Choose a frame or photo
Add a video and scrub to the best moment, or add a photo.
Refract Creators / Thumbnail and cover maker
Free editing tool
Free thumbnail and cover maker
Pick a frame from your video or use a photo, add big readable text, and save it at the right size for each app. No account, no watermark, and your file stays on your device.
How it works
Write a short headline
A few big words read best on a small screen. Pick a size, a font, and a colour.
Save it
Download a JPEG at the right size, or share it straight to your phone’s photos.
How to make a thumbnail people tap
Thumbnails and covers are shown small, next to everything else in the feed. Simple wins.
- Use 3 to 5 words.
Long text turns into a grey blur at thumbnail size. Say the payoff in as few words as you can.
“4 lunches, $20” beats “How I meal prep for the whole week on a budget”
- Pick a clear moment.
A face, a result, or the finished thing reads better than a busy wide shot.
- Make the text big and bright.
Light text on a darker frame, or the other way round. Check it at the smallest size it’ll be shown.
- Match the promise to the video.
If the cover shows a result, show that result early in the video so people stay.
- Keep a look you repeat.
Using the same font and colour on every cover makes your profile easy to recognise.
Questions
Which sizes can I make?
A 1280 × 720 YouTube thumbnail, a 1080 × 1920 cover for Reels and TikTok, and a 1080 × 1350 Instagram post.
Is there a watermark?
No. What you save is yours, with no Refract logo.
Is my video or photo uploaded?
No. Everything happens in your browser. Nothing is sent to Refract or anyone else.
Can I use a frame from my video?
Yes. Add the video, move to the moment you want, and use that frame.
Is it free?
Yes. No account and no limit.
Now write the title to go with it.
Refract writes YouTube titles, Reels captions, and TikTok hooks from one idea, free.