Font Awesome vs Heroicons: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Font Awesome and Heroicons comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
By Toolradar Team · Last updated February 28, 2026 · Methodology
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Font Awesome
The internet's most popular icon toolkit and a powerful CSS framework.
Best for you if:
- • Provides a vast library of scalable vector icons.
- • Offers a CSS toolkit for easy icon customization.
Heroicons
Hand-crafted SVG icons by Tailwind CSS creators
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.8/10 vs 0.0/10)
- • You need something completely free
- • Heroicons is a set of free, MIT-licensed SVG icons from the makers of Tailwind CSS
- • It provides 300+ hand-crafted icons in outline and solid styles
| At a Glance |  Font Awesome |  Heroicons |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Free |
Best For | UI/UX Design | UI/UX Design |
Rating | —/100 | 88/100 |
| Feature | Font Awesome | Heroicons |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Free |
| Editorial Score | — | 88 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | UI/UX DesignFont Tools | UI/UX DesignDesign Systems |
How Font Awesome and Heroicons Compare
Font Awesome
The internet's most popular icon toolkit and a powerful CSS framework.
Free tier available
Heroicons
Hand-crafted SVG icons by Tailwind CSS creators
Free · 88/100 score
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Heroicons is free. Font Awesome is freemium.
Go with: Heroicons
Want the highest-rated option?
Heroicons scores 88/100. Font Awesome is unrated.
Go with: Heroicons
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Heroicons
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Font Awesome is freemium. Heroicons is free. Go with Heroicons if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Both are ui/ux design tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Not all tools have been rated yet.
Key Takeaways
Heroicons
- Higher score: 88/100 vs unrated
- Completely free
- Our pick for this comparison
Font Awesome
The Bottom Line
Heroicons (88/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Font Awesome or Heroicons better?
Heroicons scores 88/100 in our evaluation. Font Awesome is freemium and Heroicons is free.
What are Font Awesome and Heroicons used for?
Font Awesome: The internet's most popular icon toolkit and a powerful CSS framework.. Heroicons: Hand-crafted SVG icons by Tailwind CSS creators.
What does Font Awesome cost vs Heroicons?
Font Awesome is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Heroicons is completely free. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.