AI Token Counter
Count tokens for any AI model — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Llama. Estimate API costs with custom pricing. Free, private, runs in your browser.
What is a token in AI?
A token is the basic unit of text that AI models process. In English, roughly 1 token equals 4 characters or about 0.75 words. For example, the word \"hello\" is typically 1 token, while \"unbelievable\" might be split into 2 tokens: \"un\" and \"believable\".
Does this tool work for all AI models?
Yes. This tool uses a universal approximation algorithm that works for all major LLM models including GPT-4, GPT-3.5, Claude, Gemini, Llama, Mistral, DeepSeek, and more. The estimate is typically within 5-10% of exact counts.
How accurate is the token counting?
The counting uses a universal approximation algorithm based on BPE (Byte Pair Encoding) tokenization patterns. It provides close estimates typically within 5-10% but may differ slightly from exact API counts because each model uses its own specific tokenizer.
How do I estimate API costs?
Expand the Cost Estimation section and enter your API pricing for input tokens, output tokens, and cache hit tokens. The tool will automatically calculate the estimated cost based on the counted tokens and your pricing per million tokens.
Is my text sent to any server?
No. All token counting is performed entirely in your browser. Your text never leaves your device and is never sent to any server. This tool is 100% client-side for complete privacy.
What is BPE tokenization?
BPE (Byte Pair Encoding) is the most common tokenization method used by large language models. It works by iteratively merging the most frequent character pairs in a training corpus into single tokens, building a vocabulary that balances efficiency and coverage.
How do tokens differ between languages?
Token efficiency varies significantly across languages. English text averages about 1 token per 4 characters. CJK languages (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) typically require 1.5-2 characters per token due to the complexity of their character sets. Arabic and Hindi may have different ratios as well.
What is the difference between tokens and words?
Tokens are not the same as words. Common English words are usually 1 token, but longer or rare words may be split into multiple tokens. Punctuation marks and spaces can also be separate tokens. On average, 100 English words equal approximately 130 tokens.
Can I use this for fine-tuned or custom models?
Yes. The universal approximation algorithm works for any model regardless of its specific tokenizer. While the estimate may vary slightly from exact counts, it provides a reliable approximation for cost estimation and text planning.
How does cache hit pricing work?
Many AI providers like OpenAI and Anthropic offer discounted pricing for cached tokens — prompts that have been seen recently. Cache hit tokens are typically charged at 10% of the normal input price. Enter your cache hit price to see savings on repeated prompts.