For the story behind your video
Turn a video idea into thumbnail candidates you can compare. Start with a topic, add your own photos if needed, and explore a clear subject, a short headline and a composition that reads at a glance.
Credits cover the selected batch. Fewer candidates may be returned. Failed tasks refund reserved credits. References must be uploaded again for a new batch.
Start with a topic, or add a photo to guide the composition.
Look at each candidate as a small card. Can you identify the subject before reading the headline?
AI lettering and reference details can vary. Keep the strongest composition, check the words, and make any final edits before uploading to YouTube.
A thumbnail has little room to explain a whole video. Use this workspace to explore the main visual promise: the object you reviewed, the result you achieved, or the place your story takes them. Compare different compositions before committing to one. Keep the image honest to the content, and let the video title carry details that would crowd the frame.
Name the main subject and the point of the video. Choose a style that fits your channel, then add a short headline or leave the words for later.
Upload references when identity or a product matters. Select a candidate limit and review the credit total before creating the batch.
Inspect the subject and spelling, then look at the image as a small card. Download your choice and make any final edits before publishing.
Concept illustrations, not verified outputs or performance claims.
Give a tutorial one visible result. The short headline leaves room for the desk, while the dark wall separates the letters from the subject. For your own makeover, add a reference photo of the actual room and check that the layout still matches your video.
Try a brief like this: A compact home office, an oak desk, warm task lighting and one uncluttered focal point.
Make the object easy to recognize before adding a verdict. A quiet background can give a small product more presence. Use a photo you own when its shape matters, and inspect buttons, labels and proportions rather than assuming the reference will be reproduced exactly.
Try a brief like this: A portable espresso maker, a small coffee cup and clean studio lighting on an ivory background.
A documentary thumbnail can communicate mood with one clear silhouette. Keep the scene faithful to the episode: an attractive invented landscape should not imply that you filmed somewhere you did not. Use the concept to plan your composition, then review the generated details.
Try a brief like this: A lone hiker in an amber jacket overlooking a misty alpine valley at dawn.
These are image candidates, not a replacement for editorial review. Generated words, faces, hands and product features can be wrong. There is no layer editor, automatic channel analysis, built-in A/B test or promise of higher engagement. A batch may return fewer images than its selected limit. Check the downloaded file against YouTube’s current thumbnail guidance; upload requirements depend on the device and content type.
The useful distinction is how you want to start and finish, rather than a universal winner.
| Tool | Starting point | Consider it when |
|---|---|---|
| Img ai | Topic, optional headline and up to three photos | You want a focused set of image compositions to review and download. |
| vidIQ | Video link or written thumbnail idea | You want a thumbnail workflow alongside YouTube creator tools. |
| Fotor | Prompt, photo or a thumbnail design workflow | You want generation and access to broader photo-design tools. |
Workflow sources checked September 6, 2026: vidIQ and Fotor. Their plans and features can change.
8 creditsBatch of up to 1 candidate
16 creditsBatch of up to 2 candidates
32 creditsBatch of up to 4 candidates
Sign in to generate or upload references. Your images are available through My Creations and the task’s download controls. Downloads follow your account’s existing watermark entitlement. See Img ai plans for credit packages and subscription details.
It creates flattened image candidates for a YouTube video thumbnail. Describe the topic, choose one of six visual styles, and optionally add a short headline or reference photos. It does not create a layered design file, analyze your video, or publish to your channel.
Yes. Sign in and upload up to three JPG, PNG or WebP references, each no larger than 20 MB. Only upload photos you have permission to use. References guide the image, but likeness, logos and small product details can change. Review them carefully.
Text is a generation request, not a guarantee. Keep the headline short and inspect every letter at full size and at a small preview size. If exact typography is essential, leave the headline blank and add the final words in an editor after downloading.
This tool requests landscape 16:9 images at the 2K setting. The returned file determines the exact pixel dimensions and format. Download the result, check its size, and resize or compress it for your upload workflow. Other ratios and a dedicated Shorts mode are not available here.
A batch costs 8, 16 or 32 credits for a limit of one, two or four candidates. The returned count may be lower; the selected batch price still applies. Credits are reserved when the request starts and returned if the task fails. If confirmation is interrupted, resume the saved request rather than paying for a replacement.
The three examples on this page are independently created concept illustrations. They demonstrate composition ideas, not verified outputs from this tool or measured channel results. Your results will vary. No thumbnail can guarantee views, clicks or a particular click-through rate.
Need a different starting point?
