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.
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 need icon libraries features specifically
- • 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:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.8/10 vs 0.0/10)
- • 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
| At a Glance |  Heroicons | |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free | Free |
Best For | Icon Libraries | UI/UX Design |
Rating | —/100 | 88/100 |
| Feature | Material Icons | Heroicons |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Free |
| Editorial Score | — | 88 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | Icon LibrariesUI/UX Design | UI/UX DesignDesign Systems |
Understanding the Differences
Both Material Icons and Heroicons solve similar problems, but they approach them differently.Material Icons positions itself as "access a vast library of customizable icons for your digital products, powered by google." while Heroiconsfocuses on "hand-crafted svg icons by tailwind css creators". These differences matter depending on what you're trying to accomplish.
When to Choose Material Icons
Material Icons makes sense if you're looking for a completely free solution.
When to Choose Heroicons
Heroicons is worth considering if you need a free tool. Scoring 88/100, it edges ahead in our evaluation.
Who Should Use What?
Bootstrapped or small team?
When every dollar counts, Material Icons lets you get started without pulling out your credit card.
We'd pick: Material Icons
Growing fast?
Your team doubled last quarter and you need tools that won't break when you add 50 more people. Heroicons is built for teams that are leveling up.
We'd pick: Heroicons
Enterprise with complex needs?
You need SSO, compliance certifications, and a support team that picks up the phone. Both have enterprise tiers—compare their security features.
We'd pick: Heroicons
Still not sure? Answer these 3 questions
How much can you spend?
Nothing at all? Material Icons is completely free.
Do you care what other users think?
Both have similar review counts. Read a few before you commit.
Expert opinion or crowd wisdom?
Our team rated Heroicons higher (88/100). But the community has upvoted Heroicons more (0 votes). Pick your source of truth.
Key Takeaways
What Heroicons Does Better
- Higher overall score (88/100)
- Our recommendation for most use cases
Consider Material Icons If
- You need a completely free solution
- Its specific features better match your workflow
- You prefer its interface or design approach
The Bottom Line
If we had to pick one, we'd go with Heroicons (88/100). But the honest answer is that "better" depends on your situation. Heroicons scores higher in our analysis, but Material Icons might be the right choice if its specific strengths align with what you need most. Take advantage of free trials to test both before committing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Material Icons or Heroicons better?
Based on our analysis, Heroicons scores higher with 88/100. Material Icons isfree while Heroicons is free. The best choice depends on your specific needs and budget. We recommend testing both with free trials if available.
Can I switch from Material Icons to Heroicons easily?
Migration difficulty varies. Check if both tools support data export/import in compatible formats. Some tools offer migration assistance or have integration partners who can help with the transition.
Do Material Icons and Heroicons offer free trials?
Most software in this category offers free trials or free tiers. Material Icons is completely free.Heroicons is completely free. Visit their websites for current trial offers.