Designers keep reference boards because good ideas come from comparison. Gather 10 to 30 thumbnails that perform well in your niche — outliers from competitor channels, the top results for your keyword, and your own best videos — and patterns appear quickly: face size, number of words, colour contrast, where the subject sits.
Write a short note on each card about why it works: “one word, huge”, “before/after split”, “bright yellow on dark”. Drag the cards so the strongest examples sit together. When you are ready, choose your own thumbnail and see it inside a YouTube mockup surrounded by your references, in light and dark mode. If it doesn’t stand out there, it won’t stand out on YouTube either.
Export creates a ZIP with every image plus a CSV file of titles, channels, views, links and your notes — handy for a brief to an editor or a client.
The board is stored in your browser’s own database (IndexedDB), so it doesn’t sync between devices. Clearing your browser data removes it.
Frequently asked questions
Where is my board saved?
In this browser only (IndexedDB). It stays after you close the tab, but clearing site data or using another browser starts a new, empty board.
Is there a limit?
There is no fixed limit; a few hundred thumbnails work fine. Images are loaded from YouTube when you open the board.
What is in the CSV?
Position, video ID, title, channel, views, YouTube link, image link and your note for every card.
Is my own thumbnail uploaded when I compare?
No. It is opened by your browser for the mockup and is not saved anywhere.