Online Tally Counter
A tally counter is the simplest counting tool there is: one click, one count. This free online tally counter gives you unlimited named counters — track attendance by category, inventory by item, reps by exercise — each with its own total, auto-saved in your browser and exportable to CSV. No sign-up, no counter limits, no paywalled features. Everything runs 100% in your browser.
Shortcuts: click a counter to select it, then Space/+ to add, − to subtract.
100% client-side — counters are saved in your browser only, nothing is uploaded.
What a tally counter is for
Long before clickers existed, people counted with groups of five strokes on paper (𝥂). The job hasn\'t changed: count things as they happen, one by one, without losing your place. A digital tally counter just removes the failure modes — no smudged paper, no recounting from scratch when you get interrupted, no arithmetic at the end.
Common uses include:
- Events — count attendees by ticket type at the door.
- Inventory — walk the shelves and count each SKU into its own counter.
- Workouts — tally sets, reps, or laps without breaking rhythm.
- Sports — keep score for casual games, one counter per team.
- Field research — birdwatchers, traffic surveys, and wildlife counts all run on tallies.
- Customer counts — foot traffic by hour, split across counters.
Because you can run unlimited named counters side by side, you don\'t have to finish one category before starting another — just tap the right counter as each event happens.
How to use it
- Type a name and click Add counter — create one per thing you\'re counting.
- Tap a counter\'s + button (or click the counter and use your keyboard) each time the event happens.
- Miscounted? Use − to step back, or Set to type the exact number.
- Reset zeroes one counter; the trash icon deletes it entirely.
- When you\'re done, Export CSV downloads every counter and the grand total for your records.
Your counters save automatically after every change, so you can close the tab mid-count and pick up exactly where you left off.
Keyboard shortcuts
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Space, +, or = | Increment the selected counter |
| − (minus) | Decrement the selected counter |
Click any counter card to select it (the selected card is highlighted). Shortcuts are ignored while you\'re typing in the name or set-value fields, so you can type freely. For rapid counting — a turnstile of people, cars passing — keyboard counting with the Spacebar is dramatically faster than clicking, and you can keep your eyes on what you\'re counting instead of the screen.
Why digital beats the clicker in your drawer
A mechanical hand tally counter does one thing well, but it can\'t name its counts, can\'t add up categories, and resets to zero if you bump the knob. This tool keeps every category labeled, shows a running grand total, lets you correct mistakes without starting over, and exports the results — while still being a single tap per count. And unlike the free tiers of several counter apps, there\'s no limit on how many counters you can run and no "pro" upgrade locking away export or history.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a tally counter used for?
- Anywhere you need to count repeated events without losing track: event attendance, inventory counts, laps, workout reps, birdwatching sightings, traffic surveys, scorekeeping, or counting inventory on a warehouse floor. A digital counter beats pen-and-paper tallies because it never loses count when you're interrupted.
- How many counters can I create?
- As many as you need — there is no limit. Name each one (e.g. "Adults", "Children", "VIPs") and they all stay on screen at once, each with its own total. Many competing tools cap free users at a handful of counters; this one doesn't.
- Do my counts survive a page refresh?
- Yes. Every counter and its count is saved automatically to your browser's localStorage the moment it changes, and restored when you reopen the page. Nothing is sent to a server — the data never leaves your device. Clearing your browser's site data will remove the saved counters.
- What keyboard shortcuts are available?
- Click a counter to select it, then: Space, +, or = increments it; − (minus) decrements it; and the counter's own + / − buttons always work with mouse or touch. Keyboard counting is much faster when you're tallying a stream of events hands-busy.
- Can I export my counts?
- Yes — the Export CSV button downloads a spreadsheet-ready file with every counter's name and count plus a total row. Open it in Excel, Google Sheets, or any CSV reader.
- Can I fix a miscount?
- Two ways: use the − button to step back one at a time, or use "Set" to type the exact number a counter should show. Each counter also has its own Reset button to return it to zero without touching the others.
- Is this really free with no account?
- Yes — unlimited counters, CSV export, and auto-save, all free with no sign-up. Everything runs in your browser, so there's nothing to subscribe to and no data of yours sitting on anyone's server.