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textstat

Free#24 of 26 in AI Readability Checkers

textstat: A formula-rich open-source library for developers building readability analysis into Python workflows. Ranked #24 of 26 in AI Readability Checkers by our editors (6.5/10); pricing: Open source; best for developers needing a readability library.

6.5/10Editor score

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At a glance

Editor score
6.5 / 10
Pricing
Open source
Best for
Developers needing a readability library
Paid from
Free
Facts checked
22 Sep 2026

Where it wins
- Covers Flesch, SMOG, Dale-Chall, and other established formulas
- Adds language-specific calculations and detailed text count metrics
- Installs through pip, Poetry, Pipenv, pipx, or GitHub
Where it doesn't
- No hosted application or platform workflow
- Does not provide plain-language rewrites
- No accessibility guidance or AI features

Our verdict on textstat

textstat is an open-source Python library for calculating readability, complexity, grade-level, linguistic, and basic text statistics. It is aimed at developers who want to add readability analysis to software through a Python package or command-line installation. The library includes Flesch Reading Ease, Flesch-Kincaid Grade, SMOG, Automated Readability Index, Coleman-Liau, Gunning Fog, Dale-Chall, and language-specific formulas. It also reports syllable, word, sentence, character, letter, polysyllabic-word, and monosyllabic-word counts.

Its main strength is breadth within formula-based readability analysis. Developers can compare multiple established scoring methods and use language-specific calculations instead of relying on a single grade-level result. The count metrics add useful building blocks for linguistic analysis and reporting. Installation options include pip, Poetry, Pipenv, pipx, and direct installation from GitHub, giving Python-focused teams several ways to add the library to a project or command-line workflow. This makes textstat a focused component for applications that need programmable readability statistics.

The trade-off is its narrow scope. textstat is a library rather than a hosted SaaS product, and its published capabilities do not include AI features, plain-language rewrites, or accessibility guidance. It is therefore a strong fit for developers who need formula calculations and detailed counts inside their own Python workflows. Teams looking for a complete application, built-in rewriting, or guidance on accessibility should choose a product with those capabilities instead.

Your product? Our editors can test textstat in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

textstat pricing

Plans Open sourceFree Free to use — no paid tier required for the core job.

See plans on github.com

textstat fact sheet

Free plan	Not verified
Paid from	Free
Readability scores	Not verified
Grade-level analysis	Yes
Sentence complexity	Not verified
Plain-language rewrites	No
Accessibility guidance	No
Input formats	Text
Deployment	Self-hosted
Support	Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business (editorial estimate)
Pricing	Open source
Website	github.com
Facts checked	22 Sep 2026

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Featured on iTechGuides

textstat is listed in our AI Readability Checkers directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update