Video hook analyzer
Most short-form video is lost in the first second. Drop your clip in and ClipAI analyzes the hook - whether the opening line actually stops the scroll - names the hook type, and can suggest three stronger openers with a plan. 3 free scores a day, no account needed.
Or score a short clip right here.
Why most creators quit in year one
Sample score - this is what you get
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How do you analyze a video hook?
Judge the first one or two sentences on their own: would they stop a scroll with no context? Strong hooks open mid-tension with a specific number, a bold or contrarian claim, or an open question; greetings and setup are weak. The analyzer grades your clip's hook, names its type out of 12, and after scoring writes 3 stronger opening lines. The first 3 scores each day are free, no account needed.
How it works
- 01
Drop in the clip
Upload the short clip you want to test (up to 60 seconds) or paste a TikTok or YouTube link.
- 02
Read the hook grade
The hook is the heaviest of the five dimensions (25%). You also see which of the 12 hook types the opening uses.
- 03
Get 3 better openers
Ask for 3 stronger opening lines right on the result. Inside ClipAI, the hooks panel writes five per clip.
What a strong hook does
- IN THE SCORE
Works in one or two sentences
The scorer also rates the first sentence on its own. If the hook needs the third sentence to make sense, it isn't the hook yet.
- IN THE SCORE
Starts mid-tension
Open on the conflict, the result or the surprise, then explain. Setup first is the most common reason a hook grades low.
- IN THE SCORE
Is specific
A number, a name, a price or a result beats a general truth. "Consistency matters" is true and still grades mid-low.
- IN THE SCORE
Avoids the four weak openers
Greetings and intros, "have you ever wondered", "okay so" filler, and claims that only land if the viewer already trusts you. Starting with one caps the hook grade at 30 out of 100.
- IN THE SCORE
Fits a known hook type
Specific number, contrarian take, mistake confession, curiosity gap and eight more. The result names the type so you can see what you're leaning on.
- TIP · NOT SCORED
Pays off what it promises
A hook that teases something the clip never delivers can win the first second and lose the rest. Clarity checks the clip has a payoff; whether it matches the tease is your call.
Weak vs strong openings
Illustrative lines written for this page, judged the way the scorer judges an opening.
- WEAK
“Hi everyone, I'm Sam, and today we're talking about budgeting.”
STRONGER“I saved $9,000 last year by changing one line in my budget.”
A greeting plus a self-introduction is a capped weak opener. A specific number and a small, concrete cause make a specific-number hook.
- WEAK
“Have you ever wondered why some videos go viral?”
STRONGER“Most viral videos break the one rule every editing course teaches.”
"Have you ever wondered" is so worn out it reads as template content. A contrarian take creates the same curiosity with an edge.
- WEAK
“So basically, there's this thing with editing on your phone.”
STRONGER“Stop editing your videos on your phone. Do this instead.”
"So basically" is filler before the point. A command hook states the point first and promises the alternative.
How the score works
Hook25% OF SCORE
Whether the first spoken line stops the scroll. Openings that start mid-tension with a specific number, a bold or contrarian claim, or an open question score high; greetings and setup score low.
Emotion20% OF SCORE
Whether a viewer feels something: a laugh, a raw confession, awe, or a frustration named exactly. Dry procedural talk scores low.
Clarity20% OF SCORE
Whether the moment makes complete sense with zero context. References like "like I said" or an unnamed "he" pull it down.
Value15% OF SCORE
How much usable insight per second: concrete, non-obvious takeaways score high, one point stretched with filler scores low.
Quotability20% OF SCORE
Whether one line survives out of context as a caption or on-screen text - the thing a repost travels on.
- Upload a clip up to 60 seconds and 30 MB, or paste a TikTok or YouTube link and the opening minute is scored.
- Each dimension is scored from 0 to 1 against written anchors, then combined in code with the weights above into one 0-100 score.
- The opening line is also classified as one of 12 hook types (specific number, contrarian take, mistake confession and so on).
- Clips with no speech are scored on visuals instead: action, faces, scene variety and on-screen text.
- Score 3 clips a day free, no account needed. Making clips from full videos is part of every ClipAI plan (from $12/month).
- With a plan, you can also ask for 3 stronger opening lines after a score.
Questions
What makes a good hook?
A first line that works with no context: it creates curiosity, makes a specific or contrarian claim, or lands something relatable straight away. The analyzer grades how well your clip's opening does this.
How is the hook grade different from the overall score?
The hook is one of five dimensions and carries 25% of the overall score, the biggest single share. A clip can have a strong hook and still score low overall if it doesn't make sense alone or has nothing worth quoting.
What are the 12 hook types?
Specific number, contrarian take, bold claim, curiosity gap, before/after, POV scenario, experiment, price reveal, mistake confession, question or challenge, command, and credential drop. The video hooks guide has an example and the failure mode for each.
Do I need an account for the hook analyzer?
No. You can analyze 3 clips a day free at clipai.online/score without one. The 3 stronger openers and hooks across all your clips are part of every ClipAI plan, from $12/month.
Can it rewrite my hook?
Yes. After a score, ask for 3 stronger opening lines. Inside ClipAI, the hooks panel writes five options per clip in different angles - curiosity, bold take, relatable, how-to, story - to test which lands.
Does it work for Reels, Shorts and TikTok?
Yes. The hook is judged on the opening line itself, which matters the same way on every vertical feed. Paste a TikTok or YouTube link, or upload the clip you plan to post as a Reel.
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