Icon Libraries: 10 best and free sources right here

Icons are an integral part of design and development, serving as visual elements that help convey messages, actions, and information in a simple and effective manner. However, finding the right icons that meet the criteria of being designer and developer-friendly, customizable, and available in multiple formats can often be a daunting task. In this article, we will explore a selection of top-notch icon libraries that cater to these needs and make the process of icon selection and implementation a breeze.

1. Material Symbols and Icons

Used by a vast majority: The Material Icons, offered by Google, are widely embraced by designers and developers worldwide. Their widespread usage ensures that you’ll find icons that resonate with your project’s needs.
Designer and developer guides: These icons come with extensive documentation and guides, making it easy for both designers and developers to work with them seamlessly.
Customizable: Flexibility is the key, as you can easily customize these icons to match your project’s specific style.
Frequent Updates: Google is known for its continuous updates and improvements, which keeps the Material Icons library relevant.
Figma Plugin, Github repo: Additional resources like Figma plugins and a dedicated GitHub repository are provided for greater convenience.

2. Iconfinder

Diverse libraries of creative icons: Iconfinder offers an extensive collection of icons created by various designers, providing a diverse range of styles and themes.
Free and paid: You can find both free and premium icons on Iconfinder, making it suitable for a wide range of projects and budgets.
Multiple download formats: Icons are available in various formats, including SVG, PNG, and ICO, ensuring compatibility with different design and development tools.

3. Forge Icons

Customizable: Forge Icons allows you to tweak the icons to match your design requirements precisely, adding a personal touch to your projects.
Quick download of icon pack: A straightforward and speedy download process ensures that you can get your hands on the icons you need without unnecessary delays.
Test on light and dark theme: The ability to preview icons in different themes is a valuable feature for ensuring they look great in various contexts.
A small yet aesthetic set of icons: Forge Icons focuses on quality over quantity, offering a concise yet visually pleasing selection of icons.

4. Streamline Icons

They have a really cool website! Streamline Icons not only offers excellent icons but also provides an engaging and user-friendly website for easy navigation and selection.
Extensive and diverse library of icons: With a wide range of icons, you’re sure to find what you need for your project.
Free icons available: A selection of icons is available for free, making it accessible to designers and developers on a budget.
Available in various formats: Icons come in different formats, including SVG, PNG, AI, and Sketch, catering to various design and development tools.

5. Lucide

Customizable: Lucide Icons are easily customizable, enabling you to fine-tune them to match your project’s aesthetics.
Packages available for various dev platforms: This feature simplifies the integration of icons into different development platforms.
Figma plugin: Lucide Icons offers a Figma plugin, streamlining the design process for Figma users.
Test on light and dark theme: The ability to preview icons in different themes helps you ensure that they maintain their appeal in various contexts.

6. Flaticon

Vast icon library created by various designers: Flaticon provides a rich source of icons, with contributions from numerous designers, ensuring a broad spectrum of styles and themes.
Icons segregated into collections: Icons are categorized into collections, making it easier to find related icons for your projects.
Multiple download formats: Icons are available in various formats, including SVG, PNG, and more, making them compatible with different design and development tools.
Accessibility check on multiple icon sets: Flaticon ensures that its icons are accessible, making it a great choice for projects that prioritize inclusivity.

7. Fontawesome

Consistent icon design: Font Awesome is renowned for its consistent and recognizable icon design, ensuring that icons fit seamlessly into your design.
Free and Paid icons: Font Awesome offers both free and premium icons, catering to various project budgets.
Easy CSS integration: Integrating Font Awesome icons into your web projects is straightforward and doesn’t require extensive coding.
Figma library: The availability of a Figma library streamlines the design process for Figma users.
Various styles: Font Awesome provides icons in different styles, allowing you to select the one that best suits your project’s aesthetics.
Customizable: Icons can be customized to match your specific design requirements.
Designed with accessibility in mind: Font Awesome ensures that its icons are accessible, aligning with modern design standards.

8. Iconshock

Unique styles: Iconshock offers icons in distinctive styles, providing a fresh and unique look for your projects.
Extensive collection of high-quality icons: With a vast collection of icons, you’re sure to find what you need for your design and development endeavors.
Customizable: Icons can be customized to match your project’s style and requirements.
Available in vector format (SVG): Vector icons are versatile and can be easily scaled without loss of quality.
Free icons available: Iconshock provides free icons in addition to premium options.
Regularly updated: The library is continuously updated, ensuring that you have access to the latest design trends and icons.

9. Icons8

Extensive collection of high-quality icons: Icons8 boasts a diverse and extensive collection of icons, ranging from simple to highly detailed.
Customizable: Icons can be easily customized to fit your project’s design specifications.
Multiple download formats: Icons are available in various formats, including PNG, SVG, PDF, and more, ensuring compatibility with various design and development tools.
Figma plugin available: The availability of a Figma plugin simplifies the design process for Figma users.

10. Tabler Icons

Consistent style of icons: Tabler Icons maintain a uniform style throughout their collection, ensuring visual harmony in your projects.
Various packages are available: Tabler Icons offers various packages tailored to different design and development needs, making it designer and developer-friendly.
Figma plugin available: A Figma plugin streamlines the design process for Figma users.
Free to use: Many icons are available for free, making them accessible to a wide range of projects and budgets.
Customizable: Icons can be customized to match your project’s style and requirements.
Regularly updated: Continuous updates keep the library current, ensuring that you have access to the latest icons.

In conclusion, this list presents a diverse range of icon libraries, each catering to different design and development needs. These libraries not only offer a vast selection of icons but also provide features such as customization, accessibility, and various formats, making them valuable resources for designers and developers. The key is to explore these options and select the one that best aligns with your project’s requirements and your personal preferences. Happy icon hunting!