password protection. If you know the password, the Unlock PDF tool on this site can remove it locally; then this tool can process the file.

What technologies does this tool use?

This tool uses pdf.js (Mozilla's client-side PDF engine) to extract the text layer in a Web Worker and plain JavaScript to count it — all within your browser.

Does this tool use WebAssembly?

No. pdf.js is a plain JavaScript library — it does not use WebAssembly. All extraction and counting happens in client-side JavaScript within your browser.

How do I count the words in my PDF?

Pick a PDF with the file picker, then choose Count. The tool reads the document's text layer locally, page by page, and shows the word count, character count (with and without spaces), line count, page count, and an estimated reading time.

Why does my scanned PDF report zero words?

Scanned or photographed PDFs are images with no underlying text layer, so there is nothing for the counter to read and the totals come back as zero. Run the pages through an OCR step first to add a text layer, then count them.

How are Chinese, Japanese, and Korean characters counted?

Each CJK ideograph or kana character is counted as one word, since those scripts do not separate words with spaces, while Latin-script text is counted by whitespace-separated runs. In a mixed document the two methods are combined, so a phrase like Chinese text with English words is tallied sensibly rather than under- or over-counted.

Does the PDF Word Count tool cost anything to use?

PDF Word Count is completely free — no account, no sign-up, and no cap on how many PDFs you run through it, and it always will be. Your PDF stays entirely within your browser: pdf.js reads the text layer and tallies words, characters, lines, and estimated reading time locally, so the file is never sent to a server or any external service.

Count the Words in a PDF Privately — In Your Browser

Select a PDF and its text layer is read locally; you get the word count, character count (with and without spaces), line count, and an estimated reading time.

Quick answer

What it does: Select a PDF and its text layer is read locally; you get the word count, character count (with and without spaces), line count, and an estimated reading time.
Free?: Yes — 100% free, no account or sign-up.
Files uploaded?: No — everything is processed in your browser.
Works offline?: Yes — once the page has loaded.
Best for: A student checks a PDF essay's word count before submitting to confirm it meets the assignment's minimum word requirement.
Good to know: Scanned (image-only) PDFs have no text layer and report zero words — run OCR first.

How it works

Select a PDF file from your device using the file picker.
The file is read into browser memory — no data leaves your browser.
pdf.js extracts the text layer of every page in a Web Worker.
Words (including CJK characters), characters, and lines are counted locally.
The totals and an estimated reading time are displayed — nothing is stored or sent anywhere.

When to use this tool

A student checks a PDF essay's word count before submitting to confirm it meets the assignment's minimum word requirement.
A copy editor verifies a PDF article's character count matches the editorial brief before sending it to the printer.
A researcher quickly estimates the reading time of a long PDF paper to decide whether to read it now or save it for later.
Scanned (image-only) PDFs have no text layer and report zero words — run OCR on the file first to get an accurate count.

Frequently asked questions

How is this different from other online PDF tools?: Most online PDF tools send your files to a remote server for processing. This tool processes everything locally in your browser using client-side JavaScript. Your files are never transmitted to any server, which means your document content stays entirely under your control.
Are my PDF files uploaded?: No. Your files are read directly by your browser. Your files are never transmitted over the network. The tool works entirely within the browser tab you have open.
Can I verify that files are not uploaded?: Yes. Open your browser's developer tools (F12), go to the Network tab, and watch for any outgoing requests while using the tool. You will see no file data leave your browser. The site may record an anonymous page-view count, which never includes your files and can be disabled.
Does this tool work offline?: Yes, once the page has loaded the tool processes your files entirely in your browser; tool functionality needs no network connection. You can disconnect from the internet and continue using it.
What happens when I refresh the page?: Because nothing is stored on a server, refreshing the page clears your current session. Any files you had selected will need to be selected again.
Does this tool store my files?: No. Files are held in browser memory only for as long as the page is open. Closing or refreshing the page discards them. Nothing is written to disk by the tool, and nothing is sent to a server.
Can this tool unlock password-protected PDFs?: No. This tool does not attempt to remove or bypass PDF password protection. If you know the password, the Unlock PDF tool on this site can remove it locally; then this tool can process the file.
What technologies does this tool use?: This tool uses pdf.js (Mozilla's client-side PDF engine) to extract the text layer in a Web Worker and plain JavaScript to count it — all within your browser.
Does this tool use WebAssembly?: No. pdf.js is a plain JavaScript library — it does not use WebAssembly. All extraction and counting happens in client-side JavaScript within your browser.
How do I count the words in my PDF?: Pick a PDF with the file picker, then choose Count. The tool reads the document's text layer locally, page by page, and shows the word count, character count (with and without spaces), line count, page count, and an estimated reading time.
Why does my scanned PDF report zero words?: Scanned or photographed PDFs are images with no underlying text layer, so there is nothing for the counter to read and the totals come back as zero. Run the pages through an OCR step first to add a text layer, then count them.
How are Chinese, Japanese, and Korean characters counted?: Each CJK ideograph or kana character is counted as one word, since those scripts do not separate words with spaces, while Latin-script text is counted by whitespace-separated runs. In a mixed document the two methods are combined, so a phrase like Chinese text with English words is tallied sensibly rather than under- or over-counted.
Does the PDF Word Count tool cost anything to use?: PDF Word Count is completely free — no account, no sign-up, and no cap on how many PDFs you run through it, and it always will be. Your PDF stays entirely within your browser: pdf.js reads the text layer and tallies words, characters, lines, and estimated reading time locally, so the file is never sent to a server or any external service.