Have you ever noticed how icons make everything easier to understand? They’re everywhere, from websites to mobile apps, guiding us and simplifying complex ideas at a glance. Icons not only enhance user experience but also add a touch of visual flair.
This visual flair is important because human responses depend on it. We by nature are highly visual creatures. Stats confirm that 91% of consumers prefer visual content to written content. And so there’s power even in the smallest icon and incorporating them however seems fit is important.
So in this blog, we’ll be exploring 6 fantastic icon makers for different use cases you can try in 2024. These icon makers will help you create the perfect custom icons for your projects, making your design/work process smoother and more fun.
Let’s dive in and check these awesome icon makers out together!
We’re kicking off this list of icon makers with a very important one. ICOConvert is by far one of the simplest icon makers on this list. .ICO is a file format created and used by Microsoft in most of its operating systems. All the icons of the shortcuts on our desktop are in this format.
What this tool does is it helps convert any image in JPEG or PNG into an icon while also converting it to the .ICO format or PNG format.
Simply upload any image in PNG, JPEG, or BMP with a maximum size of 50MB. You can then simply crop the image as necessary select the style you want the final icon to be in, select the format, convert, and then download.
You have the option to download the icon in PNG, ICO for Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7, as a Favicon or a custom resolution.
Web app icons, computer app icons and favicons
Pros
Cons
ICOConverter does not have many reviews online. But there was one user on Slashdot who found the quality of the icons made on ICOConvert to be good.
On to the next one on our list of icon makers.
SoftOrbits Icon Maker Software is one of the OG types of icon makers out there. This is a program designed for creating graphic icons. And as far as icon makers go, this is a very good choice. It boasts a user-friendly interface and a variety of tools for crafting high-quality images.
The software needs to be downloaded and set up on your computer to use it.
You can use it to create icons from scratch, Windows, iOS, and Android icons from images, cursor icons from images, and even batch-create icons on its editor.
The process for creating icons varies depending on whether you want to make an icon from scratch or from an image.
If you were to make an icon from scratch then you’d have to use the various design tools to do it. But if you have an image that you need to convert to an icon, that’s fairly easy.
For example, if you want to create a Windows icon all you have to do is to just click on the Windows icon at the top of the editor and export the image from your computer to the editor. You can also select all the output formats and resolutions you need it in.
Once you’re done you can make multiple edits like color changes add texts, draw on it, etc, and save and download your file/s.
Icons can be batch-processed in various resolutions ranging from 64×64 to resolutions as small as 16×16.
Files will be downloaded in the .ICO format (the Windows supporting format for icons), PNG, JPEG, .CUR and many more relevant formats.
This icon maker is best suited for those who need to create desktop, web, and app icons for Windows, iOS, or Android applications. It also requires some design expertise if you need to create icons from scratch or edit the converted ones.
Pros
Cons
On their website, they display a 4.7-star rating out of 534 votes which is commendable.
Another user on Trustpilot claimed, “ …it’s a VITAL resource for editing/creating custom Icons” besides a few instances where it can get a little cranky.
Let’s keep going on to the next items on our list of the best icon makers.
Venngage’s Icon Maker is an excellent choice to try out. From all the icon makers on our list, this is one of the tools that offer more wholesome services. Even though the design suite is primarily for creating infographics it is also good for various other graphic design needs as well and is quite simple to use.
The best thing is that you can use the icons you make on any of the design templates they offer. The icons can be customized as necessary. You can change things like color, size, and shape as needed. What’s more, you can group icons together to make new ones.
The process is quite simple. You can pick a template from the various categories on Venngage and start using the editor to change or customize the icons plus other design elements.
Once you’re happy with the icons and the overall design, you can download it. (Downloads are only allowed for paid subscribers).
It also offers other features like sharing, embedding, and publishing. So if you need a full-on design suite that offers icon-making in the mix, then this is a great tool to use.
Venngage offers format options such as PNG, PNG HD, PDF, and PowerPoint based on the plan you choose to subscribe to.
Venngage’s icon maker is best suited for those who need icons for infographics, diagrams, charts, presentations, etc.
Pros
Cons
One user who left a review on Capterra highlights the fact that they used Venngage to create many infographics for healthcare companies. She highlights that “..displaying data in a creative way is vital” in the healthcare industry. And can all agree that icons are a great way to display data creatively.
Moving on to the next tool on our icon makers list.
HubSpot is a renowned developer and marketer offering many services along the lines of inbound marketing, sales, and CRM.
One of their Beta phase tools includes a free icon maker. And this icon maker is a helpful tool for generating icons for logos and images. You can use it to create custom icons for various use cases.
The process is no rocket science. It’s as straightforward as setting parameters for the kind of output you need including your business name, the industry you belong to, and a few other similar info.
It’ll then take you through a 6-step process where you have to choose the icon you like, the font for your business name, colors, etc.
At the end of the process, you can choose the icon and name combo that best suits your needs.
To download you will need to provide your name, email, phone number, and business website. But it’s worth it because you get an entire brand kit when you use HubSpot’s Icon Maker.
The downloaded brand kit includes your icons, logos, favicons, etc in different formats such as JPEG, PNG, SVG, and Webp. You also get a social kit where there are resolutions viable for platforms such as Facebook, CMSHub, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.
It’s best suited for those who need branding-related icons from logos to web icons like favicons.
Pros
Cons
While HubSpot as a marketing and automation tool has thousands of reviews, the Icon Maker does not have reviews to rely on.
IconGeneratorAI as the name itself denotes is an icon maker that uses AI technology. And it’s hard to beat icon makers that use AI tech. With IconGeneratorAI you can just provide a prompt and make icons.
The process requires users to describe the icon using a noun and an adjective. It advises against using single words and letters as the AI won’t generate accurate results for those.
Users must next select colors, the AI model between Dalle 2 (1 credit) or Dalle 3 (2 credits), and the style of the icon. There are around 24 styles to choose from.
On the free try, you get only 1 credit which equates to 1 icon. For more icons, you’d have to buy more credits.
The free download comes in PNG format and is an icon in HD in the resolution of 1024×1024.
IconGeneratorAI is best for those with a budget, who need quick icons for websites, apps, and brands in general in good quality without having to rely on an illustrator or a designer.
Pros
Cons
IconGeneratorAI is featured in Product Hunt. There’s a user there that calls it a “Great product…”. He also says it, “gives easy and quick results!”
Let’s look at the last item on our list of icon makers.
Phot.AI is an AI-powered tool provider. They provide a range of AI tools from image generation to video editing. But their AI Icon Maker is a stand-out tool amongst the icon makers in our list.
Much like the previous tool, and most AI tools for that matter, generating icons is as simple as giving the right prompt.
You can describe the icon you need in the designated description box in a single word or a sentence.
Unlike the previous item on our list of icon makers, this supports negative prompts. There you can specify things you want the AI to avoid.
You can also choose from styles, art mediums, illustrations, photography, and lighting to control the output you need. And you can also choose more than one of these styles.
Other options include setting the aspect ratio of the icon or even adding an image for reference.
Download formats are only given in JPEG format in the free plan.
It’s best for those who need to create detailed icons without the need to use a graphic designer.
Pros
Cons
The software is packed with so many features that it’s challenging to find reviews focused specifically on its icon-making capabilities. But since the icon-making falls under the image generation function some reviewers claim it’s a good tool.
One user on Product Hunt calls it, “A must tool for all the digital marketers and product owners.” He also says that it helps, “Translate a complex idea into a simple image using generative AI”.
And with that, we can wrap up our list of the best icon makers you need to try in 2024.
As we promised here’s your list of the best icon makers to try. These icon makers are good for different use cases so it entirely depends on what your need is.
There are icon makers here that will help more with icons for web, desktop, and other applications. But there are also icon makers that can help you create stand-alone icons. If you need help adding such stand-alone icons into design there are unlimited design services that can help in that department. But don’t worry it won’t cost you an arm and a leg because they offer numerous benefits and only charge a flat fee for their services.
But regardless of how you wish to go about it, don’t forget what we mentioned about adding visuals to your designs. They are a crucial part of what it is to be labeled as a brand with “good” and “converting” designs.
So go ahead and try one of these icon makers for your next icon project!
