Latest News (11 June 2024): A/B Testing is broadly available to even more users — people reported on Reddit.
If you still don’t have this feature, your best bet is a third-party software, like Thumbnail Test.
You’re probably curious about YouTube’s Test & Compare feature, but you’re not sure if (or when) you’re going to get it yourself.
Join us, and let’s figure out what’s going on.
YouTube Test & Compare: Latest News (July 2024)
| Info | Detailed Breakdown |
|---|---|
| Release Date | 11 June 2024 → Postponed for 5 years. |
| Who | Limited to “Eligible Creators”. |
| How | In the “Thumbnails” section in YT Studio. |
| Purpose | To compare different versions of a video element to see which performs better. |
| Best Bet | Third-party tools. ThumbnailTest is available for A/B testing, offering additional features beyond what YouTube may provide. |
1. It finally released
“When will YouTube release Test & Compare?”
Answer: YouTube “Test & Compare” on the 11th of June, 2024 (known as the “A/B Testing” feature).
- This feature works just for Eligible Creators → it has been cancelled for +5 years.
- Back in 2023, they did announce that they were in the early stages of testing the feature with a small group of creators.
See this video for more official info:
- From the video: YouTube’s A/B Testing tool is now available.
- (2023) Words from a YouTube Beta Tester: Everyone should have access to this in 2024.
Here’s what people predicted in December 2023 (6 months before the release):
But right now…
2. Only for Eligible Creators
Currently, YouTube’s Test & Compare feature works only for creators with Advanced Features. By the end of 2024, every channel should have it.
Eligible Creators include:
- Creators who have been invited to participate in the YouTube Partner Program beta testing program.
- Creators who have a high engagement rate on their videos.
- Creators who have a large subscriber base.
If interested: Sign up for the YouTube Partner Program beta testing program. Unfortunately, you have be a big YouTuber — and even then, eligibility is not guaranteed.
This brings us to…
3. How to A/B Test on YouTube
Answer: To run an A/B test on YouTube, go to YouTube Studio and select a video. In the thumbnails section, click “Test & Compare” and upload 3 images.
Here is the step-by-step list:
- Open a video in YouTube Studio
- Click “Test & Compare” in the thumbnails section
- Upload your thumbnails
- Click “DONE“
4. What A/B Testing really is
YouTube A/B testing is a feature used to compare 3 versions of a YouTube Thumbnail to determine which version performs better.
Purpose: Helps creators optimize their content and make informed decisions about how to improve their videos’ engagement and viewership — for this, we suggest following YouTube’s Official Guide.
- Data analysis will be conducted for both thumbnail.
- The one that performs best will be set for the video.
Essentially: If “Thumbnail A” doesn’t work → Try “Thumbnail B”.
Pro Tip: With ThumbnailTest, you can have unlimited thumbnail checks.
Feel free to conduct A/B/C/D/E/[…]/Z tests with our tool.
Can you do A/B Testing on YouTube?
Answer: Yes, you can do A/B testing on YouTube — either with Test & Compare or Thumbnail Test.
In the meantime, you probably want to see how YouTube compares to Thumbnail Test.
Conclusion
This is all that we’ve got on YouTube A/B Testing so far.
Fear not, whenever new info comes out, we’ll be the first ones to update this guide.
Thank you for reading this,
Thumbnail Test
