Soarias vs IconKitchen (and similar icon tools)
IconKitchen and tools like it are purpose-built, free utilities for generating App Store icon asset sets from a single source image — they do that one job well and nothing else. Soarias is a local-first iOS shipping desktop app for Claude Code users that bundles icon generation as one step inside a complete SwiftUI-to-App-Store workflow for a one-time $79 fee.
At a glance
| Feature | Soarias | IconKitchen & similar |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $79 one-time | Free |
| Subscription required | No | No |
| Native iOS output | Yes — generates SwiftUI app code | Yes — generates native .png icon asset sets |
| Runs locally | Yes — desktop app, no cloud required | Varies — most tools run in-browser |
| App Store submission | Bundled end-to-end flow | Not included — icon export only |
| AI provider | Claude Code (BYO API key) | None — manual design input |
| Best for | Solo developers shipping full iOS apps with Claude Code | Designers & developers who need icon asset sets quickly |
| Data ownership | Local-first — your files stay on your machine | Processed in-browser or on provider servers |
What is IconKitchen (and similar icon generators)?
IconKitchen, available at icon.kitchen, is a well-regarded free web tool created by Nick Butcher. You supply a source image, configure padding, background color, and shape, and it generates a complete icon asset catalog ready to drop into your Xcode project. It covers every required iOS App Icon size, as well as Android and web variants, in a single export. This breadth across platforms is a genuine strength for developers who build on multiple targets.
The ecosystem around icon generation is broad. Tools like AppIconizer, MakeAppIcon, and Figma-based icon plugins all serve the same core need: take one high-resolution image and slice it into every required size. Many are free or very low cost, and their focused scope means they are quick to learn and require no ongoing commitment.
IconKitchen in particular has earned a reputation for reliability. It handles adaptive icons, background layers, and foreground crops consistently, and its output integrates directly with standard Xcode asset catalogs. Developers who already have a finalized design and just need properly sized exports will find it does exactly what it promises without friction.
What is Soarias?
Soarias is a local-first macOS desktop app built specifically for Claude Code users who want to ship iOS apps. For a one-time payment of $79 — no subscription, no recurring fees — it provides a structured workflow that takes a product idea through SwiftUI code generation, TestFlight upload, and App Store submission. It uses your own Claude Code API key, which means your code and prompts never pass through Soarias servers; everything runs on your Mac.
Icon generation is one step inside this larger pipeline rather than the product itself. If you are already using Soarias to ship an app, you do not need to visit a separate tool for icon assets. But if you already have an established Xcode project and only need icon exports, Soarias is a full shipping environment — it is not the right tool for a single-asset export task.
Key differences
1. Bundled workflow vs. standalone utility
IconKitchen is a standalone utility: you arrive, upload an image, configure it, export, and leave. That focus is a feature — it means zero setup and no commitment. Soarias treats icon generation as one node inside a connected pipeline that also handles SwiftUI code generation, fastlane configuration, screenshot production, App Store metadata, and submission. Choosing between them is largely a question of whether you need that surrounding context or not.
2. One-time cost vs. free — and what surrounds it
IconKitchen and most similar icon generators are free, which makes them an easy default for the icon export step regardless of what else you are using. Soarias costs $79 once, covering the complete shipping workflow. If you are comparing purely on icon generation cost, the standalone tools win on price. The Soarias calculation only makes sense if the full workflow is what you are buying.
3. AI-assisted code generation vs. manual design input
Icon generators accept a design file as input and produce sized assets — the design itself must come from elsewhere. Soarias integrates with Claude Code so that app screens, logic, and assets can be iterated on through natural language prompts. This is a fundamentally different scope: Soarias generates the SwiftUI app around the icon, not just the icon assets themselves. Developers who already have a design workflow and just need reliable exports have no reason to reach for Soarias for that step alone.
Cost over 24 months
IconKitchen is free. Over 24 months, the cost of using it for icon generation is $0. Many similar tools in this category — MakeAppIcon, AppIconizer, and others — are also free or offer free tiers sufficient for most indie developers.
Soarias is $79 as a one-time purchase. Over the same 24-month window that remains $79, with no renewal. There is no subscription component to project forward.
These two numbers are not directly comparable because the products cover different scopes. Icon generators do one task. Soarias covers the end-to-end iOS shipping workflow, of which icon generation is one component. The relevant comparison is whether $79 once justifies replacing several separate tools — icon generators, screenshot tools, submission workflows — with a single integrated environment. If you only need icon assets, the standalone free tools are the practical choice.
When to choose each
Choose IconKitchen (or similar) if…
- →You have a finished icon design and just need properly sized .png asset sets for your Xcode project.
- →You are building for multiple platforms (iOS, Android, web) and need a single export covering all targets.
- →You want zero setup cost and no financial commitment for this step of your workflow.
- →You already have an established Xcode project and existing tooling for the rest of your shipping process.
Choose Soarias if…
- →You are using Claude Code to build a SwiftUI iOS app and want icon generation to happen inside the same workflow without switching tools.
- →You want a local-first environment where your code and assets stay on your machine rather than passing through external servers.
- →You are shipping regularly and want to consolidate code generation, screenshots, and App Store submission into one $79 purchase rather than stitching together multiple tools.
- →You prefer a one-time payment with no subscription exposure over managing several free utilities across your pipeline.
Related comparisons
FAQ
Does Soarias replace the need for a dedicated icon generator like IconKitchen?
For Soarias users, icon assets are handled as part of the bundled workflow — you do not need to visit a separate tool. However, if your project started outside Soarias or you are targeting platforms beyond iOS, a standalone tool like IconKitchen may still be useful. They address different scopes and can coexist in the same process.
Is there a free tier for Soarias?
Soarias is a $79 one-time purchase with no free tier listed at this time. IconKitchen, by contrast, is free with no purchase required. If your only need is icon asset exports, the standalone free tools are the straightforward choice.
Can I use Soarias with an existing Xcode project?
Soarias is designed for Claude Code users building iOS apps within its workflow. If you have a mature existing Xcode project, the fit depends on how much of your workflow you want to move into Soarias's pipeline. For existing projects where you only need icon assets, dedicated icon generators require no migration and no additional cost.
Do icon generators like IconKitchen generate SwiftUI code?
No. IconKitchen and similar tools generate sized image asset files — PNG exports for your Xcode asset catalog. They do not generate SwiftUI code, handle App Store metadata, or interact with the submission process. SwiftUI code generation is the core capability of Soarias, not of icon tools.
Last reviewed: 2026-05-11 by the Soarias team.