Best Charging Animation Apps for iPhone
Want a custom animation when you plug in your iPhone? Here are the best charging animation apps and how the Shortcuts automation behind them actually works.
A charging animation plays a custom visual and sound when you plug your iPhone in. iOS has no built-in setting for this — it works by triggering a full-screen effect through a Shortcuts automation. The good apps handle that setup for you so you do not have to wire up automations by hand. This round-up covers the ones worth installing, with honest notes on each.
We make one of these apps, so consider that disclosure. We also flag where another app may suit you better.
How charging animations actually work
There is no native toggle. Instead:
- An automation in the Shortcuts app fires when the iPhone starts charging.
- The automation plays a full-screen video or animation, often with a sound.
- A good app packages the animation and configures the automation so you just pick a style.
If you want to understand the mechanism before choosing an app, our explainer on what a charging animation app is and the step-by-step on how to set a charging animation cover it.
What makes a good charging animation app
- Guided setup that builds the Shortcuts automation for you rather than leaving you to do it manually.
- A solid library of animations and matching sounds.
- Customization — your own clips, adjustable effects, optional sound.
- No ad spam interrupting the setup flow.
The apps
Wallpaper Hub — best if you want animations alongside everything else
Wallpaper Hub’s charging animation feature sets up the Shortcuts automation for you, so you choose a style and it handles the plumbing. The advantage of an all-in-one is consistency: the same app holds your wallpapers, live wallpapers, ringtones, and AI-generated art, so your charging effect can match the rest of your setup. It is free with Premium ($5.99/week or $49.99/year) and around 4.6 stars. Honest caveat: a dedicated charging-animation app may stock a few more novelty effects.
Dedicated charging-animation apps — most variety of effects
A handful of single-purpose apps focus only on charging effects and tend to carry the widest variety of flashy animations and sounds. If a huge novelty selection is your priority and you do not mind that the app does nothing else, one of these specialists is a reasonable pick. Watch for ad-supported free tiers, which are common in this category.
Zedge — animations within a huge catalog
Zedge’s enormous cross-platform library includes animated content and sounds you can repurpose for a charging effect, alongside its wallpapers and ringtones. It is broad and free but ad-supported, and it is not purpose-built for charging automations specifically. See Wallpaper Hub vs Zedge.
DIY with Shortcuts — free, most control
You do not strictly need any app. You can record or download a clip and build the charging automation yourself in Shortcuts. It costs nothing and gives full control, but it is fiddly and easy to misconfigure. Apps mainly save you that hassle.
Quick comparison
| Option | Builds automation for you | Other features | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wallpaper Hub | Yes | Wallpapers, live, AI, ringtones | Free + Premium |
| Dedicated apps | Yes | Charging only | Often free, ad-supported |
| Zedge | Partial | Huge catalog | Free, ad-supported |
| DIY Shortcuts | No (manual) | N/A | Free |
How to choose
- Want charging animations plus matching wallpapers, live screens, and ringtones in one app? Wallpaper Hub.
- Want the widest pile of novelty effects and nothing else? A dedicated charging app.
- Want it free and don’t mind ads? Zedge or DIY Shortcuts.
- Like tinkering and want full control? Build it yourself in Shortcuts.
FAQ
Does iOS have a built-in charging animation? No. It relies on a Shortcuts automation, which is why apps exist to set it up for you. See how to set a charging animation.
Will a charging animation drain my battery? It only plays briefly when you plug in, so the impact is negligible.
Can I use my own video as a charging animation? Yes. Wallpaper Hub’s charging feature supports custom clips, and a manual Shortcuts setup does too. Compare more options on our comparison hub.
If you want charging animations in the same app as your wallpapers and ringtones, Get Wallpaper Hub on the App Store.