Material Icons vs Heroicons: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Material Icons 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 March 22, 2026 · Methodology
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:
- 0
- • Provides a large library of customizable icons.
- • Offers multiple styles and adjustable visual properties.
Heroicons
Hand-crafted SVG icons by Tailwind CSS creators
Best for you if:
- 0
- • 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 |  Material Icons |  Heroicons |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free | Free |
Best For | UI/UX Design | UI/UX Design |
Rating | — | — |
| Feature | Material Icons | Heroicons |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Free |
| 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 Material Icons and Heroicons Compare
Material Icons
Access a vast library of customizable icons for your digital products, powered by Google.
Free
Heroicons
Hand-crafted SVG icons by Tailwind CSS creators
Free
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 user reviews yet.
Go with: Material Icons
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Material Icons
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 ui/ux design tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Key Takeaways
Material Icons
- 0
- Completely free
- Our pick for this comparison
Heroicons
The Bottom Line
Material Icons is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Material Icons or Heroicons better?
Material Icons is rated high in our evaluation. Both are free.
What are Material Icons and Heroicons used for?
Material Icons: Access a vast library of customizable icons for your digital products, powered by Google.. Heroicons: Hand-crafted SVG icons by Tailwind CSS creators.
What does Material Icons cost vs Heroicons?
Material Icons is completely free. Heroicons is completely free. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.