SMS Character Counter & Splitter
SMS Character Counter & Splitter counts your message the way carriers do — detecting GSM-7 vs UCS-2 encoding, tallying segments and showing characters left in the current part. Long messages are split into numbered parts you can copy, and characters that force the shorter 70-character limit are flagged with suggested swaps.
Last updated: July 2026
An SMS character counter shows how many characters and message segments your text uses. GSM-7 messages fit 160 characters (153 per part when split); a single emoji or smart quote switches the message to UCS-2, cutting the limit to 70 (67 per part). It also flags the characters responsible.
How to use SMS Character Counter & Splitter
- Type or paste your SMS message.
- Read the live character count, encoding and segment count.
- Copy the numbered parts if the message splits, or apply suggested swaps to stay in GSM-7.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between GSM-7 and UCS-2?
GSM-7 is the standard SMS alphabet — 160 characters per message, 153 per part when split. If your text contains any character outside it (an emoji, smart quote or em dash), the whole message is sent as UCS-2 and the limit drops to 70 characters (67 per part). That's why one emoji can triple your segment count.
How are long messages split?
Carriers split long messages into parts of 153 (GSM-7) or 67 (UCS-2) characters. This tool shows each part exactly, without splitting a two-septet extension character or an emoji across parts.
Is my message stored?
No — counting and splitting run entirely in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
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