For pre-launch teams
Test an app icon
before launch.
Get early feedback without publishing your app. A public IconBattle shows the icon artwork to voters, so share only designs and context you are comfortable making public.
The short answer
An early icon test does not need to reveal an early product.
Use two comparable icon directions and a neutral task prompt such as “Which would you tap first for a focus app?” That gives people enough context to choose without exposing your roadmap, private screenshots or product details.
A safer workflow
Share the minimum needed for the decision.
Define the boundary
Decide what can be public: the icon direction and a broad category are often enough.
Prepare comparable files
Use two centered, readable PNGs and change one visual decision at a time.
Ask a neutral question
Ask about the first tap, not whether someone likes a product they have not used.
Choose the audience
Public feedback and confidential feedback solve different problems.
A small private group is the better fit when the asset itself is sensitive. A public anonymous comparison is useful when you want a broader read on first impression and are comfortable showing the artwork. In both cases, only submit material you have the right to share.
After the result
Turn a preference into the next iteration.
- Record which specific visual decision changed between the two directions.
- Check the chosen direction at small sizes before treating it as final.
- Consider whether the voters resemble your intended audience; public visitors may not.
- Keep the outcome directional: it is input for design review, not a forecast of downloads.
- When the app is ready, compare a blind test with an App Store experiment.
FAQ
Common questions
Can I test an icon before an app is published?
Yes. Share the icon direction with a neutral category prompt, without publishing a roadmap, screenshots or sensitive product details.
What should stay private in an unreleased icon test?
Only show what is necessary to answer the first-impression question. Avoid unreleased screens, feature details, private roadmap material and a product name when it would reveal more than intended.
Can I upload an unreleased icon to IconBattle?
Yes, if you have the right to share the artwork. Uploaded artwork is checked before it is activated for a public Battle.