Free AI hook generators for Shorts (2026)
Quick compare
10 tools · cheapest paid plan, free plan and watermark side by side. Tap a row for the full page.
Quick answer: for hooks and a script in one answer, try Perplexity or Gemini. With the same sky-is-blue prompt, Perplexity's free account gave 5 hooks and a 71-word timed script in 3 seconds with no science errors we could find. Gemini gave 5 hooks and an 87-word script in about 27 seconds without an account, but one run ended on a wrong line. Submagic Hook Generator needs no account and writes hooks only, and BIGVU puts its script straight into a teleprompter.
A hook is the first line or two of a Short, the part that has to stop the scroll. Any AI chat tool can write one, so we checked what you get for free: how many hooks, how long the script runs, whether the facts hold up and whether you need an account. Whatever tool you use, check every claim before you record it.
We gave the same sky-is-blue prompt to 4 AI writing tools
We asked four AI tools for 5 hooks and a 30-second script about why the sky is blue. All four gave 5 hooks; Perplexity's 71-word script had no science errors we could find, and Submagic's free hook generator wrote hooks only.
| Tool | Wrong science claims | Script length | Time to answer | Account needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PerplexityTested Oct 29, 2026 | None found | 71 words | 3 s | Email link or code |
| GeminiTested Oct 28, 2026 | 1 wrong line | 87 words | About 27 s | Not needed |
| BIGVUTested Oct 28, 2026 | Not recorded | About 100 words | About 9 s | Email magic link |
| Submagic Hook GeneratorTested Oct 29, 2026 | 1 wrong hook | No script | About 2 s | Not needed |
A dash means we did not record it. Script length is the spoken words we counted, without the visual notes.
Good and watch out, tool by tool
PerplexityTested Oct 29, 2026
Good: Exactly 5 hooks and a 71-word script
Watch out: Free account needed, even for one question
BIGVUTested Oct 28, 2026
Good: 3 script versions with 5 hooks each
Watch out: Small BIGVU logo on recordings
Submagic Hook GeneratorTested Oct 29, 2026
Good: 5 hooks in about 2 seconds
Watch out: Hooks only, no script
How we tested
- Each tool got the same request: "Write 5 hooks and a 30-second script for a YouTube Short about why the sky is blue.", from Oct 28 to 29, 2026.
- We counted the spoken words in each script ourselves and checked each claim against the real reason: air scatters blue sunlight much more than red (Rayleigh scattering).
- Gemini ran signed out. Perplexity and BIGVU needed free accounts made with an email link. Submagic's hook generator needs no account and writes hooks only.
- Answers change from run to run, so we ran Gemini twice and Submagic three times. Free limits change too.
Hook and script tools compared
| Tool | Free option | Paid plans | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perplexity | Free plan with a free account; daily limit not stated | Pro $17/mo billed yearly, Max $167/mo billed yearly | Cites sources in its answers |
| Gemini | Free plan; basic chat works signed out | Google AI Plus $4.99/mo, Google AI Pro $19.99/mo | Signed out, it uses the Flash-Lite model |
| BIGVU | Free plan: 500 AI credits a month | Starter $12/mo billed yearly, AI Pro $19/mo billed yearly | Teleprompter app; free recordings are 720p with a BIGVU watermark |
| Submagic Hook Generator | Free, no sign-up | No paid plan for this tool | Hooks only, no script |
| ChatGPT | Free plan | Go $8/mo, Plus $20/mo, Pro from $100/mo | General AI chat; not in our test |
| Claude | Free plan | Pro $20/mo | General AI chat; not in our test |
| HookLab | Free: 3 generations a day | Pro Pack $4.99 or Pro+ Pack $7.99, one-time | iPhone app with 200+ saved hooks |
| Rytr | Free plan: 10,000 characters a month | From $9/mo, 20% off yearly | New accounts must connect Gmail, Outlook or Slack before writing |
| Copy.ai | No free plan listed | Chat $29/mo, or $24/mo billed yearly | Marketing copy and workflows |
| Jasper | 7-day free trial | From $59/mo billed yearly ($69 monthly) | Marketing writer with templates |
Prices for ChatGPT, Claude, HookLab, Rytr, Copy.ai and Jasper come from our tool listings (catalog snapshot 10 October 2026). We have not run our prompt through those six.
Other script and hook tools
- ChatGPT and Claude are general AI chat tools with free plans. Give them the same kind of prompt: the topic, the number of hooks and the script length in seconds.
- HookLab is an iPhone app with a library of saved hooks plus AI hook and script writing.
- Rytr has a free plan, but new accounts must connect an email or Slack account first.
Common questions
Can I use a free AI chat tool to write hooks?
Yes. In our test, Gemini wrote 5 hooks and an 87-word script without an account, and Perplexity wrote 5 hooks and a 71-word script on a free account. We did not run ChatGPT or Claude on this prompt.
How long should a 30-second Short script be?
Shorter than most AI tools write. BIGVU estimated its own scripts of about 100 words at 39 seconds, and Gemini's ran 87 words. Perplexity's 71-word script was closer to 30 seconds. Read it aloud with a timer before you record.
Do AI hook generators get facts wrong?
Sometimes. One Submagic hook said the sky isn't actually blue, and one Gemini run ended on a line saying the sky is actually violet. We found no science errors in Perplexity's answer. Check every claim before you record it.
Do I need an account to use an AI hook generator?
Not for Gemini's basic chat or Submagic Hook Generator. Perplexity asked us to sign up before it would answer, and BIGVU needs a free account made with an email link.
Which free hook generators also write the script?
Perplexity, Gemini and BIGVU all wrote a script with the hooks. Submagic Hook Generator writes hooks only.
Related
See all script and hook tools, tools for hooks and scripts, teleprompter apps and the tool pages for Perplexity, Gemini, BIGVU and Submagic Hook Generator. Ready to film? See auto caption apps.
Sources: www.perplexity.ai/pro, gemini.google/subscriptions, bigvu.tv/pricing, www.submagic.co/tools/video-hook-generator. The same-prompt test section is our own hands-on test, run on 28 and 29 October 2026. The rest of this page is based on published plans and pricing pages, as recorded in our tool listings between 10 and 28 October 2026. Prices and limits change, so confirm on each provider's site.