A free hook tester for the first three seconds of your video.
Hook Lab scores your TikTok, Reels, or Shorts hook from 0 to 100. Paste your on-screen text and your spoken opener, and it shows the exact part that leaks attention, why it leaks, and how to fix it. Then it banks your best hooks so the next one is faster.
Runs entirely in your browser. Your hooks and your vault never leave this device, and nothing is uploaded.
The bold words that appear in the first second. Most people watch muted, so this is half your hook.
The exact words you say out loud before anything else happens.
Your hook breakdown will appear here. Score on the left, then fix the weakest line first. That single change moves more views than rewriting the whole video.
Fill in your topic once and every proven formula rewrites itself around it. These are the structures that consistently hold the first three seconds. Copy one, or send it straight to the analyzer to test it.
The fastest way to get good at hooks is the "one body, three hooks" drill: write three different openers for the same idea, then test them. Do it once a day and it becomes muscle memory.
Today's challenge
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What this hook tester checks
Hook Lab is a hook tester, not just a hook generator. Instead of spitting out random lines, it reads the opener you already wrote and scores the signals that decide whether someone keeps watching. Every score breaks down into nine factors, sorted weakest first, so you fix the biggest leak before you post.
Front-loading: whether you lead on the payoff or waste the window on "hey guys, so today".
Curiosity gap: whether you open a loop the viewer needs to close.
Specificity: whether a real number or timeframe makes the promise believable.
Stakes: whether there is a cost or a mistake that makes not watching feel risky.
Personal relevance: whether you speak straight to a specific viewer.
Pattern interrupt: whether the take is surprising enough to break the scroll.
Pacing: whether the spoken line lands inside three seconds.
Clarity and on-screen text: whether a muted viewer sees a clear, short hook on the first frame.
Why the first three seconds decide your reach
On TikTok, Reels, and Shorts, the feed decides whether to push a video based on how many people stay past the opening. The viewing decision happens in under two seconds, and clips that hold attention through the first three seconds get shown to far more people. A weak hook is the most common reason a good video gets buried.
The fastest way to get better at hooks is the one body, three hooks drill: film the body of your video once, then write three different openers and test which one scores highest. The Daily Workout gives you a fresh prompt each day, and the Vault keeps every winning hook so you build a swipe file that fits your own audience.
Hook tester FAQ
How do you know if your hook is good?
A good short-form hook makes a clear promise in the first three seconds, opens a curiosity gap, and speaks to a specific viewer. Hook Lab scores those signals from 0 to 100 and shows you which one is weak so you can fix it before posting.
What is the one body three hooks strategy?
You film the body of your video once, then record three different openers and test which one holds attention best. The Daily Workout in Hook Lab is built around this drill so it becomes a habit.
Is Hook Lab really free?
Yes. The whole tool is free with no signup. It runs entirely in your browser, so your hooks and your saved vault never leave your device and nothing is uploaded.
Does the hook tester work for TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts?
Yes. Pick your platform, then Hook Lab scores both your on-screen text and your spoken opener for that format, since most viewers watch the first second muted.
Can Hook Lab write hooks for me?
The Formulas tab fills proven hook templates around your topic, and the analyzer suggests rewrites based on your weakest lines. You keep full control of the final wording.