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If you need a small website icon, the best free favicon and icon editors depend on what you have already: use X-Icon Editor to draw or import artwork and export an ICO, favicon.io to convert an image into a broader website-icon package, or Adobe Express or Canva to design the artwork first. The SitePoint roundup titled “7 Handy, Free favicon and Icon Editors” was originally published in 2015 and updated in 2024; its text actually names eight tools, and several historical entries are not verified here as currently available.
Choose by the job you need to do
| Tool | Best starting point | Output established by the current official page | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| X-Icon Editor | Draw pixels in the browser or import an existing image | ICO | Focused favicon editor with several small preview sizes; its official pages give differing descriptions of image processing and privacy. |
| favicon.io | Convert an existing PNG, JPG, or BMP | ICO, PNG variants, Apple touch icon, Android icons, and a web manifest | Supplies installation instructions and HTML tags alongside the downloadable package. |
| Adobe Express | Compose or refine artwork in a general design editor | ICO, ICNS, or PNG through its favicon add-on workflow | Check that the add-on and desired export are available in your account and region. |
| Canva | Build artwork from templates and design elements | SVG, PNG, or JPG | Canva’s page identifies Brand Kit as a Pro feature; verify the current export route if you specifically need ICO. |
Focused tools for an existing image or a tiny icon
X-Icon Editor: draw or import, then export an ICO
X-Icon Editor is the most direct option in this group if the task is specifically to create a favicon rather than design a full brand identity. Its product page describes a free browser-based editor for drawing, importing, previewing, and exporting favicons. It offers 64×64, 32×32, 24×24, and 16×16 working sizes, and its FAQ says it can import PNG, JPG, BMP, GIF, and ICO files. The terms say the service is free and does not require registration. See the X-Icon Editor product page and FAQ.
There is a privacy inconsistency worth noticing if you plan to import a sensitive image: the FAQ says imported images are not stored and are used to generate the download; the product page says drawings and imported images are sent for ICO generation and deleted afterward, while its drawing page says work runs locally. Do not treat one of those descriptions as a definitive privacy guarantee. Review the current terms and privacy information before uploading artwork where handling matters.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsfavicon.io: convert once, get a collection of site assets
Use favicon.io when you already have a square image and want more than a single ICO. Its converter accepts PNG, JPG, or BMP and provides a package containing ICO and PNG variants, an Apple touch icon, Android icons, and a web manifest. The page also supplies HTML tags and file-installation steps, which makes it useful if you are unsure what to place on your site. Open the favicon.io converter.
#1 Best Overall
A package is not automatically better for every site: select assets for the browser, mobile, or app surfaces you actually support. favicon.io recommends simple square artwork because fine details disappear at tiny sizes. Preview the icon at the target dimensions, then check the deployed page rather than assuming a successful download means every surface is configured.
Broader design apps when you need to make the artwork first
Adobe Express: design and use its favicon add-on
Adobe Express is a general design tool rather than a dedicated pixel editor. Its icon-maker page describes a favicon add-on workflow with ICO, ICNS, or PNG export, so it can suit someone composing an icon before exporting it. Add-on availability and export choices can depend on the current account or region; confirm both in your own Express interface before building a workflow around a required format. Check Adobe Express’s icon maker page.
Rank #2
- Used Book in Good Condition
Canva: template-led artwork, with export format to verify
Canva’s favicon page focuses on creating artwork with templates and design elements and describes SVG, PNG, or JPG downloads. It identifies Brand Kit as a Pro feature. Treat Canva as an artwork-design route, not as a confirmed ICO generator: if your host or workflow requires an ICO file, verify the current export options or convert the finished image with a tool such as favicon.io. See Canva’s favicon page.
What happened to the other names in the old roundup?
The historic SitePoint article’s title says “7,” but its text names eight entries: X-Icon Editor, Free Icon Maker, Junior Icon Editor, IcoFX Portable, KIconedit, OS X Icon Editor, Icon Maker for Mac, and Logaster. The two Mac entries are listed separately. That list should be read as a snapshot of an older software landscape, not as confirmation that each tool remains available or free today.
Current availability was not established for Free Icon Maker, Junior Icon Editor, KIconedit, OS X Icon Editor, Icon Maker for Mac, or Logaster. IcoFX’s current official product information describes a professional product and trial; it does not establish the old “IcoFX Portable” free claim. For a current free workflow, choose among the four options above based on the source artwork and output you need rather than relying on those historic descriptions. Read the SitePoint roundup.
Quick Recap
A practical workflow for a clear, usable favicon
- Start with the source you have. For a finished square logo or image, use favicon.io if you want its multi-file package, or X-Icon Editor if an ICO is the main goal. If you still need to compose the artwork, start in Adobe Express or Canva.
- Keep the shape simple. Use a square composition with a strong silhouette or letterform. Tiny browser icons cannot preserve the subtle detail that looks good at a large logo size.
- Preview at the actual small sizes. X-Icon Editor offers 64×64, 32×32, 24×24, and 16×16 sizes; inspect the smallest sizes especially, where crowded edges and thin strokes are most likely to disappear.
- Export the formats your site needs. An ICO may cover a traditional browser favicon use; mobile or app-related surfaces may call for additional assets. Use the converter’s package only when those files fit your deployment needs.
- Install and check the live result. Follow favicon.io’s supplied placement steps and HTML tags when using its package. After publishing, visit the page in the browsers and device contexts you care about and confirm the icon appears as intended.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
