YouTube Thumbnail Maker
Turn a photo or a video frame into a thumbnail that survives being 300 pixels wide — cut out, lit hard, with the space for your headline already there.
Create in the browser · One credit balance across every model
Examples made with this tool
How it works
- Step 1
Upload a photo or a frame from the video
A clear expression beats a clever composition. At thumbnail size the face is most of what anyone can actually see.
- Step 2
Pick a layout
Reaction, colour block, split screen, spotlight, neon gaming, two-panel, clean explainer, or dramatic zoom.
- Step 3
Add your headline
Each layout leaves a third of the frame deliberately empty. Set the type in your own editor, where you control the font and can check it holds up at 300 pixels wide.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I make a YouTube thumbnail with AI?
- Upload a photo or a frame from your video and pick a layout. The AI cuts the subject out, pushes the contrast, rebuilds the background and leaves clear space for a headline.
- Does it write the text on the thumbnail?
- No, deliberately. Image models render text as convincing-looking nonsense, and a garbled headline is worse than none. Every layout reserves the space; you set the words in your editor, where you can also check they still read small.
- What size are the results?
- High resolution and unwatermarked. YouTube wants 1280×720 or larger, so crop the result to 16:9 before uploading.
- What makes a thumbnail work?
- One readable face, one idea, and high contrast. Most thumbnails are seen at a fraction of their real size on a phone, so anything that has to be studied is invisible.
- Can I use a frame from my own video?
- Yes, and it is usually the better source — the person in the thumbnail then matches the person in the video, which is what stops a click bouncing straight back.
- What does it cost?
- Each generation comes off your Reelina credit balance and the exact cost is shown before you press Generate. One balance covers every model in the workspace.
- Is it free?
- No — Reelina runs on paid credits. We show what a generation costs before you run it rather than advertising a free tier we do not have.
- What happens to my photo?
- It is used only to make your result. Creations are private by default, and everything is deleted seven days after it is generated.
Unlimited HD results
No watermarks, higher resolution, and every leading AI model on one credit balance — create right in your browser.
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