Unlock YouTube Visuals for No Charge: Best Free Downloader Guide

Best Free Downloaders: Download YouTube Thumbnail for Free[Online/Win/Mac]

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

What is a YouTube thumbnail?

A YouTube thumbnail is nothing but the cover image shown on a video file on YouTube. It shows what you are going to talk about in the youtube video. A cool thumbnail will make the viewers want to click your video which in turn will help you to improve the traffic and number of clicks per video. Sometimes you may want to download youtube thumbnail from others. But it is very difficult to download a thumbnail directly from YouTube and many of you might not know that a thumbnail can be downloaded from elsewhere and then added to your content.

Here in this article, we will introduce the best 6 online tools available in the market to download YouTube thumbnail.

• 6 Online Tools to Download YouTube Thumbnail for Free
• Bonus Tips to Create a Clickable YouTube Thumbnail

6 Online Tools to Download YouTube Thumbnail for Free

Knowing the importance of YouTube thumbnails, you might now be wondering where to download the thumbnails for free. Let us have a look at some of the tools that can help you download YouTube thumbnail for free.

1. YouTube Thumbnail Image Tool

The YouTube Thumbnail Image Tool is a simple and free tool that helps you to download a thumbnail in four dimensions for your video, i.e. MQ 320*180, HQ 480*360, SD 640*480, and HD 1920*1080. Whether you are using a Windows or Mac OS, the thumbnail can be easily be downloaded via any browser.

Steps to Download:

• Open any browser and open this youtube thumbnail image tool from Here
• Copy the link from your youtube video
• Paste the URL link of the video in the box and hit on Search
• You will be then displayed different qualities of the thumbnail. Choose one (HD is recommended) and hit the Download button

The selected quality of thumbnail will be downloaded to your storage which can later be used while uploading a video to YouTube.

2. Online YouTube Thumbnail Downloader

This online YouTube Thumbnail Downloader tool has a lot of features among which creating thumbnail for a YouTube video is one. This free online tool can easily be accessed both on Windows and Mac OS via any browser. This downloader can generate thumbnails for videos in HD, HQ 1080p, and 4K formats and the thumbnails will be available in SD, HD(720), and Full HD(1080).

Steps to Download:

• Copy the link of the youtube video you wish to generate the thumbnail
• Click Here to open this free tool with your browser and paste the link in the box displayed at the top
• As soon as you paste the link, the available qualities of the thumbnail will be displayed just below the box
• Choose your desired quality of the image and hit on the Download button on the image you wish to download

The image will be downloaded and saved to your device instantly. You can now use it as a thumbnail for your YouTube video.

3. Thumbnail Save Tool

The Thumbnail Save Tool is also a free online tool which you can access from the browser of your Windows or Mac. It is a very simple tool that can generate thumbnails for HQ, HD, 1080P, and 4K videos instantly. Let us see how the thumbnail can be generated

Steps to Download:

• Copy the URL of the video you want to create thumbnail
• Open this Thumbnail Save Tool from Here via your browser
• Paste the copied link in the box above Submit and hit Submit. Then the thumbnail will be generated instantly
• Now, to save the generated image to your device, right-click on the thumbnail and select the Save image as… option

The image will be saved to your device for later use as a thumbnail for your YouTube video.

4. YouTube Thumbnail Grabber

The YouTube thumbnail grabber is an online tool that can help you to download a thumbnail from a YouTube video for free. This tool can simply be accessed both by windows and Mac users through any browser. This tool helps you to download a thumbnail in any quality in some simple steps. Let us see how.

Steps to Download:

• Open this youtube thumbnail grabber from Here with any browser. Then Copy the link of the youtube video.
• Paste the link in the box displayed on the page and hit the Get Thumbnails Image tab
• Five different qualities of thumbnails will be generated among which you can choose your desired quality
• Hit the Download button below the image you chose

The thumbnail will be downloaded to your device for later use.

5. Thumbnail Download Tool

This thumbnail download tool allows generating thumbnails from video platforms like Dailymotion, Vimeo, Facebook, and YouTube. It is a free online tool that enables you to download the thumbnail of your video in the best quality. The tool can be accessed both on Windows and Mac OS without any issues. Let us see how the thumbnail can be downloaded for YouTube.

Steps to Download:

• Copy the URL link of the video you wish to generate a thumbnail
• Click Here to open this Thumbnail Download Tool with your browseron any browser of your Windows or iOS.
• Paste the copied link in the box and press the Download button
• Choose the picture size among the results displayed
• Save the picture to your PC

Your thumbnail image is now ready to be used.

6. YouTube Thumbnail Downloader

The YouTube Thumbnail Downloader is an online tool that can help you to create thumbnails for your YouTube videos and blogs. This tool will help you to download full HD 1080*720 images from YouTube for free, irrespective of the operative system you are using. Let us see how the thumbnail can be downloaded

Steps to Download:

• Copy the link of any YouTube video you wish to generate a thumbnail
• Click Here in your browser and Paste the link in the box
• Hit the Find button. Then different qualities of the image will be displayed
• Select your desired quality and tap on the download icon on the respective image

The image will now be saved to your device

Bonus Tips to Create a Clickable YouTube Thumbnail

Don’t know how to create a clickable youtube thumbnail? Here we will recommend 5 tips for you!

1. Great thumbnail image quality and size

The thumbnail image quality should be good (HD/UHD). It should be bright. No matter what the device (a large TV) the viewers are using, care must be taken to avoid getting blurry thumbnails. The quality and the correct size of the thumbnail will create a positive image of the video in the user’s mind even before viewing the video. The video must be viewed from a variety of devices to test if the quality differs in different devices. Here are some specs for a perfect thumbnail

• The image formats should be in GIF, JPG PNG OR BMP
• The maximum size of the image must be 1280*720 px
• The minimum size 640*360 px
• The aspect ratio 16:9
• The maximum file size 2MB

2. Show a person in the Thumbnail image

A human face will get you closer to your audience. Our brain is wired in a way that a human face will draw its attention more than anything. So the users will naturally would an image with a human delivering the content rather than a robot or just a video of nonliving things. People tend to find a connection with the characters displayed on the thumbnail and hence prompting them to click on the video.

3. Use descriptive text in your thumbnail with branding elements

It is not completely possible to deliver a message through a picture and hence try to use descriptive texts. The texts should be clear enough and must be phrased in a manner that increases the curiosity or appeals to the emotions of the viewers. People tend to click a video just because of curiosity, wanting to know what the content is about. The type of font, color, and size also plays an important role in catching the attention of the audience.

4. Make Color Contrast between the text and background

Complementary colors will make your thumbnail stand out to some extent. Combining a yellow background with a purple foreground or green with red will make it easier to draw the attention of the browsers. Also, the use of analogous colors in the thumbnail makes it more attractive and pleasing to the eye.

Image resource: Pinterest

Analogous colors are the colors that appear next to each other on a color wheel

5. Consistency

Consistency is something most of the people prefer and makes a thing more attractive. A thumbnail video with consistent text font, color tuning, visual effect, etc. will catch the eye of the users as it will stand apart in the whole webpage. Consistency adds to the standards of a video and will make people feel that this video is productive or from an authentic source

Create Your Own YouTube Thumbnail with Filmora for Free

Now that we have learned about how to download YouTube thumbnail for free and the rules you should follows, you may want to create a thumbnail. There are many Youtube thumbnail makers on the market that can help you create a YouTube thumbnail like Canva, PixStudio and more. However, we would like to be different today and recommend Filmora to you.

The benefits of using Filmora to create your YouTube thumbnail is that you don’t need to look for other softwares. You can make a thumbnail while you are editing your video with Filmora easily.

Wondering how can you do it? Here is a video guide for you.

Conclusion

Getting the proper size and quality of a YouTube thumbnail is very important for activities like blogging, designing, etc. Here in this article, we have described how to download YouTube thumbnail from the best free downloaders available online in simple steps. These Thumbnail downloading tools can be accessed from any device with an internet connection and will help you to download the perfect thumbnail image of your choice within minutes. Please leave your feedback about our suggestions in the comment box below.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

What is a YouTube thumbnail?

A YouTube thumbnail is nothing but the cover image shown on a video file on YouTube. It shows what you are going to talk about in the youtube video. A cool thumbnail will make the viewers want to click your video which in turn will help you to improve the traffic and number of clicks per video. Sometimes you may want to download youtube thumbnail from others. But it is very difficult to download a thumbnail directly from YouTube and many of you might not know that a thumbnail can be downloaded from elsewhere and then added to your content.

Here in this article, we will introduce the best 6 online tools available in the market to download YouTube thumbnail.

• 6 Online Tools to Download YouTube Thumbnail for Free
• Bonus Tips to Create a Clickable YouTube Thumbnail

6 Online Tools to Download YouTube Thumbnail for Free

Knowing the importance of YouTube thumbnails, you might now be wondering where to download the thumbnails for free. Let us have a look at some of the tools that can help you download YouTube thumbnail for free.

1. YouTube Thumbnail Image Tool

The YouTube Thumbnail Image Tool is a simple and free tool that helps you to download a thumbnail in four dimensions for your video, i.e. MQ 320*180, HQ 480*360, SD 640*480, and HD 1920*1080. Whether you are using a Windows or Mac OS, the thumbnail can be easily be downloaded via any browser.

Steps to Download:

• Open any browser and open this youtube thumbnail image tool from Here
• Copy the link from your youtube video
• Paste the URL link of the video in the box and hit on Search
• You will be then displayed different qualities of the thumbnail. Choose one (HD is recommended) and hit the Download button

The selected quality of thumbnail will be downloaded to your storage which can later be used while uploading a video to YouTube.

2. Online YouTube Thumbnail Downloader

This online YouTube Thumbnail Downloader tool has a lot of features among which creating thumbnail for a YouTube video is one. This free online tool can easily be accessed both on Windows and Mac OS via any browser. This downloader can generate thumbnails for videos in HD, HQ 1080p, and 4K formats and the thumbnails will be available in SD, HD(720), and Full HD(1080).

Steps to Download:

• Copy the link of the youtube video you wish to generate the thumbnail
• Click Here to open this free tool with your browser and paste the link in the box displayed at the top
• As soon as you paste the link, the available qualities of the thumbnail will be displayed just below the box
• Choose your desired quality of the image and hit on the Download button on the image you wish to download

The image will be downloaded and saved to your device instantly. You can now use it as a thumbnail for your YouTube video.

3. Thumbnail Save Tool

The Thumbnail Save Tool is also a free online tool which you can access from the browser of your Windows or Mac. It is a very simple tool that can generate thumbnails for HQ, HD, 1080P, and 4K videos instantly. Let us see how the thumbnail can be generated

Steps to Download:

• Copy the URL of the video you want to create thumbnail
• Open this Thumbnail Save Tool from Here via your browser
• Paste the copied link in the box above Submit and hit Submit. Then the thumbnail will be generated instantly
• Now, to save the generated image to your device, right-click on the thumbnail and select the Save image as… option

The image will be saved to your device for later use as a thumbnail for your YouTube video.

4. YouTube Thumbnail Grabber

The YouTube thumbnail grabber is an online tool that can help you to download a thumbnail from a YouTube video for free. This tool can simply be accessed both by windows and Mac users through any browser. This tool helps you to download a thumbnail in any quality in some simple steps. Let us see how.

Steps to Download:

• Open this youtube thumbnail grabber from Here with any browser. Then Copy the link of the youtube video.
• Paste the link in the box displayed on the page and hit the Get Thumbnails Image tab
• Five different qualities of thumbnails will be generated among which you can choose your desired quality
• Hit the Download button below the image you chose

The thumbnail will be downloaded to your device for later use.

5. Thumbnail Download Tool

This thumbnail download tool allows generating thumbnails from video platforms like Dailymotion, Vimeo, Facebook, and YouTube. It is a free online tool that enables you to download the thumbnail of your video in the best quality. The tool can be accessed both on Windows and Mac OS without any issues. Let us see how the thumbnail can be downloaded for YouTube.

Steps to Download:

• Copy the URL link of the video you wish to generate a thumbnail
• Click Here to open this Thumbnail Download Tool with your browseron any browser of your Windows or iOS.
• Paste the copied link in the box and press the Download button
• Choose the picture size among the results displayed
• Save the picture to your PC

Your thumbnail image is now ready to be used.

6. YouTube Thumbnail Downloader

The YouTube Thumbnail Downloader is an online tool that can help you to create thumbnails for your YouTube videos and blogs. This tool will help you to download full HD 1080*720 images from YouTube for free, irrespective of the operative system you are using. Let us see how the thumbnail can be downloaded

Steps to Download:

• Copy the link of any YouTube video you wish to generate a thumbnail
• Click Here in your browser and Paste the link in the box
• Hit the Find button. Then different qualities of the image will be displayed
• Select your desired quality and tap on the download icon on the respective image

The image will now be saved to your device

Bonus Tips to Create a Clickable YouTube Thumbnail

Don’t know how to create a clickable youtube thumbnail? Here we will recommend 5 tips for you!

1. Great thumbnail image quality and size

The thumbnail image quality should be good (HD/UHD). It should be bright. No matter what the device (a large TV) the viewers are using, care must be taken to avoid getting blurry thumbnails. The quality and the correct size of the thumbnail will create a positive image of the video in the user’s mind even before viewing the video. The video must be viewed from a variety of devices to test if the quality differs in different devices. Here are some specs for a perfect thumbnail

• The image formats should be in GIF, JPG PNG OR BMP
• The maximum size of the image must be 1280*720 px
• The minimum size 640*360 px
• The aspect ratio 16:9
• The maximum file size 2MB

2. Show a person in the Thumbnail image

A human face will get you closer to your audience. Our brain is wired in a way that a human face will draw its attention more than anything. So the users will naturally would an image with a human delivering the content rather than a robot or just a video of nonliving things. People tend to find a connection with the characters displayed on the thumbnail and hence prompting them to click on the video.

3. Use descriptive text in your thumbnail with branding elements

It is not completely possible to deliver a message through a picture and hence try to use descriptive texts. The texts should be clear enough and must be phrased in a manner that increases the curiosity or appeals to the emotions of the viewers. People tend to click a video just because of curiosity, wanting to know what the content is about. The type of font, color, and size also plays an important role in catching the attention of the audience.

4. Make Color Contrast between the text and background

Complementary colors will make your thumbnail stand out to some extent. Combining a yellow background with a purple foreground or green with red will make it easier to draw the attention of the browsers. Also, the use of analogous colors in the thumbnail makes it more attractive and pleasing to the eye.

Image resource: Pinterest

Analogous colors are the colors that appear next to each other on a color wheel

5. Consistency

Consistency is something most of the people prefer and makes a thing more attractive. A thumbnail video with consistent text font, color tuning, visual effect, etc. will catch the eye of the users as it will stand apart in the whole webpage. Consistency adds to the standards of a video and will make people feel that this video is productive or from an authentic source

Create Your Own YouTube Thumbnail with Filmora for Free

Now that we have learned about how to download YouTube thumbnail for free and the rules you should follows, you may want to create a thumbnail. There are many Youtube thumbnail makers on the market that can help you create a YouTube thumbnail like Canva, PixStudio and more. However, we would like to be different today and recommend Filmora to you.

The benefits of using Filmora to create your YouTube thumbnail is that you don’t need to look for other softwares. You can make a thumbnail while you are editing your video with Filmora easily.

Wondering how can you do it? Here is a video guide for you.

Conclusion

Getting the proper size and quality of a YouTube thumbnail is very important for activities like blogging, designing, etc. Here in this article, we have described how to download YouTube thumbnail from the best free downloaders available online in simple steps. These Thumbnail downloading tools can be accessed from any device with an internet connection and will help you to download the perfect thumbnail image of your choice within minutes. Please leave your feedback about our suggestions in the comment box below.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

What is a YouTube thumbnail?

A YouTube thumbnail is nothing but the cover image shown on a video file on YouTube. It shows what you are going to talk about in the youtube video. A cool thumbnail will make the viewers want to click your video which in turn will help you to improve the traffic and number of clicks per video. Sometimes you may want to download youtube thumbnail from others. But it is very difficult to download a thumbnail directly from YouTube and many of you might not know that a thumbnail can be downloaded from elsewhere and then added to your content.

Here in this article, we will introduce the best 6 online tools available in the market to download YouTube thumbnail.

• 6 Online Tools to Download YouTube Thumbnail for Free
• Bonus Tips to Create a Clickable YouTube Thumbnail

6 Online Tools to Download YouTube Thumbnail for Free

Knowing the importance of YouTube thumbnails, you might now be wondering where to download the thumbnails for free. Let us have a look at some of the tools that can help you download YouTube thumbnail for free.

1. YouTube Thumbnail Image Tool

The YouTube Thumbnail Image Tool is a simple and free tool that helps you to download a thumbnail in four dimensions for your video, i.e. MQ 320*180, HQ 480*360, SD 640*480, and HD 1920*1080. Whether you are using a Windows or Mac OS, the thumbnail can be easily be downloaded via any browser.

Steps to Download:

• Open any browser and open this youtube thumbnail image tool from Here
• Copy the link from your youtube video
• Paste the URL link of the video in the box and hit on Search
• You will be then displayed different qualities of the thumbnail. Choose one (HD is recommended) and hit the Download button

The selected quality of thumbnail will be downloaded to your storage which can later be used while uploading a video to YouTube.

2. Online YouTube Thumbnail Downloader

This online YouTube Thumbnail Downloader tool has a lot of features among which creating thumbnail for a YouTube video is one. This free online tool can easily be accessed both on Windows and Mac OS via any browser. This downloader can generate thumbnails for videos in HD, HQ 1080p, and 4K formats and the thumbnails will be available in SD, HD(720), and Full HD(1080).

Steps to Download:

• Copy the link of the youtube video you wish to generate the thumbnail
• Click Here to open this free tool with your browser and paste the link in the box displayed at the top
• As soon as you paste the link, the available qualities of the thumbnail will be displayed just below the box
• Choose your desired quality of the image and hit on the Download button on the image you wish to download

The image will be downloaded and saved to your device instantly. You can now use it as a thumbnail for your YouTube video.

3. Thumbnail Save Tool

The Thumbnail Save Tool is also a free online tool which you can access from the browser of your Windows or Mac. It is a very simple tool that can generate thumbnails for HQ, HD, 1080P, and 4K videos instantly. Let us see how the thumbnail can be generated

Steps to Download:

• Copy the URL of the video you want to create thumbnail
• Open this Thumbnail Save Tool from Here via your browser
• Paste the copied link in the box above Submit and hit Submit. Then the thumbnail will be generated instantly
• Now, to save the generated image to your device, right-click on the thumbnail and select the Save image as… option

The image will be saved to your device for later use as a thumbnail for your YouTube video.

4. YouTube Thumbnail Grabber

The YouTube thumbnail grabber is an online tool that can help you to download a thumbnail from a YouTube video for free. This tool can simply be accessed both by windows and Mac users through any browser. This tool helps you to download a thumbnail in any quality in some simple steps. Let us see how.

Steps to Download:

• Open this youtube thumbnail grabber from Here with any browser. Then Copy the link of the youtube video.
• Paste the link in the box displayed on the page and hit the Get Thumbnails Image tab
• Five different qualities of thumbnails will be generated among which you can choose your desired quality
• Hit the Download button below the image you chose

The thumbnail will be downloaded to your device for later use.

5. Thumbnail Download Tool

This thumbnail download tool allows generating thumbnails from video platforms like Dailymotion, Vimeo, Facebook, and YouTube. It is a free online tool that enables you to download the thumbnail of your video in the best quality. The tool can be accessed both on Windows and Mac OS without any issues. Let us see how the thumbnail can be downloaded for YouTube.

Steps to Download:

• Copy the URL link of the video you wish to generate a thumbnail
• Click Here to open this Thumbnail Download Tool with your browseron any browser of your Windows or iOS.
• Paste the copied link in the box and press the Download button
• Choose the picture size among the results displayed
• Save the picture to your PC

Your thumbnail image is now ready to be used.

6. YouTube Thumbnail Downloader

The YouTube Thumbnail Downloader is an online tool that can help you to create thumbnails for your YouTube videos and blogs. This tool will help you to download full HD 1080*720 images from YouTube for free, irrespective of the operative system you are using. Let us see how the thumbnail can be downloaded

Steps to Download:

• Copy the link of any YouTube video you wish to generate a thumbnail
• Click Here in your browser and Paste the link in the box
• Hit the Find button. Then different qualities of the image will be displayed
• Select your desired quality and tap on the download icon on the respective image

The image will now be saved to your device

Bonus Tips to Create a Clickable YouTube Thumbnail

Don’t know how to create a clickable youtube thumbnail? Here we will recommend 5 tips for you!

1. Great thumbnail image quality and size

The thumbnail image quality should be good (HD/UHD). It should be bright. No matter what the device (a large TV) the viewers are using, care must be taken to avoid getting blurry thumbnails. The quality and the correct size of the thumbnail will create a positive image of the video in the user’s mind even before viewing the video. The video must be viewed from a variety of devices to test if the quality differs in different devices. Here are some specs for a perfect thumbnail

• The image formats should be in GIF, JPG PNG OR BMP
• The maximum size of the image must be 1280*720 px
• The minimum size 640*360 px
• The aspect ratio 16:9
• The maximum file size 2MB

2. Show a person in the Thumbnail image

A human face will get you closer to your audience. Our brain is wired in a way that a human face will draw its attention more than anything. So the users will naturally would an image with a human delivering the content rather than a robot or just a video of nonliving things. People tend to find a connection with the characters displayed on the thumbnail and hence prompting them to click on the video.

3. Use descriptive text in your thumbnail with branding elements

It is not completely possible to deliver a message through a picture and hence try to use descriptive texts. The texts should be clear enough and must be phrased in a manner that increases the curiosity or appeals to the emotions of the viewers. People tend to click a video just because of curiosity, wanting to know what the content is about. The type of font, color, and size also plays an important role in catching the attention of the audience.

4. Make Color Contrast between the text and background

Complementary colors will make your thumbnail stand out to some extent. Combining a yellow background with a purple foreground or green with red will make it easier to draw the attention of the browsers. Also, the use of analogous colors in the thumbnail makes it more attractive and pleasing to the eye.

Image resource: Pinterest

Analogous colors are the colors that appear next to each other on a color wheel

5. Consistency

Consistency is something most of the people prefer and makes a thing more attractive. A thumbnail video with consistent text font, color tuning, visual effect, etc. will catch the eye of the users as it will stand apart in the whole webpage. Consistency adds to the standards of a video and will make people feel that this video is productive or from an authentic source

Create Your Own YouTube Thumbnail with Filmora for Free

Now that we have learned about how to download YouTube thumbnail for free and the rules you should follows, you may want to create a thumbnail. There are many Youtube thumbnail makers on the market that can help you create a YouTube thumbnail like Canva, PixStudio and more. However, we would like to be different today and recommend Filmora to you.

The benefits of using Filmora to create your YouTube thumbnail is that you don’t need to look for other softwares. You can make a thumbnail while you are editing your video with Filmora easily.

Wondering how can you do it? Here is a video guide for you.

Conclusion

Getting the proper size and quality of a YouTube thumbnail is very important for activities like blogging, designing, etc. Here in this article, we have described how to download YouTube thumbnail from the best free downloaders available online in simple steps. These Thumbnail downloading tools can be accessed from any device with an internet connection and will help you to download the perfect thumbnail image of your choice within minutes. Please leave your feedback about our suggestions in the comment box below.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

What is a YouTube thumbnail?

A YouTube thumbnail is nothing but the cover image shown on a video file on YouTube. It shows what you are going to talk about in the youtube video. A cool thumbnail will make the viewers want to click your video which in turn will help you to improve the traffic and number of clicks per video. Sometimes you may want to download youtube thumbnail from others. But it is very difficult to download a thumbnail directly from YouTube and many of you might not know that a thumbnail can be downloaded from elsewhere and then added to your content.

Here in this article, we will introduce the best 6 online tools available in the market to download YouTube thumbnail.

• 6 Online Tools to Download YouTube Thumbnail for Free
• Bonus Tips to Create a Clickable YouTube Thumbnail

6 Online Tools to Download YouTube Thumbnail for Free

Knowing the importance of YouTube thumbnails, you might now be wondering where to download the thumbnails for free. Let us have a look at some of the tools that can help you download YouTube thumbnail for free.

1. YouTube Thumbnail Image Tool

The YouTube Thumbnail Image Tool is a simple and free tool that helps you to download a thumbnail in four dimensions for your video, i.e. MQ 320*180, HQ 480*360, SD 640*480, and HD 1920*1080. Whether you are using a Windows or Mac OS, the thumbnail can be easily be downloaded via any browser.

Steps to Download:

• Open any browser and open this youtube thumbnail image tool from Here
• Copy the link from your youtube video
• Paste the URL link of the video in the box and hit on Search
• You will be then displayed different qualities of the thumbnail. Choose one (HD is recommended) and hit the Download button

The selected quality of thumbnail will be downloaded to your storage which can later be used while uploading a video to YouTube.

2. Online YouTube Thumbnail Downloader

This online YouTube Thumbnail Downloader tool has a lot of features among which creating thumbnail for a YouTube video is one. This free online tool can easily be accessed both on Windows and Mac OS via any browser. This downloader can generate thumbnails for videos in HD, HQ 1080p, and 4K formats and the thumbnails will be available in SD, HD(720), and Full HD(1080).

Steps to Download:

• Copy the link of the youtube video you wish to generate the thumbnail
• Click Here to open this free tool with your browser and paste the link in the box displayed at the top
• As soon as you paste the link, the available qualities of the thumbnail will be displayed just below the box
• Choose your desired quality of the image and hit on the Download button on the image you wish to download

The image will be downloaded and saved to your device instantly. You can now use it as a thumbnail for your YouTube video.

3. Thumbnail Save Tool

The Thumbnail Save Tool is also a free online tool which you can access from the browser of your Windows or Mac. It is a very simple tool that can generate thumbnails for HQ, HD, 1080P, and 4K videos instantly. Let us see how the thumbnail can be generated

Steps to Download:

• Copy the URL of the video you want to create thumbnail
• Open this Thumbnail Save Tool from Here via your browser
• Paste the copied link in the box above Submit and hit Submit. Then the thumbnail will be generated instantly
• Now, to save the generated image to your device, right-click on the thumbnail and select the Save image as… option

The image will be saved to your device for later use as a thumbnail for your YouTube video.

4. YouTube Thumbnail Grabber

The YouTube thumbnail grabber is an online tool that can help you to download a thumbnail from a YouTube video for free. This tool can simply be accessed both by windows and Mac users through any browser. This tool helps you to download a thumbnail in any quality in some simple steps. Let us see how.

Steps to Download:

• Open this youtube thumbnail grabber from Here with any browser. Then Copy the link of the youtube video.
• Paste the link in the box displayed on the page and hit the Get Thumbnails Image tab
• Five different qualities of thumbnails will be generated among which you can choose your desired quality
• Hit the Download button below the image you chose

The thumbnail will be downloaded to your device for later use.

5. Thumbnail Download Tool

This thumbnail download tool allows generating thumbnails from video platforms like Dailymotion, Vimeo, Facebook, and YouTube. It is a free online tool that enables you to download the thumbnail of your video in the best quality. The tool can be accessed both on Windows and Mac OS without any issues. Let us see how the thumbnail can be downloaded for YouTube.

Steps to Download:

• Copy the URL link of the video you wish to generate a thumbnail
• Click Here to open this Thumbnail Download Tool with your browseron any browser of your Windows or iOS.
• Paste the copied link in the box and press the Download button
• Choose the picture size among the results displayed
• Save the picture to your PC

Your thumbnail image is now ready to be used.

6. YouTube Thumbnail Downloader

The YouTube Thumbnail Downloader is an online tool that can help you to create thumbnails for your YouTube videos and blogs. This tool will help you to download full HD 1080*720 images from YouTube for free, irrespective of the operative system you are using. Let us see how the thumbnail can be downloaded

Steps to Download:

• Copy the link of any YouTube video you wish to generate a thumbnail
• Click Here in your browser and Paste the link in the box
• Hit the Find button. Then different qualities of the image will be displayed
• Select your desired quality and tap on the download icon on the respective image

The image will now be saved to your device

Bonus Tips to Create a Clickable YouTube Thumbnail

Don’t know how to create a clickable youtube thumbnail? Here we will recommend 5 tips for you!

1. Great thumbnail image quality and size

The thumbnail image quality should be good (HD/UHD). It should be bright. No matter what the device (a large TV) the viewers are using, care must be taken to avoid getting blurry thumbnails. The quality and the correct size of the thumbnail will create a positive image of the video in the user’s mind even before viewing the video. The video must be viewed from a variety of devices to test if the quality differs in different devices. Here are some specs for a perfect thumbnail

• The image formats should be in GIF, JPG PNG OR BMP
• The maximum size of the image must be 1280*720 px
• The minimum size 640*360 px
• The aspect ratio 16:9
• The maximum file size 2MB

2. Show a person in the Thumbnail image

A human face will get you closer to your audience. Our brain is wired in a way that a human face will draw its attention more than anything. So the users will naturally would an image with a human delivering the content rather than a robot or just a video of nonliving things. People tend to find a connection with the characters displayed on the thumbnail and hence prompting them to click on the video.

3. Use descriptive text in your thumbnail with branding elements

It is not completely possible to deliver a message through a picture and hence try to use descriptive texts. The texts should be clear enough and must be phrased in a manner that increases the curiosity or appeals to the emotions of the viewers. People tend to click a video just because of curiosity, wanting to know what the content is about. The type of font, color, and size also plays an important role in catching the attention of the audience.

4. Make Color Contrast between the text and background

Complementary colors will make your thumbnail stand out to some extent. Combining a yellow background with a purple foreground or green with red will make it easier to draw the attention of the browsers. Also, the use of analogous colors in the thumbnail makes it more attractive and pleasing to the eye.

Image resource: Pinterest

Analogous colors are the colors that appear next to each other on a color wheel

5. Consistency

Consistency is something most of the people prefer and makes a thing more attractive. A thumbnail video with consistent text font, color tuning, visual effect, etc. will catch the eye of the users as it will stand apart in the whole webpage. Consistency adds to the standards of a video and will make people feel that this video is productive or from an authentic source

Create Your Own YouTube Thumbnail with Filmora for Free

Now that we have learned about how to download YouTube thumbnail for free and the rules you should follows, you may want to create a thumbnail. There are many Youtube thumbnail makers on the market that can help you create a YouTube thumbnail like Canva, PixStudio and more. However, we would like to be different today and recommend Filmora to you.

The benefits of using Filmora to create your YouTube thumbnail is that you don’t need to look for other softwares. You can make a thumbnail while you are editing your video with Filmora easily.

Wondering how can you do it? Here is a video guide for you.

Conclusion

Getting the proper size and quality of a YouTube thumbnail is very important for activities like blogging, designing, etc. Here in this article, we have described how to download YouTube thumbnail from the best free downloaders available online in simple steps. These Thumbnail downloading tools can be accessed from any device with an internet connection and will help you to download the perfect thumbnail image of your choice within minutes. Please leave your feedback about our suggestions in the comment box below.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

First Steps on the Path: Equipment for Beginners

Essential YouTube Equipment For Starting Your Channel - What Do You Really Need?

Richard Bennett

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

0

Check out our most updated guide on this topic: YouTube Equipment Starter Guide For Beginners .

The first thing to make sure of before starting a YouTube channel is having all that you need to record and upload high-quality videos regularly. That doesn’t mean you have to take out a loan and spend thousands to purchase a brand new camera and all other gadgets that professional filmmakers use.

The smartest way to get started is to go through a list of necessary equipment for YouTube and check whether or not you already own some of it. Once your channel starts growing, you can then start thinking about whether you want to invest in upgraded equipment. Here is a quick overview of all items that you need to start entertaining your online audience and gaining subscribers to your YouTube channel:

• Your YouTube Camera
• Microphones and Audio
• Lighting Gear for YouTube
• Tripods and Camera Stands
• Smartphone Camera Gear

YouTube Cameras

The short version: Use whatever you already have, even if it’s your phone or webcam. It’s nice to have sharp, fine-tuned, 4K footage, but viewers will forgive lower visual quality if your content is good.

The long version: You will need a camera, but there are a lot of different devices you can use including DSLRs, point and shoots, webcams, and your smartphone.

Your choice of camera will have a tremendous impact on the visual quality of your content and might drive your decisions regarding other pieces of equipment. However, you shouldn’t feel obliged to work with a top-notch camera from day one, especially since cheaper options can produce great results if used the right way.

On one end of the spectrum, you have basic smartphone cameras and web cameras, which are easy to come by and simple to operate. These days, high-end phones come equipped with quite powerful cameras that are more than sufficient for the needs of the average YouTuber. Better webcams can also do the job, although high-performance webcam models can get pretty expensive too. It is probably wise to resist the urge to start broadcasting with the built-in camera in your laptop and at least get a webcam or use your phone, but your computer’s camera is still always an option. Not having a better camera should never stop you from making YouTube videos.

If you already have a DSLR camera then it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with it. You have far more freedom to adjust the settings and achieve a professional look for your videos with a DSLR, but that does mean it’ll take some time to become an expert at using it. Ultra-high resolution is not required for YouTube, but it certainly won’t hurt to have additional sharpness and more detail in the scene. If you’re shopping for a DSLR, look for one with a flip screen that allows you to quickly check what your viewers see.

YouTube Microphone and Audio

The short version: Audio quality is extremely important. If you can buy either a new camera or an external microphone, but not both, it might be better to go for the microphone. Click here for advice on upping your audio quality without an external microphone.

The long version: Sound capturing is every bit as important for your success as your video feed. In fact, poor audio can be even more damaging to your subscriber count than grainy video, since people won’t spend their time listening to something they have to put effort into understanding.

Again, most YouTube video makers have a limited budget at their disposal, so professional microphones are mostly off the table. However, investing in a directional microphone (‘shotgun mic’) that can pick up your voice clearly and without background noise is certainly a smart move. Such microphones can be pointed towards you while you speak, and since most YouTubers sit still while doing their shows there won’t be too much need for in-session adjustments.

If you’re not ready to invest in a shotgun mic, you can also find very inexpensive (often under $20) LAV mics. These small microphones can be pinned to your shirt, which allows them to record very clear dialogue because they’re so close to your mouth.

Lights for YouTube

The short version: You need as much light as you can get. Lighting kits can be affordable on Amazon, but you can also achieve a great look using daylight/windows and ‘daylight’ lightbulbs.

The long version: If you’ve ever tried to make a video indoors, you already know that it’s necessary to have additional light. Often just filming with the normal lights in a room will cause your footage to look dark and grainy, and possibly be tinted orange. To overcome these problems you need to increase the amount of light you have available.

Sometimes, it is enough to film near windows and/or bring more household lamps into your filming area. For any household lamps or lighting fixtures you use, make sure to put in white or ‘daylight’ lightbulbs instead of using the orange/tungsten bulbs that you might have for everyday use (this is how you avoid tinting things orange).

If you have the budget available to get some lighting equipment, you can find softbox lights or LED panel lights available fairly inexpensively online. Softbox lights are great because they provide even, diffused, light.

Another useful piece of lighting equipment to have is a reflector. A reflector is usually a piece of white, silver, or gold fabric stretched over a frame. You can use it to bounce light from one light source back towards yourself (this is a great way to fill shadows cast by your main light). Reflectors tend to be inexpensive, but you can also use white cardboard or tinfoil in place of purchasing a reflector.

Tripods and Camera Stands

The short version: You need something to hold your camera. If you mostly film in your own home that can be a desk or a stack of books, but if you make a lot of videos while you’re on the go you probably need a tripod or gimbal. Heavier cameras need heavier tripods.

The long version: While handheld cameras can deliver solid results for vloggers and casual streamers, viewers do expect reasonably stable footage. For many types of videos, the camera needs to be completely still and flatly positioned on a horizontal plane. Tripods and camera stands can cost very little, so it’s a good idea to look into getting some kind of stabilizer.

When you are choosing a tripod, pay attention to how much it weighs. If the camera that needs to be mounted on it is very heavy (like some DSLR models), you want to ensure that the structure itself weighs enough not to be easily tipped over. Too thin tripods can put your camera at risk, and that’s the last thing you want. Smaller cameras such as GoPros are more flexible in this regard and can be placed on a wider range of tripods.

Even if you are using a phone or a webcam to record YouTube videos, you should consider mounting the device on a stable stand. It is possible to find mini tripods ideal for smartphones for as little as $10. These tripods are small enough to carry in your pocket, so you will be prepared to start making a video no matter where your adventures take you. If you are using a web camera, you should attach it to the stand so that it won’t move accidentally after you touch the surface it is placed on.

Smartphone Camera Gear

The short version: There’s a lot of gear out there designed with smartphone photos and videos in mind, including clip-on lenses, tripod mounts, phone-mounted LED lights, and inexpensive microphones that plug into the audio jack.

The long version: Recording your videos with a mobile phone can be a good decision. It all depends on the phone you have and the range of add-ons and apps that you complement it with. Almost every high-end model released in the past five years can shoot videos in 1080p or higher. Some can even produce 4K footage. If you perfect your smartphone filming technique, your YouTube videos could look as if they were made with pro equipment.

On the flip side, smartphone cameras typically perform poorly in low light. It is possible to download an app that lets you play around with settings to overcome this, but a phone-mounted LED light is probably a better solution. An external microphone might also be a necessity, but there are some good (inexpensive) options that can simply be plugged in through the headphone jack.

Another common downside of smartphone cameras is that most of them use digital zoom, which is vastly inferior to optical zoom. If you intend to shoot anything that’s further away than a few feet, you need a clip-on lens that goes on top of the built-in camera. This inexpensive device will give you a lot of freedom to work in space, and allow you to make spectacular shots even without high-end YouTube equipment.

Equipment with Easy-to-Use Video Editor

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

0

Check out our most updated guide on this topic: YouTube Equipment Starter Guide For Beginners .

The first thing to make sure of before starting a YouTube channel is having all that you need to record and upload high-quality videos regularly. That doesn’t mean you have to take out a loan and spend thousands to purchase a brand new camera and all other gadgets that professional filmmakers use.

The smartest way to get started is to go through a list of necessary equipment for YouTube and check whether or not you already own some of it. Once your channel starts growing, you can then start thinking about whether you want to invest in upgraded equipment. Here is a quick overview of all items that you need to start entertaining your online audience and gaining subscribers to your YouTube channel:

• Your YouTube Camera
• Microphones and Audio
• Lighting Gear for YouTube
• Tripods and Camera Stands
• Smartphone Camera Gear

YouTube Cameras

The short version: Use whatever you already have, even if it’s your phone or webcam. It’s nice to have sharp, fine-tuned, 4K footage, but viewers will forgive lower visual quality if your content is good.

The long version: You will need a camera, but there are a lot of different devices you can use including DSLRs, point and shoots, webcams, and your smartphone.

Your choice of camera will have a tremendous impact on the visual quality of your content and might drive your decisions regarding other pieces of equipment. However, you shouldn’t feel obliged to work with a top-notch camera from day one, especially since cheaper options can produce great results if used the right way.

On one end of the spectrum, you have basic smartphone cameras and web cameras, which are easy to come by and simple to operate. These days, high-end phones come equipped with quite powerful cameras that are more than sufficient for the needs of the average YouTuber. Better webcams can also do the job, although high-performance webcam models can get pretty expensive too. It is probably wise to resist the urge to start broadcasting with the built-in camera in your laptop and at least get a webcam or use your phone, but your computer’s camera is still always an option. Not having a better camera should never stop you from making YouTube videos.

If you already have a DSLR camera then it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with it. You have far more freedom to adjust the settings and achieve a professional look for your videos with a DSLR, but that does mean it’ll take some time to become an expert at using it. Ultra-high resolution is not required for YouTube, but it certainly won’t hurt to have additional sharpness and more detail in the scene. If you’re shopping for a DSLR, look for one with a flip screen that allows you to quickly check what your viewers see.

YouTube Microphone and Audio

The short version: Audio quality is extremely important. If you can buy either a new camera or an external microphone, but not both, it might be better to go for the microphone. Click here for advice on upping your audio quality without an external microphone.

The long version: Sound capturing is every bit as important for your success as your video feed. In fact, poor audio can be even more damaging to your subscriber count than grainy video, since people won’t spend their time listening to something they have to put effort into understanding.

Again, most YouTube video makers have a limited budget at their disposal, so professional microphones are mostly off the table. However, investing in a directional microphone (‘shotgun mic’) that can pick up your voice clearly and without background noise is certainly a smart move. Such microphones can be pointed towards you while you speak, and since most YouTubers sit still while doing their shows there won’t be too much need for in-session adjustments.

If you’re not ready to invest in a shotgun mic, you can also find very inexpensive (often under $20) LAV mics. These small microphones can be pinned to your shirt, which allows them to record very clear dialogue because they’re so close to your mouth.

Lights for YouTube

The short version: You need as much light as you can get. Lighting kits can be affordable on Amazon, but you can also achieve a great look using daylight/windows and ‘daylight’ lightbulbs.

The long version: If you’ve ever tried to make a video indoors, you already know that it’s necessary to have additional light. Often just filming with the normal lights in a room will cause your footage to look dark and grainy, and possibly be tinted orange. To overcome these problems you need to increase the amount of light you have available.

Sometimes, it is enough to film near windows and/or bring more household lamps into your filming area. For any household lamps or lighting fixtures you use, make sure to put in white or ‘daylight’ lightbulbs instead of using the orange/tungsten bulbs that you might have for everyday use (this is how you avoid tinting things orange).

If you have the budget available to get some lighting equipment, you can find softbox lights or LED panel lights available fairly inexpensively online. Softbox lights are great because they provide even, diffused, light.

Another useful piece of lighting equipment to have is a reflector. A reflector is usually a piece of white, silver, or gold fabric stretched over a frame. You can use it to bounce light from one light source back towards yourself (this is a great way to fill shadows cast by your main light). Reflectors tend to be inexpensive, but you can also use white cardboard or tinfoil in place of purchasing a reflector.

Tripods and Camera Stands

The short version: You need something to hold your camera. If you mostly film in your own home that can be a desk or a stack of books, but if you make a lot of videos while you’re on the go you probably need a tripod or gimbal. Heavier cameras need heavier tripods.

The long version: While handheld cameras can deliver solid results for vloggers and casual streamers, viewers do expect reasonably stable footage. For many types of videos, the camera needs to be completely still and flatly positioned on a horizontal plane. Tripods and camera stands can cost very little, so it’s a good idea to look into getting some kind of stabilizer.

When you are choosing a tripod, pay attention to how much it weighs. If the camera that needs to be mounted on it is very heavy (like some DSLR models), you want to ensure that the structure itself weighs enough not to be easily tipped over. Too thin tripods can put your camera at risk, and that’s the last thing you want. Smaller cameras such as GoPros are more flexible in this regard and can be placed on a wider range of tripods.

Even if you are using a phone or a webcam to record YouTube videos, you should consider mounting the device on a stable stand. It is possible to find mini tripods ideal for smartphones for as little as $10. These tripods are small enough to carry in your pocket, so you will be prepared to start making a video no matter where your adventures take you. If you are using a web camera, you should attach it to the stand so that it won’t move accidentally after you touch the surface it is placed on.

Smartphone Camera Gear

The short version: There’s a lot of gear out there designed with smartphone photos and videos in mind, including clip-on lenses, tripod mounts, phone-mounted LED lights, and inexpensive microphones that plug into the audio jack.

The long version: Recording your videos with a mobile phone can be a good decision. It all depends on the phone you have and the range of add-ons and apps that you complement it with. Almost every high-end model released in the past five years can shoot videos in 1080p or higher. Some can even produce 4K footage. If you perfect your smartphone filming technique, your YouTube videos could look as if they were made with pro equipment.

On the flip side, smartphone cameras typically perform poorly in low light. It is possible to download an app that lets you play around with settings to overcome this, but a phone-mounted LED light is probably a better solution. An external microphone might also be a necessity, but there are some good (inexpensive) options that can simply be plugged in through the headphone jack.

Another common downside of smartphone cameras is that most of them use digital zoom, which is vastly inferior to optical zoom. If you intend to shoot anything that’s further away than a few feet, you need a clip-on lens that goes on top of the built-in camera. This inexpensive device will give you a lot of freedom to work in space, and allow you to make spectacular shots even without high-end YouTube equipment.

Equipment with Easy-to-Use Video Editor

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

0

Check out our most updated guide on this topic: YouTube Equipment Starter Guide For Beginners .

The first thing to make sure of before starting a YouTube channel is having all that you need to record and upload high-quality videos regularly. That doesn’t mean you have to take out a loan and spend thousands to purchase a brand new camera and all other gadgets that professional filmmakers use.

The smartest way to get started is to go through a list of necessary equipment for YouTube and check whether or not you already own some of it. Once your channel starts growing, you can then start thinking about whether you want to invest in upgraded equipment. Here is a quick overview of all items that you need to start entertaining your online audience and gaining subscribers to your YouTube channel:

• Your YouTube Camera
• Microphones and Audio
• Lighting Gear for YouTube
• Tripods and Camera Stands
• Smartphone Camera Gear

YouTube Cameras

The short version: Use whatever you already have, even if it’s your phone or webcam. It’s nice to have sharp, fine-tuned, 4K footage, but viewers will forgive lower visual quality if your content is good.

The long version: You will need a camera, but there are a lot of different devices you can use including DSLRs, point and shoots, webcams, and your smartphone.

Your choice of camera will have a tremendous impact on the visual quality of your content and might drive your decisions regarding other pieces of equipment. However, you shouldn’t feel obliged to work with a top-notch camera from day one, especially since cheaper options can produce great results if used the right way.

On one end of the spectrum, you have basic smartphone cameras and web cameras, which are easy to come by and simple to operate. These days, high-end phones come equipped with quite powerful cameras that are more than sufficient for the needs of the average YouTuber. Better webcams can also do the job, although high-performance webcam models can get pretty expensive too. It is probably wise to resist the urge to start broadcasting with the built-in camera in your laptop and at least get a webcam or use your phone, but your computer’s camera is still always an option. Not having a better camera should never stop you from making YouTube videos.

If you already have a DSLR camera then it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with it. You have far more freedom to adjust the settings and achieve a professional look for your videos with a DSLR, but that does mean it’ll take some time to become an expert at using it. Ultra-high resolution is not required for YouTube, but it certainly won’t hurt to have additional sharpness and more detail in the scene. If you’re shopping for a DSLR, look for one with a flip screen that allows you to quickly check what your viewers see.

YouTube Microphone and Audio

The short version: Audio quality is extremely important. If you can buy either a new camera or an external microphone, but not both, it might be better to go for the microphone. Click here for advice on upping your audio quality without an external microphone.

The long version: Sound capturing is every bit as important for your success as your video feed. In fact, poor audio can be even more damaging to your subscriber count than grainy video, since people won’t spend their time listening to something they have to put effort into understanding.

Again, most YouTube video makers have a limited budget at their disposal, so professional microphones are mostly off the table. However, investing in a directional microphone (‘shotgun mic’) that can pick up your voice clearly and without background noise is certainly a smart move. Such microphones can be pointed towards you while you speak, and since most YouTubers sit still while doing their shows there won’t be too much need for in-session adjustments.

If you’re not ready to invest in a shotgun mic, you can also find very inexpensive (often under $20) LAV mics. These small microphones can be pinned to your shirt, which allows them to record very clear dialogue because they’re so close to your mouth.

Lights for YouTube

The short version: You need as much light as you can get. Lighting kits can be affordable on Amazon, but you can also achieve a great look using daylight/windows and ‘daylight’ lightbulbs.

The long version: If you’ve ever tried to make a video indoors, you already know that it’s necessary to have additional light. Often just filming with the normal lights in a room will cause your footage to look dark and grainy, and possibly be tinted orange. To overcome these problems you need to increase the amount of light you have available.

Sometimes, it is enough to film near windows and/or bring more household lamps into your filming area. For any household lamps or lighting fixtures you use, make sure to put in white or ‘daylight’ lightbulbs instead of using the orange/tungsten bulbs that you might have for everyday use (this is how you avoid tinting things orange).

If you have the budget available to get some lighting equipment, you can find softbox lights or LED panel lights available fairly inexpensively online. Softbox lights are great because they provide even, diffused, light.

Another useful piece of lighting equipment to have is a reflector. A reflector is usually a piece of white, silver, or gold fabric stretched over a frame. You can use it to bounce light from one light source back towards yourself (this is a great way to fill shadows cast by your main light). Reflectors tend to be inexpensive, but you can also use white cardboard or tinfoil in place of purchasing a reflector.

Tripods and Camera Stands

The short version: You need something to hold your camera. If you mostly film in your own home that can be a desk or a stack of books, but if you make a lot of videos while you’re on the go you probably need a tripod or gimbal. Heavier cameras need heavier tripods.

The long version: While handheld cameras can deliver solid results for vloggers and casual streamers, viewers do expect reasonably stable footage. For many types of videos, the camera needs to be completely still and flatly positioned on a horizontal plane. Tripods and camera stands can cost very little, so it’s a good idea to look into getting some kind of stabilizer.

When you are choosing a tripod, pay attention to how much it weighs. If the camera that needs to be mounted on it is very heavy (like some DSLR models), you want to ensure that the structure itself weighs enough not to be easily tipped over. Too thin tripods can put your camera at risk, and that’s the last thing you want. Smaller cameras such as GoPros are more flexible in this regard and can be placed on a wider range of tripods.

Even if you are using a phone or a webcam to record YouTube videos, you should consider mounting the device on a stable stand. It is possible to find mini tripods ideal for smartphones for as little as $10. These tripods are small enough to carry in your pocket, so you will be prepared to start making a video no matter where your adventures take you. If you are using a web camera, you should attach it to the stand so that it won’t move accidentally after you touch the surface it is placed on.

Smartphone Camera Gear

The short version: There’s a lot of gear out there designed with smartphone photos and videos in mind, including clip-on lenses, tripod mounts, phone-mounted LED lights, and inexpensive microphones that plug into the audio jack.

The long version: Recording your videos with a mobile phone can be a good decision. It all depends on the phone you have and the range of add-ons and apps that you complement it with. Almost every high-end model released in the past five years can shoot videos in 1080p or higher. Some can even produce 4K footage. If you perfect your smartphone filming technique, your YouTube videos could look as if they were made with pro equipment.

On the flip side, smartphone cameras typically perform poorly in low light. It is possible to download an app that lets you play around with settings to overcome this, but a phone-mounted LED light is probably a better solution. An external microphone might also be a necessity, but there are some good (inexpensive) options that can simply be plugged in through the headphone jack.

Another common downside of smartphone cameras is that most of them use digital zoom, which is vastly inferior to optical zoom. If you intend to shoot anything that’s further away than a few feet, you need a clip-on lens that goes on top of the built-in camera. This inexpensive device will give you a lot of freedom to work in space, and allow you to make spectacular shots even without high-end YouTube equipment.

Equipment with Easy-to-Use Video Editor

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

0

Check out our most updated guide on this topic: YouTube Equipment Starter Guide For Beginners .

The first thing to make sure of before starting a YouTube channel is having all that you need to record and upload high-quality videos regularly. That doesn’t mean you have to take out a loan and spend thousands to purchase a brand new camera and all other gadgets that professional filmmakers use.

The smartest way to get started is to go through a list of necessary equipment for YouTube and check whether or not you already own some of it. Once your channel starts growing, you can then start thinking about whether you want to invest in upgraded equipment. Here is a quick overview of all items that you need to start entertaining your online audience and gaining subscribers to your YouTube channel:

• Your YouTube Camera
• Microphones and Audio
• Lighting Gear for YouTube
• Tripods and Camera Stands
• Smartphone Camera Gear

YouTube Cameras

The short version: Use whatever you already have, even if it’s your phone or webcam. It’s nice to have sharp, fine-tuned, 4K footage, but viewers will forgive lower visual quality if your content is good.

The long version: You will need a camera, but there are a lot of different devices you can use including DSLRs, point and shoots, webcams, and your smartphone.

Your choice of camera will have a tremendous impact on the visual quality of your content and might drive your decisions regarding other pieces of equipment. However, you shouldn’t feel obliged to work with a top-notch camera from day one, especially since cheaper options can produce great results if used the right way.

On one end of the spectrum, you have basic smartphone cameras and web cameras, which are easy to come by and simple to operate. These days, high-end phones come equipped with quite powerful cameras that are more than sufficient for the needs of the average YouTuber. Better webcams can also do the job, although high-performance webcam models can get pretty expensive too. It is probably wise to resist the urge to start broadcasting with the built-in camera in your laptop and at least get a webcam or use your phone, but your computer’s camera is still always an option. Not having a better camera should never stop you from making YouTube videos.

If you already have a DSLR camera then it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with it. You have far more freedom to adjust the settings and achieve a professional look for your videos with a DSLR, but that does mean it’ll take some time to become an expert at using it. Ultra-high resolution is not required for YouTube, but it certainly won’t hurt to have additional sharpness and more detail in the scene. If you’re shopping for a DSLR, look for one with a flip screen that allows you to quickly check what your viewers see.

YouTube Microphone and Audio

The short version: Audio quality is extremely important. If you can buy either a new camera or an external microphone, but not both, it might be better to go for the microphone. Click here for advice on upping your audio quality without an external microphone.

The long version: Sound capturing is every bit as important for your success as your video feed. In fact, poor audio can be even more damaging to your subscriber count than grainy video, since people won’t spend their time listening to something they have to put effort into understanding.

Again, most YouTube video makers have a limited budget at their disposal, so professional microphones are mostly off the table. However, investing in a directional microphone (‘shotgun mic’) that can pick up your voice clearly and without background noise is certainly a smart move. Such microphones can be pointed towards you while you speak, and since most YouTubers sit still while doing their shows there won’t be too much need for in-session adjustments.

If you’re not ready to invest in a shotgun mic, you can also find very inexpensive (often under $20) LAV mics. These small microphones can be pinned to your shirt, which allows them to record very clear dialogue because they’re so close to your mouth.

Lights for YouTube

The short version: You need as much light as you can get. Lighting kits can be affordable on Amazon, but you can also achieve a great look using daylight/windows and ‘daylight’ lightbulbs.

The long version: If you’ve ever tried to make a video indoors, you already know that it’s necessary to have additional light. Often just filming with the normal lights in a room will cause your footage to look dark and grainy, and possibly be tinted orange. To overcome these problems you need to increase the amount of light you have available.

Sometimes, it is enough to film near windows and/or bring more household lamps into your filming area. For any household lamps or lighting fixtures you use, make sure to put in white or ‘daylight’ lightbulbs instead of using the orange/tungsten bulbs that you might have for everyday use (this is how you avoid tinting things orange).

If you have the budget available to get some lighting equipment, you can find softbox lights or LED panel lights available fairly inexpensively online. Softbox lights are great because they provide even, diffused, light.

Another useful piece of lighting equipment to have is a reflector. A reflector is usually a piece of white, silver, or gold fabric stretched over a frame. You can use it to bounce light from one light source back towards yourself (this is a great way to fill shadows cast by your main light). Reflectors tend to be inexpensive, but you can also use white cardboard or tinfoil in place of purchasing a reflector.

Tripods and Camera Stands

The short version: You need something to hold your camera. If you mostly film in your own home that can be a desk or a stack of books, but if you make a lot of videos while you’re on the go you probably need a tripod or gimbal. Heavier cameras need heavier tripods.

The long version: While handheld cameras can deliver solid results for vloggers and casual streamers, viewers do expect reasonably stable footage. For many types of videos, the camera needs to be completely still and flatly positioned on a horizontal plane. Tripods and camera stands can cost very little, so it’s a good idea to look into getting some kind of stabilizer.

When you are choosing a tripod, pay attention to how much it weighs. If the camera that needs to be mounted on it is very heavy (like some DSLR models), you want to ensure that the structure itself weighs enough not to be easily tipped over. Too thin tripods can put your camera at risk, and that’s the last thing you want. Smaller cameras such as GoPros are more flexible in this regard and can be placed on a wider range of tripods.

Even if you are using a phone or a webcam to record YouTube videos, you should consider mounting the device on a stable stand. It is possible to find mini tripods ideal for smartphones for as little as $10. These tripods are small enough to carry in your pocket, so you will be prepared to start making a video no matter where your adventures take you. If you are using a web camera, you should attach it to the stand so that it won’t move accidentally after you touch the surface it is placed on.

Smartphone Camera Gear

The short version: There’s a lot of gear out there designed with smartphone photos and videos in mind, including clip-on lenses, tripod mounts, phone-mounted LED lights, and inexpensive microphones that plug into the audio jack.

The long version: Recording your videos with a mobile phone can be a good decision. It all depends on the phone you have and the range of add-ons and apps that you complement it with. Almost every high-end model released in the past five years can shoot videos in 1080p or higher. Some can even produce 4K footage. If you perfect your smartphone filming technique, your YouTube videos could look as if they were made with pro equipment.

On the flip side, smartphone cameras typically perform poorly in low light. It is possible to download an app that lets you play around with settings to overcome this, but a phone-mounted LED light is probably a better solution. An external microphone might also be a necessity, but there are some good (inexpensive) options that can simply be plugged in through the headphone jack.

Another common downside of smartphone cameras is that most of them use digital zoom, which is vastly inferior to optical zoom. If you intend to shoot anything that’s further away than a few feet, you need a clip-on lens that goes on top of the built-in camera. This inexpensive device will give you a lot of freedom to work in space, and allow you to make spectacular shots even without high-end YouTube equipment.

Equipment with Easy-to-Use Video Editor

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

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