Free hook checker for ads and short videos
Paste the first line of your ad or video. Get a score, the reasons behind it, the closest proven hook pattern, and rewrites to test.
Features
- ✓A score out of 100 based on length, specificity, clarity, audience focus and the trigger the hook uses
- ✓Specific reasons for the score instead of a vague grade
- ✓Matches your hook against the frameworks in the HookAds Hook Bank
- ✓AI rewrites built on different hook formulas, plus pattern suggestions when the AI is busy
Benefits
- →Catch a weak opening line before you spend money testing it
- →See which psychological trigger your hook pulls, and which ones it misses
- →Get rewrites you can test against the original straight away
- →Learn why a hook works, so the next one you write is better
How to Use This Tool
- 1
Paste your hook: the first spoken line of a video, the on-screen text, or the first line of your primary text.
- 2
Pick the format it is for and add your product if you want sharper rewrites.
- 3
Read the score and the reasons, then copy a rewrite or two to test against your original.
What is a hook checker?
A hook checker reviews the opening line of an ad or short video and tells you how likely it is to stop the scroll. This one checks for the most common reasons hooks fail: too many words to say in the first two or three seconds, vague claims with no number or detail, filler openers like "introducing", no clear "you" for the viewer, and no obvious trigger such as curiosity, loss or social proof. It then compares your hook with the frameworks in our Hook Bank and suggests rewrites.
Why It Matters
Most ads lose the viewer in the first line, long before the offer appears. After launch you can only fix that by paying to find out, so checking the hook first is the cheapest test you can run. The score is a guide, not a prediction of results. Only a live test can tell you that, so use the checker to pick which three or four hooks deserve one.
Frequently asked questions
What does the hook checker look at?
Length (can it be said or read in about three seconds), specificity (numbers, names, concrete details), clarity (no filler or jargon), audience focus (does it speak to "you" or call out a specific person) and the psychological trigger it uses. It also matches your hook against the Hook Bank frameworks.
Is a high score a guarantee the ad will work?
No. The score flags common problems with the opening line. Results depend on the product, the offer, the audience and the creative around the hook. Treat it as a filter for what to test, then let a live test decide.
How long should an ad hook be?
Short enough to land before the viewer decides to scroll. For video that usually means a line you can say in two or three seconds, around 6 to 12 words. For a static ad, the first line of primary text should make sense before Meta cuts it off with "See more".
Is the hook checker free?
Yes. The score and reasons are free and unlimited. AI rewrites come with 3 free uses, and joining the free newsletter makes them unlimited.
Where can I find better hook examples?
The Hook Bank has frameworks and copy-paste hook examples grouped by trigger, awareness level and format. The AI hook generator writes fresh hooks for your product.