25 Famous Purple Logos Deconstructed for Entrepreneurs

25 Famous Purple Logos Deconstructed for Entrepreneurs

Let’s be direct. Purple is a polarising colour for a brand.

Get it right, and you look creative, luxurious, and unique. You get it wrong and look cheap, dated, and slightly strange. There is very little safe middle ground. It's a power move; not every business can pull it off.

Most articles on this topic will give you the same tired, useless line: “Purple is associated with royalty.” While historically accurate, leaning on that fact to make a business decision in 2025 is like using a medieval map to navigate London. It's lazy thinking.

The success of a purple logo has almost nothing to do with ancient kings and everything to do with context. The specific shade, the industry you're in, and the quality of the design's execution separate the brilliant from the bargain bin.

This isn't just a list. We will break down 25 famous purple logos to see what works, what doesn't, and what practical lessons you, as a business owner, can take away from them.

The Psychology of Purple in Branding: Beyond Royalty

Yes, purple traditionally associates with luxury, creativity, wisdom, and spirituality. But that's just the starting point. The real message is sent using the specific shade you choose. Lumping them all together as “purple” is a critical mistake.

Deep Violet & Indigo: The Luxury & Power Play

These are the shades closest to the “royalty” trope. Deep, dark purples like violet and indigo communicate sophistication, quality, and authority. They feel heavy and substantial. Think of a high-end chocolatier or a legacy financial institution.

Lavender & Lilac: The Softer, Modern Approach

Lighter, less saturated purples have a completely different feel. Lavender, lilac, and mauve are calming, gentle, and often have a feminine or wellness-oriented association. They feel modern, airy, and approachable.

Magenta & Electric Purple: The Energetic Disruptor

Bright, saturated purples are all about energy, fun, and disruption. These colours are bold, loud, and demand attention. They are the choice for brands that want to feel modern, digital, and unconventional, particularly in the tech and entertainment spaces.

25 Famous Purple Logos, Analysed

Let's look at how real companies use purple in the wild. Notice how the industry dictates the right approach.

Tech & Gaming: The Creative Disruptors

Purple has become a popular choice in tech to signal creativity and differentiate from the sea of corporate blue.

1. Twitch

• Industry: Live Streaming / Gaming
• Logo Breakdown: A sharp, custom wordmark with a “glitch” effect in the icon. It's edgy and distinctly digital.
• The Purple Takeaway: Twitch's electric, vibrant purple is perfect. It captures the high energy of live streaming and gaming culture. It's fun, futuristic, and completely anti-corporate, precisely what its community wants.

2. Yahoo

• Industry: Web Services / Media
• Logo Breakdown: A simple, lowercase sans-serif wordmark. It has gone through many iterations, but purple has been the constant.
• The Purple Takeaway: Yahoo is a case study in how a colour can stick even as a brand's relevance fades. Purple was once quirky and unique in the early internet era. Today, the 2019 redesign's more standard purple feels safe, corporate, and forgettable.

3. Roku

• Industry: Streaming Hardware / Software
• Logo Breakdown: A bold, geometric wordmark. The unique letterforms give it a distinctive personality.
• The Purple Takeaway: Roku's bright purple is friendly and accessible. In a market crowded with black (Apple TV) and blue (Amazon Fire TV), Roku’s purple helps it stand out on the shelf and feel less intimidating to non-tech-savvy users.

4. Viber

• Industry: Messaging App / VoIP
• Logo Breakdown: A simple, flat design featuring a phone icon inside a speech bubble. The entire icon is a single, solid shade of vibrant purple.
• The Purple Takeaway: In a field dominated by green (WhatsApp, Messages) and blue (Telegram, Messenger), Viber's purple is a powerful differentiator. The colour feels friendly, modern, and less formal than its corporate competitors. It's a choice that communicates a fun, feature-rich alternative for communication.

5. BenQ

• Industry: Consumer Electronics
• Logo Breakdown: A custom wordmark with the slogan “Bringing Enjoyment ‘N' Quality to Life.”
• The Purple Takeaway: Purple is an unusual choice for a tech hardware company. BenQ's deep violet adds a touch of creativity and premium quality to an otherwise corporate-feeling brand. It helps them stand out from the Samsungs and LGs of the world.

6. Craigslist

• Industry: Online Classifieds / Community Forums
• Logo Breakdown: A straightforward, universally recognised peace sign symbol, almost always rendered in a basic, flat purple.
• The Purple Takeaway: This is a masterclass in anti-branding. Craigslist's purple isn't luxurious or slick—it's utilitarian. The choice of a peace sign in a simple purple evokes the brand's counter-culture, community-focused roots from the early web. The logo's complete refusal to be polished or corporate is its defining feature, and the purple feels authentic and grassroots, perfectly matching the platform's no-frills identity.

7. Discord (Old)

• Industry: Communication / Social Media
• Logo Breakdown: The beloved controller-shaped mascot, “Wumpus,” and a custom wordmark.
• The Purple Takeaway: Discord's original “Blurple” was iconic. It was unique, friendly, and perfectly represented a platform that was a third space between gaming and social media. The 2021 rebrand brightened the colour, which was met with mixed reactions from its core user base, proving how attached people can get to a specific shade.

Food & Confectionery: The Indulgence Signal

In this sector, purple is almost exclusively used to communicate indulgence, quality, or whimsical fantasy.

8. Cadbury

• Industry: Confectionery
• Logo Breakdown: A flowing, cursive wordmark synonymous with chocolate.
• The Purple Takeaway: Cadbury is the masterclass in colour ownership. Its specific shade, Pantone 2685C, is Cadbury. The deep purple instantly communicates a rich, creamy, and luxurious experience. It's the gold standard of using purple in food branding.

9. Milka

• Industry: Confectionery
• Logo Breakdown: A simple wordmark often paired with its iconic lilac-coloured cow.
• The Purple Takeaway: If Cadbury is decadent luxury, Milka's lilac is soft tenderness. The lighter shade perfectly communicates the brand's focus on “Alpine milk” and a gentler, smoother taste. Using the same core colour, it's a brilliant way to differentiate from a dominant competitor.

10. Taco Bell (Historic)

• Industry: Fast Food
• Logo Breakdown: The logos of the 90s and 2000s used a vibrant palette of purple, pink, and yellow.
• The Purple Takeaway: This wasn't a “luxury” purple but a “fun” purple. The colour choice was aimed squarely at a younger audience and communicated a rebellious, anti-burger-joint attitude. It was a perfect, time-bound use of the colour to capture a specific cultural vibe.

11. Wonka

• Industry: Confectionery
• Logo Breakdown: A whimsical, top-hat-adorned wordmark.
• The Purple Takeaway: The Wonka brand is about magic, imagination, and invention. Purple is the perfect colour to encapsulate that fantasy. It feels fantastical and slightly mysterious, inviting customers into a world of pure imagination.

12. Welch’s

• Industry: Food & Beverage
• Logo Breakdown: A classic wordmark, often on a dark blue or purple oval. The brand is synonymous with its grape products.
• The Purple Takeaway: Welch's doesn't use purple to be edgy or luxurious; it uses it to be literal. Their brand is built on concord grapes. The deep purple in their logo and packaging directly links to the natural product, creating an immediate association with flavour and authenticity. It's a prime example of a colour choice rooted in the product.

Media & Entertainment: The Imagination Channel

From sci-fi to heartfelt movies, purple signals creativity, fantasy, and premium content.

13. Syfy

• Industry: Television / Media
• Logo Breakdown: A bold, sans-serif wordmark. Simple and direct.
• The Purple Takeaway: The Syfy channel's dark, space-like purple is ideal for its genre. It feels futuristic, mysterious, and imaginative. It’s the colour of the cosmos and the unknown, setting the right tone for its programming.

14. Hallmark

• Industry: Television / Greeting Cards
• Logo Breakdown: The iconic wordmark with a crown symbol above it.
• The Purple Takeaway: This is one of the few modern brands where the “royalty” connection works. The regal purple and crown positions Hallmark as a high-quality, heartfelt, and traditional content and products provider.

15. HBO Max (Historic)

• Industry: Streaming
• Logo Breakdown: A simple wordmark set against a distinctive purple-to-blue gradient.
• The Purple Takeaway: When HBO Max launched, it needed to feel more premium and expansive than the standard HBO. The purple gradient accomplished this, feeling cinematic, sophisticated, and a clear signal of a high-end streaming service worth paying for. Its recent rebranding to “Max” with a corporate blue logo arguably lost some of that premium feel.

Services & Logistics: The Trustworthy Differentiator

In sectors dominated by blue (trust) and red (speed), purple stands out as both trustworthy and innovative.

16. FedEx

• Industry: Logistics
• Logo Breakdown: A legendary combination mark. The primary logo uses purple for the “Fed” and orange for the “Ex.”
• The Purple Takeaway: The purple in the FedEx logo provides a sense of authority and stability, while the orange injects energy and speed. It’s a brilliant and unconventional combination that has become instantly recognisable. Getting colour combinations right is challenging; a professional logo design process is critical.

17. Stash

• Industry: Fintech / Investing
• Logo Breakdown: A simple, modern lowercase wordmark.
• The Purple Takeaway: Purple is a wise choice for a financial app for beginners. It feels more approachable and less intimidating than traditional finance's harsh blues and greens. It communicates empowerment and a modern way to manage money.

18. E*TRADE

• Industry: Financial Services / Stock Brokerage
• Logo Breakdown: A bold, sans-serif wordmark combining deep purple and vibrant green.
• The Purple Takeaway: This is a fascinating colour combination. The green traditionally signifies wealth and growth, while the purple adds stability, wisdom, and market access. It helps E*TRADE stand out from the sea of all-blue brokerage firms, positioning itself as a modern yet established platform for serious investors.

19. Zoopla

• Industry: Real Estate (UK)
• Logo Breakdown: A simple wordmark, often paired with a speech-bubble-like symbol.
• The Purple Takeaway: The UK property market is dominated by the red of Rightmove. Zoopla's choice of purple is a pure differentiation play. It allows their branding and “For Sale” signs to be instantly recognisable from a distance.

Sports & Fitness: The Power & Energy Colour

In sports, purple communicates power, legacy, and sometimes, a unique identity.

20. Los Angeles Lakers

• Industry: Professional Sports
• Logo Breakdown: The iconic “LAKERS” text streaming behind a basketball, rendered in “Forum Blue” (which is a royal purple) and gold.
• The Purple Takeaway: This is another case where “royalty” is the correct read. Purple and gold are classic symbols of luxury and victory. For a team with a storied history of championships, these colours perfectly represent their legacy of greatness.

21. Minnesota Vikings

• Industry: Professional Sports
• Logo Breakdown: A profile of a Norseman with a horned helmet, often combined with a custom wordmark.
• The Purple Takeaway: The Vikings' deep purple is aggressive and unique. Paired with gold, it creates a powerful and distinctive identity that feels tough and regal, fitting the team's name and heritage.

22. Planet Fitness

• Industry: Fitness / Gyms
• Logo Breakdown: A simple wordmark and a circular icon, all in a friendly purple and yellow.
• The Purple Takeaway: Planet Fitness's branding is genius. In an industry defined by black, red, and aggressive imagery, their bright, non-intimidating purple and yellow signal a “Judgement Free Zone.” The colours target people who hate traditional gym culture, creating a massive market niche.

Health & Beauty: The Gentle & Luxurious Touch

From quirky and fun to clinical and sophisticated, purple covers a wide range in the beauty sector.

23. Aussie

• Industry: Haircare
• Logo Breakdown: A playful wordmark, famous for its placement on their iconic purple bottles.
• The Purple Takeaway: The purple packaging is the brand. It's instantly recognisable on a crowded shelf. The colour feels fun, energetic, and quirky, perfectly matching the brand's informal tone.

24. Scentsy

• Industry: Home Fragrance / Direct Sales
• Logo Breakdown: A modern wordmark with a stylised flame-like swirl above the ‘S'. The primary brand colour is a warm, inviting purple.
• The Purple Takeaway: Scentsy's purple feels creative, comforting, and community-oriented. It's a shade that balances the personal touch of home fragrance with the energetic nature of its direct-sales business model. The colour is welcoming and avoids the sterile feel of many home goods brands.

25. Urban Decay

• Industry: Cosmetics
• Logo Breakdown: An edgy, custom wordmark, often featuring the initials “UD” in a metallic, sword-like design. The core brand colour is a deep, cool-toned purple.
• The Purple Takeaway: Urban Decay built its brand as the rebellious alternative to mainstream makeup counters. Their tagline is “Beauty with an Edge.” The moody, smoky purple perfectly captures this identity. It’s sophisticated yet dangerous, creative, and unapologetically bold—everything the brand stands for.

Key Lessons from the Best (and Worst) Purple Logos

Looking back at these examples, a few clear principles emerge. This is the stuff that matters for your business.

Lesson 1: Own a Shade.

The most powerful brands don't just use “purple.” Cadbury ‘owns’ Pantone 2685C. T-Mobile owns a specific magenta. Discord owned “Blurple.” This specificity transforms a simple colour choice into a defensible brand asset. Don't be generic.

Lesson 2: Use Purple to Differentiate.

In a market where everyone else uses the same one or two colours, purple is a powerful way to stand out. Planet Fitness did it in the gym industry. Zoopla did it in the UK real estate. Look at your competitors. If they are all blue and red, purple might be your opportunity.

Lesson 3: Match the Vibe to the Industry.

The energy level of your purple must align with your brand promise. Twitch's vibrant, electric purple would be a disaster for Hallmark's traditional, trust-based brand. Hallmark's deep, regal purple would make Twitch look stuffy and out of touch. Ask yourself: What is the energy of my business? Then find the shade that matches.

Is a Purple Logo Right for Your Business?

Before you jump into a purple rebrand, run through this quick checklist:

• Who is your audience? Is purple a colour that will resonate with them or alienate them?
• What does your competition look like? Will purple help you stand out or make you look out of place?
• What is the core emotion you need to evoke? Luxury? Creativity? Fun? Innovation? Trust?
• Is there a specific shade of purple that captures that emotion perfectly? Don't settle for “purple.” Is it a deep plum, a soft lavender, or an energetic magenta?

Choosing a colour is a strategic decision, not just an aesthetic one. Purple is a bold move that can pay off enormously, but only when done with intention. Don't pick it just because you like it. Pick it because it works.

If you're building a brand and need a logo that gets these critical details right, our logo design services are built for that kind of strategic thinking. If you're ready to see what's possible, request a quote and let's talk.

Frequently Asked Questions about Purple Logos