BrandPulse helps you pre-test your thumbnails and titles with real people in a simulated YouTube environment. See what gets noticed, what gets skipped, and choose the version that truly stands out.
Audience Signals
30,457
Real human feedback
Starting from
$1250
per test
Stopping Power Score
95
Your thumbnail is your first impression and it decides whether your video gets watched or ignored. YouTube’s Test & Compare feature helps creators optimize after publishing, but by then, most impressions are already gone. BrandPulse lets you pre-test your thumbnails before upload, giving you fast, clear data on what attracts attention right away. With BrandPulse, you understand not only which thumbnail performs best but also why it works.
We test your designs with real people and use AI to analyze their attention patterns. You see what captures interest, what gets ignored, and why.
Choose exactly who you want to test with. Our global human panel lets you reach real viewers who match your target audience.
Each test meets strict statistical reliability standards so you can act on the data with confidence.
BrandPulse makes creative testing simple, fast, and scientifically reliable. Unlike platforms that rely on post-launch data or opinions, we base our results on real human behavior. We give real people Opportunities To View (OTV) your thumbnails. Not through forced exposure, but as part of a natural, observed environment.
This approach shows how your thumbnails or text truly compete for attention in a crowded world.
We don’t ask what people think. We observe what they actually do. Each test combines authentic human feedback with AI analysis to deliver validated insights in just a few days.
1
Choose what you want to test: your thumbnail designs or your YouTube titles.
Upload your variations directly in the BrandPulse platform.
We’ll show each version to real people so you can discover which one earns attention fastest.
Choose what you want to test: your thumbnail designs or your YouTube titles.
Upload your variations directly in the BrandPulse platform. We’ll show each version to real people so you can discover which one earns attention fastest.
Simply upload 2–6 images of your visuals — ads, packaging, billboards, illustrations, or photos. For text, you can test brand names, taglines, or any copy up to 90 characters.
2
Select your target audience from our global human panel.
You can focus by region, language, demographics and interests to make sure your test reflects the audience that really matters to you.
Select your target audience from our global human panel. You can focus by region, language, demographics and interests to make sure your test reflects the audience that really matters to you.
Select any of your target audience based on location, language, gender, age, and interests. We make sure your assets are shown to the right people.
3
We present your creative naturally, giving people real Opportunities To View (OTV). The same way they encounter content online.
Nothing is forced or simulated.
We observe how many people notice and engage with your creative when it competes for attention, just as it would in the real world.
We present your creative naturally, giving people real Opportunities To View (OTV). The same way they encounter content online. Nothing is forced or simulated.
We observe how many people notice and engage with your creative when it competes for attention, just as it would in the real world.
We run pre-tests in a simulated environment and gather audience feedback to quantify the Stopping Power Rating of your assets.
4
Our AI processes every interaction and visual pattern.
It identifies which creative captures attention first, holds focus longer, and communicates more clearly.
Each result is backed by statistical validation, turning raw human data into clear, actionable insights.
Our AI processes every interaction and visual pattern.
It identifies which creative captures attention first, holds focus longer, and communicates more clearly.
Each result is backed by statistical validation, turning raw human data into clear, actionable insights.
Get a clear, actionable report with statistical analysis and audience response metrics, including our Stopping Power Rating. Armed with this data-backed intelligence, you’ll be ready to present or launch winning campaigns.Stop guessing—Start Testing
Each test gives you a clear understanding of how real people respond to your creative.
See which thumbnail or title captured attention most effectively.
Discover which design elements or words made the difference.
Visual heatmaps reveal what drew focus and what was overlooked.
Every report is statistically validated, ensuring you can trust your results.
BrandPulse is built to test any creative that competes for attention. Whether you’re optimizing visuals, headlines, or product packaging, the same behavioral approach helps you understand what truly stands out.
Book Covers
Food Photos
Packaging copy
Billboard
Business names
Fashion Models
Product names
Print Advertis...
Taglines
Slogans
E-commerce ....
Product Photos
Video Thumb...
Fueled by tens of thousands of real human signals, Brandpulse shows exactly which creative draws the strongest attention, backed by a clear confidence level you can rely on before going live.
Select a format and submitting your content in just a few clicks.
Image Testing
Upload your logo, layout, or creative and see which version makes the best impression.
Text Testing
Test brand names, taglines, or messaging to find what truly connects with your audience.
Video Testing
Get feedback on your video ads before launch, from storyboards to full edits.
HTML5 Banner Testing
Preview and test interactive HTML5 banners to ensure they engage and perform.
Start A Test
Your thumbnail is your first impression and often your only chance to stop the scroll.
BrandPulse helps you make creative decisions with confidence by combining real human attention data with AI-powered analysis in a realistic YouTube environment.
We test your thumbnails or YouTube titles with a global human panel.
Participants are exposed to your creative naturally so we can measure (by observing) what grabs attention in a cluttered, competitive feed.
Get clear insights on which thumbnail stops te scroll before you hit publish.
No more second-guessing your creative choices. Knowing which thumbnail your audience truly notices first helps you publish with confidence.
Choosing the right thumbnail can make or break a video’s success.
Pre-testing with BrandPulse lets you identify your most effective creative before publishing, helping you grow your channel faster, increase CTR, and improve overall watch time from day one.
Our heatmaps visualize where attention goes first, how long it stays there, and which parts of your creative are ignored. You can easily identify what captures attention and refine your design accordingly.
Thumbnails only work if they get noticed. Our heatmaps make your results visual so you can instantly see which design stands out and which fades away.
Find out which areas of your thumbnail attract attention first and what viewers overlook.
Compare versions side by side to discover which visual drives the strongest stopping power.
Share clear visuals and insights that make it easy for your team to align on the winning creative.
"In print advertising, you only get a few seconds to capture a reader's atttention. Thanks to Brandpulse, I pre-tested my spring magazine ad and discovered the most impactful design before going to print."
Mark Davidson
Senior Print Media Advertiser
"Fashion is all about first impressions. Our in-house models' headshots were tested with Brandpulse to see which one caused the greatest reaction. It enabled us to achieve our best ROI to date."
Lisa Monroe
Talent Director
"Choosing the right packaging was overwhelming for us. We wanted a design that is aligned with our audience's liking. Brandpulse helped us pretest which one had the strongest shelf appeal."
Emily Carter
Founder
Thumbnail testing is the process of comparing different YouTube thumbnail designs to understand which one captures more attention and encourages viewers to click. It’s a method to measure visual effectiveness, not based on design preference, but on real audience behavior.
YouTube’s built-in tester works after your video is live and measures “watch time share”, not initial attention. That means you might lose early momentum while the test runs.
BrandPulse, on the other hand, measures attention and engagement before publishing.
We test your thumbnails with real people in a controlled environment, helping you choose the most eye-catching creative from day one. And if you have two strong thumbnails coming out of the pre-test you can always choose to also use the Test & Compare function in YouTube.
Most of your video’s impressions happen in the first few hours after upload — long before YouTube’s own “Test & Compare” feature finishes. By pre-testing with BrandPulse, you identify your winning thumbnail before launch, giving your video the best start possible.
It helps you maximize your click-through rate (CTR), improve audience retention, and avoid wasting exposure on underperforming designs.
Thumbnail testing lets you discover what makes viewers stop, notice, and click. You can test almost any visual element that influences attention or emotion. The goal is to understand what your audience naturally responds to, not what simply looks good.
Here are some examples of what to test:
1. Contrast and composition
Try a bright, high-contrast version against a softer, muted design. Or compare a tightly cropped close-up versus a wider scene to see which draws focus faster.
2. Emotion and facial expression
Test different moods: excitement, curiosity, confidence, or surprise. A subtle change in expression can completely shift how people perceive your video.
3. Text versus no text
Add a few bold words that promise value (“Learn Faster,” “Behind the Scenes”) and test them against a clean, image-only version. You’ll learn whether your audience prefers clarity or simplicity.
4. Color palette
Experiment with warm colors like red and orange for energy, versus cool blues and greens for calm and trust. The right color contrast can make your video stand out in a crowded feed.
5. Brand elements
Test versions with your logo or channel watermark versus thumbnails without them. Some audiences connect with familiar branding, while others respond better to an uncluttered design.
6. Subject focus
Compare a thumbnail that features a person’s face with one that shows only the product, location, or object being discussed. Each tells a different story.Each of these tests helps you answer a clear question: what gets noticed first, and what drives curiosity to click? Over time, you’ll build your own creative playbook: an evidence-based understanding of what works best for your channel and audience.
Yes! BrandPulse allows you to test either thumbnails or YouTube titles.
You can find out which headline communicates your message most clearly or which thumbnail grabs attention faster. Both follow the same principle: real human feedback analyzed by AI for speed, accuracy, and insight.
Our tests are powered by a global human panel.
You can target audiences based on geography, age, or demographics to reflect your real YouTube viewers. Every participant sees your creative in a realistic environment, ensuring authentic feedback that mirrors real-world viewing conditions.
Absolutely. Whether you’re a creator, media publisher, or brand, thumbnail testing helps you design visuals that win attention across audiences and categories — from tutorials and vlogs to ads and branded content.
With BrandPulse, you can test with your exact target audience, not just a general sample. Our global human panel allows you to define detailed targeting options such as country, age, gender, and interest groups. This ensures your results reflect how your real viewers respond, not a broad, random audience.
Run a single test and get fast, real-world attention insights. No commitment required.
Ideal for startups and fast-moving teams looking for directional insight at an affordable price.
Up to 6 creative assets testes
30,000 Human Audience Signals
Min. 80% Confidence Level
Full reporting
5-7 days
AI feedback
Perfect for agencies and growth teams that need confident, data-backed creative decisions.
Up to 6 creative assets testes
45,000 Human Audience Signals
Min. 85% Confidence Level
Full reporting
5-7 days
Extensive AI feedback
Built for high-stakes creative like packaging, outdoor, and brand campaigns where precision matters.
Up to 6 creative assets testes
60,000 Human Audience Signals
Min. 90% Confidence Level
Full reporting
5-7 days
Interactive AI feedback
Find out which YouTube thumbnail truly stands out before you hit publish.
Test your designs with real people, get fast insights, and launch with confidence.
No credit card required. Get started in minutes.
