I tested all the best AI thumbnail generators to figure out which one is the best.
The winner is: Pikzels AI.
This one got me the best results, something I could actually use.
Let me show you step by step how to use this tool to get the best AI thumbnails for your YouTube channel.
Disclaimer: This article is reader-supported. If you choose to pay for the tools listed in this article, I might earn a small commission at no cost to you.
How to Use Pikzels AI
Let me show you how to create next-level AI thumbnails that improve your CTR.
Create Thumbnail
Using Pikzels is simple.
Just type in what kind of thumbnail you want to create, and the AI handles the rest.
For example, I tested it first with a prompt like: “A man swimming underwater, looking terrified at the camera while a shark looms behind him.”
Then, give it around 20 seconds to create the thumbnail.
After the wait, the first version of your AI-generated thumbnail will show up.
Here’s what my initial example thumbnail looked like:
Pretty straightforward, isn’t it?
Now, let’s try making a viral thumbnail with someone diving near sharks.
That’s pretty epic!
That said, to be fair, AI has been able to do stuff like this for almost two years now. Even tools like ChatGPT make creating content this simple.
But here’s what makes this tool stand out.
For every AI thumbnail you create, you’ll get three main options:
1: Edit — This option lets you tell the AI exactly what edits you want for your new thumbnail.
2: Redo —This option makes a new version of the thumbnail you just created.
3: FaceSwap — This feature lets you put your face on the thumbnail, adding a personal touch that makes it feel like yours.
For example, I asked the AI to remake the last thumbnail, and here’s what it produced:
(I’ll show my face swap results in a moment.)
Remember, AI can be a bit unpredictable. You’ll need to experiment to see what works best.
One tip: keep your instructions simple. Don’t overload it with too many directions at once, and you’ll get cleaner, more consistent results.
The “Thumbnail Copy” feature
Now, let’s go over the feature that makes Pikzels stand out as an AI thumbnail maker: The Recreate feature.
This lets you take a thumbnail from any channel you like and quickly make a similar one.
For example, here’s a thumbnail I found on YouTube that I liked.
I wanted to make a similar thumbnail for my own video.
All I had to do was paste the video link into Pikzels, and it took care of the rest.
If you’re on YouTube, you can get the shareable link by clicking the three dots next to the video.
Copy the link:
Paste the link into Pikzels.
Adjust the Inspiration Weight to decide how closely the new thumbnail should match the original.
You can also tell the AI any specific changes you want to make.
For example, I asked it to change $100/day to $500/day. Here’s what it came up with:
That’s awesome! Here’s a side-by-side look at the original thumbnail and the AI-generated version:
Perfect!
Remember, you can tweak these thumbnails however you want.
For example, here’s what I got when I asked the AI to darken the background and change the shirt to blue:
I also asked the AI to take out the random helmet in the background.
Here’s the updated version:
And just like that, the helmet is gone!
One thing to remember is that editing can sometimes change other details by accident. AI isn’t always perfect at keeping everything exactly the same.
That said, I think this version came out great!
Cool!
There’s still one big problem: The thumbnail doesn’t look like me at all. It’s just a random, made-up person.
Luckily, Pikzels has a Face Swap feature that lets you put your own face on the thumbnail for a personal touch.
The Face Swap
Simply click on the FaceSwap feature.
Upload the thumbnail and your picture in these sections:
Click Generate and wait about 20 seconds.
Here’s an example of what I got:
Here’s a real selfie of me:
If you check the image, you’ll see it looks pretty close to me.
Finally, I asked the AI to remove the glasses from the thumbnail since I don’t wear them.
After a few quick tweaks and re-generations, here’s the final version of my thumbnail:
That’s pretty close to how I actually look!
With a bit more tweaking, like adjusting the hair and body type, it could match even better.
Tip: One step at a time
When making or editing thumbnails with Pikzels, go step by step.
Start with simple instructions to create the first thumbnail, then make edits slowly, one at a time.
Here’s the process I used for the thumbnails above:
- Recreate
- Edit: “Darker background” → Generate
- Edit: “Remove glasses” → Generate
- Edit: “Remove background helmet” → Generate
- Edit: “Change background color”
This method keeps the AI from getting confused.
Focus on giving just one or two instructions per edit. That’s the key to making great thumbnails with AI.
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Pikzels Pricing
Pikzels.com has three pricing plans:
- Essential: Basic features, 2,400 credits, and up to 240 thumbnails per year.
- Premium: Most popular, with extra tools, 18,000 credits, and 1,800 thumbnails per year.
- Ultimate: All features unlocked, 54,000 credits, and 5,400 thumbnails per year.
Higher plans give you more credits, extra features, and advanced tools to fit different needs.
Get 50% off with code JALLI50 for the first month.
Pros
- Easy to Use: Just tell the AI what you want, and it creates a thumbnail that matches your vision.
- Top-Notch Results: I’ve tried several tools, and Pikzels consistently gives the best results.
- Face Swap Feature: Thumbnails often don’t look like you at first, but Pikzels makes it easy to swap in your face for a realistic, personalized touch.
- Inspiration Tool: Lets you copy the style of an existing thumbnail, making it simple to create eye-catching designs based on proven templates.
Cons
- Weak Free Trial: The free trial is very limited. You can make only 5 thumbnails, and they have a huge watermark.
- Inconsistent Results: Sometimes you spend credits and end up with poor results or edits that don’t turn out as expected.
- Pricey Plans: At $80/month for 300 thumbnails, it’s not cheap. You often need 20–30 thumbnails (with edits) to get a really good one.
- Short-Term Advantage: These tools are impressive at first, but as more people use them, the novelty might fade. Over time, AI-generated thumbnails could start to feel generic or mass-produced.
My Honest Take
If you’re new to making thumbnails, Pikzels AI is worth trying. It can save time and give you some epic ideas.
But here’s the thing.
When everyone has access to tools like this, those eye-catching, viral thumbnails people loved can start to feel like “generic AI-generated content.”
That said, tools like Pikzels.com are still new enough that they haven’t ruined the impact of great thumbnails, at least not yet.
Only time will tell.
Stay on top of trends and pay attention to what works.
Lately, YouTube seems to be moving toward minimalistic content with fewer edits. Thumbnails are following the same trend — simple, accurate designs are coming back, letting the content speak for itself.
Get 50% off paid plans with code JALLI50.
Thanks for reading. Stay tuned!