Emojis have become an essential part of digital communication, influencing how people express tone, mood, and creativity in messaging. As the evolution of emojis continues, Apple’s Genmoji and Google’s Gboard Emoji Kitchen stand at the forefront of emoji customization. Both tools offer unique ways to create and personalize emojis beyond the traditional range. But which is better? This article compares Apple Genmoji and Gboard Emoji Kitchen in terms of features, usability, platform integration, and creativity.
Genmoji is Apple’s next-level emoji tool introduced in iOS 17. With Genmoji, users can create custom emojis using generative AI. Essentially, instead of selecting from a pre-existing pool of emojis, users enter a text prompt, and Apple’s AI generates a matching visual emoji-like image.
This approach opens the door to limitless expressive combinations. Want a cat wearing a party hat and surfing? Genmoji makes that happen with just a few typed words.
Emoji Kitchen, integrated into Google’s Gboard since 2020, takes a different approach. It allows users to combine two existing emojis into a custom sticker. For example, blending a cowboy face with a heart might result in a heart-eyed cowboy emoji. Unlike Genmoji, Emoji Kitchen focuses on remixing existing assets rather than creating new ones from scratch.
The result is often humorous, quirky, and surprisingly expressive. Gboard automatically suggests mashups as users tap emojis, making experimentation easy and fun.
| Feature | Apple Genmoji | Gboard Emoji Kitchen |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | iOS 17 and above | Android devices with Gboard |
| Customization Level | High (AI-generated from text) | Moderate (Emoji mashups) |
| Ease of Use | Moderate – Requires prompt crafting | High – Tap and mix emojis |
| Artistic Control | Varied outcomes, more creative input | Limited to existing emoji combinations |
| Exportability | Used like standard emojis | Sent as stickers, not standard emojis |
Apple Genmoji impresses with its sleek interface that integrates well into Messages on iPhone. The prompt-based system is intuitive for users who are comfortable with AI tools, but it might be more abstruse for casual users. Since output is based on text description, Genmoji depends significantly on how users phrase their prompts. If imagination and precision align, users get stunning results. Otherwise, results can be hit-or-miss.
Gboard’s Emoji Kitchen, by contrast, is easier for most users to pick up. Tap any eligible emoji, and Gboard suggests combinations in real-time. The integration is seamless across apps that support Gboard, including WhatsApp, Gmail, and Telegram. This makes it highly accessible and widely adoptable, especially for users already familiar with Android.
When it comes to pure creative freedom, Apple’s Genmoji arguably takes the crown. Its use of AI empowers users to come up with truly original designs that go far beyond the emoji catalog. Whether users want mythological creatures, improbable settings, or surreal mashups, Genmoji can produce visuals that traditional emojis simply can’t offer.
Emoji Kitchen, while clever, is confined to specific remixable emojis that Google supports. The creativity comes more from clever combinations rather than building something from scratch. However, this approach ensures instant results that often maintain a humorous or whimsical tone that resonates with many users.
Generation time also differs. Gboard’s Emoji Kitchen operates instantly. Since combinations are pre-designed or pre-rendered, the system simply fetches and displays the result. In contrast, Apple Genmoji may take a few moments to generate the emoji, depending on the complexity of the prompt and internet connectivity.
One of the major drawbacks of both platforms is their limited cross-platform compatibility. Genmoji is largely confined to Apple’s ecosystem. The custom emojis function more like stickers and may display as images on non-Apple devices. Meanwhile, Emoji Kitchen stickers also suffer from limited emoji support on iOS, and when shared over SMS or non-Gboard platforms, they may lose some functionality.
From a privacy standpoint, both Apple and Google handle emoji fusion UI data within their respective keyboards. Apple emphasizes on-device processing whenever possible, especially for AI tasks, aligning with its privacy-first philosophy. Google processes Emoji Kitchen mashups server-side to retrieve sticker assets but has built-in protections to anonymize user input.
The answer depends on what the user values most:
Apple Genmoji and Gboard Emoji Kitchen both redefine how users interact with emojis, but they appeal to different types of users. Genmoji caters to storytellers and artists looking to push the boundaries of visual communication, thanks to generative AI. Emoji Kitchen, on the other hand, turns conversations into playful, meme-like exchanges that delight with their absurdity and charm.
Neither is definitively better for everyone; instead, they show how emoji use is diverging into new, creative paths. For users immersed in Apple’s ecosystem, Genmoji offers a groundbreaking level of personal touch. For Android users or those who enjoy lighthearted mashups, Gboard’s Emoji Kitchen remains a fan favorite.