ButterKitvs.AppLaunchpad
A native macOS engine vs. a browser-based builder. Which gives you better screenshots for less?
TL;DR
AppLaunchpad is a web-based screenshot builder with drag-and-drop templates for both App Store and Google Play. ButterKit is a native macOS app with real-time 3D rendering, one-click Xcode Simulator capture, auto-translation across all 39 App Store languages, and direct publishing to App Store Connect. Because ButterKit runs entirely on your Mac (no servers to pay for) it starts at just $20/year or a one-time $49 purchase vs. AppLaunchpad’s $180+/year subscription.
How does ButterKit compare to AppLaunchpad?
AppLaunchpadDetailed comparison
App Store screenshot workflow
The entire workflow is integrated on your Mac. Capture directly from Xcode Simulator, drop into a template with 3D device frames, auto-translate caption text to all 39 App Store languages, and upload directly to App Store Connect, all without leaving the app. One design change propagates across every language and device size automatically.
AppLaunchpad
A browser-based drag-and-drop builder. You take your own screenshots, upload them to the web app, pick a template, add text and backgrounds, then export the finished images. The results then need to be manually uploaded to App Store Connect or Google Play. Each store size and language requires separate attention.
3D device mockups
Buttery-smooth, real-time 3D rendering powered by Metal at up to 120fps on Apple Silicon. Photorealistic iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Vision Pro models you can freely rotate, angle, and customize. Interactively, in real-time. Your screenshots are rendered inside the device, not composited on top.
AppLaunchpad
Static, pre-rendered device frames. AppLaunchpad offers some 3D-perspective templates, but the angles are fixed, so you can’t freely rotate or adjust the device yourself. The results are clean but lack the interactive, photorealistic depth of real-time 3D rendering.
Xcode Simulator integration
Because ButterKit is a native Mac app, it connects directly to Xcode Simulator. Capture screenshots from any running simulator with one click. No manual screenshotting, no file management, no dragging images between apps. Update your code, capture fresh screenshots, and your designs update instantly.
AppLaunchpad
No Xcode integration. You need to manually take screenshots from the Simulator (or a physical device), save them to your computer, then upload each one to the web app through your browser. Every time your UI changes, you repeat the entire process.
Localization & translation
Translate screenshot captions and App Store Connect metadata (app description, what's new, keywords, subtitle) to up to 39 App Store languages with one click. On-device translation (18 languages) is free, no subscription required. Cloud translation with customizable creativity is available with Pro. Update the original and every translation updates too.
AppLaunchpad
Localization is available as a Pro feature ($29/mo or $180/yr). You can translate text within your screenshot designs to target different regions. However, there's no way to translate App Store metadata (description, keywords, what's new); translations stay within the screenshot builder only.
Pricing & ownership model
- Free: Unlimited projects, templates, watermarked exports
- Pro: $49 one-time or $20/year
- One license, up to 5 machines.
AppLaunchpad
- Free: Watermarks, 3 basic templates, basic devices
- Pro: $29/month or $180/year
- Enterprise: $360/year
ButterKit runs entirely on your Mac: no servers, no cloud storage, no ongoing infrastructure costs. That’s what makes $20/year or a one-time $49 price sustainable. AppLaunchpad runs on cloud servers that cost money to operate, which is why they charge $180+/year. Even on the yearly plan, ButterKit is $20/year vs. AppLaunchpad’s $180/year. Or pay $49 once and never pay again.
Platform & performance
Native macOS app built with Swift and Metal. Works completely offline, requires no account, and delivers up to 120fps 3D rendering on Apple Silicon. Your data never leaves your machine. The trade-off: macOS only (15.6+).
AppLaunchpad
Runs in any modern web browser on any operating system: Mac, Windows, Linux, ChromeOS. No download required. The trade-off: requires an internet connection, an account, and performance depends on your browser and connection speed.
App Store Connect & publishing
Connects directly to the App Store Connect API. Upload all your screenshots and translated app metadata (description, what's new, keywords) without ever opening a browser. Because ButterKit creates the screenshots, it already knows the correct sizes and locales, so there's zero manual file management.
AppLaunchpad
No connection to App Store Connect (or Google Play). After designing and exporting your screenshots, you navigate to App Store Connect or the Google Play Console in your browser and manually upload each file for each device size and language.
Who each tool is best for
Choose ButterKit if…
- You’re an iOS/macOS developer who uses Xcode
- You want Xcode Simulator capture built into your workflow
- You want photorealistic 3D device mockups without plugins
- You want to translate and upload metadata + screenshots directly to App Store Connect
- You prefer $20/year or a one-time $49 over $180+/year subscriptions
- You want CI/CD automation with Fastlane
- You value offline, native performance and data privacy
Choose AppLaunchpad if…
- You need a cross-platform tool (Windows, Linux, ChromeOS)
- You build for Google Play and want one tool for both stores
- You don’t use Xcode and don’t need simulator capture
- You prefer a browser-based workflow with no downloads
- You need a large library of stock illustrations and icons
The bottom line
ButterKit and AppLaunchpad solve the same problem in fundamentally different ways. AppLaunchpad is a convenient, cross-platform web tool, but its cloud infrastructure means recurring subscription costs and no integration with your development environment. ButterKit is purpose-built for Apple developers: it captures from Xcode, renders in real-time 3D, translates automatically, and uploads directly to App Store Connect. And because it runs on your Mac instead of expensive cloud servers, it’s a fraction of the price.
Don't take our word for it
"ButterKit is, by far, the best app for this. It has sped up my workflow 100x."
"I've tried so many screenshot tools and they were all too complex. I understood how to use yours in just 10 seconds."
"My conversion rates have improved substantially with ButterKit."
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AppLaunchpad is developed by Suspended Starter Pte. Ltd. (Obvair Labs) and is not affiliated with ButterKit. Information on this page was researched and published on February 13, 2026. Features, pricing, and availability may have changed since then. Notice a problem? Let us know.