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AI Preheader Generator: Preview Text That Works With Your Subject

The preheader is the short line inbox apps show right after or below your subject line. Leave it empty and readers may see "View this email in your browser" instead. Enter your subject line and what the issue covers, and the AI suggests three preheaders that add something the subject doesn't say.

What you enter is sent to our AI provider (Anthropic) to create the result. We don't save it; only a short excerpt appears in an internal usage notice to our team.

How to use it

  1. Paste the subject line you plan to use.
  2. Describe the issue in two or three sentences, including what didn't fit in the subject: times, what's inside, what readers get.
  3. Click Generate with AI, pick one of the three and paste it into the preheader or preview text field of your email tool.

Where does the preheader appear?

In Gmail, Apple Mail, Outlook and most other inboxes, the sender name and subject line are followed by a line or two of preview text. The preheader is the text you choose for that spot. Before opening anything, readers scan three things: who it's from, the subject and the preheader.

Add to the subject, don't repeat it

The preheader is read together with the subject line, so repeating the subject wastes the space. Let the subject say what the email is about, and use the preheader for the detail or the payoff.

  • Subject "We're now open on Saturdays" → preheader "Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., plus three new winter dishes to try when you visit."
  • Subject "Is your tax paperwork ready?" → preheader "A short checklist of the documents worth gathering now, so filing season is less stressful."
  • Weak: subject "Our fall sale" → preheader "Find out about our fall sale" (it says the same thing twice).

How long should a preheader be?

How much shows depends on the app, the screen width and the length of your subject line. Aim for about 85 to 100 characters, and put the key information in the first 40 or so, so it still makes sense when it's cut short. This tool shows the character count of each suggestion and flags ones that run short or long.

What happens if you leave it empty?

Without a preheader, inbox apps show the first text in the email. That is often "View this email in your browser", "Having trouble viewing this email?", alt text from a logo, or a generic greeting. Set a preheader for every issue, or make the first sentence of the email a summary of what's inside.

FAQ

My email tool has no preheader field. What can I do?

Put the sentence you want as the very first line of the email. Most inbox apps use the opening text as the preview, so it has the same effect.

Does a preheader improve open rates?

It gives readers more context than the subject alone, which helps them decide the email is relevant. To measure it, A/B test two versions and compare open rates with the newsletter metrics calculator.

Is it free?

Yes. No signup is needed, and you can run it up to 10 times an hour.

Let AI draft the whole newsletter

Newsletter Ready drafts the subject line and the whole issue from your newest website articles. You read it and approve.

See a sample issue made from your website

Related

AI suggestions are drafts. Check facts and figures before you send.