Compare two thumbnails side by side
Add two designs and see which one stands out in a busy feed. Images stay on your device.
At small size
This is roughly how big thumbnails appear in the "Up next" list and on many phones.
What to look for
- Turn on the blur test. The design you can still "read" when blurred usually wins.
- Glance, don't study. Look away, then back. Which one did your eye land on first?
- Check the text. Is it still readable at the small size? If not, use fewer, bigger words.
- Try dark mode. Many viewers use it, and some colours behave very differently.
More free tools
Video tools
All platforms
Instagram tools
Pinterest tools
TikTok tools
How to choose between two thumbnail designs
When you have two good thumbnail ideas, gut feeling isn't always reliable, because you've been staring at both for hours. This free thumbnail A/B comparison tool places both designs side by side in a realistic feed so you can judge them the way a viewer would: quickly, at small size, next to other videos.
Use the blur test
Turn on the blur test to soften both images. Viewers scrolling quickly see roughly this level of detail. The design whose subject and shape still read clearly when blurred is usually the stronger one. Then switch to the phone and "Up next" layouts, where thumbnails are smallest.
What usually makes one design win
- Higher contrast between subject and background.
- Fewer elements, and bigger ones.
- A visible emotion or a clear "before and after".
- Colours that stand apart from the rest of the feed, in both light and dark mode.
Once you've picked a winner, make sure it's exactly 1280×720 and under 2 MB with the thumbnail resizer.
Questions
Is this a real A/B test with viewers?
No. It's a visual comparison to help you choose before uploading. Some platforms also offer built-in thumbnail testing with real viewers after you publish.
Are my images uploaded?
No. Both images are shown using your browser only and never reach our server.