Starting a mobile app or launching your startup is an exciting journey. But let’s be real—one of the first things people notice is your logo. It’s your brand’s handshake. The face of your app. And it’s gotta pop!
TLDR: Coming up with a logo doesn’t have to be hard. Focus on simplicity, relevance, and adaptability. Whether your app is serious or silly, there’s a logo style to match. Get inspired with these 12 fun and simple logo ideas perfect for modern mobile apps and startups.
1. The Minimal Mark
Simple lines, huge impact. A minimal logo strips away the fluff. Think of a clean, bold shape that stands out. Perfect for tech startups or sleek productivity apps. It’s easy to resize and looks great on small screens.
Examples: Google, Airbnb, Dropbox.
2. The Friendly Face
Use a cartoon face, mascot, or even a quirky icon that feels friendly. People love to connect with friendly branding. Great for lifestyle, kids, or social apps.
Tip: Keep the face symmetrical and expressive!
3. The Abstract Wonder
Want to be edgy or futuristic? Try an abstract logo. These logos use shapes and forms that don’t represent anything literal but feel modern.
Abstract shapes can suggest motion, innovation, or mystery. They’re awesome for AI, developers, or fintech apps.
4. The Typo-Trick
Play with text! Modify a single letter in your app name to become the design. Like making the letter “O” a power button or turning the “A” into a pencil.
This idea blends your name into the art, making it impossible to forget.
5. The Nature Vibe
Use plants, leaves, mountains, or waves in your logo to give natural, calming energy. These are perfect for wellness, meditation, sustainability, or mindfulness apps.
Combine earthy tones with soft shapes to really hit that organic groove.
6. The Buttons & Pixels
This one’s a classic for retro or gaming startups. Use pixel-style icons, old-school buttons, or chunky game controller visuals.
Great for: Arcade apps, retro tech, or game studios.
Bonus? Pixel art scales easily without losing charm.
7. The Bold Letter
When in doubt, use your app’s starting letter. Give it personality—curves, edges, movement. Think of it like a superhero costume for your favorite letter.
Seen it in: Facebook (F), Medium (M), and Pinterest (P).
8. The Glow-Up Gradient
Gradients are still hot! A simple symbol with a vibrant gradient background can really pop on app stores. It adds depth and emotion to your brand.
Choose 2-3 complementary colors and make them dance from left to right or bottom to top.
Use this for: Creative or photo editing apps, lifestyle platforms, or even messaging tools.
9. The Animal Symbol
Everybody loves animals. Use one to represent your brand’s personality. A wise owl for knowledge. A fox for cleverness. A whale for scale. You get the idea.
Animal logos feel alive, and if you nail the look, it builds trust fast.
10. The App Shape-In-A-Box
A logo within a rounded square is a no-brainer for mobile apps. Why? Because it looks awesome on app icons!
You can stick a symbol or letter inside and make it stand out with colors.
Hot tip: Use negative space creatively. Like hiding a smile in the corners or sneaking a shape inside another one.
11. The Speedy Streak
Want to show your app is fast, efficient, or futuristic? Add streaks or motion lines. Even if your icon is static, it’ll feel like it moves.
It’s used in food delivery, fintech, maps or ridesharing logos a lot. It says, “We go fast!”
Great example: The Nike swoosh is the granddaddy of motion logos.
12. The Daily Object Twist
Find a simple item people use every day—like a mug, chat bubble, lightbulb—and give it a creative twist. This adds familiarity to your logo while making it feel fresh.
Create your signature look by bending or flipping the item to form your brand name’s initials or story.
Choosing the Right One
So which of these 12 logo ideas fits your app or startup best?
- Go minimal for timeless tech vibes.
- Try faces or animals for friendly apps.
- Pick buttons or gradients for bold creative flair.
Make sure your logo looks good tiny (on phone apps) and large (like a billboard or website header).
Some Bonus Logo Tips
- Test the logo icon on a phone screen size. It should be recognizable at a glance.
- Stick to just 2-3 colors. Less is more in the world of apps.
- Design in black and white first. If your logo works without color, it’ll work anywhere.
- Think of animation. Some logos can move when the app loads. So make it “wiggle-ready” if you want that splash screen magic.
Final Words
Designing a logo is like creating your app’s outfit. It needs to fit, flatter, and feel fabulous. Don’t overthink it. Simple is strong. Fun is memorable.
Start sketching or hit up a logo builder. Test your ideas, get feedback, and once you land the right one—own it with pride.
Your logo is the first hello. Make it a good one!