Simple Icons vs Heroicons: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Simple 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 Simple Icons if you need a free tier to start with.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Simple Icons
Free SVG icons for popular brands.
Best for you if:
- • Provides free SVG icons for popular brands.
- • Icons are single-color and scalable.
Heroicons
Hand-crafted SVG icons by Tailwind CSS creators
Best for you if:
- • You need something completely free
- • 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 |  Simple Icons |  Heroicons |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Icon Libraries | Icon Libraries |
Rating | - | - |
Choose Simple Icons or Heroicons?
Choose Simple Icons if
Free SVG icons for popular brands.
- Completely free to use
- High-quality, scalable SVG format
- Consistent single-color design for all icons
Choose Heroicons if
Hand-crafted SVG icons by Tailwind CSS creators
- Beautiful icon set
- Tailwind team made
- Free and MIT
- You want a fully free tool (Simple Icons requires payment)
| Feature | Simple Icons | Heroicons |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Free |
| User Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Categories | Icon LibrariesStock Assets | Icon LibrariesDeveloper Tools |
In-Depth Analysis
Simple Icons
Free SVG icons for popular brands.
Strengths
- +Completely free to use
- +High-quality, scalable SVG format
- +Consistent single-color design for all icons
- +Easy to search and integrate into projects
- +Regularly updated with new brands
Weaknesses
- -Limited to brand icons only
- -Icons are only available in a single color (no multi-color brand variations)
- -No customization options within the tool itself
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: Simple Icons vs Heroicons
| Plan | Simple Icons | Heroicons |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Free | Free Free |
| Tier 2 | $10/mo Basic | N/A |
| Tier 3 | $25/mo Pro | N/A |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Simple Icons pricing and Heroicons pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Heroicons is free. Simple Icons is freemium.
Go with: Heroicons
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?
Simple Icons is freemium. Heroicons is free. Go with Heroicons if free matters most.
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
Simple Icons
- Choose if you want free SVG icons for popular brands
The Bottom Line
Heroicons is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Simple Icons or Heroicons better?
Heroicons is rated in our evaluation. Simple Icons is freemium and Heroicons is free.
What are Simple Icons and Heroicons used for?
Simple Icons: Free SVG icons for popular brands.. Heroicons: Hand-crafted SVG icons by Tailwind CSS creators.
What does Simple Icons cost vs Heroicons?
Simple Icons is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Heroicons is completely free. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.