Recently discovered a treasure trove of stock resources, can't help but want to recommend it to you
To be honest, I usually love tinkering with design whenever I work on something, but finding icons has always been a headache for me. Either those free sites have inconsistent quality and mismatched styles, and after a while they just feel cheap 😅. Or paid sites—like some big-name platforms—are ridiculously expensive, and as a student, I just can't afford them.
Until one day I saw someone in a group chat mention Iconscout, saying this site is absolutely amazing, with tons of beautiful icons, plus illustrations and 3D assets. I thought, "Is it really that good?" So I gave it a try—
First, the icon resources
Huge variety: Almost every style you want is available: line, fill, duotone, and even super trendy gradient styles—everything you could ask for. I just searched for "cloud" casually and got thousands of results, way too many to browse through. Consistent quality: This is something I really have to praise! Many free icon libraries have plenty of icons, but often the styles are inconsistent—some have thin lines, others thick lines, some are rounded on the left and sharp on the right—mixing them together looks really jarring. Iconscout's icons are all reviewed by professional designers, so icons within the same collection are very consistent in style, making them perfect for UI designs. Variety of formats: Supports SVG, PNG, WebP, and even React component code! For frontend developers, you can directly copy JSX code and use it—very convenient (though I don't recommend copying code directly; it's better to tweak the styles a bit). You can also download icon fonts, suitable for projects that need batch usage of icons.
Illustrations are also a treasure trove
As everyone knows, illustrations are super important in UI nowadays, but drawing them yourself? Too time-consuming, and I can't even draw 🤣. Iconscout's illustration library is very thoughtful. I tried searching for "working from home" and got a bunch of cute remote work illustrations with comfortable color schemes, and each illustration pack has different character actions and background elements that you can freely combine. Even better, some illustrations come with Lottie animation versions (the JSON animation files), which can be used directly in web pages, easily adding dynamic effects to your page—clients instantly feel it looks premium.
3D assets are a pleasant surprise
I initially thought this was just an icon site, but turns out they also have 3D models! Although not as many as dedicated 3D libraries, the quality is solid. I was creating a prototype for an app interface and needed a phone device mockup—I simply searched "phone mockup" and found several options with realistic angles, colors, and shadows. Some 3D assets even allow online editing of colors and materials, and you can export them as PNG or GLB formats—super convenient.
User experience and pricing
First of all, the search experience is very smooth, supporting Chinese keywords (though sometimes not entirely accurate, but mostly sufficient). You can filter by style, color, and license type, and there's also smart recommendations. Plus, you can register and download for free—there's a daily free quota (I think it's a few downloads per day, you'll have to check specifics). If you download frequently, you can purchase their subscription plans, and personally, I think the price is quite reasonable—much cheaper than those sites that charge hundreds of dollars.
After using it for about a month, the best part is: I no longer have to worry about copyright issues. Many free icon sites are also free, but their licensing terms are vague, and you're not sure if you can use them commercially. Iconscout's licensing is very clear: paid members get commercial licenses directly, so you can safely use assets in your projects.
Who is it for?
- UI/UX designers: For interface design, app prototypes, web design—icons and illustrations are essential. Iconscout's assets can be dragged directly into Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD, saving a lot of effort.
- Frontend developers: You can directly copy SVG code or React components, saving yourself the trouble of writing styles.
- Content creators: For PPTs, presentations, social media graphics—use Iconscout's illustrations to make your content more lively.
- Product managers: Quickly find schematic diagrams, wireframe elements, and use them for prototype presentations.
A little criticism
After all that praise, let me also mention the downsides. Free users have a daily download limit (I think it's 5 times?), which may not be enough for large projects. Also, some illustration packs look beautiful, but the elements cannot be separated individually (e.g., a character and a background are combined together), slightly lacking flexibility. However, these minor issues don't affect the overall experience much.
In short, if you often work with design, Iconscout is definitely worth bookmarking. I've already added it to my browser bookmarks and browse it for inspiration from time to time, hehe 😎.
That's all for today's sharing. You guys should go check it out when you have time—just remember to read the free download rules first.