Heroicons vs Material UI: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Heroicons and Material UI 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
- • 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
Material UI
The React component library to build beautiful and powerful UIs faster.
Best for you if:
- 0
- • Comprehensive React UI component library for faster development.
- • Offers both free foundational components (Material UI) and advanced paid components (MUI X).
| At a Glance |  Heroicons |  Material UI |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free | Free + Paid |
Best For | UI/UX Design | UI/UX Design |
Rating | — | — |
| Feature | Heroicons | Material UI |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | UI/UX DesignDesign Systems |
How Heroicons and Material UI Compare
Heroicons
Hand-crafted SVG icons by Tailwind CSS creators
Free
Material UI
The React component library to build beautiful and powerful UIs faster.
Free tier available
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Heroicons is free. Material UI 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. Material UI is freemium. 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?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Key Takeaways
Heroicons
- 0
- Completely free
- Our pick for this comparison
Material UI
The Bottom Line
Heroicons is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Heroicons or Material UI better?
Heroicons is rated high in our evaluation. Heroicons is free and Material UI is freemium.
What are Heroicons and Material UI used for?
Heroicons: Hand-crafted SVG icons by Tailwind CSS creators. Material UI: The React component library to build beautiful and powerful UIs faster..
What does Heroicons cost vs Material UI?
Heroicons is completely free. Material UI is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.