How to check keyword density
- Paste your text, or press Sample to see an example.
- Choose a phrase length: single words, 2-word phrases or 3-word phrases.
- Leave out stop words (the, is, and…) to focus on the words that carry meaning.
- Read the table. It shows each word or phrase with its count and its share of the text, and updates as you type.
- Copy the results or download them as CSV.
What is keyword density?
Keyword density is how often a word or phrase appears compared with the total number of words:
Keyword density = (times the keyword appears ÷ total words) × 100
The tool counts single words, 2-word phrases and 3-word phrases. Look at all three, because people search in phrases, and the best phrase to target is often 2 to 4 words long.
Using a word frequency counter
- SEO writing: check that your main topic is clear without repeating the same phrase too often.
- Editing: find words you lean on too much, such as “really”, “just” or a pet phrase, and vary them.
- Studying a text: see which themes and terms an author returns to most.
- Comparing pages: paste a competitor’s article to see which terms it covers that yours doesn’t.
Tips
- Write for readers first. A natural mix of related words beats repeating one phrase.
- Check headings and the first paragraph. That is where your main phrase matters most.
- Pair it with readability. Text stuffed with keywords is usually harder to read. Run it through the readability checker as well.
- Hunt for padding. Use the filler words and weasel words finders.