Icons8 provides 1.3M+ pre-made icons across multiple styles. Iconly generates custom icons from text prompts with AI. Here is how they compare on pricing, features, and workflow.
A feature-by-feature breakdown of both platforms
| Feature | Iconly | Icons8 |
|---|---|---|
| Icon Source | AI-generated from text prompts | Curated library (1.3M+ pre-made) |
| Custom Icons | Unlimited unique designs on demand | Limited to existing library |
| AI Features | Text-to-icon generation + 8 editing tools | Some AI illustration tools, no icon generation |
| Styles | 5 built-in + reference-guided generation | Multiple preset style categories |
| Editing Tools | 8 tools (recolor, thickness, smoothing, crop, BG removal, eraser, refinement, reference) | Basic recoloring and resizing |
| Free Tier | 300 free tokens + 3-day free trial | Limited free icons, low resolution |
| Icon Plan Price | $1.25/mo (Mini) to $25/mo (Max) | from ~$14.99/mo icons |
| Full Bundle | All features included in every plan | higher for full bundle (icons + photos + illustrations + music) |
| Export Formats | PNG, WebP | SVG, PNG (paid plans) |
| CDN Delivery | Built-in CSS class-based system | Not available for custom use |
Icons8 offers a large library organized by style, but you are limited to existing designs. Iconly's AI generates icons specifically for your use case. Describe what you need, choose a style, and get a unique icon in seconds.
Icons8 splits features across multiple subscriptions — icons, photos, illustrations, and music are all separate or bundled at $89/month. Iconly includes every feature in all plans, from the free trial to Max. No hidden tiers or add-ons.
<script defer src="https://cdn.iconly.ai/iconly.js"></script>
<i class="ci-line ci-rocket ci-lg"></i>Common questions about Iconly vs Icons8
Iconly generates custom icons from text prompts using AI, creating unique designs on demand. Icons8 is a library of over 1.3 million pre-made icons in multiple preset styles. Iconly focuses on AI-powered creation and editing, while Icons8 offers a broad collection of static icons with some AI-assisted illustration tools.
Iconly starts free with 300 tokens and offers plans from $1.25/month (Mini) to $25/month (Max). Icons8 charges approximately $14.99/month or more for their icons subscription, with higher tiers for the full bundle including photos, illustrations, and music. For icon-specific needs, Iconly's entry price is significantly lower.
Icons8 offers some AI features for illustrations and backgrounds but does not have a dedicated text-to-icon AI generator. Iconly is purpose-built for AI icon generation with 5 style options, iterative refinement, and 8 editing tools specifically designed for icons.
Icons8 organizes its library into many preset style categories. Iconly offers 5 built-in AI generation styles (Line, Solid, Outline, Pixel Art, Isometric) plus reference-guided generation to match any visual style. With Iconly's AI, you can create icons in any style you can describe, while Icons8 is limited to its existing style categories.
Start with 300 free tokens + a 3-day free trial.
300 free tokens + 3-day free trial.