What is Social Preview?
Social Preview is an online tool that lets content creators preview how their thumbnails, channel avatars, and banners will look on different platforms and devices. It gives you a realistic view of your content before you publish, so you can make adjustments and ensure everything looks its best.
Is Social Preview free to use?
Image previews (thumbnails, avatars, and banners) are free without an account. Video previews are currently available with Google sign-in and no usage limit or charge. A 10-use free allowance followed by $9.99 per month for unlimited video previews is planned but not active. Ad creative previews are planned at $19.99 per month but are not yet available to general users.
Do I need to create an account?
You do not need an account to use the Images section — just open the site and start previewing. Video previews require Google sign-in. Ad previews are not yet available to general users.
What data do you collect when I sign in?
When you sign in with Google, we receive your display name, profile picture URL, and email address from Google. We store your display name and profile picture to personalise your experience. Your email address is converted into a one-way cryptographic hash (SHA-256) before storage — meaning the original email cannot be recovered from what we store. We never see or store your Google password.
Are my uploaded images stored on your servers?
No. All image processing — thumbnails, avatars, and banners — occurs entirely within your browser. Your files are never uploaded to, transmitted to, or stored on our servers. When you close the tab, the images are gone.
How does billing work?
Billing is not currently available, and we do not charge for image or signed-in video previews. A video plan with 10 free uses followed by $9.99 per month, and an ad creative plan at $19.99 per month, are planned but not active.
What platforms are currently supported?
Image previews are available for YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn without an account. YouTube has Web, iPad, Mobile, and TV layouts; Facebook and LinkedIn have mobile feed and profile views, and Instagram has mobile feed, story, and profile views. Video feed and short/reel previews for YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram require Google sign-in. Meta and Google ad previews are not yet available to general users.
What image sizes are recommended?
For YouTube, the recommended image sizes are:
- Thumbnails: 1280 x 720 pixels (16:9 aspect ratio)
- Channel Avatar: 800 x 800 pixels (square)
- Channel Banner: 2560 x 1440 pixels
Social Preview includes built-in crop tools that can help you adjust your images to fit these dimensions if needed.
What is the A/B thumbnail testing feature?
The A/B testing feature allows you to upload two different thumbnail options and compare them side by side within a realistic feed layout. This helps you decide which thumbnail is more visually appealing and likely to attract clicks before you commit to one.
Does Social Preview work on mobile devices?
Social Preview is designed for desktop and tablet use to provide the most accurate previewing experience. For the best experience, please use a device with a screen width of at least 1280 pixels.
Will more platforms be added in the future?
You can already preview images for YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Meta and Google ad creative previews are not yet available to general users; additional layouts and features may be added in the future.
Can I use Social Preview for commercial purposes?
Yes. You are free to use Social Preview for any purpose, whether personal or commercial. You retain full ownership of all images you upload and any content you create.
How do I delete my account?
To request deletion of your account and all associated data, please email us at [email protected]. We will process your request within 30 days. Paid subscriptions are not currently available.