Free Thumbnail Tester

YouTube Thumbnail Preview Tool

See exactly how your thumbnail will appear across YouTube before you publish. Preview in search results, suggested videos, and the subscription feed.

YouTube Thumbnail Preview is a free YouTube optimization tool by Kubes that previews how YouTube thumbnails appear in search results and suggested videos before publishing. Thumbnails are responsible for 90% of a video's click-through rate.

CTR Optimization Data

90%

CTR determined by thumbnail

2-10%

Average YouTube CTR

1280x720

Optimal thumbnail size

Settings

Thumbnail Image

Drop image or click to upload

16:9 recommended

Video TitleNeed better titles?

Channel Name

Views

Duration

Channel Avatar

Show TimestampDark Mode

10:34

Your Amazing Video Title That Might Be Too Long

Your Channel

1.2M views • 2 days ago

10:30

Deepinder Goyal: Zomato, 10-Min Delivery, Founder Mindset & Business In India | FO453 Raj Shamani

Raj Shamani

2.8M views • 3 weeks ago

15:44

Bill Gates on India, Billion-Dollar Business Opportunities, PM Modi & Children | FO335 Raj Shamani

Raj Shamani

4.1M views • 2 months ago

Timestamp Check: Make sure your important text isn't covered by the 10:34 badge in the bottom-right corner!

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Feature Comparison

Feature	Kubes	TubeBuddy	VidIQ
Price	Free	$9/mo	$7.50/mo
Competitor Comparison
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Dark/Light Mode
No Signup Required

How to Use the YouTube Thumbnail Previewer

1
Upload your thumbnail image.
2
Enter your video title.
3
Preview in different contexts (search, suggested, mobile).
4
Compare multiple thumbnail options.
5
Choose the best performing visual.

Why Thumbnails Determine Click-Through Rate

Your thumbnail is responsible for 90% of a video's click-through rate. A thumbnail that stands out in search results can double or triple your views without changing anything else.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Your YouTube thumbnail is your billboard on the world's second-largest search engine. But here's the problem: most creators design thumbnails in isolation, never seeing how they actually compete against other videos in YouTube's real interface. When a viewer searches for content or browses their recommended feed, your thumbnail appears alongside 10-20 other videos. It's not about looking good in Photoshop—it's about standing out in that crowded sidebar. A thumbnail that pops in your design software might completely disappear when placed next to competitors with bright, contrasting colors. This is where previewing becomes critical. Our tool shows you exactly how your thumbnail appears in three key YouTube contexts: search results (where users actively look for content), suggested videos sidebar (where viewers passively browse), and the home feed (where you compete for attention against subscribed channels). The differences matter more than you think. In search results, your thumbnail displays larger and with more context. In the suggested sidebar, it's smaller and competes with the currently playing video. Each context requires different design strategies. Preview tools let you test readability at thumbnail size, check color contrast against YouTube's dark interface, and ensure your text is legible even when shrunk to mobile dimensions. Professional YouTubers preview every thumbnail before publishing. They know that a 1% improvement in CTR (click-through rate) can mean thousands of additional views per video. Don't upload blind—preview first.