A/B Headline Tester
Write smarter titles—faster. The A/B Headline Tester is a free, browser-based utility that helps you compare headline ideas and instantly predict which one is more likely to win the click. It evaluates each headline by length, readability, emotional & power words, number usage, clarity signals, and SEO heuristics, then scores every option and highlights your best picks. Whether you publish on Blogger, WordPress, Medium, Shopify, or your company’s CMS, great headlines lift CTR, organic traffic, and conversions across the board.
Why does this matter? On search and social feeds, your title is the first—and sometimes only—chance to earn attention. An optimized headline can increase click-through rate without changing the content underneath. That means more sessions, improved session quality, and better revenue efficiency for the same writing time. For bloggers, a stronger headline gets your posts discovered. For businesses, it reduces acquisition costs by improving landing-page clicks and ad relevance. For personal sites and portfolios, it showcases professionalism and makes every share count.
Here’s how it works: paste a few headline candidates, set an optional target keyword, and hit Analyze. The tool calculates a composite score from multiple lightweight heuristics, including ideal character range for SERP display, scannability, and the presence of high-impact terms (often called “power words”). It also flags common pitfalls—like titles that are too long, too short, or vague—and suggests improvements. When you’re ready, use the built-in shareable poll generator to collect quick, informal feedback from teammates or your audience. Everything runs 100% in your browser for privacy and speed.
Designed with a modern, mobile-first layout, the interface uses accessible contrast, large tap targets, and clean gradients inspired by the Notable aesthetic. Headings are pure white for maximum clarity on dark backgrounds, paragraphs are bright and readable, and all inputs stretch to the full width of the screen to prevent clipping on smaller devices. This post matches the styling of Tool Nest Lab with bold typography and crisp calls to action, so you can embed or share confidently and keep shipping content that performs.
Try the A/B Headline Tester
Paste 2–10 headline ideas (one per line). Optionally add a target keyword. Click Analyze to score, compare, and get recommendations.
Privacy: This tool runs 100% in your browser. Your text is never collected or stored.
Headlines Analyzed
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Top Score
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Avg. Length (chars)
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Results & Suggestions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an A/B Headline Tester and how does it work?
An A/B Headline Tester is a lightweight analysis tool that compares multiple title ideas, checks each one against common click-through and SEO heuristics, and assigns a score. This version measures character length, word count, power and emotional words, clarity signals (numbers, brackets, questions), and optional keyword presence. It ranks your options, flags issues (e.g., “too long for SERP”), and suggests improvements. While it doesn’t replace live experiments, it gives a fast, data-informed starting point to pick a winner before you publish or run ads.
How accurate is the score for predicting click-through rate (CTR)?
No offline tool can guarantee real-world CTR because performance depends on audience, context, and competition. The score here is a composite of proven heuristics—optimal length, scannability, emotional resonance, and keyword alignment—that correlate with higher engagement. Use it to shortlist promising options, then validate with live tests (the built-in shareable poll helps you collect quick feedback). Consider pairing results with analytics after publishing to confirm lifts in CTR and dwell time.
What’s an ideal headline length for SEO and social previews?
For search results, a practical target is roughly 40–60 characters so titles fully display on many devices without truncation. Social platforms vary, but concise, front-loaded phrasing typically performs best. The tester highlights when you’re outside the recommended range and shows exact character counts to help you tune for both SERP display and scannability in feeds.
Do numbers and brackets actually improve performance?
Numbers (e.g., “7 Tips…”) and bracketed clarifiers (e.g., “[Checklist]”, “[2025 Guide]”) improve scannability and set clear expectations. They also prime the reader for format and depth. The tool awards points for these clarity signals because they frequently correlate with higher CTR on listicles, guides, and resources—especially for informational and comparison intent.
How does the power-word and emotional-word check work?
The tester scans for a curated list of high-impact verbs and adjectives (e.g., “proven,” “ultimate,” “simple,” “surprising”) plus emotional cues that can boost curiosity and urgency. It’s not about clickbait; the best headlines balance power with accuracy. If your title leans too sensational, consider softening it while preserving clarity. The score rewards judicious use of power words without penalizing straightforward, trustworthy phrasing.
Can I test titles for different audience intents (informational vs. commercial)?
Yes. Use the “Audience intent” selector to nudge the scoring toward learning (“how-to,” “guide”), buying (“best,” “vs,” “review”), or comparing (“compare,” “deal,” “save”). This helps prioritize phrasing patterns that better match searcher motivation. It won’t rewrite your titles, but it adjusts the weighting so you can tailor for the funnel stage you care about.
Will this help my SEO rankings directly?
Indirectly. Search engines evaluate many signals, but improving titles can raise organic CTR, which in turn can support better visibility over time if users consistently prefer your result. The tool also checks for an optional target keyword so you can align phrasing with searcher language without stuffing. Pair this with strong on-page content, fast performance, and compelling meta descriptions for the best outcome.
Is my data private? Do you store headlines or keywords?
No data leaves your device. The analyzer runs entirely in your browser using client-side JavaScript. We do not request, store, or transmit any personal information, credentials, or sensitive data. Inputs are plain text only, and there are no password fields or login-like forms, complying with safe UI and anti-phishing practices.
How should I use A/B results with real readers?
Once you shortlist top picks, click “Generate Shareable Poll Link.” This creates a tiny, static polling page (via a data URL) that anyone can open to cast a local vote (tracked in their browser). For broader tests, publish two variants over time or split previews in newsletters and compare open/click metrics. Combining heuristic scores with real audience feedback gives the clearest signal.
What are common headline mistakes this tool can catch?
Common pitfalls include titles that are too long (truncated in SERP), overly vague (“Tips for Success”), stuffed with keywords, or missing clarity cues like numbers. The tool also flags when a headline lacks your target keyword, uses weak filler words, or buries the main benefit. Review the per-headline notes in the results block to fix issues quickly.
Can I export or copy my results?
Yes. Use the “Copy Top Picks” button to grab the highest-scoring titles and paste them into your CMS, editorial doc, or social scheduler. You can also copy the full results block. If you need a CSV, simply paste the results into a spreadsheet—each line includes the score and key diagnostics so you can sort or archive for content planning.
Does the A/B Headline Tester replace professional judgment or user research?
No. It’s a fast, objective helper for the early creative phase. Keep your brand voice, specificity, and truthfulness at the center. After shortlisting, validate with users, competitors’ SERPs, and analytics. The goal is to accelerate good decisions—not to automate your editorial sensibilities.
Any tips for writing better headlines quickly?
Front-load the benefit, use specific nouns and active verbs, prefer concrete numbers over vague claims, and test a few structural patterns: “Number + Adjective + Noun” (e.g., “17 Simple Email CTAs”), “How to + Outcome” (e.g., “How to Cut Bounce Rate in Half”), and “Question + Promise” (e.g., “Still Struggling with Blog Titles? Try This 10-Minute Formula”). Run 5–10 variants through the tester and pick the top two for a quick poll.
Ship Winning Headlines with Confidence
Great titles are the fastest lever for better reach. Use the A/B Headline Tester to score ideas, refine clarity, and pick a winner—then share a quick poll to validate with real readers. If this helped, pass it along to a teammate or fellow creator and keep iterating.