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Top 12 Free YouTube Thumbnail Makers [2025]

Arvin Alejandro
Arvin Alejandro Originally published Feb 19, 25, updated Feb 21, 25
12 min(s)

For creators who generate a compelling video but cannot reach a wider audience, their video might lack elements like eye-catching thumbnails. This is because the first thing the audience sees is the thumbnail of your video. However, many people do not know how to craft a compelling picture for the visual content. This is where automated thumbnail-maker apps come in handy for creating video covers.

These tools automatically detect the highlight moment of the video and generate thumbnails accordingly. This article will discuss the top 12 thumbnail generators you can try for your visual content.

In this article
    1. Creating Thumbnails for YouTube Videos Using Filmora Desktop Version
    2. Creating Thumbnails Using the Filmora App
    1. Canva
    2. Picmaker
    3. PicMonkey
    4. Fotor
    5. Fotojet
    6. Panzoid
    7. Pixlr
    8. Photo Editor
    9. Picsart
    10. Visme
    11. Snappa
    12. Adobe Express

Part 1. Generating Thumbnail Using The Best Resource: Wondershare Filmora

Some content creators do not comprehend why their YouTube videos are not making waves. They think the issue is with the content, but in fact, the problem is with the thumbnail. One of the best resources for creating visually stunning thumbnails to grab viewers' attention is Wondershare Filmora. With AI capabilities, it selects the video's key moment and lets you upload an existing image from your device's storage as a thumbnail.

Users can manually add text or let the tool generate compelling text for the thumbnail using AI. Moreover, users can customize the text's display in terms of color, background, and font. You can also add captivating images through this free thumbnail maker to make the video image look more compelling for the audience.

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Creating Thumbnails for YouTube Videos Using Filmora Desktop Version

To create compelling images for your video to display, you can use the Filmora desktop version. To learn how to generate thumbnails using Filmora, read the steps mentioned below.

01of 06Start by Creating a New Project

To begin, launch the Filmora tool on your PC and opt for the "New Project" tab from the tool's homepage.

start creating new project in filmora
02of 06Import Your Video and Perform Editing

Once the project is launched, import the video to the tool's interface and drag it to the editing timeline. Perform video editing of your choice and apply effects and other enhancement features. Once you are satisfied with the results, head to the top right corner of the interface and press the "Export" button.

import video and export after edits
03of 06Select the Thumbnail Creation Option

In the export window, locate the Thumbnail option on the left and press the "Edit" button to create your video's thumbnail.

tap edit to create thumbnail
04of 06Select the Preset of the Thumbnails

The AI will analyze your video and provide you with the options from the clips to add to the video picture. You can select from the "AI Cover" options provided on the right side of the window. To remove the unwanted area from the picture, click the "Crop" option located above the image preview. To add customized text, tap the "Add Text" option or use "Add Image" for adding an image.

choose ai cover and edit
05of 06Customize the Text According To Your Preferences

Next, access the "Preset" option located at the right side of the window and add text style from the options provided. To add a custom style to the text, enable the "Customize" section and modify different attributes according to your choice. Finally, hit the "Save" button to proceed forward with the exporting process.

access presets to customize and save

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06of 06Post The Video Direct to YouTube's Platform

In the export window, enable the "Social Media" section and select the "YouTube" platform from the left by allowing the checkbox next to it. Now, configure the settings and finally press the "Export" button to post the video directly to your YouTube channel.

pick social media destination and export

Creating Thumbnails Using the Filmora App

If you want to record and post a video to YouTube directly from your phone, you can generate thumbnails right from the phone using the Filmora App:

01of 04Import Your Video After Creating Project

To begin, launch the Filmora app on your mobile device and select the "New Project" tab from the homepage. Next, add the video which you want to post to YouTube to the tool's interface.

press new project in filmora app
02of 04Select the Cover Option and Choose Thumbnail

In the main interface of the tool, access the "Cover" option located adjacent to the video track on the editing timeline. Now, drag the video slider below to select the picture from the clip for setting as the cover. Once selected, tap the "Tick" icon located at the top-right corner.

adjust cover and tap tick
03of 04Add Text To Your Thumbnail Cover

Make your thumbnail more comprehensive by adding text using the "Text" icon located in the toolbar below. Now, input your desired text and customize the look by selecting the options from the presets and animations provided. Afterward, tap the "Tick" icon to save the changes, head to the top-right, and press the "Export" button to proceed with the export process.

add text and apply changes
04of 04Export Video With Thumbnail

Here, a preview of your created thumbnail will be generated along with the video. Press the "Export" button to finally save the generated thumbnail output to your smartphone.

continue to export video with thumbnail

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Part 2. 10+ Free YouTube Thumbnail Makers for Windows / Mac / Online / Android / iPhone / iPad

Having discussed the best thumbnail maker that offers incredible features to make your YouTube thumbnail eye-catching, let us have a look at the other alternatives available:

1. Canva

One of the widely used tools, Canva, provides many predesigned templates where users can quickly make thumbnails, and it's easy to use even for beginners in the field. This free thumbnail maker app is designed to allow users to customize the provided templates by changing their color, style, and design to fit the video theme. Moreover, it supports resizing options to adjust the dimensions of the cover image according to platforms.

canva free thumbnail maker

Key Features

  1. Allows users to add their logos and design by importing it from the computer.
  2. Provides many text editing tools where users can change the style and color of titles and subtitles on the image cover.
  3. Removes the image's background to be added to the display cover to make a transparent overlay.

Compatibility: Online, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android.

2. Picmaker

Using this best thumbnail maker for YouTube, users can produce stunning and striking thumbnails using the required premade resolution and aspect ratios. Furthermore, users can import their own font designs, logos, and color palettes to add to the image design. Additionally, it offers various resolutions and formats for downloading your thumbnail without compromising the image quality.

picmaker thumbnail maker app

Key Features

  1. Grants an extensive library of predesigned templates for cover images, making it easy to use for beginners.
  2. Provides various filters and effects to apply to your picture to make them visually appealing.
  3. Adds images to the project to create a visually appealing look or mark them as a favorite for later use.

Compatibility: Online

3. PicMonkey

To make eye-catching thumbnails, this tool is a perfect choice for professional Youtubers as it provides an in-built template to make it in a time-efficient way. Moreover, this thumbnail editing app enables users to adjust the tones of their images using a color-shifting tool where you can also change the hue and saturation of your picture.

picmonkey best thumbnail maker app

Key Features

  1. Grant an import option to upload the images from the computer and various platforms for easy access.
  2. Allows the user to add many frames in different geometric forms to give a unique look to the cover image.
  3. Provides numerous stock photos to add to your thumbnail for quick and beginner-friendly making.

Compatibility: Online

4. Fotor

Create stunning thumbnails effortlessly with this top thumbnail maker app using its beginner-friendly interface and pre-built templates, making it perfect for YouTube videos and more. Users can also personalize these provided templates according to their preferences. Moreover, it has a user-friendly interface where one can easily use the drag-and-drop option to create designs without any prior experience.

fotor thumbnail editing app

Key Features

  1. Helps to create an image using its AI-induce image generator by just describing the picture.
  2. Offers an extensive collection of icons, shapes, and stickers to make the thumbnail unique and creative.
  3. Access your photos and projects anytime from any device online using cloud storage.

Compatibility: Online, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android

5. Fotojet

Visually appealing image covers are effortlessly generated by this platform, using various features like a customizable text tool that crafts attractive text on the thumbnails. In addition, this thumbnail maker app also provides a predesigned template tailored for different social media platforms, ready for beginners with simple adjustments. Furthermore, it allows the export of thumbnail pictures to high resolutions without compromising their quality.

fotorjet free thumbnail maker

Key Features

  1. Provides a variety of fonts, styles, and text effects to match the theme of the video.
  2. Allows easy drag and drop to apply effects and styles, making it simple for beginners.
  3. Supports different size options that are compatible with various social media platforms.

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux, Online

6. Panzoid

One of the powerful tools for creating custom backgrounds and thumbnails, Backgrounder, is very popular among content creators as it provides excellent features for seamless editing. Users can easily set the size of the picture according to the required social media platform. Besides, it also offers pre-deigns, allowing users to make quick adjustments and save time and effort with this thumbnail editing app.

backgrounder thumbnail maker

Key Features

  1. Enables users to do layer-by-layer editing by adding multiple text boxes, images, and effects on the thumbnail.
  2. Creates unique and custom backgrounds by providing different colors and gradient options.
  3. Holds many geometrical shapes in the library to incorporate into the design of the picture.

Compatibility: Online

7. Pixlr

The best thumbnail maker for YouTube, offering professional-grade design tools and an easy-to-use interface, enabling even beginners to create professional teaser covers with built-in templates and text designs. Additionally, it offers various effects and filters to add to the images to enhance the creativity of the thumbnail. Besides, it also holds a wide variety of filters where users can add graphics, stickers, and overlays to their project.

pixlr free thumbnail maker app

Key Features

  1. Enhances the image quality using enhancement tools like contrast, brightness, and saturation.
  2. Provides many animations to add to the cover image to make a picture attention-grabbing.
  3. Supports many formats for exporting and using files on various social media platforms.

Compatibility: Online

8. Photo Editor

Many people widely use this thumbnail maker because it has many photo editing features that are not only used for creating visually appealing thumbnails but also high-quality images. Users can add many frames and overlay on their pictures from the extensive in-built library. Moreover, this app offers various types of text and font customization styles to change the text's outlines, size, color, and background.

photo editor thumbnail maker

Key Features

  1. Creates transparent thumbnails by removing the background from the AI-induced background removal.
  2. Provides basic editing tools like crop, rotate and flip options to resize the image according to requirement.
  3. Offers different types of brush and paint to draw anything on your thumbnail for a creative look.

Compatibility: iOS

9. Picsart

For seamless and creative thumbnail creation, this app offers features where beginners can easily use premade templates, requiring only minor tweaks for quick, professional results. Moreover, this free thumbnail maker app provides an AI image generator to craft images by just giving a prompt. Furthermore, with the image enhancer, you can boost the quality and sharpness of your thumbnail.

picsart thumbnail maker app

Key Features

  1. Offers many photo effects and eye-catching filters to incorporate into the design of the image.
  2. Allows to make any background using its AI feature by just describing the detail of the background.
  3. Provides many thumbnails for various social media platforms from the resize menu.

Compatibility: Windows, iOS, Android

10. Visme

Offering a user-friendly thumbnail editing app, Visme is a powerful online tool that provides an extensive library of templates that can be used as a starting point for cover image making. In addition, you can customize the text and its design using many styles and colors to match the theme of the video. Besides this, users can utilize the drag-and-drop feature to add designs and align them properly.

visme thumbnail editing app

Key Features

  1. Grants many data forms to add charts, maps, and graphics to the image to create a professional look.
  2. Suggests the color scheme, layouts, and design elements using the AI feature.
  3. Exports the finished thumbnail in many formats to facilitate using them on many social media platforms.

Compatibility: iOS, Windows, Mac, Online

11. Snappa

Generate high-quality professional teaser images with the Snappa platform using the ideal image dimension of YouTube thumbnails, saving time and effort in resizing them accordingly. This free thumbnail maker offers a basic shape and design, allowing you to create stunning photos quickly. Furthermore, you can have free access to numerous stock images from its library to create more charming thumbnails.

snappa best thumbnail maker app

Key Features

  1. Provides effects tools to change the brightness, hue, and contrast of the cover image, enhancing its quality.
  2. Changes the background of the picture by providing many background options or making it transparent.
  3. Offers many font options to change the style of the text in the thumbnail to create more eye-catching visuals.

Compatibility: Online

12. Adobe Express

A versatile and powerful tool that uses advanced technology to create engaging thumbnails is Adobe Express. This thumbnail maker offers a wide range of customization options, allowing users to create designs that align perfectly with their video content. Users can select from templates for thumbnails or upload their own images to the tool's interface. Moreover, this thumbnail editing app allows you to process images in bulk for a quick process.

adobe express thumbnail maker software

Key Features

  1. Let's incorporate bold and catchy text to make your thumbnail stand out.
  2. Enhance your design by adding unique icons, shapes, and graphic elements.
  3. Allows you to personalize the thumbnail by adding your own photos or screenshots

Compatibility: Online

Conclusion

To conclude, this article explored the top 12 resources that work as the best free thumbnail makers. The article also suggested how you can create customized thumbnails using Wondershare Filmora desktop and mobile phone versions. With Filmora, the process of creating covers for videos is streamlined with AI-powered features. Moreover, it lets you post the video directly to the platform while staying within the interface.

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Arvin Alejandro
Arvin Alejandro Feb 21, 25
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