Noun Project vs Stencil: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Noun Project and Stencil 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: Noun Project wins this matchup. Our overall Graphic Design pick is Adobe Creative Cloud. Our free Graphic Design pick is Keynote. Pick Stencil if you need graphic design.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Noun Project
Millions of icons and photos for all your visual needs
Best for you if:
- • You want high quality curation
- • You want consistent styles
Stencil
Quickly create stunning visual content for social media, blogs, and ads.
Best for you if:
- • You want extremely fast and easy to use for graphic creation
- • You want vast library of royalty-free assets (photos, icons, templates) included
| At a Glance | Noun Project | Stencil |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Icon Libraries | Graphic Design |
Rating | 4.8/5 | 4.5/5 |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Noun Project or Stencil?
Choose Noun Project if
Millions of icons and photos for all your visual needs
- You want high quality curation
- You want consistent styles
- Your work is icon libraries-shaped, not graphic design-shaped
Choose Stencil if
Quickly create stunning visual content for social media, blogs, and ads.
- You want extremely fast and easy to use for graphic creation
- You want vast library of royalty-free assets (photos, icons, templates) included
- Your work is graphic design-shaped, not icon libraries-shaped
| Feature | Noun Project | Stencil |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| User Rating | ★4.8/5 19 reviews | ★4.5/5 26 reviews |
| Categories | Icon LibrariesStock Assets | Graphic DesignMarketing |
In-Depth Analysis
Noun Project
Millions of icons and photos for all your visual needs
Noun Project's pricing is incredibly generous, especially with its robust free tier.
Strengths
- +High quality curation
- +Consistent styles
- +Active community
- +Good search
Weaknesses
- -Attribution on free
- -Smaller than Flaticon
- -Premium required for best use
Key features
Stencil
Quickly create stunning visual content for social media, blogs, and ads.
Stencil offers a very fair and generous pricing structure, especially with the Unlimited plan at $12/month when paid annually.
Strengths
- +Extremely fast and easy to use for graphic creation.
- +Vast library of royalty-free assets (photos, icons, templates) included.
- +Seamless integration with Buffer for social media scheduling.
- +Offers optimal preset sizes for various platforms, saving time.
- +Includes a free tier for hobbyists to get started.
Weaknesses
- -Each subscription is for a single user only, limiting team collaboration.
- -Monthly recurring payments are non-refundable after the initial 7-day period.
Key features
Pricing: Noun Project vs Stencil
| Plan | Noun Project | Stencil |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Free | $0/mo Free |
| Tier 2 | $3 month Pro | $9/mo when paid annually Pro |
| Tier 3 | N/A | $12/mo when paid annually Unlimited |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Noun Project pricing and Stencil pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Noun Project
Want the highest-rated option?
Noun Project: 4.8/5 (19 reviews). Stencil: 4.5/5 (26 reviews).
Go with: Noun Project
Value user reviews?
Noun Project: 19 reviews (4.8/5). Stencil: 26 reviews (4.5/5).
Go with: Stencil
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are freemium. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Noun Project is a icon libraries tool. Stencil is in graphic design. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Noun Project is rated higher: 4.8/5 vs 4.5/5.
Key Takeaways
Noun Project
- Higher user rating: 4.8/5 vs 4.5/5
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Stencil
- Larger review base (26 reviews)
- Better fit for graphic design
The Bottom Line
Noun Project wins this matchup. Our overall Graphic Design pick is Adobe Creative Cloud. Our free Graphic Design pick is Keynote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Noun Project or Stencil better?
Noun Project is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Noun Project and Stencil used for?
Noun Project: Millions of icons and photos for all your visual needs. Stencil: Quickly create stunning visual content for social media, blogs, and ads..
What does Noun Project cost vs Stencil?
Noun Project is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Stencil is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.