Top Icons Libraries

Font Awesome is a popular icon library and toolkit used for adding scalable vector icons to websites.

Code Example

<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/font-awesome/6.4.0/css/all.min.css">
<i class="fas fa-user"></i>

Pros

• Offers a vast collection of icons (over 7,000 in the pro version) covering a wide range of categories and use cases.
• Provides excellent documentation and easy integration with various web frameworks and platforms.
• Includes both free and paid versions, allowing users to choose based on their needs and budget.

Cons

• The free version has a more limited selection compared to some other icon libraries.
• Some users find the naming conventions for icons less intuitive compared to alternatives like Material Design Icons.
• The pro version can be relatively expensive for individual developers or small projects.

Nerd Fonts is a project that patches developer-targeted fonts with a high number of glyphs (icons).

Pros

• Provides a vast collection of patched fonts with thousands of icons, offering more variety than most other icon projects.
• Combines multiple icon sets into single fonts, reducing the need for multiple font installations.
• Offers easy integration with various terminal applications and text editors, enhancing developer workflows.

Cons

• The large number of glyphs can lead to increased font file sizes compared to more focused icon sets.
• May require more setup and configuration than simpler icon libraries or standalone icon sets.
• Not as widely supported in web development frameworks compared to some other icon libraries like Font Awesome or Material Design Icons.

Google's Material Design Icons is a comprehensive set of icons following the Material Design guidelines, offering a wide range of symbols for use in web and mobile applications.

Code Example

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/icon?family=Material+Icons" rel="stylesheet">
<i class="material-icons">favorite</i>

Pros

• Offers a vast collection of icons specifically designed for Material Design, ensuring consistency with Google's design language.
• Provides multiple formats (SVG, PNG, font) and sizes, making it versatile for various use cases.
• Regularly updated and maintained by Google, ensuring quality and relevance.

Cons

• Limited to Material Design style, which may not suit all design preferences or brand guidelines.
• Less extensive than some alternatives like Font Awesome in terms of icon variety.
• May require more setup compared to simpler icon libraries or those tailored for specific frameworks.

Feather is a collection of simply beautiful open-source icons designed for use in web projects.

Code Example

<script src="https://unpkg.com/feather-icons"></script>
<i data-feather="circle"></i>
<script>feather.replace()</script>

Pros

• Feather icons are lightweight and have a consistent, minimalist design style.
• The project offers easy integration with popular frameworks and build tools.
• Feather provides a good balance between simplicity and versatility, suitable for many types of projects.

Cons

• Feather has a smaller icon set compared to more extensive libraries like Font Awesome or Material Design Icons.
• It lacks some advanced features found in other icon libraries, such as icon stacking or animations.
• Feather doesn't offer as many icon variations or styles as some other projects in the comparison list.

Simple Icons is a free collection of popular brand and logo icons in SVG format.

Code Example

<svg role="img" viewBox="0 0 24 24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
  <title>GitHub</title>
  <path d="M12 .297c-6.63 0-12 5.373-12 12 0 5.303 3.438 9.8 8.205 11.385.6.113.82-.258.82-.577 0-.285-.01-1.04-.015-2.04-3.338.724-4.042-1.61-4.042-1.61C4.422 18.07 3.633 17.7 3.633 17.7c-1.087-.744.084-.729.084-.729 1.205.084 1.838 1.236 1.838 1.236 1.07 1.835 2.809 1.305 3.495.998.108-.776.417-1.305.76-1.605-2.665-.3-5.466-1.332-5.466-5.93 0-1.31.465-2.38 1.235-3.22-.135-.303-.54-1.523.105-3.176 0 0 1.005-.322 3.3 1.23.96-.267 1.98-.399 3-.405 1.02.006 2.04.138 3 .405 2.28-1.552 3.285-1.23 3.285-1.23.645 1.653.24 2.873.12 3.176.765.84 1.23 1.91 1.23 3.22 0 4.61-2.805 5.625-5.475 5.92.42.36.81 1.096.81 2.22 0 1.606-.015 2.896-.015 3.286 0 .315.21.69.825.57C20.565 22.092 24 17.592 24 12.297c0-6.627-5.373-12-12-12"/>
</svg>

Pros

1. Focuses solely on brand and logo icons, providing a comprehensive collection.
2. Icons are available in SVG format, ensuring scalability and small file sizes.
3. Regularly updated with new and popular brand icons.

Cons

1. Limited to brand and logo icons, lacking general-purpose icons found in other libraries.
2. Doesn't offer additional features like icon customization or animation.
3. May have a steeper learning curve compared to more user-friendly icon libraries.