Thoughts / Design

A designer’s secret weapon: The best free icon sets

As a designer who’s always racing against the clock (and budget), I’ve come to rely heavily on high-quality, free icon sets in my projects.

These little visual gems not only save me time but also add a professional touch to my work without breaking the bank.

Here, I’m sharing my go-to list of the best free icon sets that have become indispensable in my design toolkit.

Why use free icon sets?

Before we dive into the list, let’s quickly talk about why free icon sets are a designer’s best friend:

1. Time-saving: No need to reinvent the wheel for every project.
2. Consistency: Professional-looking icons that maintain a cohesive style.
3. Versatility: Most sets come in various formats, perfect for different use cases.
4. Budget-friendly: Great for personal projects or clients with tight budgets.

My top picks for free icon sets

1. Streamline Icons

Streamline consists of over 17,918 icons and most are free to use. They have great customization and are accessible by a Figma Plugin.

2. Feather Icons

Feather Icons is one of my absolute favorite when it comes to minimalist, clean designs. With over 280 icons, it’s perfect for modern web and mobile applications.

3. Material Icons

Google’s Material Icons are a staple in the design world. With thousands of icons following Material Design principles, they’re great for Android apps and beyond.

4. Font Awesome

Font Awesome offers a massive collection of icons, with a generous free tier. It’s incredibly versatile and works seamlessly with web projects. It’s also built in Figma which makes it really smooth to use.

5. Ionicons

Ionicons is my go-to for beautifully crafted icons that work well across platforms. It’s especially great for iOS and Android app designs.

6. Heroicons

Heroicons is a set of free, MIT-licensed high-quality SVG icons for you to use in your web projects. Created by the makers of Tailwind CSS, these icons are perfect for modern, clean interfaces.

7. Phosphor Icons

Phosphor Icons is a huge library designed by Helena Zhang and Tobias Fried, with over 9,000 icons across 6 different styles.

8. Iconoir

Iconoir offers a high-quality selection of free icons designed in a neutral style. Most of them are Outlined while a few of them also have a Solid version.

9. Remix Icons

Remix Icons is a great collection of open source icons with a neutral and timeless look made for designers and developers.

10. Atlas Icons

Atlas Icons covers all the basic needs for any UI project with neutral and timeless icons with straight ends and a more geometric appearance.

11. Bootstrap Icons

Bootstrap Icons is a very popular library with over 2,000 icons in two styles: Line and Fill.

Remember, while these icons are free, it’s always good practice to give credit where it’s due.

Tips for Using Free Icon Sets

1. Check the license: Always make sure you’re adhering to the usage terms.
2. Maintain consistency: Stick to one or two icon sets per project for a cohesive look.
3. Customize when needed: Most sets allow for easy color and size adjustments.
4. Consider accessibility: Ensure your icons are clear and meaningful to all users.

When to use ready-made icons vs. custom designs

As a designer, one of the crucial decisions I often face is whether to use ready-made icons or create custom ones. Here’s my take on when to use each:

Use ready-made icons when:

1. Time is of the essence: Tight deadlines often call for quick solutions, and ready-made icons are perfect for this.
2. Working on standard interfaces: For common UI elements like search, menu, or social media icons, ready-made options are usually more than sufficient.
3. Maintaining consistency across platforms: Using established icon sets ensures your design looks familiar and intuitive across different devices and operating systems.
4. You’re on a tight budget: Custom icon design can be costly, making free icon sets an attractive alternative for projects with limited resources.
5. Prototyping or creating mockups: Ready-made icons are great for quickly visualizing ideas without investing too much time in the details.

Design custom icons when:

1. Unique branding is required: If you’re working on a project that needs a distinct visual identity, custom icons can help set it apart.
2. Representing complex or specific concepts: Sometimes, ready-made icons just don’t cut it for niche or industry-specific ideas. Custom designs can more accurately convey these concepts.
3. Creating a cohesive visual language: For large-scale projects or design systems, custom icons ensure perfect alignment with your overall visual strategy.
4. Addressing accessibility needs: If your project has specific accessibility requirements, custom icons allow you to design with these considerations in mind from the start.
5. You have the time and budget: When resources allow, custom icons can elevate a design from good to great, adding that extra polish and attention to detail.

Finding the right balance

In my experience, the best approach is often a mix of both. I frequently use ready-made icons as a starting point, customizing them to fit the project’s needs.

This hybrid approach allows me to save time while still maintaining a unique touch.

Remember, the goal is to create the best possible user experience.

Whether that’s achieved through carefully chosen ready-made icons or meticulously crafted custom designs depends on your project’s specific needs and constraints.

Need a free font to go with your free icons? Check out this list for the best sources for free fonts