ThumbAPI Examples

Working code samples for the ThumbAPI thumbnail generation REST API. Generate AI-powered, platform-optimized thumbnails for YouTube, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, blog posts, and Open Graph images from any title with a single POST request.

What is ThumbAPI? One REST endpoint, multiple platform formats, three styles (faceless / with-image / with-logo). Production-ready images returned in under 25 seconds. Free tier available — no credit card required. See thumbapi.dev/docs for full reference.

Quick start

curl -X POST https://api.thumbapi.dev/v1/generate \
  -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "title": "10 Tips to Grow Your Channel",
    "format": "youtube",
    "imageStyle": "faceless"
  }'

Response:

{
  "image": "data:image/webp;base64,UklGR...",
  "format": "youtube",
  "outputFormat": "webp",
  "dimensions": { "width": 1280, "height": 720 }
}

Examples in this repo

Language / tool	What it shows
Node.js	Basic generate, with-image style, batch from CSV
Python	Basic generate, batch with concurrency + retry
cURL	Minimal shell examples for every style and format
WordPress	Single-file plugin: auto-generate the featured image on post publish
n8n	Importable workflow JSON: YouTube RSS → ThumbAPI → Google Drive

Getting an API key

1. Sign up at app.thumbapi.dev (free tier: 5 generations/month, no credit card).
2. Copy your API key from the dashboard.
3. Set it as THUMBAPI_KEY in your environment, or pass it directly via the x-api-key header.

A public test key thumbapi_test is available that returns a static placeholder image — useful for wiring up integrations before you've signed up. See thumbapi.dev/integrations/n8n for an example.

Supported formats

format	Dimensions	Use case
youtube	1280×720	YouTube video thumbnails
instagram	1080×1080	Instagram feed posts
x	1200×675	X (Twitter) link previews
linkedin	1200×627	LinkedIn post images
blogpost	1200×630	Blog cover images, OG/Twitter cards

Supported image styles

imageStyle	Description
faceless	Text-and-graphic design, no people. Best for automated content and faceless channels.
with-image	Composites a person's photo into the thumbnail. Send personImage as base64 or use a saved asset with usePersonalPhoto: true.
with-logo	Overlays a brand logo. Send personImage as base64 PNG or use a saved asset.

Use cases

• YouTube Thumbnail API — 1280×720 thumbnails from a title.
• OG Image API — 1200×630 Open Graph and Twitter cards.
• Blog Cover API — Cover images for articles.
• Personalized Thumbnails — Your face on every image.
• Branded Thumbnails — Brand logo on every image.
• Faceless Thumbnails — Text-only thumbnail designs.

Workflow integrations

• n8n integration guide — copy/paste workflow JSON included in this repo.
• Make.com integration guide
• Zapier integration guide

Documentation

• Full API reference
• Authentication
• Rate limits
• Custom asset datasets — upload reference images for brand-consistent generation
• Error codes
• Changelog

License

Examples in this repository are released under the MIT license — use them freely in your own projects. See LICENSE.

Contributing

Found a bug in an example, or want to add a sample in a new language (Go, Rust, PHP, Ruby)? Open a pull request. Or open an issue if you'd like to see a specific integration example.

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Built and maintained by Aldin Kozica, creator of ThumbAPI.