Product screenshots for launch: what to show and how

Show three to five screenshots of the product doing its main job with realistic data, in the order a new user would experience it. Use a wide format (16:9 is the safest), crop to what matters, add a short caption to each, and make the first one strong enough to stand alone, because it's often the only one people see.

Which screens to show

1. The result: the screen where the product delivers its value (the finished report, the published page, the dashboard with data).
2. How you get there: the main action, in one screen.
3. The feature that sets you apart from alternatives.
4. Optional: mobile, integrations or settings that buyers ask about.

Skip the login page, empty states and settings menus unless they're the point. Nobody decides to try a product because of its sign-in form.

Sizes and format

• Use a wide 16:9 frame, such as 1600×900 or 1920×1080. Most launch sites and directories display wide images, and they crop well into other shapes.
• Export at high resolution and let the site resize. Blurry text looks unfinished.
• Keep important content away from the edges, since some sites crop thumbnails.
• PNG or high-quality JPEG/WebP; keep each file reasonably small so pages stay fast.

Make them readable

• Fill the product with realistic sample data, never "Lorem ipsum" or test123.
• Crop or zoom to the part that matters instead of showing a full browser window.
• Add a short caption on or under each image: what this screen does for the user.
• Use a plain background and consistent framing across all images.
• Hide personal data and real customer names.

The first image matters most

In feeds, lists and link previews, usually only the first image is shown. Make it the clearest single picture of what the product does. Your Open Graph image can reuse it with your name and tagline added.

Frequently asked questions

How many screenshots should I add to a launch?

Three to five is the sweet spot. Enough to show the main flow and what makes you different, few enough that each one gets looked at.

What size should product screenshots be?

A wide 16:9 image at 1600×900 or larger works on almost every launch site and directory. Check each site's own guidance, since a few use other shapes.

Should I use mockups or plain screenshots?

Plain, well-cropped screenshots are clearer. Device mockups can help for mobile apps, but heavy decoration makes the actual product smaller and harder to read.