Material Icons vs Feather Icons: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Material Icons and Feather Icons 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.
Bottom line: Feather Icons wins this matchup. Our overall Icon Libraries pick is Flaticon. Our free Icon Libraries pick is Lucide. Pick Material Icons if you need a fully free option.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Material Icons
Access a vast library of customizable icons for your digital products, powered by Google.
Best for you if:
- • You want completely free to use
- • You want high-quality and visually consistent icons
Feather Icons
Beautiful open-source SVG icons
Best for you if:
- • You want beautiful icons
- • You want open source
| At a Glance | Material Icons | Feather Icons |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Icon Libraries | Icon Libraries |
Rating | - | - |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Material Icons or Feather Icons?
Choose Material Icons if
Access a vast library of customizable icons for your digital products, powered by Google.
- You want completely free to use
- You want high-quality and visually consistent icons
Choose Feather Icons if
Beautiful open-source SVG icons
- You want beautiful icons
- You want open source
| Feature | Material Icons | Feather Icons |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Free |
| User Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Categories | Icon LibrariesUI/UX Design | Icon LibrariesDesign |
In-Depth Analysis
Material Icons
Access a vast library of customizable icons for your digital products, powered by Google.
Strengths
- +Completely free to use
- +High-quality and visually consistent icons
- +Wide range of customization options
- +Easy to integrate into projects
- +Regularly updated with new icons
Weaknesses
- -Primarily follows Material Design guidelines, which might not suit all brand aesthetics
- -Requires some technical knowledge for advanced customization and integration
Key features
Feather Icons
Beautiful open-source SVG icons
Feather Icons offers an incredibly generous pricing model, as it is entirely free and open-source.
Strengths
- +Beautiful icons
- +Open source
- +Simple design
- +Good quality
- +Free
Weaknesses
- -Limited icons
- -Development slowed
- -Lucide forked
- -No updates
- -Style specific
Key features
Pricing: Material Icons vs Feather Icons
| Plan | Material Icons | Feather Icons |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | N/A | Free Free |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Material Icons pricing and Feather Icons pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are free. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Material Icons
Want the highest-rated option?
Neither has ratings yet.
Too early to call on ratings — compare on features and pricing.
Value user reviews?
Neither has ratings yet.
Too early to call — neither has ratings yet.
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are free. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Both are icon libraries tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Neither has ratings yet.
Key Takeaways
Feather Icons
- Completely free
- Our pick for this comparison
Material Icons
- Choose if you want access a vast library of customizable icons for your digital products, powered by Google
The Bottom Line
Feather Icons wins this matchup. Our overall Icon Libraries pick is Flaticon. Our free Icon Libraries pick is Lucide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Material Icons or Feather Icons better?
Feather Icons is rated in our evaluation. Both are free.
What are Material Icons and Feather Icons used for?
Material Icons: Access a vast library of customizable icons for your digital products, powered by Google.. Feather Icons: Beautiful open-source SVG icons.
What does Material Icons cost vs Feather Icons?
Material Icons is completely free. Feather Icons is completely free. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.