Built for every kind of channel
- Gaming
- Brick builds
- Reactions
- Tutorials
- Photography
- Vlogs
- Top 10s
Everything a YouTube thumbnail needs, nothing it doesn't
Ten free layouts and sixteen Pro ones, including a gaming pack: block builds, boss fights, tier lists, speedruns, 1v1s.
Gaming thumbnail maker →A live 0–100 design checklist score with tips: text size, contrast, word count, the timestamp corner. See the points behind it, then click a tip to fix it.
Thumbnail tester guide →See your thumbnail in a realistic mock feed, light or dark, phone or desktop, next to rivals or your own version B.
Paste a YouTube link to pull in its thumbnail and title, then remake it or test against it.
Chunky outlined fonts plus face cut-outs with a sticker edge. Pro removes backgrounds in one click, on your device.
Save your colours, fonts, text style, logo and faces once, then restyle any thumbnail in one click.
Mark the text that changes, type “1–30”, and download a whole season as a ZIP. Free makes 3 per batch and saves 1 series.
Series thumbnails guide →Pixel-perfect 1280×720 PNG, or a JPG kept under YouTube’s 2 MB phone limit. Pro adds 4K and WebP.
YouTube thumbnail size →Everything runs and autosaves in your browser. Nothing gets uploaded to us.
Free to play. Pro when you're ready.
Start free. Upgrade when your channel does.
Free mode
- Full editor: text, shapes, cut-outs
- 10 starter templates, incl. gaming
- Click check, feed test, YouTube import
- Series mode: 3 per batch, 1 saved series
- 1280×720 PNG & JPG export
- No watermark
Pro mode
- 16 premium templates, incl. the full gaming pack
- Brand kit: colours, fonts, logo, faces in one click
- Unlimited series: up to 200 per ZIP, every series saved
- One-click background removal, on your device
- 4K (3840×2160) and WebP export
- Cancel any time
Pro is launching soon. Join the waitlist and we'll email you the day it opens.
Already have a licence key? Activate it in the editor
YouTube thumbnail guides
Free thumbnail maker FAQ
Is Thumbnailr really free?
Yes. Free mode costs £0 with no account and no time limit. It includes the full editor, 10 templates, click check, feed test and series mode (3 per batch). Exports have no watermark on either plan.
Do I need to sign up or install anything?
No. Open the editor and start. It runs in Chrome, Safari, Edge and Firefox on desktop and phone, and your work autosaves in your browser. To keep a copy or move a design to another device, use Save project file (in the Export menu); the file stays on your device.
What size should a YouTube thumbnail be?
YouTube's help page currently recommends 3840×2160 (16:9) for videos, at least 640 pixels wide, as a JPG or PNG under 2 MB if you upload from a phone. Thumbnailr exports 1280×720, which YouTube still accepts, and Pro exports 4K. Read the full size guide.
Can I make gaming thumbnails?
Yes. There are 13 original gaming layouts (5 free) for block builds, speedruns, rage moments, boss fights, tier lists and more. Add your own gameplay screenshot and face cut-out. See the gaming thumbnail maker.
Can I test a thumbnail before I upload it?
Yes. Click check gives a 0–100 design checklist score, showing the points for each check, and feed test shows your thumbnail in a mock feed next to others, light or dark, phone or desktop. It is a guide based on common thumbnail advice and doesn’t predict click-through rate. How the thumbnail tester works.
Are my images uploaded anywhere?
No. Your images and projects stay in your browser and are never uploaded to us. Pro background removal also runs on your device.
Is Thumbnailr made by YouTube?
No. Thumbnailr is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by YouTube or Google.
Be first in line for Pro
Join the waitlist and we'll send you one email when Pro launches. No spam.
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