ThumbAPI for WordPress: Auto Featured Images From Any Post Title

Generate a production-ready featured image with one click, directly inside the WordPress post editor. No design tools, no manual upload, no external workflow. The official ThumbAPI plugin for WordPress turns your post title into a 1200×630 cover image and sets it as the post's Featured Image automatically.

What the plugin does

The plugin adds a small “ThumbAPI” panel to the post editor sidebar (Gutenberg block editor) and below the Featured Image meta box (classic editor). One click generates and sets the featured image — the post title is used as the prompt.

• One-click featured image generation from the post title
• Block editor sidebar panel and classic editor meta-box support
• Image styles: Faceless (text + graphics), With image, or With logo
• 13 content categories (Tech & SaaS, Business, Travel, Food, Gaming…)
• Pick image source from WordPress Media Library or reuse the personal photo / logo saved in your ThumbAPI dashboard
• 1200×630 output — optimized for blog hero, OG image, and social previews
• Generated images go through the standard WordPress Media Library — all thumbnail sizes generated automatically

Install the plugin

Until the WordPress.org listing is live, install manually using the zip from the download button above:

1. Download the plugin zip below.
2. WordPress admin → Plugins → Add New Plugin → Upload Plugin.
3. Choose thumbapi-wordpress.zip → Install Now → Activate.
4. Settings → ThumbAPI → paste your API key → Save Changes.
5. Open any post → ThumbAPI panel in the sidebar → Generate.

You need a free ThumbAPI account. New accounts include 5 free generations — enough to verify the plugin works on your site before upgrading.

How to use it

1. Write your post title (e.g. "10 Tips to Grow a SaaS Blog").
2. Save the draft.
3. Open the ThumbAPI panel in the editor sidebar.
4. Pick a Style: Faceless, With image, or With logo.
5. Pick a Category: Tech & SaaS, Travel, Food, etc. (or leave on Auto).
6. Click Generate.
7. A 1200×630 cover image is generated, uploaded to the
   Media Library, and set as the post's Featured Image.

The whole flow takes under five seconds in the editor. No template configuration, no separate dashboard, no copy-paste from external tools.

Using a personal photo or logo

For the With image and With logo styles, the plugin gives you two choices:

• Media Library — pick any image already in your WordPress Media Library. Sent inline to ThumbAPI, max 2 MB. Useful for per-post creator photos or post-specific brand assets.
• ThumbAPI dashboard — reuse the personal photo or logo you uploaded once in your dashboard. Ideal for consistent branding across every post without re-picking each time.

What data is sent to ThumbAPI

Only when you click Generate, the plugin sends:

• The post title (string)
• The selected image style and category
• The Media Library image you picked (only if you chose “Media Library” as the source)
• Your API key as x-api-key header

Nothing is sent automatically. No tracking, no telemetry, no unsolicited requests. See the ThumbAPI privacy policy and terms of service for full details.

Requirements

• WordPress 6.2 or newer
• PHP 7.4 or newer
• A free or paid ThumbAPI account for the API key

Common questions

Is the plugin free?

The plugin itself is free and open source under GPL-2.0-or-later. It uses your ThumbAPI account to generate images. The free ThumbAPI plan includes 5 generations per month — enough to validate the plugin works on your site.

Does it work with the classic editor?

Yes. The plugin adds a small section below the standard Featured Image meta box in the classic editor, with the same generate button and image source picker as the block editor sidebar.

Will my existing featured images be replaced?

Clicking Generate always sets the new image as the featured image. Your previous featured image stays in the Media Library and can be reassigned manually if needed.

When will it be on WordPress.org?

The plugin is currently under review by the WordPress.org Plugins Team. Review typically takes 1–10 days. Once approved, this page will link directly to the WordPress.org listing and the “Add New Plugin” search inside your WordPress admin will find it under the name ThumbAPI — Auto Featured Images.

Where can I report bugs?

Email [email protected] with the WordPress version, PHP version, and any error message you see in the editor or browser console.