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Head-to-head · Icon Libraries

The Noun Project vs Material Symbols

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score The Noun Project #1 in Icon Libraries 9.4/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 3 of 4 features Visit Noun Project
Material Symbols #7 in Icon Libraries 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 4 features Visit Material

The Noun Project leads on 0 checks, Material Symbols on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreThe Noun Project · 9.4/10
  • Free planboth
  • Free trialonly The Noun Project

The Noun Project scores higher on our rubric for icon libraries: 9.4 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #7.

On style coverage, Material Symbols gives you Customizable where The Noun Project offers Multiple.

The Noun Project is the better fit for budget-conscious teams needing huge icon coverage. Material Symbols is the better fit for teams using Google Fonts and native platforms.

  • The Noun Project fits best

    Budget-conscious teams needing huge icon coverage

  • Material Symbols fits best

    Teams using Google Fonts and native platforms

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature The Noun Project 9.4/10 Visit ↗ Material Symbols 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 8.6
Ranking #1 in Icon Libraries #7 in Icon Libraries
Best for Budget-conscious teams needing huge icon coverage Teams using Google Fonts and native platforms
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price $3.33/user/mo Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial 30 days —
Deployment Cloud, Desktop Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms Web, macOS Web, Android, iOS
Support Email, Docs Docs, Community
Integrations 12 integrations 1 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features The Noun Project 3/4 · Material Symbols 3/4
Commercial use ✓ ✓
Figma plugin ✓ (best) Not checked yet
API access ✓ ✓
Icon font Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Specs
Icons included 1e+07 Not checked yet
Icon formats PNG, SVG SVG, PNG, web font, Vector Drawable, Apple Symbols
Style coverage Multiple Customizable
Our review
Pros
  • Nearly 10 million icons with PNG and SVG downloads
  • Figma, Office, Adobe, Mac, and REST API integrations
  • Noun Pro adds commercial licensing and unlimited downloads
  • SVG, PNG, web font, Vector Drawable, and Apple Symbols formats
  • Adjustable fill, weight, grade, and optical-size axes
  • Free, open-source collection with commercial use support
Cons
  • Free use requires attribution
  • Noun Pro and Noun Team prices are annual billing equivalents
  • Studio editing and generation use a separate credit pack
  • Its documented ecosystem integration centers on Google Fonts CSS API.
  • The collection focuses on icons rather than broader design assets.
  • Multiple styles and visual axes add configuration decisions.
Our verdict

The Noun Project is an online icon library for designers, educators, developers, and teams. Its collection includes nearly 10 million professionally curated icons across thousands of styles, with search, visual-style filtering, matching…

Read the review →

Material Symbols is Google's open-source icon collection for designers and developers building web, Android, and iOS interfaces. It offers more than 2,500 glyphs across Outlined, Rounded, and Sharp styles, with commercial use supported…

Read the review →
  1. The Noun ProjectIcon Libraries 9.4Free plan · 30-day trial
  2. Material SymbolsIcon Libraries 8.6Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • The Noun Project — where it wins

    • Nearly 10 million icons with PNG and SVG downloads
    • Figma, Office, Adobe, Mac, and REST API integrations
    • Noun Pro adds commercial licensing and unlimited downloads

    Where it doesn't

    • Free use requires attribution
    • Noun Pro and Noun Team prices are annual billing equivalents
    • Studio editing and generation use a separate credit pack

  • Material Symbols — where it wins

    • SVG, PNG, web font, Vector Drawable, and Apple Symbols formats
    • Adjustable fill, weight, grade, and optical-size axes
    • Free, open-source collection with commercial use support

    Where it doesn't

    • Its documented ecosystem integration centers on Google Fonts CSS API.
    • The collection focuses on icons rather than broader design assets.
    • Multiple styles and visual axes add configuration decisions.
  • The Noun Project9.4/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

    A broad icon library with strong editing, integration, and API options at a low entry price.

    Visit Noun ProjectFull verdict →
  • Material Symbols8.6/10 · Free plan

    A free, flexible icon collection with strong format support and a Google-centered ecosystem.

    Visit MaterialFull verdict →

More comparisons

All icon libraries comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update