A useful guide
A word count that stays on your device.
Text is extracted locally in your browser. Files are not sent to Essayfi. Scanned PDFs and image-only documents need OCR before their words can be counted.
Supported file types and limitations
The counter reads selectable text from PDF files and text stored in DOCX, PPTX, ODT and ODP documents, plus RTF, TXT, Markdown, HTML and CSV. Legacy DOC and PPT formats, password-protected files, and scanned/image-only PDFs are not supported. For scanned pages, use OCR first and paste the extracted text.
Word totals use language-aware word boundaries where your browser supports them. Tables, footnotes and slide text may be included when present in the document’s text layer. File processing stays in your browser.
Keep in mind: The assignment prompt and your instructor’s guidance always take priority over general estimates.
Frequently asked questions
Can I count words in a PDF or Word document?
Yes. Selectable-text PDF, DOCX, PPTX, ODT, ODP, RTF, TXT, Markdown, HTML, and CSV files are read in your browser. Legacy DOC and PPT files are not supported.
Are my document or pasted text uploaded?
No. The tool reads the selected file locally in your browser. It does not upload your document to Essayfi.
Why can’t the tool count my scanned PDF?
Scanned PDFs contain page images rather than selectable text. Run OCR on the document first, then paste its extracted text or count a searchable PDF.