All Tools Verse
The best free online Unicode and UTF-8 tools convert between encodings, escape code points, work with emoji, and turn text into bytes, all in your browser. All Tools Verse has a large set of free Unicode and UTF-8 tools that run client-side with no sign-up and nothing uploaded. This guide picks the best free tool for each task, from finding a character code point to converting UTF-8 into UTF-16 or decoding HTML entities.
In this guide
Best Unicode tools at a glance
Pick the task, then open the tool. Each is free and needs no account.
| Task | Best free tool | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Find code points | Unicode to Code Points | Character codes like U+1F600 |
| Escape for code | Escape Unicode | Strings in source code |
| UTF-8 to UTF-16 | UTF-8 to UTF-16 | Encoding conversions |
| HTML entities | UTF-8 to HTML Entities | Special characters on the web |
| URL encode | Encode URL, Decode URL | Query strings |
| Emoji | Emoji Picker | Finding and copying emoji |
| Validate UTF-8 | Validate UTF-8 | Checking byte sequences |
Code points and escapes
Every character has a Unicode code point, the number behind it. Unicode to Code Points reveals them and Code Points to Unicode turns them back into text. To use a character in source code, Escape Unicode writes the escape sequence, Unicode to String Literal formats it for a language, and Unicode to HTML outputs the web form.
UTF-8, UTF-16 and UTF-32
Text can be stored in several Unicode encodings, and converting between them is a common need. Unicode to UTF-8 gives the web standard, while UTF-8 to UTF-16 and UTF-16 to UTF-8 bridge to the format Windows and Java often use. For fixed width, Unicode to UTF-32 and UTF-32 to UTF-8 handle the four byte form.
Bytes, hex and binary
To see the raw bytes behind text, Unicode to Hex and UTF-8 to Hex show the hex, with Hex to UTF-8 for the reverse. Unicode to Bytes and UTF-8 to Bytes list the byte values, and UTF-8 to Binary with the Binary to UTF-8 Decoder go all the way down to bits.
HTML entities and URLs
On the web, special characters need encoding. UTF-8 to HTML Entities and HTML Entities to UTF-8 convert both ways, and Escape HTML Entities makes text safe to drop into a page. For links, Encode URL and Decode URL handle the percent encoding in query strings.
Emoji
Emoji are Unicode too. The Emoji Picker helps you find and copy one, Emoji to Image saves it as a picture, and Reverse Unicode flips text without breaking emoji or combined characters, which a naive reverse would corrupt.
Count, validate and detect spoofing
Counting Unicode is trickier than it looks, so Count Unicode Characters and Extract Unicode Graphemes count what a reader sees rather than raw bytes. Validate UTF-8 checks that a byte sequence is well formed, and Check Spoofed Unicode Text flags look alike characters used in phishing and fake domains.
How to choose the right tool
Start from the form you need. A character code is a code point tool. Moving text between systems is an encoding converter. Seeing the raw data is a bytes or hex tool. Putting text on a web page is an HTML entity or URL encoder. Checking or counting is a validator or counter. Each is a single focused tool, so you avoid writing a script for a one off conversion.
Trusted alternatives
Every major programming language can encode and decode Unicode in a few lines, which suits bulk work. The official Unicode charts at unicode.org are the reference for code points, and a browser developer console can convert small snippets. For a single quick conversion or lookup, a focused browser tool is faster.
Popular free tools in this guide
Frequently asked questions
How do I find the Unicode code point of a character?
Paste it into Unicode to Code Points, which returns values like U+1F600, and use Code Points to Unicode to go back to text. Both run in your browser.
What is the difference between Unicode and UTF-8?
Unicode assigns a number to every character, while UTF-8 is one way to store those numbers as bytes. Use Unicode to UTF-8 to produce the byte form.
How do I convert UTF-8 to UTF-16?
Use UTF-8 to UTF-16, and UTF-16 to UTF-8 for the reverse. These bridge between the web standard and the format Windows and Java often use.
How do I encode special characters for HTML?
Use UTF-8 to HTML Entities, or Escape HTML Entities to make text safe to place inside a page without breaking the markup.
How do I count emoji and accented characters correctly?
Use Count Unicode Characters or Extract Unicode Graphemes, which count what a reader sees, since one emoji can be several bytes or code points.
Are these Unicode tools free and private?
Yes. Every tool is free with no account, and the text is processed on your device, so nothing you enter is uploaded.
This guide is part of our roundup of the best free online tools.