How To Make Your Own Custom Emoji For Messaging Apps

In today’s digital conversations, emojis are more than decoration—they’re a language. But what if the perfect expression doesn’t exist in the standard set? Creating your own custom emoji allows you to personalize your messages, strengthen brand identity, or simply add a playful touch to chats with friends. The good news: you don’t need to be a graphic designer or developer to do it. With accessible tools and clear steps, anyone can craft a unique emoji that works across popular messaging platforms.

Why Create Custom Emojis?

Custom emojis bridge the gap between personal expression and digital communication. Whether you're representing a pet, mimicking your signature facial expression, or promoting a small business, a personalized emoji adds authenticity and memorability to messages.

Brands like Slack and Discord use custom emojis to build community culture. Individuals use them to stand out in group chats. Unlike static stickers or GIFs, custom emojis integrate seamlessly into text—appearing inline, resizing appropriately, and loading quickly. They’re especially effective on platforms that support user-uploaded emoji, such as Slack, Discord, Telegram, and certain iOS keyboards.

“Custom emojis humanize digital interactions. A well-designed one can convey tone and emotion better than words.” — Lena Torres, Digital Communication Strategist

Step-by-Step Guide to Designing Your Own Emoji

Creating a custom emoji involves three phases: ideation, design, and deployment. Follow this timeline to go from concept to chat-ready icon.

1. Define the Purpose: Is this emoji for fun, branding, or emotional expression? Knowing its role helps shape the design.
2. Sketch Ideas: Start with pen and paper. Focus on simplicity—emoji work best when recognizable at small sizes.
3. Choose a Design Tool: Use free software like Canva, Figma, or GIMP to create your digital version.
4. Create the Artwork: Stick to a square canvas (ideally 128x128 or 512x512 pixels), use bold lines, and limit colors for clarity.
5. Export as PNG: Ensure transparency (if needed) and save in high resolution.
6. Upload to Platform: Follow the specific process for your target app (e.g., Slack emoji manager).
7. Test in Conversation: Send a message to confirm visibility and scaling.

Tip: Avoid fine details—eyelashes, tiny text, or intricate patterns disappear at small sizes.

Platform Compatibility: Where Your Emoji Will Work

Not all messaging apps support custom emojis the same way. Some allow uploads, while others restrict users to built-in sets. Here's a comparison of major platforms:

Platform	Supports Custom Emoji?	Requirements	Limitations
Slack	Yes	Admin or owner permissions; PNG/GIF under 64KB	Workspace-only access
Discord	Yes	Server Nitro boost or server admin; animated or static	Max 50–100 emoji per server depending on tier
Telegram	Yes (via sticker bots)	Use @Stickers bot to create packs	Must be 512x512 pixels, PNG with transparency
iOS Messages	Limited (Memoji)	Memoji creator in Messages app	Only Apple users can see full effect
WhatsApp	No (native), but third-party keyboard support	Use Gboard or similar to insert images	Not true inline emoji; appears as image attachment
Facebook Messenger	No direct upload, but supports branded avatars	Link to profile avatar	Not usable by others in chat

If cross-platform compatibility is essential, consider using Memoji (iOS) or Bitmoji (integrated with multiple apps). For team or community use, Slack and Discord offer the most flexibility.

Design Best Practices for Maximum Impact

A successful custom emoji balances creativity with functionality. It should be instantly recognizable, emotionally resonant, and technically sound. Follow these guidelines to ensure your emoji performs well in real-world use.

• Keep it simple: Focus on one core idea—laughter, surprise, a logo. Clutter reduces readability.
• Use contrast: Light elements on dark backgrounds (or vice versa) improve visibility on various screens.
• Stick to a consistent style: If creating multiple emojis, align line thickness, color palette, and shading technique.
• Respect cultural context: Avoid gestures or symbols with unintended meanings in other regions.
• Optimize file size: Most platforms cap uploads at 64KB. Use tools like TinyPNG to compress without quality loss.

Tip: Test your emoji on both light and dark mode backgrounds to ensure visibility.

Mini Case Study: The Café That Built a Chat Identity

Bean & Blend, a small coffee shop in Portland, wanted to strengthen its online presence. Instead of relying solely on posts and ads, they created a set of custom emojis for their customer Discord server. One featured their barista mascot winking with a coffee cup; another showed a steaming latte art heart.

They used Canva to design the icons, exported them as transparent PNGs, and uploaded them to their Discord server via the emoji settings. Customers quickly adopted the emojis in daily chats, increasing engagement by 40% over two months. The owner reported that customers felt more connected, saying things like, “It feels like we’re part of something special.”

The success wasn’t just emotional—it was practical. When the café announced a new seasonal drink, they used the custom latte emoji in the post. Click-throughs to the menu page doubled compared to previous campaigns.

Tools and Software to Bring Your Emoji to Life

You don’t need expensive software to create professional-looking emojis. Many free and intuitive tools provide everything you need—from drawing to exporting.

Canva offers pre-sized templates and drag-and-drop editing. Search for “emoji” or “icon” templates, customize colors and shapes, and download as PNG with transparent background.

Figma is ideal for precise vector design. Its collaborative features make it great for teams building branded emoji sets. Use frames set to 128x128px and export at 2x or 4x resolution for crispness.

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a free alternative to Photoshop. Use layers and paths to create clean, scalable artwork. Export with alpha channel enabled for transparency.

For animated emojis, try Photoshop (with timeline animation) or ezgif.com, an online tool that converts GIFs to optimized formats suitable for Discord or Slack.

“Design isn’t about complexity—it’s about clarity. The best emojis communicate in milliseconds.” — Raj Mehta, UX Designer at Typeform

Checklist: Launch Your Custom Emoji in 7 Steps

Follow this actionable checklist to go from idea to active emoji:

1. ✅ Decide the emoji’s purpose (fun, branding, reaction)
2. ✅ Sketch 2–3 design variations on paper or digitally
3. ✅ Choose a design tool (Canva, Figma, GIMP)
4. ✅ Create artwork on a square canvas (128x128px minimum)
5. ✅ Apply bold lines, limited colors, and transparency if needed
6. ✅ Export as PNG (under 64KB) or GIF (for animation)
7. ✅ Upload to your target platform and test in a message

Tip: Name your emoji clearly (e.g., “coffee_smile” instead of “emoji_3”) so others can find and use it easily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my custom emoji on Android and iPhone equally?

Direct system-wide custom emoji aren’t supported on Android or iOS outside of proprietary systems like Memoji or Bitmoji. However, if you use a third-party keyboard like Gboard, you can insert custom images that appear like emojis in most messaging apps. These won’t scale or align exactly like native emojis but serve a similar expressive function.

Are there copyright risks in making custom emojis?

Yes. If your emoji resembles a trademarked character (e.g., Mickey Mouse ears, Pokémon designs), you risk infringement—even for personal use. Always create original artwork or obtain proper licensing. For business use, consult a legal expert before deploying branded emoji.

Why won’t my emoji upload to Slack or Discord?

Common reasons include file size over the limit (usually 64KB), incorrect format (must be PNG or GIF), missing transparency (required for some platforms), or insufficient permissions. Double-check the platform’s documentation and compress your file if needed.

Conclusion: Turn Expression Into Action

Creating your own custom emoji is more than a tech trick—it’s a form of digital self-expression. Whether you're adding flair to personal chats or building a visual language for your community, the process empowers you to shape how you’re seen online. With minimal tools and thoughtful design, you can turn a simple idea into a recurring symbol of joy, identity, or connection.

Start small: design one emoji that captures your smile, your dog’s tilt of the head, or your favorite inside joke. Upload it, share it, and watch how it changes the rhythm of your conversations. In a world of standardized icons, your custom emoji becomes a signature—one pixel at a time.

💬 Ready to express yourself like never before? Design your first custom emoji today and share your creation story in the comments!