# AppTheme vs Shortcut Icon Maker

The clearest difference is rating: AppTheme at 4.4 against Shortcut Icon Maker's 3.5. AppTheme also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 15 months) and ratings volume (8.7K vs 34). Shortcut Icon Maker's advantage is review sentiment (50% vs 37%) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AppTheme sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days and Shortcut Icon Maker sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

AppTheme holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AppTheme has 8.7K ratings behind it against 34, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 37% of AppTheme's written reviews are positive against 50% of Shortcut Icon Maker's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

AppTheme ships an update every 6 weeks, Shortcut Icon Maker every 15 months. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AppTheme | Shortcut Icon Maker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (8.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apptheme-icons-and-widgets-kit/id1534720807/reviews)** | [3.5 (34 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shortcut-icon-maker/id1557164849/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **8.7K** | 34 |
| Positive reviews | 37.2% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 15 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 288 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Barys Bandarenko](https://appshunter.io/developer/1534720809) | [aZeR DiLLs](https://appshunter.io/developer/491310978) |

## What reviewers say

### AppTheme

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apptheme-icons-and-widgets-kit/id1534720807)

Personalize your iPhone's home screen with trendy themes, custom widgets, and matching wallpapers. Create a unique look with icon packs, contact posters, and a vast collection of aesthetic styles.

**Highlights:** 3-in-1 themes (icons, widgets, wallpapers), Customizable photo, clock, and motivation widgets, Icon changer with multiple installation methods, Extensive wallpaper collection, Personalized contact posters, Diverse aesthetic styles

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All Icon Packs and Widgets | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly (Special Offer) | $5.99 | per month |
| All Icon Packs and Widgets | $8.99 | per year |
| Monthly Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Premium (Special Offer) | $19.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Premium | $9.99 | one-time |
| Special offer - Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🤩 Customizable themes and widgets
- 🎨 Variety of free aesthetic options
- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 🎉 Helps personalize phone's look

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Many premium features require purchase
- 🤔 Confusing instructions and setup process
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches with icon/widget installation
- 🤯 Limited free options compared to paid

**Reported bugs**

- Widgets not displaying properly
- Installed icons not working as expected
- Crashes and freezes when changing themes

**Requested features**

- More free theme and icon options
- Improved instructions and tutorials
- Ability to search for specific themes
- Fix issues with app icons and widgets


### Shortcut Icon Maker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shortcut-icon-maker/id1557164849)

Create custom icons for your apps and personalize your device's home screen. Choose from over 1,000 icons with extensive customization options for size, color, and background. Easily save and use your creations with Apple's Shortcuts app for a unique display.

**Highlights:** Create custom app icons, Personalize home screen display, Over 1,000 icon sets, Adjust icon size and color, Customize background and borders, Save icons to photo library, Integrates with Apple's Shortcuts app

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Shortcut Icon Maker All Icons | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AppTheme free?

AppTheme is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Shortcut Icon Maker free?

Shortcut Icon Maker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, AppTheme or Shortcut Icon Maker?

AppTheme is rated higher. AppTheme averages 4.4 out of 5 from 8.7K ratings, while Shortcut Icon Maker averages 3.5 from 34 ratings.

### Do AppTheme or Shortcut Icon Maker have ads?

Both AppTheme and Shortcut Icon Maker show ads.

### Which is updated more often, AppTheme or Shortcut Icon Maker?

AppTheme ships an update every 6 weeks, and Shortcut Icon Maker every 15 months. Most recently, AppTheme was updated on November 7, 2026 and Shortcut Icon Maker on November 3, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*