Filler word counter: count your ums and uhs (free)

How to use it

1. Press Start speaking and allow the microphone when your browser asks.
2. Talk for at least a minute. Answer an interview question, explain your job, or retell your day. Talk the way you normally would.
3. Press Stop. You'll see your filler count, the fillers you used most, your pace and the transcript with each filler highlighted.
4. Do it again on the same topic and try to cut the most common filler in half.

If your browser can't turn speech into text, paste a transcript instead, for example from a video call's captions.

What counts as a filler word

The counter looks for the sounds and phrases English speakers most often use to fill silence:

Some of these are real words that are sometimes needed. "I like coffee" is not a filler, and the counter can't always tell the difference. Read the highlighted transcript, not just the number.

How many filler words is too many?

There is no official limit, and a few fillers sound natural. Listeners mainly notice them when they cluster: three "ums" before the first point, or "like" in every sentence. A useful goal is to notice your one or two habits and replace them with a short pause.

Browser speech recognition also tends to drop "um" and "uh" from transcripts, so the real count is often higher than the tool shows. Treat a low score as a good sign, not proof.

How to cut filler words

• Pause instead. A one-second pause sounds confident to listeners, even though it feels long to you.
• Know your first sentence. Most fillers come at the start of an answer, while you search for a way in.
• Slow down slightly. Fillers often appear when your mouth gets ahead of your thoughts. The pace checker shows your speed.
• Practice out loud, not in your head. The habit only changes when you hear yourself.

Read the full guide: how to stop saying um.