Material Icons vs Heroicons: Which is Better 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.
Bottom line: Heroicons is our overall pick for icon libraries workflows. 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:
- • 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:
- • 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 |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Icon Libraries | Icon Libraries |
Rating | - | - |
Choose Material Icons or Heroicons?
Choose Material Icons if
Access a vast library of customizable icons for your digital products, powered by Google.
- Completely free to use
- High-quality and visually consistent icons
- Wide range of customization options
Choose Heroicons if
Hand-crafted SVG icons by Tailwind CSS creators
- Beautiful icon set
- Tailwind team made
- Free and MIT
| Feature | Material Icons | Heroicons |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Free |
| User Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Categories | Icon LibrariesUI/UX Design | Icon LibrariesDeveloper Tools |
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
Heroicons
Hand-crafted SVG icons by Tailwind CSS creators
Strengths
- +Beautiful icon set
- +Tailwind team made
- +Free and MIT
- +React/Vue components
- +Well designed
Weaknesses
- -Limited icon count
- -Tailwind style only
- -No variations
- -Updates infrequent
- -May need more icons
Key features
Pricing: Material Icons vs Heroicons
| Plan | Material Icons | Heroicons |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | N/A | Free Free |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Material Icons pricing and Heroicons 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
Heroicons
- 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
Heroicons is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Material Icons or Heroicons better?
Heroicons is rated 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.