Thumbnails & covers9:16

Reel Cover Maker

9:16 covers for Reels, Shorts and TikTok that read at grid size

Try it free Pricing

4 free credits on signup — one Standard run, no card.

1Type the cover title — 3 to 5 words
2Describe the vibe (bright pastel, dark cinematic, neon gaming) and optionally add a selfie
3Run, then download the 9:16 PNG or animate it into a hook

Real render. Drag the handle.

BeforeAfter

Standard

4 credits

Pro

12 credits

Max

44 credits

Short-form covers are viewed as tiny tiles on a profile grid, and most of that tile is hidden behind app UI. Reel Cover Maker builds for that reality: the title lands in the middle 60% of a 9:16 frame so neither the caption bar nor the top icons cover it, and it stays to 3–5 words so it is readable at thumbnail size. Give it a vibe — bright and playful, moody and cinematic, pastel, neon — and it sets the palette and typography to match.

Add a photo and you are the cover. The tool keeps the same person from your reference, large in frame with an engaging expression, and arranges the title around you rather than over you. Skip the photo and it picks one bold subject that fits the words, which is handy for recipe, tutorial and listicle content where the topic sells better than a face. Colors are pushed for contrast because the cover has to compete with eight other tiles at once.

Because the output is a fixed 9:16, it drops straight into Instagram, TikTok and YouTube Shorts as a custom cover with no cropping. Make one per episode of a series and keep the vibe text identical so the grid looks like a set. If you already have a 16:9 thumbnail from YouTube Thumbnail Maker, send it through Reframe instead and reuse the same art across both formats.

The controls

Your face (optional)
Cover title (3-5 words)
Vibe
9:16 output

Built into every tool

Platform-correct aspect ratio, locked
Standard / Pro / Max quality per run
Chain into Reframe, Upscale or Animate
Every render saved to your rail

Questions

Why is the title in the middle instead of the top?

Instagram, TikTok and YouTube overlay their own UI on the top and bottom of a vertical frame. Keeping text in the central band means it is visible on the grid, in the feed and in the profile tab.

What does the vibe field change?

Palette, typography and mood. 'Bright, playful, pastel' gives rounded type and soft color; 'dark cinematic' gives a moody grade and elegant lettering. Leave it empty for a bold, energetic default.