Icons8

Overview

Icons8 is an all-in-one design resource platform that provides a large library of icons, illustrations, photos, and UI assets in consistent styles, along with AI tools for editing and generating visuals. It also includes Lunacy, a free cross-platform design app for UI/UX work on Windows, macOS, and Linux.With plugins for tools like Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD, Icons8 integrates directly into existing design workflows. Designers, developers, and marketers use it to quickly access and edit visual assets while keeping designs consistent without switching between multiple tools.

Key Features

Massive Icon Library: illions of icons, illustrations, and UI assets across multiple consistent styles such as Material, Fluent, iOS, and Windows 11 design systems. All assets follow unified stroke, spacing, and visual rules for design consistency.
AI Background Remover: Remove backgrounds from photos with a single click. Supports batch processing of up to 500 images at once, with options to replace backgrounds using solid colors or custom images.
AI Smart Upscaler: Upscales images while preserving detail and reducing noise, helping improve low-resolution visuals for web, print, and UI use.
Stock Photos & Illustrations:A large library of ready-to-use visuals for commercial design projects, presentations, and marketing content.
Lunacy Design Software: A free, full-featured graphic design app for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Opens .sketch files natively, supports real-time collaboration, and includes built-in AI tools and LLM integration.
Design Tool Plugins: Free plugins for Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, and Google Workspace let you search and insert assets directly inside your design files without switching apps.
Developer-Friendly Ecosystem: API access and export options (SVG, PNG, etc.) designed for clean integration into apps, websites, and design systems.

Pros

Consistent Style Families: Icons within each pack follow unified design rules, keeping UI visuals consistent across projects.
Generous Free Tier: Access icons, photos, illustrations, and music for free with attribution. Useful for personal projects, prototyping, and open-source work.
All-in-One Design Ecosystem: This includes icons, illustrations, photos, AI tools, plugins, and design software.
Strong Workflow Integration: Plugins for Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, and Google Workspace let you pull assets without leaving your design environment.
Lunacy Is Genuinely Free: A capable alternative to Figma and Sketch that works offline, opens .sketch files, and runs on all major desktop platforms at no cost.
Flexible Licensing: Paid plans remove attribution requirements permanently. Assets you download remain yours even after cancellation.

Cons

Free Tier Feels Limited Quickly: Users report hitting paywalls fast. Free downloads are lower resolution and restricted to certain file types, which can feel restrictive for professional work.
Gaps In Specialized Content: Industries like medical devices, scientific instrumentation, and industrial equipment may find coverage lacking despite the large library size.
Individual Style Libraries Vary In Depth: While the overall collection is huge, some specific illustration styles have a limited number of assets, which can be frustrating if you commit to one visual language.

Use Cases

UI and App Design: Create consistent interfaces using large icon and illustration libraries in unified styles such as Material, Fluent, and iOS. Designers use Icons8 to maintain visual consistency across entire products without needing custom icon sets or external illustration work.
Marketing and Social Media: Quickly pull stock photos, illustrations, and icons for campaigns, landing pages, and social posts. The AI Background Remover lets you prep product images for ads in seconds instead of opening Photoshop.
Web Development:Access clean SVG icons, illustrations, and assets for websites and applications. Developers use integrations and APIs to quickly insert visuals into products, reducing manual asset creation and ensuring design consistency.
Presentations and Pitch Decks: Find matching icons and illustrations for slides. The Google Workspace plugin lets you insert assets directly into Google Slides, Docs, and Sheets without downloading files separately.
Design and Prototyping Workflows: Use Lunacy, a free cross-platform design tool with built-in assets, AI tools, and Sketch file support, for UI/UX design, prototyping, and collaboration across teams.
Educational and Children's Products: Publishers and educators use Icons8's hand-drawn and casual illustration styles for books, apps, and learning materials. The consistent art style across large sets keeps visual branding tight across entire product lines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Icons8 free to use?

Yes. Icons8 offers a free plan that includes access to icons, illustrations, photos, and some music assets. Free users must provide attribution when using assets. Certain formats such as full-quality SVGs and high-resolution downloads may require a paid plan.

What AI tools does Icons8 offer?

Icons8 includes AI-powered tools such as background removal, image upscaling, avatar generation, and image/illustration generation. These tools are available through Lunacy or Icons8 subscriptions that include AI credits.

Can I use Icons8 assets commercially?

Yes. Icons8 assets can be used commercially. Free users must include attribution, while paid plans remove attribution requirements and provide broader licensing under Icons8’s Universal License Agreement.

Does Icons8 have plugins for design tools?

Yes. Icons8 provides plugins and integrations for tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, and Google Workspace. These allow users to search and insert assets directly inside their design environment without downloading files manually.

What is Lunacy?

Lunacy is a free cross-platform UI/UX design application by Icons8 available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It supports Sketch files, includes built-in icons, illustrations, photos, UI kits, and AI tools like background removal and upscaling.

Does Icons8 offer team plans?

Yes. Icons8 offers team subscriptions where multiple users can access shared assets and collaboration features. Pricing and limits vary depending on the plan type (basic, professional, or enterprise).