How to judge an app icon
Follow these steps in order. Each one is something we do on client work.
- Squint test. Blur it; the shape should still be recognisable.
- Small-size test. Look at it around 60 px.
- Category test. Place it among the top apps in your category.
- Background test. Light and dark wallpapers.
- Meaning test. Ask five people what it does.
- Data test. Run an icon A/B test.
Best app icon design: key rules and context
Category conventions. Some categories have strong conventions (finance often blue, food often warm colours). Decide deliberately whether to follow or break them, and test it (icon A/B test).
Inspiration without copying. Look at Apple Design Award winners and top charts, then ask why they work. Copying risks trademark issues and looks generic.
Next. Create an app icon step by step, or game app icon design.
Worked example (hypothetical)
This example is illustrative. The app is made up, and so are any numbers in it.
Imagine Pennywise Budget tests a green coin icon against a purple wallet. Both pass the squint test, but the category view shows many green finance icons. We'd test the purple version first because it stands out.
Common mistakes
- Judging at full size. Users see it small.
- Following trends only. Everyone looks the same.
- Too many colours. Muddy.
- No test. Opinions differ.
If you want this handled for you, our pricing page lists every fixed package.
Icon specs for both stores
Design once at high resolution, then export to each store's rules.
| Store | Size | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| App Store | 1024 × 1024 px master | Layered icon; the system applies the mask, so don't bake in rounded corners |
| Google Play | 512 × 512 px | 32-bit PNG with alpha, max 1,024 KB |
| Google Play policy | — | No badges, ranking text or misleading symbols (e.g. fake notification dots) |
| App Store policy (2.3.8) | — | Icons must suit a 4+ audience even if the app is rated higher |
Native testing tools compared
Use the store's own test tool before any third-party guesswork.
| Apple product page optimization | Google Play store listing experiments | |
|---|---|---|
| What you can test | Icon, screenshots, previews | Graphics and text (icon, screenshots, descriptions) |
| Variants | Up to 3 treatments vs original | Up to 2 variants vs current listing |
| Localization | Treatments can be localized | Run per language (localized experiments) |
| How winners are judged | Estimated conversion lift with confidence | Performance vs current listing over the test |
How we measure the result
For best app icon design, we treat the icon as a conversion asset first. The icon appears in search results, charts, the product page and on the home screen, which makes it one of the highest-leverage assets to test. After launch we look at the icon in real search results beside competitors, because that is the context users actually see.
Checklist
Copy this list into your release notes or ticket and tick each item off before you ship.
- Squint test
- 60 px test
- Category test
- Light/dark test
- Meaning test
- A/B test
Sources
- Apple Human Interface Guidelines: App icons (accessed 26 October 2026)
- Android Developers: Google Play icon design specifications (accessed 26 October 2026)
- Play Console Help: Add preview assets to showcase your app (accessed 26 October 2026)
- Play Console Help: Metadata policy (accessed 26 October 2026)
- Apple: App Review Guidelines (accessed 26 October 2026)
- Apple App Store Connect Help: Overview of product page optimization (accessed 26 October 2026)
- Play Console Help: Run store listing experiments (accessed 26 October 2026)
Questions
What makes an app icon good?
Clarity, contrast and recognisability.
Gradients or flat?
Either; test.
Should my icon show my logo?
If the logo works small.
How often should I change it?
Only when a test shows a better one.
Can you design one?
Yes.
What makes an app icon good?
A simple, recognisable shape, strong contrast, and a clear link to what the app does, verified with a store A/B test.