YouTube Preview Tool
Preview how your thumbnail looks in YouTube search results, home feed, suggested sidebar, and on mobile devices.
The YouTube Preview tool shows you exactly how your thumbnail will look in different YouTube contexts. This helps you spot issues before publishing — text too small, colors that don't stand out, or compositions that get lost among other videos.
Using the Preview Tool
- Go to Utilities in the sidebar
- Click YouTube Preview
- Upload your thumbnail image
- Optionally enter your video title for a more realistic preview
- Switch between the four preview modes
Preview Modes
Home Feed
Shows your thumbnail in a YouTube home page grid layout alongside other videos. This is how most viewers first discover videos. Check that:
- Your thumbnail stands out from surrounding content
- The subject is clear even at small size
- Colors pop against the dark YouTube background
Search Results
Simulates YouTube search results where thumbnails appear next to titles and descriptions in a horizontal layout. Here, your thumbnail competes directly with others for the same search term. Make sure:
- Your thumbnail is clearly different from competitors
- The image tells a story even without reading the title
- Any text in the thumbnail is readable at this smaller size
Suggested Sidebar
Shows the compact sidebar suggestions that appear next to a playing video. These thumbnails are even smaller. Verify:
- Your subject is recognizable
- Text (if any) is still legible
- High contrast elements stand out
Mobile
Wraps everything in a phone-shaped frame simulating the YouTube mobile app. Mobile is where most YouTube consumption happens. Confirm:
- Your thumbnail works at phone size
- Touch-target areas look right
- The overall impression is clear and compelling
Tips
- Check all four views before publishing — a thumbnail that looks great in the home feed might be unreadable in the sidebar
- Compare with competitors — the placeholder thumbnails around yours simulate the competition. Does yours stand out?
- Add your real title — the title and thumbnail work together. A preview without your title gives incomplete feedback
- This tool is completely free and doesn't use any credits