10 Best Icon Libraries You Need to Consider in 2024 (Free!)

If you’re seeking the best icon library for your next project, look no further.

Our guide slices through the clutter to spotlight top libraries, evaluating their ease of use, variety, and integration capabilities.

From intricate illustrations to streamlined vectors, discover which library aligns with your creative vision – all without getting lost in the detail.

Overview of Selected Icon Libraries

Our digital landscape offers a diverse range of icon packs and libraries, each catering to different design needs outline styles and preferences.

Among the most popular icon libraries, you can find options for basic icons, vector icons, or a comprehensive icon pack and library. Here are some of the best options:

1. Most Beautiful: Hugeicons Pro offers an extensive collection of over 27,000 icons in various styles and categories.
2. Best for Brand-Specific Icons: Font Awesome provides a wide range of icons, including those representing various brands.
3. Best for Searchability: Icons8 boasts an efficient search system for easy navigation through its vast collection.
4. Best for Illustrations and 3D Icons: Iconfinder serves as a robust marketplace for icons, illustrations, and 3D illustrations.
5. Best for Hand-Drawn Icons: Quirky, hand-drawn icons from Good Stuff No Nonsense add a unique touch to design projects.
6. Best for React Projects: React Icons is an open-source project that unifies various icon sets for easy integration into React projects.

1. Hugeicons Pro

Website: https://hugeicons.com/

Specifications:

• 3,800+ free icons for both personal and commercial projects
• Over 27,000 icons in 7 distinct styles
• Icons organized into 57 categories
• React, npm, CDN, Wordpress formats available
• Wide variety of styles and categories
• Figma plugin for seamless design integration
• Direct SVG and React download or copy option from website
• Free stroke icons available
• Lifetime access
• Custom icon service

With a whopping collection of over 27,000 icons, Hugeicons Pro caters to diverse design aesthetics.

The diversity in categories provides designers a wide range of options to meet an array of design needs.

The Figma plugin enhances user experience, allowing seamless search, customization, and import of icons into design projects.

Explore Hugeicons Pro Icons Here

2. Font Awesome

Website: https://fontawesome.com/

Specifications:

• 1,000+ free fonts
• Wide range of icons in various styles
• Brand-specific icons
• Regular updates
• Integration features for React developers
• Versatile design with various stylistic options
• Regular updates with new styles
• Over 450 brand-specific icons
• Detailed documentation and robust integration features for React developers

Cons: Icons are not that beautiful, limited icon options, and requesting icons costs up to $300 per icon, while Hugeicons Pro provides missing icons for free within 24 hours.

Font Awesome’s versatility is evident in its wide range of icons, which includes brand-specific ones.

The commitment to regular updates, as seen in the upcoming addition of Sharp Duotone style, expands its array of customizable options.

The library provides React users with a wide selection of icons to choose from, demonstrating its flexibility within React environments.

However, some features are available only in the Pro version, which requires a subscription.

3. Icons8

Website: https://icons8.com/

Specifications:

• Myicons pack with more than 14,500 icons
• Icons available in over 40 distinct styles
• Extensive collection of icons
• Efficient search system with keyword filter and style/category sorting
• Free tier available with credit back to the site

With an extensive collection of over one million high quality icons, including free icons, Icons8 ensures designers have a vast selection perfect icons to meet their design needs.

The collection is contributed by prominent artists from the Dribbble community, adding to the library’s quality.

The efficient search system allows users to filter results with keywords and sort by style and category.

However, full access to the library is available only in the Pro version.

4. Iconfinder

Website: https://www.iconfinder.com/

Specifications:

• World’s largest marketplace for icons, illustrations, and 3D illustrations
• Advanced search functionality with filters for price and thematic categories
• Option to exclude explicit content
• Extensive range of icons and illustrations
• Advanced search functionality with filters and sorting options
• Option to exclude explicit content from search results

Offering a vast selection, Iconfinder holds the title of the world’s largest marketplace for icons, illustrations, and 3D illustrations.

The platform provides extensive range and set of icons and thematic filters, accommodating various design needs.

The option to exclude explicit content from search results ensures a safe browsing experience for users.

However, full access to the library, including new icons and thematic collections and enhanced library management capabilities, requires a Pro subscription.

5. Smashicons

Website: https://smashicons.com/

Specifications:

• Over 492,219 icons
• Icons compatible with multiple design platforms
• Stroke width, style, and color modification options
• Extensive library of icons
• Compatibility with multiple design platforms
• Modification options for stroke width, style, and color

Smashicons is a comprehensive icon library with free icon sets and an extensive library of over 492,219 icons, Smashicons is a versatile choice for designers.

All icons are designed on a 60px grid, ensuring consistency and clarity across various displays.

Users have the ability to modify the stroke width, style, and color of Smashicons to tailor them to specific project needs.

However, full access to the library, including new icons and enhanced library management capabilities, requires a Pro subscription.

6. React Icons

Website: https://react-icons.github.io/react-icons/

Specifications:

• Unifies over 30 icon sets from different libraries
• Over 45,000 icons
• Icons are SVGs for reduced network requests and smaller icon sizes
• Unifies multiple icon sets into a single package
• Extensive array of over 45,000 icons
• Icons are SVGs for improved performance

Cons:

• Possibility of inconsistencies when integrating icons from different libraries

As an open-source project that brings various icon sets into a single package, the React Icons library proves to be a handy tool for React developers.

Each open source icon in the react icon library is an SVG, resulting in reduced network requests and smaller icon sizes for better performance.

However, there’s a possibility of inconsistencies, necessitating thorough testing when integrating icons from different open source icon libraries, including the open source react icon library, into a project.

7. The Noun Project

Website: https://thenounproject.com/icons/

Specifications:

• Diverse selection of graphics contributed by hundreds of artists and designers
• Icons organized into different categories and subcategories
• Creative Commons licensing
• Diverse selection of graphics
• Organized structure for easy navigation
• Custom icon design services available

With a diverse selection of graphics from hundreds of artists and designers, The Noun Project stands as a rich resource material design, for personal and commercial projects.

These icons are well-organized into different categories and subcategories, making it easy to find specific graphics.

However, using an icon from The Noun Project requires either crediting the designer or paying a fee for usage without attribution, due to licensing restrictions of the Creative Commons licensing.

8. Iconmonstr

Website: https://iconmonstr.com/

Specifications:

• Over 4,300 icons sorted into 304 different collections
• Icons designed on a 24 pixel grid
• Both outline and filled versions available for most graphics
• Extensive selection of icons in organized collections
• Consistent and clear design
• Robust search functions

Iconmonstr offers the following features:

• Over 4,300 icons sorted into 304 different collections
• Icons designed on a 24 pixel grid for consistency and clarity
• Easy navigation with an organized structure

However, compared to other libraries, Iconmonstr offers limited customization options right icons.

9. Good Stuff No Nonsense

Website: https://goodstuffnononsense.com/

Specifications:

• Quirky, hand-drawn icons
• Icons sorted into over two dozen categories
• Custom icon design services available
• Organized structure for easy navigation

Quirky, hand-drawn icons from Good Stuff No Nonsense add a unique touch to design projects and desktop and web apps.

The icons are sorted into over two dozen icon set, ensuring design consistency and flexibility.

However, compared to other libraries, Good Stuff No Nonsense is just an icon library with a limited variety set of icons used.

10. Orion Icon Library

Website: https://www.orioniconlibrary.com/

Specifications:

• Highly flexible feather icons with extensive modification options
• Icons can be styled in line, solid, color, and flat
• Personal icon collections can be created and exported in multiple formats
• Highly flexible web icons with extensive modification options
• Wide variety of styling options
• Personal icon collections can be created and exported in multiple formats

Through a sophisticated web app, Orion Icon Library provides highly flexible web icons, allowing for extensive modifications. Icons can be styled in:

• Line
• Solid
• Color
• Flat

With the added feature of adjusting stroke weights such icons, and colors for seamless integration into various design projects.

However, full access to the library, including new icons and enhanced library management capabilities, requires a Pro subscription.

Choosing Your Ideal Icon Library

Various factors make choosing an ideal icon library a complex process. The icon style plays a crucial role, with factors like solid versus outline style, color schemes, and size to consider. To achieve style consistency, it’s advisable to obtain all popular icons from the same set or use popular icon libraries that allow filtering popular icons by style.

The file format of icons should be considered based on project needs. Also, understanding the licensing terms of an open source icon library for web projects is crucial, such as whether content can be used for commercial purposes and if attribution is required.

Summary

Finding the perfect icon library can be a daunting task, but with a clear understanding of your specific needs and preferences, it becomes a lot easier.

Whether you’re a developer, a designer, or someone in need of icons for a project, the best icon libraries we covered in this article offer a wide range of options, styles, and features that cater to various needs. Explore these open source icon libraries below, try out their offerings, and you’re sure to find the one that fits your project perfectly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the best place to get free icons?

The best place to get free icons is from websites like Hugeicons Pro FlatIcon, DryIcons, and Iconfinder, which offer a wide range of free, high-quality icons.

What is the largest library of icons?

Iconfinder.com is currently the largest icon library, offering free access to over 6 million free and premium icons, along with 155,000+ other desktop apps, icon packs and sets, and a variety of search options for users.

What is an icon library?

An icon library is a collection of digital icons and material design symbols that can be used in various design projects. It is a convenient resource for designers seeking ready-made icons for their work.

Can I use icons for commercial purposes?

Yes, you can use open source icons for commercial purposes, but it depends on the licensing terms of the icon library you are using.

Some libraries allow commercial use open source icons without attribution, while others may require a fee or a Pro subscription.

Are there icon libraries specifically for React developers?

Yes, React Icons is an open-source project that unifies various react icon libraries and sets into a single package for easy integration into React projects.

It provides a convenient solution for React developers looking for their react icon libraries.