This free readability checker shows how easy your writing is to read and exactly where to improve it. Paste an article, a service page or an email to get a Flesch reading ease score, a grade level and checks for long sentences, passive voice, adverbs, long paragraphs and complicated words. Problem sentences are highlighted in your text, so you can fix them in minutes. Everything runs in your browser and nothing is uploaded.
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Why readability matters
Most people skim web pages, many read on a phone, and a large share of adults read more comfortably at a lower level than the one they were taught to write at. Clear writing keeps them reading. On a business website, that means more people understand your offer, trust it and get in touch.
Readability is not a direct Google ranking factor. But pages that answer questions clearly tend to keep visitors longer and earn more links and shares, and AI answer engines quote clear, direct sentences more easily.
What the scores mean
- Flesch reading ease (0–100): higher is easier. It is based on average sentence length and average syllables per word. 60–70 is plain English, suitable for most web pages; above 80 is very easy; below 50 is hard.
- Flesch-Kincaid grade level: the US school grade a reader needs to understand the text. Grade 7–9 suits most audiences.
- Long sentences: sentences over 20 words are harder to follow; over 30 words should usually be split.
- Passive voice: sentences such as “the form was sent by the customer” hide who does what. Active voice is clearer.
- Hard words: words of three or more syllables, a rough sign of complex vocabulary.
How to use the readability checker
- Paste your text into the box. Headings and paragraphs can stay as they are.
- Read the scores: reading ease, grade level, words and sentences.
- Work through the checks, starting with any red items.
- Look at the highlighted text: yellow for sentences over 20 words, red for over 30, and an underline for possible passive voice.
- Edit your text in your editor, paste it again and watch the scores improve.
Worked example
A financial adviser’s “Retirement Planning” page scores 38, which is hard to read. The tool highlights an opening sentence of 46 words, finds that 30% of sentences may be passive and suggests “use” instead of “utilize” and “to” instead of “in order to”.
The adviser splits the opening into three sentences, starts with the reader’s question (“How much do you need to retire?”), changes “your goals will be reviewed annually” to “we review your goals every year”, and replaces jargon with plain words. The new version scores 63, and the average sentence drops from 24 to 15 words.
Best practices
- Aim for an average of 15–20 words per sentence, with a mix of short and longer ones.
- Put one idea in each sentence and one topic in each paragraph.
- Use the words your customers use, not industry jargon. If you need a technical term, explain it once.
- Write in active voice and speak to the reader as “you”.
- Break long paragraphs into two or three, especially on mobile.
- Use headings, lists and bold text so people can scan.
Common mistakes
- Chasing a perfect score by cutting every long word. Accurate terms such as “mortgage” or “physiotherapy” are fine when they are the right word.
- Writing in fragments to raise the score. Short is good; choppy is not.
- Ignoring the audience. Specialist readers may expect technical language; a general audience does not.
- Checking only the score and not the highlighted sentences, which show where readers will struggle.
Tips for local businesses
Customers looking for a local service usually want three things fast: what you do, where, and how to get in touch. Lead with those in short sentences, keep prices and opening hours easy to find, and avoid long introductions about your history. A reading ease of 60 or higher is a good target for service pages.
The US government’s plain language guidelines give practical rules for clear writing that work for any business.
Readability checker: frequently asked questions
What is a good Flesch reading ease score?
For most web pages, 60 or higher. Technical or legal content may score lower and still be fine for its readers.
Does readability affect SEO?
Not as a direct ranking factor. Clear writing helps people understand and act on your page, which supports the signals that do matter, such as engagement and links.
Does the checker work for other languages?
The formulas were designed for English. Scores for other languages are not reliable, although the sentence-length checks still help.
Why is a sentence marked as passive when it is not?
The check looks for patterns such as “was written” or “is made”. It can flag a few sentences that are not truly passive, so treat it as a hint.
Is my text stored anywhere?
No. The text stays in your browser. Your last text is kept on your device so you can continue later, and nothing is sent to a server.
Related free tools
- Word Counter: count words, reading time and keyword density.
- On-Page SEO Checker: check the page’s title, headings and other on-page signals.
- SERP Snippet Preview: write a clear title and description for search results.
Want clear, persuasive pages written for your customers? See SEMRS SEO Content Writing →