New year, new UX/UI resources list! This time, we’re giving you the low-down on the biggest and best icon resources out there. And we just KNOW you need this list in your life because, let’s face it, without icons, can you really work on a UX/UI project? :))
So without further ado, here are the top icon libraries of 2022:
1. Material Design (Material Icons)
The standard-bearer for icon sets, almost every UX/UI designer must have browsed through this library at least once in their design journey, so much so that you could consider it a rite of passage. Material Icons are available in five styles and a range of downloadable sizes and densities. The icons are based on the core Material Design principles and metrics.
- Library size: Large
- Subscription: None, free for commercial and personal use
- Attribution: Not required
- Other features: Figma library for designers
2. The Noun Project
The Noun Project has one of the largest and most comprehensive icon libraries available out there, so you can be sure to find a unique set for your design projects. The free version is diverse, but note that you might not be able to edit colour, background or shapes to your liking, and you’re limited to a certain number of downloads. One cool thing that might make you consider paying for a yearly plan: it offers integrations for Adobe, Mac, Office and Google apps. And don’t forget unlimited downloads and attribution-free usage.
- Library size: Extra Large
- Subscription: Free and paid plans
- Attribution: Free downloads need attribution
- Others: Adobe, Mac, Office, Google app integration for the yearly plan
3. Flaticon
Flaticon has over 6.3 Million vector icons and stickers in PNG, SVG, EPS, PSD and BASE 64 formats. It also boasts having +4,000 SVG and web font-optimal vector-based icons for web, iOS, and Android applications – which can all be downloaded for free, provided that these are used and attributed according to their usage guidelines.
- Library size: Extra Large
- Subscription: Free and paid plans
- Attribution: Free downloads need attribution
- Others: Google workspace integration for paid plans
4. Iconfinder
“The home of top-notch icons and illustrations”, Iconfinder houses over 6 Million icons and 3D illustrations perfect for anything from onboarding flows, presentations to cookbooks. A lot of free material can be found here, too, just don’t forget to check the licenses to know if you need to attribute.
- Library size: Extra Large
- Subscription: Free and paid plans
- Attribution: Most free downloads require attribution
5. Roundicons
Roundicon has more than 45,000 free and premium icons that are good for personal and commercial use. What’s unique about this site is that they offer custom-designed icons – a great option if you need specific icons for your project but don’t have the time to do them all yourself.
- Library size: Large
- Subscription: Free and paid plans
- Attribution: Free downloads need attribution
- Others: Custom icon design services
6. Icons8
Icons, illustrations, photos, music, and design tools, Icons8 is your all-in-one design repository. They offer free material as well (in limited formats) which require attribution.
- Library size: Large
- Subscription: Free and paid plans
- Attribution: Free downloads need attribution
- Others: Plugins for Mac, Windows, Figma, Google, and Adobe
7. Freepik
Founded by brothers Alejandro and Pablo Blanes along with their friend Joaquín Cuenca, founder of Panoramio (acquired by Google), Freepik is a huge repository of high-quality content – from illustrations, photos, and icons, to mockups and presentations templates. The options are diverse, so you will need time to browse through especially if you’re looking for royalty-free material. Watch out though – the free materials still need attribution, so be mindful to credit the owners in your work (Freepik does an excellent job of telling you how to credit them upon download).
- Library size: Large
- Subscription: Free and paid plans
- Attribution: Free downloads need attribution
- Others: Illustrations, photos, mockups, presentation templates also available
8. iconmonstr
iconmonstr is a “free, monstrously big and continuously growing source of simple icons” run by Alexander Kahlkopf, a senior designer from Germany with over 20 years of professional experience in icon design. He has over 4000 icons in SVG and PNG formats, all of which he offers for free for personal and commercial use, and no attribution required!
- Library size: Medium
- Subscription: Free
- Attribution: No attribution needed
9. Streamline Icons
Streamline Icons offers over 100,000 icons sorted into 25 icon sets. The icons are available in several formats (PNG, PDF, SVG) but you will need to purchase a bundle for the editable SVG versions. Usage of the free material require attribution.
- Library size: Large
- Subscription: Free and paid plans
- Attribution: Free downloads need attribution
10. Futuramo Icons
Futuramo has an advanced icon library of over 3100 vectors which you can customise using the site’s built-in app (i.e. change the shape, style, size and color of your icons, or create unique sets that match your design scheme). They offer free icons as well: a set of 349 vector icons which you can customise using 16 different styles. You can use them attribution-free, too; all you need is to sign up for an account.
- Library size: Medium
- Subscription: Free and paid plans
- Attribution: Not required for free icons, but you do need to make an account with them
- Others: They have an awesome-looking comprehensive page on the history of icons worth checking out
11. Nucleo
Nucleo is an icon organisation and design app, which also boasts a collection of over 32,239 icons. You can use the app and access its entire library of icons for a one-time fee, which includes lifetime updates. You can download their free test pack which includes 100 Nucleo icons in 3 styles and 6 sizes (a total of 1160 icons).
- Library size: Large
- Subscription: Paid plans; but they offer a free test pack
- Attribution: No attribution needed
12. IconStore
IconStore is a repository of over 200 free vector icon packs made by first-class designers. You’ll find loads of creative, unique and cute packs for your one-of-a-kind projects; the best part: all can be used without attribution (although it is appreciated!).
- Library size: Large
- Subscription: Free
- Attribution: No attribution needed (but appreciated!)
13. Good Stuff No Nonsense
Good Stuff No Nonsense is a passion project-turned full time business of Agata, a brand designer and illustrator based in Poland. She offers thousands of free and paid hand-drawn icons and illustrations which are free for personal use and for 1 commercial project (read the fine print of the license agreement), and also offers custom design services. The icons are organised into themed icon packs which are all uniquely crafted and are definitely worth a look for your one-of-a-kind design projects.
- Library size: Small
- Subscription: Free and paid packs
- Attribution: No attribution needed (but appreciated!)
14. Iconsmind
Iconsmind is the brainchild of digital designer Norbert Kucsera and manager Nick Jones, which features 2,080 icons for iOS, Android & Websites. These can only be used if you purchase a plan – either the basic plan that goes for $59 (files are in Ai. and Eps. formats) or the pro that goes for $79 (Ai. Eps. Svg. Psd. Csh. Png. Sketch. Iconjar). All the icon packs come with extended license that covers a whole company need with unlimited projects and users. If you subscribe to their newsletter though, you get a free 100 icons. 🙂
- Library size: Small
- Subscription: Paid plans, but a free 100 icons if you subscribe to their newsletter
- Attribution: No attribution needed
15. Round Icons
Round Icons claims to have the biggest icon bundle in the world – for $99, you get a compilation of 45,000 icons covering all styles and formats, plus free icon set updates for a year. The package also comes with a commercial use license. That’s definitely a bargain, considering that the separate icon packs they offer, when bought one at a time, go for roughly $60 a set. You can also download their free vectors, provided that you give attribution when used for your projects.
- Library size: Large
- Subscription: Free and paid plans, or download the icon bundle which includes ALL icons worth over $1000 for only $99
- Attribution: Free downloads need attribution
16. IcoMoon
IcoMoon provides users with vector icon packages along with a free HTML5 app to build and use icon packs in many different formats including SVG, Polymer, PDF, XAML, CSH, icon font with ligatures, or good old PNG/CSS sprites.
- Library size: Medium
- Subscription: Free and paid plans
- Attribution: Free downloads need attribution
17. Pixellove
Pixellove offers 15,000 icons in 6 distinct styles, supplied as scalable vectors for sharp icons no matter how big you need them. They adhere to iOS & Android specs so you can focus on developing your projects. They also do custom icon designs – if you’re looking for a particular style for your app or site, drop them an email for a free, no obligation quotation.
- Library size: Large
- Subscription: Free and paid plans
- Attribution: Free downloads need attribution
- Other: Custom-designed icons available
18. Pictonic
Pictonic stands out among other icon libraries as it provides custom-built, stylable, vector-based web fonts in the following formats: .EOT, .SVG, .SVGZ, .TTF and .WOFF. Of course, the icons are also available in more traditional SVG and PNG formats for those who need it. You can purchase the whole collection of 2725 icons for $199, or buy just a couple at $0.59 a pop. The page also has some 300 free icons, good for personal or commercial projects with attribution.
- Library size: Small
- Subscription: Free and paid plans
- Attribution: Free downloads need attribution
- Others: available as vector-based web fonts in the following formats: .EOT, .SVG, .SVGZ, .TTF and .WOFF
19. Smashicons
381,081 Icons and constantly growing – Smashicons is a mammoth of icon libraries and other design resources (illustrations, mockups, and more). The site is also generous with its free icons – you can access and use 27,442 free icons, but with attribution, as well as 132 design resources. Definitely worth a look!
- Library size: Extra Large
- Subscription: Free and paid plans
- Attribution: Free downloads need attribution
- Others: Illustrations, mockups, and other design resources also available
20. GraphicBurger
GraphicBurger is a buffet of premium quality design resources offered completely for free to the community, cooked up by Raul Taciu. Here you’ll find exclusive PSD files “cooked” in-house along with featured top-notch freebies from creatives around the world.
- Library size: Large
- Subscription: Free
- Attribution: No attribution needed (but appreciated!)
- Others: UI kits, mockups, and other design resources also available
21. Heroicons
Heroicons is a free, MIT-licensed open-source SVG library by Steve Schoger. Yes, it’s completely free for personal and commercial use, and you can download the whole set directly on Figma or GitHub. For developers, you can also copy the icon code in JSX or SVG format.
- Library size: Small
- Subscription: Free
- Attribution: No attribution needed (but appreciated!)
- Others: Figma and GitHub plugins
22. Feather Icons
Another open-source SVG icon library, Feather Icons has 286 icons you can choose from for your design projects. The website also has a quick customiser, where you can play with icon size, stroke width, and colour.
- Library size: Small
- Subscription: Free
- Attribution: No attribution needed (but appreciated!)
- Others: Website comes with a free icon customiser
If you have more icon resources to share, feel free to comment below!
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