CTR explained

CTR is the percent of people who click after they see the video. A high CTR on a tiny impression count is not the same as a healthy video.

Evergreen

Read CTR next to impressions

Click-through rate is clicks divided by impressions. YouTube will show a video more widely over time, and CTR often falls as it leaves your warm audience and meets colder ones. A drop in CTR after a video travels is normal. A low CTR while it is still being shown to subscribers means the package is unclear.

There is no universal "good" CTR. A niche tutorial can live at a lower CTR than a drama thumbnail and still be a better business. Compare your videos to each other.

Frequently asked questions

Should I change the thumbnail if CTR is low?

If impressions are still early and people who click also leave immediately, fix the video first. If people are not clicking at all, test a new thumbnail or title.