Welcome to Icons Review

Icons Review is a critically reviewed list of sources of professional-quality icons for website designers and software developers. The emphasis is on very high quality icons with the latest styles (as seen in Windows Vista, Windows XP, Mac OS X Tiger). The list includes both commercial and “open source” licenses, with prices ranging from free to a few hundred dollars. Also included are lists of Icon editors, Icon-related articles, custom-icon designers, and favorite icon utilities.

Suggestions and comments are more than welcome: feedback@iconsreview.com

Why use stock icons?

Designing professional-quality icons ranges from time-consuming (if you're artistic) to virtually impossible (if you’re not artistic - witness the shopping cart on the left).

For a fraction of the cost of having a graphics design professional on staff, the solution is to acquire a set of stock icons. A stock icon collection typically contains 100 or more icons that represents the functionality common to most applications and websites (help, copy, paste, shopping carts, flags, locks).

The icons that are not covered by the set can be designed in-house, if the expertise is available. Alternatively, custom-designed icons are often available as a service from the vendors of the stock icon packages. If this is affordable, it is usually preferred, since the original designer will be best able to maintain a consistent appearance throughout all of the icons.
 

Commercial or free?

• Sizes:  Each image in a commercial icon collection typically comes in many sizes (16x16, 24x24, 32x32, 48x48, etc) and sometimes in "alternate" states (hot, disabled, shadow, etc). Each image in a free collection typically comes in one size and state.
   
• Cost:  Expect to pay $100 to $400, depending on the number of icons, for a commercial set. Some of the "free" icon collections require attribution (e.g. about box credits) or are only free for personal use.
   
• Coverage:  The best free icons are of similar quality to many of the commercial icons, but are few in number (i.e. you may find one or two that look really nice, but not enough for your entire application). A typical commercial set has enough icons to cover most of your application, with the exception of one or two icons.
   
• License:  The "free" licenses vary widely. The typical commercial license: 1) does not allow you to re-distribute or re-sell the icons. 2) allows you to make derivates of the icons (for your own use) 3) lets you use the icons royalty-free when "compiled" into your software.

	Commercial Stock Icon Collections
	All prices in U.S. dollars

TThis list contains commercial icon collections. With an incredible 300 000+ very high quality icons, the Icon Shock entire collections bundle is really tough to beat, and would be a good starting point for your search.

Component developers who distribute sample projects that include icons should review D-Icons, as the license may be the only one compatible with your distribution.
 

Rating	Site	License	Format	Comment
	IconShock	license	16x16 to 256x256, PNG, GIF, ICO, BMP	free icons by email
Editor's choice
	The Icon Base	license	eps(vector) or ico, icns, png, tif, 16x16 to 256x256	Vista preview Aqua preview  Nice, but not cheap
	VirtualLNK	License	16x16 to 72x72 PNG, BMP, JPG. GIF	Disabled states
Editor's choice
	Icon Experience	License	16x16 to 128x128, drop shadow	PDF Catalog $128 to $379
Editor's choice
	IconKits	license	16,24,32,48  png,gif,psd  disabled, hot	PDF Catalog preview page sample set
	IconGalore	license	16x16 to 48x48 PNG	preview page sample set Individual icons
Individual Icons $3
	Icon Cool XP Icons			1300 XP Icons with IconCool Manager ($35.50)
	Icon Republic	license	16x16 to 128x128, BMP,PNG,GIF,ICO hot,disabled	preview page Buy 5 get 1 free deal. $1.91 per icon
Editor's Choice
	IconVector		EPS	$149 to $449, all vector icons
Editor's choice
	PixelLogo		Many sizes (16x16 to 128x128) ICNS, ICO, PNG, TIF	Many flags (World, US, EU) 5 flags for $20
	GlyFX	license	16x16 to 64x64 GIF,ICO, PNG, BMP	$35 to $850 Hot, Disabled sample set preview page
	Iconica	licensee	16x16 to 48x48	sample set preview page $300, vector
	1st icon designn	license	16x16 to 256x256	preview page preview PDF
	Glyph lab	license	16x16 to 48x48, GIF,ICO, PNG, BMP, PSD	sample set preview PDF $199. PSD
	WackyPixel	license	16x16 to 300x300 PNG	Inexpensive Packages starting at $4
	AWIcons	license	ICO, PNG, GIF, AI	preview page sample set
	Icon Flash	license	ICO, FLA, SWF, PNG	Flash (.FLA) style icons. preview page
	Aha-Soft / Sibcode	license	16x16 to 256x256 BMP,PNG	$39 to $179. preview1 preview2 sample
	IconBuffet	license	16x16 to 36x36 , GIF,ICO, PNG, BMP, ICNS, TIF	preview page sample set
	SuniSoft	license	16x16 to 48x48 , GIF,ICO, PNG, BMP, ICNS, TIF	preview page
	Dev Components	license	16x16 to 128x128 PNG	preview page Good value 260 icons for $99
	Glyfz	license	16x16 to 128x128, BMP, PNG, PSD	preview page sample set Good value.
	IconCart	license	16x16 to 256x256 ICO, PNG, JPG, BMP, GIF ICNS, AI, EPS	$199, vector, many states. preview PDF
	IconPharm	license	16x16 to 48x48, ICO, PNG, GIF	Beautiful images. Small specialized sets ($150-$199)
	Med-designs	license	16x16 to 32x32 ICO, ICNS, TIF, PNG	3 collections. $62 each. preview page
	Advanced Icons	license	32x32 to 128x128, AI, PNG, GIF, ICNS, ICO	preview page includes vector
	IconPacks	license	16x16 ICO, GIF, BMP	tons of small icons
	StockIcons	license	16x16 to 32x32 PNG, GIF, ICNS, ICO, BMP	sample set preview page. Nice, not cheap.
	IconFish	license	16x16 to 48x48 ICO. EPS, AI, PDF	sample set preview page Vector formats
	TastyStock	license	32x32, GIF PSD	Very Cheap ($10) preview page
	Orange Icons	license	16x16 to 256x256, GIF, JPG, PNG, PSD	preview page $3 each, with vector source
Individual Icons $3
	SimpleBits	license	16x16, 32x32 GIF	preview page Simple, Cheap, Good Value
	GUIicons	license	16x16 to 128x128, PNG, ICO, GIF	preview page sample set Good Value.
	D-Icons	license	16x16 to 48x48 ICO, PNG	component friendly license preview page
Relaxed License
	Axialis Object Packs	license	requires software	preview page requires software
Icon Parts
	ThinkMac	license	32x32, PNG	preview page. Mac Style.
Individual Icons $3
	Icons-Icons	license	16x16 to 64x64, ICO, GIF, PNG,  BMP	preview page Good Value($49.95) Shadow,etc
	StockIcons	license	16x16 to 256x256, GIF, JPG, PNG	$179 - $349 preview page Nice, not cheap
	Techlogica	license	Specialty is 16x16	preview page sample set
	Fast Icon	Limited to use in 10 products. license text	16x16 to 256x256, ICO, ICNS, PNG, BMP, TIF, GIF	$69 to $449 Vista icons. preview page
	Arcamis	license	16x16 to 256x256, BMP,PNG,GIF,ICO	preview page High quality Vista icons $79 to $299
Vista Icons
	IcoZon	license	16x16 to 256x256, GIF,PNG,ICO,PSD,BMP	preview page Good value, choice and quality
$0.69 to $2.99
	Icon Icon	license	16x16 to 48x48 BMP,GIF,ICO, PNG,ICNS	preview page sample set
	Icons-Land	license text	16x16 to 256x256, ICO, PNG	$30 to $80 Vista icons, emoticons, etc sample set
	IconDrawer	license	16x16 to 256x256 PNG, ICNS, ICO, PSD	preview page
	n.design studio	license	10x10 and larger	preview page. Specializes in small Icons
Mini icons
	Itookia	license	16x16 to 256x256 PNG, ICO, PSD, GIF, BMP	preview page Sample set

	Free STOCK Icon Collections
	No cost, various licenses (attribution, LGPL, etc)

This list contains free (no monetary cost) icon collections. Licenses vary widely, and many are custom written. With a large number of high quality icons and a LGPL license (commercial use allowed) the Nuvola collection is a good place for anyone to begin consideration. collection is a good starting point for your search.
 

Rating	Site	License	Format	Comment
	Nuvola	LPGL	PNG, SVG	Large number of very high quality icons. Vector and PNG
Editor's choice
	Eclipse IDE icons		many sizes(7x7 to 65x66) GIF	preview available or download. 1200+ icons. high quality
Editor's choice
	Tango	Attribution Share-Alike 2.5	16x16, 22x22, 32x32 SVG	preview page also on wikimedia.
	FamFamFam Silk	Creative Commons Attribution	PNG (16x16)	700+ icons. PNG. Fairly Popular
	Feed Icons	free for any use	GIF,JPG,PNG, many sizes	Standard Icon to be used for Syndicated content (e.g. RSS)
Editor's choice
	Icon Experience Samples	license text	Many sizes (16x16 to 128x128)	PDF Catalog (200 KB) Sample set (1.5 MB)
	Iconkits free	license text (link to  website)	PNG, TIF	10 office, 10 smiley icons (16x16, 24x24, 32x32) High Quality
	FamFamFam Flags	Free for any use		239 Flags of the world. Very small (16x11). GIF, PNG
	Sweetie	Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0	PNG, PSD. Most 16x16,24x24	includes photoshop sources
	AIGA symbols	free	PNG, EPS	50 standard passenger/pedestrian symbols
	N.Design Studio Mini		14x14 GIF	320 mini icons. < 10 icons free. 10+ link to author or pay $30
	glyFX	license text	BMP, GIF, PNG, ICO	37 high quality icons. 16x16, 24x24 and 32x32 to 64x64 sets
	Tango ArtLibreSet	GPL	22x22 SVG	work in progress. For graphics/drawing applications
	Iconaholic	free for personal use. commercial		Sample Set download page
	The Yellow Icon	varies. most free for personal use	various (win, mac, linux packages)	Be sure to change the  "navigation" selection
	Xp Icons	license	various sizes. ICO	preview page sample set
	Techlogica	license	Specialty is 16x16	preview page sample set
	Iconshock	license free use, except no resale.	16x16 to 256x256. BMP,PNG,ICO,GIF	Register, icon sets emailed periodically
	Ganato	license	PSD icons, menus, buttons, etc	preview page sample set
	Itookia	Relaxed licence	16x16 to 256x256. BMP,PNG,ICO,GIF,PSD	Great naviagation icons
	Icon Drawer	license	Awesome flags icons	preview page sample set