Readability Score Checker
Check text readability with Flesch-Kincaid, Gunning Fog, and SMOG scores. Free readability analyzer — improve your writing.
Three steps to get started
Paste your text
Type or paste any text — articles, essays, emails, blog posts, or academic papers.
View readability scores
See Flesch-Kincaid, Gunning Fog, and SMOG scores update instantly, along with your reading level.
Improve your writing
Shorten sentences and replace complex words to lower your score and reach a wider audience.
Why readability scores matter
Readability scores measure how easy or difficult a piece of writing is to understand. They are used by writers, editors, educators, and marketers to ensure content reaches its intended audience. A blog post targeting general consumers needs a very different reading level than a technical white paper aimed at specialists.
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level is the most widely recognized readability formula. It correlates text complexity with U.S. school grade levels. A score of 8 means the text is readable by an average 8th grader. Most major style guides recommend targeting grade 7–9 for general audiences.
Gunning Fog Index was designed for business writing. It penalizes long sentences and complex (polysyllabic) words. Newspaper writing typically scores 11–12; Reader's Digest scores around 9. If you're writing for a general web audience, aim for Fog below 12.
SMOG Grade (Simple Measure of Gobbledygook) tends to score slightly higher than Flesch-Kincaid because it only counts polysyllabic words. It is the preferred formula for healthcare communications and government documents.
To improve your readability score: break long sentences into shorter ones, replace jargon with everyday words, and use active voice. This tool updates live, so you can edit and see your scores change in real time — no server round trips, no waiting.