Headline Analyzer

To test a headline before you publish, type it into the free Headline Analyzer above, or paste up to 100 headlines to compare them. Each headline gets a score out of 100 from five plain checks: length in Google’s title space, use of your focus keyword, specificity, clarity and style. Every point comes with the reason it was given or taken away. Several headlines are ranked side by side, and it all runs in your browser.

Last updated: 6 November 2026. Written by Saad Raza.

Key takeaways

• A strong headline tells the reader exactly what they will get: the topic, plus a specific detail such as a number, a price, a time frame or a format.
• Keep it within about 600 pixels so Google can show it in full on desktop, with the main words near the start.
• Clickbait (“you won’t believe”), vague words (“things”, “amazing”) and capital letters lower trust and lower the score.
• The score is a checklist, not a prediction. Test real headlines with Search Console click-through data.

Why headlines matter for SEO and AI search

Your headline usually becomes, or strongly shapes, the title that people see in search results, social shares and AI answers that cite you. It is the first thing a searcher judges, so it affects click-through rate as much as rankings do. A headline that matches the searcher’s words and promises something concrete wins the click over a vaguer one in a higher position.

There is a second reason. When a title is vague, too long or stuffed, Google often rewrites it. My article on why Google shows a different title explains the triggers. A clear, specific headline of the right length is the best way to keep the title you chose.

How to use the Headline Analyzer

1. Write or paste one headline per line. To compare variations, paste several, up to 100.
2. Enter your focus keyword if you have one, such as “teeth whitening”.
3. Run the analysis. With more than one headline you get a ranked table first.
4. Open each headline’s breakdown to see which checks passed and what to change.
5. Rewrite the weakest part, run it again, and keep the best two or three versions to choose from.

How the score works

Width is measured in your browser with the same font Google uses for desktop titles, so it is closer to the real cut-off than a character count. My guide to pixel width vs character count explains why. Clickbait caps the total at 35, however well the rest scores. The grades are Strong (80+), Good (60 to 79), Needs work (40 to 59) and Weak (under 40).

A worked example

The example compares six headlines for a teeth whitening article, with “teeth whitening” as the focus keyword. In Chrome, they ranked like this:

1. Teeth Whitening Cost in Karachi: 2026 Prices From 12 Clinics: 100, Strong. About 546 px, keyword first, with a number, a price word and a colon. It notes the year and suggests keeping it only if you update the page every year.
2. How Long Does Teeth Whitening Last? A Dentist Explains: 89, Strong. The real question a searcher types, plus who is answering.
3. 7 Things About Teeth Whitening: 67, Good. It fits, but “things” is vague and cancels the credit for the number.
4. The Complete Guide to Teeth Whitening at Home, in the Clinic, and Everything Else You Might Ever Want to Know (2023): 58, Needs work. About 1,074 px, nearly twice the visible width, and an out-of-date year.
5. Teeth Whitening: 46, Needs work. Only two words: it names the topic, not what the reader gets.
6. You Won’t Believe These AMAZING Teeth Whitening Tricks!!!: 35, Weak. Clickbait wording, a word in capitals and three exclamation marks.

How to write a stronger headline

• Lead with the searcher’s words. Put the main keyword early. Find the words people use with the question keyword generator.
• Add one concrete detail. A number, a price, a place, a time frame or a format makes the promise specific.
• Match the intent. A “how to” search wants steps; a “cost” search wants prices. Check the intent with the search intent classifier.
• Cut what the reader does not need. “The complete ultimate guide to everything about” adds width and no meaning.
• Deliver what you promise. The page has to answer the headline in its first paragraph, which also helps AI search quote you. The answer-first content checker tests that opening.

Your H1 and your title tag can differ: the H1 can be longer and friendlier, while the title tag is tuned for search. Preview the title as Google shows it with the SERP snippet preview, and see how to optimise title tags for the rules.

Headline patterns that tend to work

A few patterns score well because they make a clear promise. The question headline (“How long does teeth whitening last?”) matches what people type and suits featured snippets and AI answers. The cost or price headline (“Teeth whitening cost in Karachi: 2026 prices”) targets one of the most common commercial searches. The specific list (“9 foods that stain teeth, ranked by a dentist”) works when each item is real and the number is honest. The comparison (“Whitening strips vs clinic whitening”) helps people deciding between options. The how-to (“How to keep teeth white after whitening”) promises steps. Whatever the pattern, keep the most important words in the first half, and check that the page itself delivers the promise in its opening lines. If you write briefs for others, put two or three approved headlines in the content brief.

Limits

The analyzer scores structure and wording, not truth or interest. It cannot know whether “12 clinics” is accurate, whether your audience prefers questions, or whether a competitor already owns the angle. Its word lists are in English. Pixel width uses Arial at 20 px; Google’s exact cut-off varies with screen size and can change. The best test of a headline is real data: change a title, wait a few weeks, and compare clicks and click-through rate in Search Console. Nothing you type is sent anywhere.

Questions about the Headline Analyzer

If you want titles and content that win clicks across your whole site, my on-page optimisation service covers titles, headings and content, and you can ask for a free audit. You can also browse the other free content writing tools.