Remix Icon vs Octicons (2026)
When building modern web applications, choosing the right icon library can significantly impact both your application's aesthetic and its performance. In this comprehensive comparison, we pit Remix Icon against Octicons to help you make an informed decision for your React, Next.js, Vue, or Svelte project.
Together, these libraries represent some of the most popular open-source UI assets available today. Remix Icon boasts an impressive 3,229 icons (licensed under Apache 2.0), while Octicons counters with 280 highly-polished icons (licensed under MIT).
Below, we dive into the technical details: bundle size impacts, tree-shaking capabilities, TypeScript support, explicit commercial licensing rules, and real-world implementation examples.
TECHNICAL FEATURE COMPARISON
When comparing Remix Icon and Octicons, developer experience features like TypeScript definitions and tree-shaking support are just as important as the icon count. Review the matrix below to see how they stack up.
LICENSING & COMMERCIAL USE DEEP-DIVE
Legal compliance is critical when selecting assets for a commercial software project. Understanding the nuances between the Apache 2.0 license used by Remix Icon and the MIT license used by Octicons will ensure your project remains risk-free.
Remix Icon uses the Apache 2.0 License, which allows free commercial use, modification, and distribution. It also includes an express patent grant. You must include a copy of the license and provide attribution when redistributing original files.
Octicons uses the MIT License — one of the most permissive open-source licenses. You can use it in any commercial project, modify the icons, and redistribute them freely. The only requirement is preserving the copyright notice in copies of the software.
PERFORMANCE & BUNDLE SIZE
Modern front-end frameworks like React and Next.js heavily penalize large JavaScript bundles. This makes tree-shaking—the ability of a bundler to remove unused code—a crucial factor when choosing between Remix Icon and Octicons.
- Remix Icon Performance: Note that Remix Icon does not natively support tree-shaking out of the box in all environments. This means you must be careful with your import syntax to avoid accidentally bundling all 3,229 icons.
- Octicons Performance: Similarly, Octicons is fully tree-shakable. Your Webpack or Turbopack build step will strip out any unused icons, ensuring your First Contentful Paint (FCP) metrics remain exceptional.
REACT IMPORT SYNTAX & INTEGRATION
Here is how you actually write the code to import and use each library in a React or Next.js component. Both libraries offer distinct APIs and integration patterns.
import 'remixicon/fonts/remixicon.css'
export default function App() {
return <i className='ri-home-line'></i>
}import { RepoIcon } from '@primer/octicons-react'
export default function App() {
return <RepoIcon size={16} />
}FINAL VERDICT: WHICH SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?
Still undecided? Here is our definitive breakdown of when to use Remix Icon versus when to opt for Octicons.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Which is better: Remix Icon or Octicons?
Choosing between Remix Icon and Octicons depends entirely on your project's technical requirements and design aesthetic. Remix Icon provides 3,229 icons and is notable for 2800+ icons, while Octicons offers 280 icons and is best known for designed on strict 16px and 24px grid systems to prevent rendering blurriness.
Are Remix Icon and Octicons completely free to use?
Yes. Both libraries are highly permissive open-source projects. Remix Icon is licensed under Apache 2.0, and Octicons is licensed under MIT. Both licenses permit free commercial usage, modification, and redistribution in both personal and enterprise projects.
Do these libraries support TypeScript natively?
No, Remix Icon does not natively provide TypeScript typings out of the box. Similarly, Octicons offers robust native TypeScript support for an improved developer experience.
OUR RECOMMENDATION
- Need a library with 3,229 icons and line/fill style options
- Prioritize icon variety over bundle optimization
- Are working with a JavaScript-only project
- Are building with react, vue, nextjs
- Need a library with 280 icons and outline style options
- Want tree-shakable imports to keep bundles small
- Require first-class TypeScript support in your codebase
- Are building with react, vue, nextjs, jekyll
Still unsure? Try our interactive quiz to get a personalized recommendation, or search 350,000+ icons from both libraries side by side. You can also check our live stats dashboard for real-time download and GitHub star trends.
NPM INSTALLATION COMMANDS
npm install remixicon
npm install @primer/octicons-react