Need to know how many people are in a room right now, or how many guests have checked in at your event? This free online people counter tracks live occupancy against a capacity limit with one-tap IN and OUT buttons, or switches to a dedicated Event Attendance mode that keeps registered guests and walk-ins as separate totals. Everything is saved automatically in your browser, and you can export or print your numbers whenever you need a record.
What is a people counter?
A people counter is a tool for tracking how many people are inside a space at any given moment — not just how many have entered in total, but who's there right now. Every time someone comes in you add one; every time someone leaves you take one off, so the number on screen always matches the room.
That's different from a simple tally or click counter, which only ever goes up. A door count for a shop, a venue or a classroom needs to go down again as people leave, which is exactly what the IN/OUT buttons in People Counter mode do. Searching for a people counter app or an online people counter clicker almost always means this: a free, no-install way to keep a live occupancy number on your phone or tablet at the door.
How to use this online people counter
Nothing to install — open the page and start counting:
- Set your capacity. Type your venue or room's limit into the Capacity field at the top of the tool. The default is 100; change it to whatever your space allows.
- Tap IN as people enter. The big green IN +1 button adds one to the count and updates the progress bar.
- Tap OUT as people leave. The red OUT −1 button takes one off — the count can't drop below zero.
- Watch the status badge. It reads Normal, then switches to Warning at 75% of capacity and FULL once you hit the limit — further IN taps are blocked with a chime and a vibration until someone leaves.
- Undo a mistake. The undo button in the header steps back through your last 20 changes if you tap the wrong button.
Count from the keyboard
Running this at a desk or a check-in laptop instead of a phone? People Counter mode responds to the keyboard as well as clicks:
| Action | Keyboard |
|---|---|
| IN (add one) | Space or ↑ |
| OUT (subtract one) | ↓ |
| Undo | Backspace or Z |
| Reset | R |
These shortcuts only apply in People Counter mode. Event Attendance mode runs two independent counters (Registered and Walk-in) at once, so there's no single, unambiguous counter for a keyboard shortcut to target — undo, redo and the shortcut keys are hidden there and it's click- or tap-only.
Event attendance mode: registered vs. walk-in
Running an event with a guest list? Switch the mode chip at the top of the tool from People Counter to Event Attendance. This gives you two separate counters — Registered check-in for people on your list and Walk-in check-in for everyone else — each with its own +1/−1 buttons and its own running total, so you always know the split between the two.
Enter your Expected attendee number and the tool shows a live attendance-rate percentage and a status badge (Below Target → Nearly Full → At Capacity) as the combined total climbs toward it. Unlike Capacity in People Counter mode, Expected is a soft target only — it doesn't block further check-ins once you pass it.
Want a rough gender breakdown too? Tap Male, Female or Other before tapping +1 on either counter to route that check-in into a bucket; tap the same chip again, or just don't select one, and it's counted as unspecified. A running breakdown line (total, Male, Female, and Other when used) sits above the two counters.
Export your count as a report
Whichever mode you're using, the footer gives you three ways to keep a record:
- Export CSV — a timestamped log of every change, opens in Excel or Google Sheets. In Event Attendance mode this is broken down by category (Registered, Walk-in, and each gender bucket).
- Export JSON — the same data in a structured file, useful if you're feeding it into another system.
- Print / Save as PDF — a clean one-page summary you can print or save straight from your browser's print dialog. In People Counter mode it shows the count, capacity and status; in Event Attendance mode it shows registered, walk-in, the full gender breakdown and the attendance rate.
Clear saved data wipes the current mode's numbers, history and logs completely — a confirmation dialog asks first so a stray tap can't erase your count.
What can you use a people counter for?
Anywhere a fixed capacity or a headcount matters:
- Venues and capacity limits — bars, retail stores, gyms and fire-code-limited rooms tracking live occupancy against a legal or practical maximum
- Events and conferences — switching to Event Attendance mode to log registered guests against walk-ins as they check in
- Retail footfall — a simple door count of how many shoppers are in-store right now
- Classrooms and tours — keeping a headcount of a group as it moves between rooms or stops
- Places of worship and community halls — tracking attendance against room capacity for a service or gathering
- Parties and private events — a lightweight door count without hiring check-in software
Manual vs. automated people counting
Businesses with serious foot-traffic volume sometimes install automated hardware — infrared beam counters or overhead sensors mounted at the entrance — to count people without anyone tapping a button. That hardware is accurate at high volume and runs unattended, but it costs money to buy and install, and it's overkill for a single event, a small venue or a one-off headcount.
A manual tool like this one trades that automation for zero cost and zero setup: one person at the door taps IN and OUT (or works the two check-in counters at an event), and the count is exactly as accurate as the person running it. For most events, classrooms and small-to-mid venues, that's the more practical option — you're up and running in seconds instead of waiting on hardware installation.
Your data stays on your device
Every count, in either mode, is saved in your own browser as you go — closing the tab or refreshing the page never loses your numbers. Nothing is sent to a server. When you want a record, export CSV or JSON, or print a PDF report; to start completely fresh, Clear saved data removes everything the current mode has stored.
Counting something that only ever goes up — reps, stock, laps — rather than people coming and going? The Tap Counter and Click Counter are built for that. Counting prayers or dhikr instead of people? Try the Tasbeeh Counter.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free people counter app online?
Yes — this page is one. It runs in any browser on your phone, tablet or computer, tracks how many people are inside against a capacity limit, and needs no download, account or payment.
What is a people counter?
A people counter is a tool for tracking how many people are currently inside a space. You tap IN as someone enters and OUT as someone leaves, so the number always reflects who's there right now, not just a running total.
Is this people counter app really free?
Yes, completely. There's no signup, no trial period and no paid tier — every feature on this page, including Event Attendance mode and CSV, JSON and PDF export, is free to use.
How do I set a capacity limit?
In People Counter mode, type your venue's capacity into the Capacity field near the top. The status badge and progress bar update automatically, and once the count reaches that number, further IN taps are blocked with a warning sound and vibration until someone leaves.
How do I count people at an event?
Switch to Event Attendance mode. Tap +1 under Registered check-in for guests on your list and +1 under Walk-in check-in for everyone else, optionally tagging Male, Female or Other first. The total and attendance rate against your Expected number update as you go.
Can I track registered guests separately from walk-ins?
Yes. Event Attendance mode keeps Registered check-in and Walk-in check-in as two independent counters, each with its own total, so you always know how many of today's attendance came from your guest list versus the door.
Can I break attendance down by gender?
Yes, optionally. Tap Male, Female or Other before tapping +1 to route that check-in into a gender bucket; leave nothing selected and it's simply counted as unspecified. The live breakdown line and the CSV/JSON export both reflect the split.
Can I export or print my attendance numbers?
Yes. Export CSV or JSON gives you a timestamped log of every check-in, and Print / Save as PDF generates a clean one-page summary — count, capacity and status in People Counter mode, or the full registered/walk-in/gender breakdown and attendance rate in Event Attendance mode.
Is my count saved if I close the page?
Yes. Both modes save automatically to your browser as you go and are still there when you come back on the same device and browser. Nothing is uploaded to a server.
Can I use this people counter on a PC?
Yes. In People Counter mode you can click the IN/OUT buttons or use Space/↑ to add and ↓ to subtract. Event Attendance mode is click- or tap-only, since its two independent counters have no single keyboard target.