Material Icons vs Lucide: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Material Icons and Lucide 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: Lucide is our free Icon Libraries pick. Flaticon is our overall pick. 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
Lucide
Beautiful and consistent open-source icons
Best for you if:
- • You want beautiful icon set
- • You want fork of Feather
| At a Glance | Material Icons | Lucide |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Icon Libraries | Icon Libraries |
Rating | - | 4.5/5 |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Material Icons or Lucide?
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 Lucide if
Beautiful and consistent open-source icons
- You want beautiful icon set
- You want fork of Feather
| Feature | Material Icons | Lucide |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Free |
| User Rating | No ratings yet | ★4.5/5 8,614 reviews |
| Categories | Icon LibrariesUI/UX Design | Icon Libraries |
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
Lucide
Beautiful and consistent open-source icons
Lucide's pricing is exceptionally generous, as it offers all features for free under an open-source ISC license.
Watch out
No overage fees
Strengths
- +Beautiful icon set
- +Fork of Feather
- +Open source
- +Active development
- +Good consistency
Weaknesses
- -Limited icon count
- -Fork confusion
- -Style specific
- -Updates needed
- -May need more icons
Key features
Pricing: Material Icons vs Lucide
| Plan | Material Icons | Lucide |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | N/A | Free Free |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Material Icons pricing and Lucide 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?
Lucide is rated 4.5/5. Material Icons has no ratings yet.
Go with: Lucide
Value user reviews?
Material Icons: no ratings yet. Lucide: 8,614 reviews (4.5/5).
Go with: Lucide
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?
Lucide is rated 4.5/5; Material Icons has no ratings yet.
Key Takeaways
Lucide
- 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
Lucide is our free Icon Libraries pick. Flaticon is our overall pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Material Icons or Lucide better?
Lucide is rated in our evaluation. Both are free.
What are Material Icons and Lucide used for?
Material Icons: Access a vast library of customizable icons for your digital products, powered by Google.. Lucide: Beautiful and consistent open-source icons.
What does Material Icons cost vs Lucide?
Material Icons is completely free. Lucide is completely free. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.