Looking beyond Noun Project? Compare the top icon tools — from AI-powered generators to stock libraries — and find the best solution for your design workflow.
How the top icon tools stack up against Noun Project
| Feature | Iconly | Noun Project | Flaticon | Icons8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | AI icon generator | Curated library | Stock library | Icon library |
| AI Generation | Yes, text-to-icon | No | No | No (some AI tools) |
| Library Size | Growing + unlimited AI | ~10M icons | 10M+ icons | 1.3M+ icons |
| Editing Tools | 8 built-in | Color/size only | Basic editor | Basic recolor |
| Free Tier | Free account; paid plans available | Limited, attribution required | Limited, attribution required | Limited, low resolution |
| Starting Price | $12.50/mo ($150/yr) | $39.99/yr Icon Pro | ~$12.99/mo | from ~$14.99/mo |
| Formats | PNG, WebP + CDN | SVG, PNG | SVG, EPS, PSD, PNG | SVG, PNG |
| CDN Delivery | Built-in | No | No | No |
| Integrations | CDN, direct download | Figma, Adobe, Office, Google | Freepik ecosystem | Desktop app |
| Best For | Custom AI icons + web delivery | Browsing curated designs | Multi-format stock icons | Styled icon sets |
Noun Project is great for finding existing icons, but you are limited to what designers have already created. Iconly lets you describe any icon and AI generates it. No browsing, no compromises, no attribution required.
Unlike Noun Project and other icon libraries that require downloading and self-hosting, Iconly includes a global CDN with a CSS class-based icon system. Add icons to your website with one script tag.
<script defer src="https://cdn.iconly.ai/iconly.js"></script>
<i class="ci-line ci-rocket ci-lg"></i>Common questions about Noun Project alternatives
Top Noun Project alternatives include: Iconly (AI icon generator with 5 styles, 8 editing tools, starts free), Flaticon (10M+ stock icons, SVG/EPS/PNG, ~$12.99/mo), Icons8 (1.3M+ icons with multiple formats, from ~$14.99/mo), and Midjourney (general AI that can generate icon-like images, $10+/mo). Iconly is the best alternative if you want custom AI-generated icons instead of browsing pre-made libraries.
Yes. Iconly requires an active Pro or Max subscription for all tools. You can generate custom icons with AI and access the free public icon library. Flaticon and Icons8 also have limited free tiers with attribution requirements. Iconly Pro is the most generous for AI-powered icon creation.
Iconly is the only purpose-built AI icon generator among Noun Project alternatives. It generates custom icons from text prompts in 5 styles (Line, Solid, Outline, Pixel Art, Isometric) with 8 editing tools. Flaticon, Icons8, and Noun Project itself are stock libraries without AI generation capabilities.
Iconly Pro includes the full AI design platform for teams that need custom icons, social graphics, email templates, and brand tools. Noun Project's free tier requires attribution on downloads, while Iconly does not require attribution on generated assets.
Create an account, then subscribe to Pro or Max to start creating.
Choose a plan and start creating.