Free tool · Updated May 2026

Free Readability Checker

Get your Flesch Reading Ease score and grade level instantly. Free and private — write so more people actually understand you.

Type or paste your text — everything updates live, nothing is sent anywhere.
0 Flesch Reading Ease
Reads at: · Grade 0
0Words
0Characters
0Characters (no spaces)
0Sentences
0Paragraphs
0 secReading time

A readability checker scores how easy your text is to read. Humanit’s free tool calculates the Flesch Reading Ease score (0–100, higher is easier) and the Flesch–Kincaid grade level from your sentence length and syllables per word, then tells you the reading age your writing targets — all live in your browser.

How it works

  1. 1
    Paste your text. Type or paste your text into the readability checker above.
  2. 2
    See results instantly. The numbers update live as you type — there’s no button to press.
  3. 3
    Edit and re-check. Tweak your text and watch the results change in real time.

What the Flesch Reading Ease score means

Flesch Reading Ease runs from 0 to 100 — the higher the number, the easier the text. A score of 60–70 is plain, standard English readable by most adults; below 30 reads like dense academic or legal prose. The score is driven by two things: how long your sentences are and how many syllables your words have.

Reading ease vs grade level

The Flesch–Kincaid grade level translates the same inputs into US school grades — a grade level of 8 means a typical 13–14 year old could follow it. Most general-audience and web writing aims for grades 7–9. Aiming lower is not “dumbing down”; it is removing friction so your meaning lands the first time.

How to improve your readability score

Two levers move the score the most: shorten your sentences and swap long words for short ones. Break a 30-word sentence into two, cut filler like “in order to” (use “to”), and prefer “use” over “utilize.” Edit in the box above and watch the score climb in real time.

Free, unlimited, and private

The readability checker is free with no sign-up and no limit on how much text you process. Because it runs entirely in your browser, your text is never sent to a server, stored, or used to train any AI — it never leaves your device. When you’re ready to do more with your writing, Humanit’s AI humanizer and AI detector are one click away.

Flesch Reading Ease bands
ScoreReads asAudience
90–100Very easy5th grade
70–89Easy → fairly easy6th–7th grade
60–69Standard / plain English8th–9th grade
30–49DifficultCollege
0–29Very difficultCollege graduate

Frequently asked questions

What is a good readability score?

For most general and web writing, a Flesch Reading Ease of 60–70 (around an 8th–9th grade level) is a good target — clear without feeling oversimplified.

How is the score calculated?

It uses the Flesch formula: longer sentences and more syllables per word lower the score. We estimate syllables with a standard English heuristic, so treat the number as a close estimate.

What is the difference between reading ease and grade level?

Reading ease is a 0–100 score (higher = easier); grade level maps the same inputs onto US school grades (lower = easier). They measure the same thing two ways.

Is it free and private?

Yes — free, unlimited, and it runs entirely in your browser, so your text is never uploaded.

Do I need an account?

No. There’s no sign-up and no install — open the page and start typing.

Does it work on mobile?

Yes — it works in any modern browser on phone, tablet, or desktop.

Related

Writing with AI? Make sure it reads human.

Humanit rewrites AI-flavored text to sound human and checks it with a built-in AI detector — free every day.

Open the AI Humanizer

Last updated: May 2026