Hashtag counter
Paste your caption and see exactly how many hashtags it has, plus whether that's within each platform's recommended range and hard limit — live, as you type. Free, no sign-up.
3 recommended · 5 max
TikTok
4 recommended · 20 max
X
2 recommended · 10 max
3 recommended · 10 max
2 recommended · 10 max
YouTube
5 recommended · 15 max
Threads
5 recommended · 30 max
How to use our free hashtag counter
Paste your caption into the box, hashtags and all. A hashtag counts when # starts a word and is followed by letters or numbers, so “#coffee” counts but a lone # doesn't.
Watch the hashtag total under the box update as you type or edit — no button needed.
Check the platform cards. Each shows a recommended number and a maximum — Instagram, for example, recommends 3 with a maximum of 5.
Read the badge: Good means you're in the recommended range, A bit high means you're above it but under the maximum, and “Over by” tells you exactly how many to remove.
Why hashtag count matters for social media growth
Hashtags help the right people find a post, but more isn't better. A caption crammed with tags looks desperate, buries your message and tempts you into tags that have nothing to do with the post. Some platforms also enforce hard rules: Instagram now allows up to 5 hashtags on a post, and YouTube ignores every hashtag on a video that has more than 15.
A few precise hashtags usually beat a long list of broad ones. #coffee is shared by millions of posts; #brightoncoffee reaches people who might actually walk in. Choose tags your ideal follower would search, mix one or two broad ones with a few niche ones, and keep a core set that describes your business. Then count before you post.
Frequently asked questions
How many hashtags should I use on Instagram?
Instagram's hashtag limit is now 5 per post (up to 5 hashtags on a post), and this tool recommends around 3. A small, relevant set keeps the caption readable and focused. Treat the maximum as a ceiling, not a target.
Is the hashtag counter free?
Yes — free, with no sign-up, and it works entirely in your browser, so your caption isn't sent to our servers.
Why isn't one of my hashtags counted?
A hashtag only counts when the # starts a word and is followed by letters, numbers or an underscore. “#coffee” and “#café” count, but a lone # or a # stuck to the end of another word doesn't. A space ends a tag, so “#coffee shop” is read as #coffee.
Never overthink hashtags again.
Postlefy picks the right mix of hashtags for every platform automatically — on autopilot.
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