GoScreenAPI
No API key required · CDN cached · Free

Website Thumbnail CDN

Embed a live screenshot of any website with a single <img> tag. Cached for 24 hours on our global CDN. No signup, no API key.

thumb/

Try: · ·

One URL. Any website. Instant thumbnail.

Drop a single URL into your HTML and get a live screenshot thumbnail — no backend code, no API key, no setup.

1

Paste the URL

Use goscreenapi.com/thumb/{domain} as your image source.

2

We capture & cache

First request triggers a real Chromium screenshot. Result is cached on CDN for 24 hours — subsequent loads are instant.

3

Embed anywhere

Works in any <img> tag, Markdown, Notion, email, or app. No CORS issues.

HTML
<!-- Basic thumbnail -->
<img src="https://goscreenapi.com/thumb/github.com"
     alt="GitHub thumbnail"
     width="1280" height="800" />

<!-- Custom size -->
<img src="https://goscreenapi.com/thumb/stripe.com?w=640&h=400" />

<!-- WebP format (smaller file size) -->
<img src="https://goscreenapi.com/thumb/vercel.com?format=webp" />

<!-- Check cache status -->
fetch('https://goscreenapi.com/thumb/github.com/status')
  .then(r => r.json())
  .then(d => console.log(d.cached, d.expires_at))

Query Parameters

Parameter Default Description
w 1280 Output width in pixels (max 2560)
h 800 Output height in pixels (max 1600)
format png png · jpeg · webp

Endpoints

GET
/thumb/{domain}

Returns the screenshot image directly (redirect or inline). Triggers capture on first request.

GET
/thumb/{domain}/status

Returns JSON with cache status, expiry time, and image URL.

GET
/thumb-batch?domains=a.com,b.com,c.com

Batch status check for up to 50 domains. Returns JSON array.

Built for every use case

🔗

Link Previews

Show a visual preview when users hover over external links in your app or blog.

📋

Bookmark Apps

Automatically generate thumbnails for saved URLs — no manual screenshots needed.

🛒

Marketplace Listings

Display website previews for SaaS tools, themes, or templates in your marketplace.

📊

Dashboards

Embed live site previews in monitoring dashboards or client reports.

📧

Email Campaigns

Include website thumbnails in newsletters and outreach emails.

🤖

No-Code Tools

Works in Notion, Webflow, Bubble, and any tool that accepts an image URL.

Free & Paid Tiers

Free No signup required
  • 100 thumbnails/day per IP
  • 24-hour CDN cache
  • PNG, JPEG, WebP formats
  • Up to 1280×800
API Plan With API key
  • Unlimited thumbnails
  • Custom cache TTL (1h–7d)
  • Up to 2560×1600
  • Batch endpoint (50 domains)
  • SLA & priority queue
Get API Access Free

Start embedding thumbnails today

No signup needed for the free tier. Sign up for an API key to unlock higher limits and custom options.

Part of GoScreenAPI Intelligence Platform

Fast Website Thumbnail CDN

For dynamic web experiences, a website thumbnail CDN is crucial. It ensures rapid delivery of thumbnails with response times under 50ms thanks to global edge caching. The caching system auto-refreshes every 24 hours, keeping your thumbnails up-to-date without manual intervention.

Under the hood, our CDN uses a simple URL pattern: cdn.goscreenapi.com/thumb/{domain}.png. This simplicity allows developers to quickly embed live thumbnails into applications. Supported sizes include 320px, 640px, and 1280px, catering to a variety of design needs.

Use Cases

Implement this powerful thumbnail generation in several scenarios:

  • Enhancing link previews with fresh site preview images
  • Improving SEO and conversion rates in web directories
  • Enabling attractive portfolios with website previews
  • Providing dynamic URL thumbnails in email campaigns
  • Embedding live thumbnails into social media apps

Simple Implementation

Developers will appreciate the straightforward integration. The system's URL pattern streamlines the process without compromising on speed or quality. Each site preview image benefits from edge caching, guaranteeing a consistent experience for users worldwide. The refresh cycle every 24 hours ensures that the thumbnails reflect the site's most current state.

Response times consistently remain under 50ms. This low latency is achieved by deploying the CDN across multiple strategic locations globally. Consequently, whether in New York or Tokyo, users experience rapid loads of their desired website previews.

Technical Specs

The CDN supports PNG format exclusively, optimizing for both quality and speed. File sizes are automatically adjusted based on selected dimensions—320px for small embeds, 640px for standard use, and 1280px for high-resolution needs. This variability ensures that the thumbnails fit seamlessly into diverse applications without manual resizing or quality loss.

Maximize the utility of live thumbnail integration by leveraging these specifications. In practice, this means less overhead in development and faster time-to-market for new features.

Elevate your web presence with our website thumbnail CDN.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a website thumbnail CDN?

A website thumbnail CDN (Content Delivery Network) is a service that optimizes the delivery of image thumbnails by caching them on multiple global servers. This reduces latency and improves load times, ensuring that end-users receive images quickly, typically within 100 milliseconds, depending on their location.

How do cached previews work in your API?

Cached previews are generated when a screenshot is taken and stored in our system for future requests. This allows for rapid retrieval of thumbnails without needing to reprocess the original URL, reducing response times to under 200 milliseconds for subsequent requests.

How can I use the embed URL feature?

The embed URL feature allows users to generate a direct link to the thumbnail image, which can be easily integrated into websites or applications. The URLs support formats like JPEG and PNG, and can be customized for resolution and aspect ratio, ensuring optimal display quality.

What is global edge delivery and how does it benefit users?

Global edge delivery refers to the distribution of cached content across multiple geographic locations, minimizing the distance data travels. This enhances user experience by significantly decreasing load times and ensures high availability, even during peak traffic periods.