Heroicons vs Lottie: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Heroicons and Lottie 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 May 6, 2026 · Methodology
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Heroicons
Hand-crafted SVG icons by Tailwind CSS creators
Best for you if:
- 0
- • You need something completely free
- • You need ui/ux design features specifically
- • 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
Lottie
Lightweight animations for web and mobile
Best for you if:
- 0
- • You need animation features specifically
- • Lottie is an animation format and library for web and mobile apps
- • It renders After Effects animations as lightweight, scalable JSON files
| At a Glance |  Heroicons |  Lottie |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free | Free + Paid |
Best For | UI/UX Design | Animation |
Rating | — | — |
| Feature | Heroicons | Lottie |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Freemium |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | UI/UX DesignDesign Systems | AnimationUI/UX Design |
How Heroicons and Lottie Compare
Heroicons
Hand-crafted SVG icons by Tailwind CSS creators
Free
Lottie
Lightweight animations for web and mobile
Free tier available
Heroicons is a ui/ux design tool. Lottie is in animation.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Heroicons is free. Lottie is freemium.
Go with: Heroicons
Want the highest-rated option?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Heroicons
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Heroicons
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Heroicons is free. Lottie is freemium. Go with Heroicons if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Heroicons is a ui/ux design tool. Lottie is in animation. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Key Takeaways
Heroicons
- 0
- Completely free
- Our pick for this comparison
Lottie
- Better fit for animation
The Bottom Line
Heroicons is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Heroicons or Lottie better?
Heroicons is rated high in our evaluation. Heroicons is free and Lottie is freemium.
What are Heroicons and Lottie used for?
Heroicons: Hand-crafted SVG icons by Tailwind CSS creators. Lottie: Lightweight animations for web and mobile.
What does Heroicons cost vs Lottie?
Heroicons is completely free. Lottie is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.