How to count tokens live in ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini with tokcount.
tokcount is the narrow answer when you need to see token counts and cost while you are already typing in an AI chat. It adds a live counter to ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Mistral, Copilot, and a few other major assistants, then stays out of the way. No account, no telemetry, no API key step. If you want the shortest install path, this article and the install guide will get you there in one pass.
Built-in token readouts are inconsistent or missing. tokcount keeps the number visible while you compose, so you can trim a prompt or protect a context window before the model eats the rest of the thread.
Manual tokenizers work, but they add a copy-paste step. tokcount lives where the draft already is, which is usually the real reason people keep using it after the first day.
Why live token counts matter
- Context limits are silent. A model can drop earlier messages without warning. A live counter tells you when the conversation is getting too long.
- API cost is token cost. If you move from chat UI into API work, every extra token has a price. tokcount lets you see that price while you draft.
- Editing a prompt is faster than debugging a response. If the number looks too high, you can compress before you send instead of cleaning up a weak output later.
What tokcount actually does
tokcount is a browser extension, not a separate dashboard. It watches the active chat composer, counts tokens with the selected model's tokenizer, and updates the estimate as the draft changes. The extension is available on Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, and the companion CLI exists if you want the same engine in a terminal workflow.
The install path is broader than a single chat product. If you use more than one assistant in a week, tokcount stays useful because the counter follows the browser session, not the vendor branding.
Prompt text stays local. There is no login wall and no separate project setup. You install it, pin it, and start using the counter immediately.
Quick install path
- Pick your browser and install tokcount from the matching store.
- Pin the extension so you can open it from the toolbar.
- Open a chat composer, type a draft, and watch the token count update as you edit.
free extension. live token count. no account.
If you need the shortest path, install tokcount first and read the comparison second. If you are unsure whether you want tokcount or a manual counter workflow, the install guide and compare page are both live.
FAQ
Does ChatGPT show token count by itself?
No. The common chat UI does not keep a live counter visible while you type. tokcount adds that number in the browser so you can act before you send.
Does Claude show token count?
Not as an always-visible drafting aid in the standard web UI. tokcount overlays the count while you compose, which is usually the missing piece.
Does tokcount send my prompt anywhere?
No. The draft stays in the browser tab and the extension computes the counts locally. There is no login wall and no telemetry path for the text itself.
Which browser should I install first?
Install the store version for the browser you already use every day. Chrome, Firefox, and Edge are all live, so the decision is mostly convenience.