Is your writing easy to read — or does it make readers work too hard? Paste your text above and get an instant readability score: the Flesch Reading Ease score, the US school grade level it matches, and the Gunning Fog index. Bloggers use it to keep readers hooked, students use it to polish essays, and SEO writers use it because Google rewards content people actually finish. Free, private, no sign-up.
📖 Read the full Readability Checker guide — score meanings, formulas, improvement tips, and FAQs.
Scores are estimates based on the standard Flesch-Kincaid formulas. Aim for Reading Ease 60–70 for a general audience.
How to use it
1. Paste your text into the box above — an article, essay, email, anything. 2. Read your scores instantly — Reading Ease, Grade Level, and Fog Index update live as you type. 3. Edit and re-check — shorten sentences, swap hard words, and watch your score climb. That’s it. Everything happens right here in your browser.
What the scores mean
Flesch Reading Ease (0–100) — higher is easier. 60–70 is the sweet spot for a general audience. 90+ reads like a children’s book; under 30 reads like an academic paper.
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level — the US school grade needed to understand your text. Grade 8 means an eighth-grader can follow it. Most popular web content sits between grades 6 and 9.
Gunning Fog Index — roughly the years of schooling needed. Under 12 is ideal for the web.
What is the Flesch-Kincaid test?
It was developed in the 1970s for the US Navy to make training manuals easier to understand. The formulas look at two things: sentence length and word length (measured in syllables). Short sentences + short words = easy. Long sentences + long words = hard. It’s not about dumbing down — it’s about respecting your reader’s time.
Tips for a better score
- Cut sentence length — if a sentence runs past 20 words, split it. This alone moves the needle most.
- Swap heavy words — “utilize” → “use”, “commence” → “start”, “facilitate” → “help”.
- One idea per sentence — packing three thoughts into one sentence tanks readability.
- Read it out loud — if you stumble reading it, your readers will too.
- Don’t chase 100 — a score of 60–70 beats a score of 95 for most adult content. Too simple can feel patronizing.
Who uses readability scores?
- Bloggers and content writers — keep bounce rates down by keeping text skimmable.
- Students — match the expected level for essays and reports.
- SEO professionals — readable content keeps visitors on the page longer.
- Email marketers — simple emails get more clicks.
FAQs
Is this readability checker free?
Yes, completely free with no limits. Check as much text as you like.
What is a good Flesch Reading Ease score?
60–70 for a general audience. 70–80 for casual content, 50–60 for more serious topics.
How is the grade level calculated?
With the standard Flesch-Kincaid formula, using your average sentence length and average syllables per word. It’s an estimate, not an exact science.
Does my text stay private?
Yes. The analysis runs entirely in your browser — your text is never sent to our servers or stored anywhere.
Can I use this on my phone?
Absolutely. The checker works smoothly on phones, tablets, and computers.