Why Everyone in Design Talks About Icons8
If you’ve ever worked on a design project — whether it’s a simple school presentation, a startup pitch deck, or a full-fledged app UI — you’ve probably run into the same problem: finding good quality icons and graphics without spending hours searching or paying hundreds of dollars. This is where Icons8 comes in.
Icons8 is an all-in-one design platform that provides high-quality icons, illustrations, photos, music, and even AI-powered design tools. What makes it special is that it’s not just a stock resource library — it’s more like a creative toolbox where you can grab ready-to-use assets or generate new ones with AI.
In this guide, I’ll break down what Icons8 actually is, what it offers, who should use it, and whether it’s really worth your time (and money). I’ll also share a few personal opinions since I’ve used Icons8 myself for quick icon searches and some presentation designs.
What Is Icons8? A Simple Definition
Icons8 is a digital design resource platform that provides free and premium icons, illustrations, stock photos, 3D graphics, music tracks, and AI tools for designers, developers, marketers, and content creators.
Think of it as a design supermarket. Instead of hopping from one website for icons, another for illustrations, and another for stock photos, Icons8 keeps everything under one roof.
Some of the most popular things people use Icons8 for include:
- High-quality, consistent icon sets
- Editable illustrations
- AI-generated headshots and faces
- Free and premium music tracks for YouTube or apps
- Design tools like Lunacy (a Sketch alternative)
Why Designers Love Icons8 (And Why Some Don’t)
Let’s be real — no platform is perfect. Icons8 has a lot going for it, but like any service, it also has a few downsides.
Pros of Icons8
- Huge library: Over 1,000,000+ icons in consistent styles.
- Free option available: You can use many resources for free (with attribution).
- Cross-platform tools: Works online and through apps like Lunacy.
- AI-powered features: Face generator, background remover, and upscaler.
- All-in-one place: Icons, illustrations, stock photos, music.
Cons of Icons8
- Attribution required for free downloads (can be annoying).
- Not every asset is unique (lots of people use the same icons).
- Premium plan can feel pricey for beginners.
Related to this, check out my article on [Best Free Stock Photo Sites] where I compare Icons8 Photos with Unsplash and Pexels.
Deep Dive: Features of Icons8 You Should Know
1. Icons (The Core Feature)
Icons8 started as a massive icon library, and that’s still what it’s best known for. They have icons in multiple styles: flat, line, filled, hand-drawn, and even animated.
What I personally like is that the icons are consistent across sets. So if you’re making a mobile app and you need 50 icons, they’ll all match instead of looking like a random mix.
Example: Searching for “email” brings up 20+ styles of email icons — flat, outline, gradient, pixel, 3D, and more.
2. Illustrations
Their illustration packs are perfect for landing pages, blogs, and apps. You can pick different styles — from cartoonish to modern minimal. Plus, many of them are customizable in vector editors.
3. Photos
Icons8 Photos is kind of underrated. It focuses on diverse, realistic stock photos, including AI-generated models. Unlike typical stock photo sites, you can tweak faces, poses, and even generate new characters.
4. Music
Yes, Icons8 even has a music library. You can find background tracks, jingles, and sound effects for YouTube videos, apps, and games.
5. AI Tools
Here’s where it gets fun. Icons8 has several AI-powered tools:
- Face Generator – Create realistic human faces.
- Background Remover – Instantly remove image backgrounds.
- Upscaler – Improve image quality and resolution.
- Lunacy – A free graphic design software (kind of like Figma + Sketch).
Icons8 Pricing: Free vs Paid Plans
| Plan | Free Version | Paid Version (Pro) |
|---|---|---|
| Icons | Limited download, attribution needed | Unlimited, no attribution |
| Photos | Basic access | Full resolution, unlimited |
| Music | Small selection | Full library |
| AI Tools | Limited credits | Unlimited access |
| Price | $0 | Around $13/month |
If you’re a casual user, the free plan is fine (just add attribution). But if you’re working professionally, the Pro plan is definitely worth it.
How Icons8 Compares to Alternative
When you compare Icons8 with other platforms like Flaticon, Freepik, or Envato Elements, a few things stand out.
- Flaticon – Best for icons only, but doesn’t offer music or AI tools.
- Freepik – Has icons + illustrations, but less AI features.
- Envato Elements – Massive library but subscription is more expensive.
So, Icons8 is a solid middle ground — not as huge as Envato, but way more versatile than Flaticon.
Who Should Use Icons8?
- Designers → For UI kits, apps, and web projects.
- Marketers → For blog posts, social media, and landing pages.
- Developers → Quick icons and assets for apps.
- YouTubers → Background music + graphics.
- Students → Free icons for presentations and projects.
Basically, if you need graphics fast, Icons8 is for you.
FAQs About Icons8
Q1: Is Icons8 free?
Yes, Icons8 has a free plan, but you need to give attribution (credit).
Q2: Can I use Icons8 assets in commercial projects?
Yes, but only if you have the Pro plan (no attribution required).
Q3: Is Icons8 better than Flaticon?
Icons8 is better if you want more than just icons (like music, AI tools, photos).
Q4: Does Icons8 have an app?
Yes, it has a desktop app and Lunacy design software.
Q5: Is Icons8 good for YouTube creators?
Yes, because you get background music + illustrations + stock photos in one place.
Conclusion: Is Icons8 Worth It?
To wrap it up, Icons8 is one of the most practical all-in-one creative platforms out there. Whether you’re a designer, student, or marketer, it saves time by keeping everything — icons, illustrations, stock photos, and even AI design tools — in one place.
Personally, I think it’s a lifesaver when you’re working under a deadline and just need assets fast without hopping across five different websites.