Do Reels Covers Matter? Here’s the Truth — and free Canva templates
If you’ve ever spent way too long debating whether to add a cover to your Instagram Reel, this one’s for you.
Maybe you heard someone say “Reels covers hurt the algorithm.” Or maybe you’ve just been relying on whatever awkward freeze-frame Instagram picks as the default thumbnail. (Same, honestly.)
But here’s the truth: Reels covers absolutely matter — just not for the reasons you might think.
Let’s bust the myths, talk about what actually makes a good Reels cover, and yes, I’ve got a 🔥 free Canva template pack waiting for you at the end.
Do Reels Covers Affect the Algorithm?
Short answer: Nope.
Instagram’s head, Adam Mosseri, has confirmed this multiple times in his Friday Stories Q&As — using a custom cover on your Reels doesn’t hurt your reach or performance, doesn’t matter if it was created in Canva, Adobe Express or else. The algorithm doesn’t care if you use one or not.
But you know who does care?
👉 Your potential clients.
👉 Your audience checking out your profile.
👉 Your future customers judging your vibe in 3 seconds flat.
Reels covers are for people, not the algorithm.
And if you’re running a personal brand or a business on Instagram, you want to make it easy for those people to recognize your value at a glance.
So… Why Do Reels Covers Matter?
Let’s break it down:
🔥 They make your brand look intentional.
Your Instagram grid should reflect your style, your offers, and your message — not just random close-ups of your talking face. Reels covers bring your grid together visually.
🔥 They help your content get clicked.
When someone lands on your profile, Reels with clear, on-brand covers stand out. That means more views on the posts that actually sell your offers.
🔥 They keep your content searchable.
Using text on your covers (like “Email tips” or “Instagram audit”) helps people quickly find the content they want to watch. Especially if you’re posting a lot and repurposing older Reels.
🔥 They build trust.
Consistency signals credibility. A polished, cohesive grid shows your audience that you are professional a you care about how you show up — and that you’re worth paying attention to.
If you’re a service business, using Instagram Reels Covers shows professionalism and attention to detail. You take great care of your own business and would take great care of your clients too.
But What If I’m Too Busy to Add Reels Covers?
Totally get it. I skip them sometimes too.
The beauty of Instagram is that you can always go back and add covers later. I’ve done it plenty of times — post the Reel, keep it moving, then update the cover when you have time.
(And with templates ready to go? It takes less than 5 minutes.)
What Should a Reels Cover Include?
You don’t need to overthink this — here’s a simple checklist to keep things easy:
👉 A short, clear title (1-2 lines max)
👉 Your brand fonts and colors
👉 Optional: your logo or IG handle
👉 A layout that matches your feed vibe
Pro tip: Design your Reels covers in batches using our Free Canva templates, so you’re not reinventing the wheel every week.
🎁 Want FREE Reels Cover Templates You Can Use Today?
You’re in luck — I made a free pack of 20 Canva Reels cover templates designed to save you time and help your content look ✨ branded and pro ✨.
Get a whole pack of Reels Covers templates FREE by filling the form below
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These are perfect for:
→ Coaches and creatives who want a cohesive grid
→ Small business owners who want to repurpose Reels into evergreen content
→ Anyone who’s tired of cringe default thumbnails
👉 Download the Free Canva Reels Cover Templates
They’re 100% customizable — just swap in your brand fonts, colors, and topic text. Done.
TL;DR — Yes, Reels Covers Still Matter in 2025
Let’s recap:
🔹 They don’t hurt your algorithm (confirmed by Instagram itself)
🔹 They help your content look professional and clickable
🔹 They make your grid more cohesive and brand-aligned
🔹 You don’t need to add them every time, but having templates makes it easy
🔹 You can grab 20 of them totally free — get the Canva pack here
Manu Muraro is the founder of Your Social Team, which helps small entrepreneurs grow their business through content marketing, especially email and Instagram.
In 2021 Manu launched Your Template Club, one of the first Canva Template for Instagram subscriptions in the world to provide social media managers and small business owners with content templates designed for engagement.
Manu has also more recebtly started the first Instagram Reels Award Show, The Reelies Awards and an email marketing membership, Your Inbox Team.
Born and raised in Brazil, Manu moved to the U.S. in 2000 right out of college to work for Cartoon Network, where she made an award winning career in creative and strategy.