Top Icons Libraries

Font Awesome is a comprehensive icon library and toolkit offering thousands of scalable vector icons that can be customized with CSS.

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 one of the largest collections of icons, with over 7,000 icons available.
• Provides both free and pro versions, catering to different user needs and budgets.
• Supports multiple formats including web fonts, SVG, and desktop fonts for versatile usage.

Cons

• The free version has limited icons compared to some other completely free libraries.
• Can be overkill for projects that only need a few simple icons.
• Requires a subscription for access to the full pro library, which may not be cost-effective for small projects.

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

Pros

• Offers a vast collection of patched fonts with thousands of glyphs, providing extensive icon options for developers.
• Supports a wide range of programming languages and development tools with specific icons.
• Integrates well with various terminal applications and text editors, enhancing the development environment.

Cons

• Requires manual installation and configuration, which can be time-consuming compared to some icon libraries.
• May have a steeper learning curve for users unfamiliar with font patching or glyph usage.
• Limited to terminal and text editor environments, unlike some icon libraries that can be used in web or mobile applications.

Google's Material Design Icons is a comprehensive collection of icons following the Material Design guidelines.

Code Example

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

Pros

• Officially maintained by Google, ensuring consistency with Material Design principles.
• Extensive collection of icons covering a wide range of use cases.
• Available in multiple formats (SVG, PNG, webfont) for versatile implementation.

Cons

• Limited to Material Design style, which may not fit all design aesthetics.
• Less frequent updates compared to some community-driven icon sets.
• Larger file size compared to minimalist icon sets like Feather Icons.

Feather is a collection of simply beautiful open-source icons.

Code Example

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

Pros

• Minimalist and clean design aesthetic, suitable for modern interfaces
• Lightweight with a small file size, improving load times
• Easy to use and integrate into various projects

Cons

• Limited icon set compared to larger libraries like Font Awesome
• Fewer customization options than some competitors
• Less frequent updates compared to more actively maintained icon sets

Heroicons is a set of free, MIT-licensed high-quality SVG icons for UI development, created by the makers of Tailwind CSS.

Code Example

<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="currentColor" class="w-6 h-6">
  <path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" d="M6 18L18 6M6 6l12 12" />
</svg>

Pros

• Seamless integration with Tailwind CSS projects, offering a cohesive design language.
• High-quality, professionally designed SVG icons with a consistent style.
• Regular updates and maintenance from the Tailwind Labs team.

Cons

• Limited icon set compared to more extensive libraries like Font Awesome or Material Design Icons.
• Lack of additional features like icon fonts or animated icons found in some other projects.
• May not be as versatile for non-Tailwind projects compared to more general-purpose icon libraries.