How to use this tally counter
Press the big + button every time the thing you are counting happens. On a computer the keyboard is faster: you can count without looking at the screen.
| Key | What it does |
|---|---|
| Space, Enter, ↑ or + | Add one step |
| ↓ or - | Subtract one step |
| U or Ctrl/⌘ Z | Undo the last change |
| R | Reset to zero (you can still undo it) |
| F | Full screen, for counting at a door or a finish line |
Give the counter a name in the box at the top if you want to remember what the number means. Change the step to count by 2, 5, 10 or 100 per tap, which is handy for stock counts in packs. Every change is written to the log with the time, and Download log (CSV) gives you a spreadsheet of the whole session.
What is a tally counter?
A tally counter is a simple device for counting things one at a time. The classic version is a metal hand clicker: press the button and a mechanical dial goes up by one. It lets you count quickly and accurately without holding numbers in your head, which is why ushers, lifeguards, surveyors, coaches and warehouse staff have carried them for decades. An online tally counter does the same job on any phone, tablet or computer, and adds what a clicker cannot: undo, a step size, and a record of when each count happened. Prefer the feel of a hand clicker? Our online click counter turns the whole panel into one big button with a four-digit readout.
How tally marks work
Under the number, this counter draws your total as tally marks, the oldest counting system still in everyday use. You draw four upright lines, then a fifth line across them to close the group. Each finished group, sometimes called a gate, is worth five, so you can read a long tally by counting groups in fives instead of single lines. The page draws up to 100 marks and then shows how many more there are.
What people count with it
- People: event headcounts, visitors through a door, attendance, queue length.
- Stock: inventory and stocktakes, shelf counts, parcels in or out.
- Training: reps, sets, laps of a pool or track, rounds of a skipping rope.
- Crafts: knitting and crochet rows, stitches, beads.
- Surveys and nature: cars at a junction, birds at a feeder, plants in a quadrat.
- Classrooms and games: points, turns, correct answers, rounds won.
- Everyday life: glasses of water, coffees, pages read, prayers or repetitions. If this is you, here are 12 things actually worth counting.
Online counter, hand clicker or app?
| Best for | Trade-off | |
|---|---|---|
| Online tally counter | A one-off count on whatever device is in your hand, with a log you can export | Lives in one browser on one device |
| Hand clicker | Counting without looking, outdoors, for hours | No undo, no history, easy to bump |
| Counter app | Counting the same things every day and seeing trends | Takes a minute to install |
We compared the iPhone options in detail in the best counter apps for iPhone.
When a counter should remember more than a number
A tally counter answers "how many right now?". Most personal counting is really asking "how many, compared with last week?", and that needs every count kept with its date. That is what we built Tend for. It is an iPhone app where each counter keeps its full history, counts from Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets, shows a trend for every counter, and lives next to your habits. A habit is something you aim to do a set number of times a day; here is why you want both. Tend is free to start, with an optional one-time Lifetime unlock.
Frequently asked questions
Is this tally counter free?
Yes. The online tally counter is completely free, with no sign-up, no ads and no limit on how high you count.
Will I lose my count if I close the page?
No. Your count, step size, label and log are saved in your browser automatically, so a refresh or a closed tab picks up where you left off. Clearing your browser data, or using a private window, starts a fresh counter.
Does the tally counter work offline?
Once the page has loaded, counting needs no connection. Everything runs and saves on your device.
Can I count down or by more than one?
Yes. Use the minus button or the Down arrow to subtract, and the step menu to count by 2, 5, 10 or more per tap. The count can go below zero if you need it to.
Can I count several things at once?
This page keeps one counter. To track several counts side by side, with history kept for every day, use the Tend app for iPhone, which lets you run multiple counters and habits together.
Is there a tally counter built into the iPhone?
No, iOS has no built-in tally counter. You can open this page in Safari and add it to your Home Screen, or install a counter app such as Tend for widgets, history and trends.