Glitch text generator (zalgo)
Glitch text — also called zalgo or cursed text — stacks marks above and below each letter to make it look corrupted and distorted. Type below and copy the result for a creepy, broken-screen effect.
✨ Real-time generator — start typing to customize your styles.
How it works
Glitch text — also called zalgo or cursed text — stacks marks above and below each letter to make it look corrupted and distorted. Type below and copy the result for a creepy, broken-screen effect.
A fair warning up front: this style is built from combining marks, and many apps strip or mangle it. It looks great in some places and falls apart in others, so test before you rely on it.
Type your text
Type any name, bio, or caption on the left.
Pick a style
Each style is real Unicode — not an installed font.
Copy & paste anywhere
Tap copy — it stays styled in any bio, no install.
The Origins of Glitch text generator (zalgo)
Zalgo text works by piling Unicode combining diacritics — marks normally used to add accents — on top of a single base letter, dozens deep. The characters were never meant to stack like this, which is exactly why it looks unstable and 'cursed'. It became an internet aesthetic for horror and chaos.
Where to Use It
Spooky or horror-themed posts and usernames
Edgy aesthetic captions
Halloween and creepy content
Glitch-art and vaporwave visuals
Platform Compatibility
The most important things to know about using this style on the platforms people ask about most.
Renders in many places, but heavy glitch can overflow lines and look broken.
Often collapses combining marks back toward plain text — use lighter glitch or expect inconsistency.
Screen readers struggle with stacked marks; use sparingly.
Full platform reference
Unicode font styles are plain text characters, so they paste almost anywhere. Here’s how the major apps handle styled text — from full support to fields that filter certain glyphs.
Social media
·9 apps- InstagramSafe
Bio, captions, comments and story text all accept Unicode fonts.
- TikTokSafe
Bio and display name accept styled text; the @handle stays plain.
- FacebookSafe
Posts, comments and bio render styled text on web and app.
- Twitter / XPartial
Tweets and display name work; some glyphs render thinner on certain devices.
- ThreadsSafe
Posts and bio accept Unicode styling, mirroring Instagram support.
- SnapchatPartial
Display name and chat work; some decorative styles may not show on older builds.
- PinterestSafe
Board titles, descriptions and profile text accept styled fonts.
- YouTubeSafe
Channel name, video titles, descriptions and comments all support Unicode.
- TumblrSafe
Posts, titles and bio render Unicode font styles cleanly.
Messaging
·6 apps- WhatsAppPartial
Messages and About text work; WhatsApp also has its own *bold* / _italic_ markup.
- TelegramSafe
Messages, bio and channel names all accept Unicode font styles.
- DiscordPartial
Usernames and messages accept Unicode; native colors need ANSI code blocks.
- SignalSafe
Messages and profile name render styled text on all platforms.
- MessengerSafe
Chat messages and name display styled Unicode text.
- iMessageSafe
Messages render Unicode fonts; appearance depends on the recipient’s font.
Gaming
·6 appsServer nicknames and channel messages accept fancy Unicode names.
- RobloxPartial
Display name accepts some styles; the chat filter blocks many symbols.
- Free FirePartial
In-game name supports many styled glyphs; some are rejected by the filter.
- PUBG / BGMIPartial
Player name accepts most Unicode; very decorative glyphs may be blocked.
- SteamSafe
Profile name, nickname and bio accept Unicode font styles.
- TwitchSafe
Display name and chat render styled Unicode on web and app.
Professional & other
·5 apps- LinkedInPartial
Headline and About work, but heavy styling can hurt readability and search.
- Gmail / EmailSafe
Subject lines and body text render Unicode in most modern mail clients.
- RedditSafe
Posts, comments and display name accept Unicode font styles.
- NotionSafe
Page titles and body text render styled Unicode characters.
- Google DocsSafe
Document body and headings accept pasted Unicode fonts.
Examples
Medium glitch
corrupted but still readable
Frequently Asked Questions
What is zalgo / glitch text?↓
Why does glitch text break when I paste it?↓
Can I control how intense the glitch is?↓
Is glitch text safe for Instagram?↓
Sam Whitaker
Typography & Unicode editorSam writes about Unicode text, fonts and how they behave across apps. Every generator on the site is tested by hand before it's marked safe.