IcoFont Vs Remix Icon Vs IcoMoon: Choosing The Right Icon System For Your WordPress Site

IcoFont vs Remix Icon vs IcoMoon comes up the moment a WordPress site starts to feel “almost done” and then you notice the icons look like they came from three different planets. We have watched teams spend an afternoon arguing over a tiny cart icon while checkout bugs sit quietly in the corner. Quick answer: pick Remix Icon when you want a consistent library fast, pick IcoFont when you want lots of free icons with simple CSS, and pick IcoMoon when you want the lightest, most controlled set you can ship.

What You Are Really Choosing (Library Vs Font Vs Pipeline)

When people compare IcoFont vs Remix Icon vs IcoMoon, they think they are picking “an icon set.“ You are really picking a delivery method and a maintenance habit.

• Remix Icon = library. You get a consistent catalog with predictable naming and easy updates.
• IcoFont = font. You download font files and drop them into your theme or plugin assets.
• IcoMoon = pipeline. You build a custom set (subset), then export fonts or SVG assets you control.

Here is why that matters: your choice affects page speed, accessibility, team workflow, and even privacy rules.

How Icons Reach The Browser: CDN, Local Files, Or SVG Sprite

Icons only help after the browser receives them. You usually ship icons in one of three ways:

1. CDN delivery (common with Remix Icon). Your pages load a hosted CSS file and the icon font or SVG assets. This can feel instant to set up, but it creates an external request you must review.
2. Local files (common with IcoFont). You host WOFF/WOFF2 (and sometimes TTF) inside WordPress. You control caching and you keep requests on your own domain.
3. SVG sprite (common with IcoMoon exports, also possible with Remix Icon SVG use). You ship only the icons you use, often as a sprite sheet or inline SVG.

Entity choice -> affects -> browser requests. More requests and bigger files -> affect -> Core Web Vitals.

Font Icons Vs SVG Icons: Performance, Accessibility, And Control

Font icons and SVG icons look similar on screen, but they behave differently.

• Font icons (IcoFont, Remix Icon font mode)
• You style them like text via font-size and color.
• They can trigger FOIT/FOUT (the “blank icon” or “swap” moment) if the font loads late.
• They can be weaker for accessibility if teams forget aria-hidden="true" on decorative icons.
• SVG icons (Remix Icon SVG options, IcoMoon SVG exports)
• You can set fill and stroke per icon and even per path.
• You can add a <title> for screen readers when the icon carries meaning.
• Subsetting often makes SVG lighter than shipping a full icon font.

Entity format -> affects -> styling control. SVG control -> improves -> branded UI polish.

IcoFont: Fast, Simple, Font-Based Icon Library

IcoFont is the “grab a big toolbox and get to work“ option. It offers 2,100+ icons across common business categories, and the core set is free. You download the font files, add the CSS, and you start using classes.

We like IcoFont when a site needs lots of utility icons fast and the design system is not strict. It works well for brochure sites, service businesses, and early-stage stores that just need the basics to look professional.

Best-Fit Use Cases For Small Business Sites

IcoFont fits well when your goals look like this:

• You need a quick icon layer for a WordPress rebuild.
• You want to host assets locally and keep the setup simple.
• You have mixed content pages (services, blog, contact) and you need many categories.

A common pattern we see: a small WooCommerce store uses icons for trust badges, shipping notes, and contact blocks. IcoFont gets that done without extra build steps.

Common Gotchas: Font Loading, FOIT/FOUT, And Styling Limits

The downside is not dramatic, but it is real.

• FOIT/FOUT risk: the browser can hide icons or swap them during font load. That jitter can make buttons feel “off.”
• Styling limits: multi-color icons and fine control get awkward with fonts.
• Custom icon mixing: teams try to add one custom logo mark and end up with a messy font build.

Next steps: if you use IcoFont, host WOFF2, preload it when needed, and mark decorative icons as hidden from assistive tech.

Remix Icon: Modern, Consistent Set With Font And SVG Options

Remix Icon is the clean, modern choice. It ships a consistent style with 3,200+ icons, designed on a 24×24 grid, and it supports both outlined and filled looks. It is also open source under Apache 2.0, which many teams like for commercial use.

In the IcoFont vs Remix Icon vs IcoMoon debate, Remix Icon usually wins when brand teams care about visual consistency but do not want a custom icon project.

Best-Fit Use Cases For Marketing Pages And UI-Rich Sites

Remix Icon fits when:

• Your site has lots of UI moments: tabs, feature grids, pricing tables, help docs.
• You need a consistent look across landing pages, blog templates, and WooCommerce flows.
• You want options: font classes now, SVG later.

Entity consistency -> affects -> perceived quality. Consistent icons -> improve -> user trust, especially on checkout and lead forms.

Common Gotchas: Bundle Size, Versioning, And Team Consistency

Remix Icon’s main downside is simple: teams ship too much.

• Bundle size: loading the whole library can add weight you do not use.
• Versioning: class names and packages change across versions, so you need a basic update plan.
• Team consistency: filled and outlined icons can drift across pages if nobody sets a rule.

If you pick Remix Icon, write one internal rule: “Use outline icons on content pages: use filled icons only for active states.“ That rule stops small visual chaos from spreading.

IcoMoon: Build Your Own Subset And Ship Only What You Use

IcoMoon is not just a library. It is a build tool that lets you select icons from packs, import your own SVGs, and export a custom font or SVG set. That is why we call it a pipeline.

In IcoFont vs Remix Icon vs IcoMoon, IcoMoon usually wins when performance and brand control matter more than convenience.

Best-Fit Use Cases For Performance, Branding, And Design Systems

IcoMoon fits when:

• You want to ship only 30 icons, not 3,000.
• You need a custom brand mark icon set that matches your UI.
• You run multiple sites and want one shared icon system.

Entity subsetting -> reduces -> payload size. Smaller payload -> improves -> page speed, especially on mobile.

Common Gotchas: Workflow Discipline, Licensing, And Asset Governance

IcoMoon is powerful, but it demands habits.

• Workflow discipline: every new icon means someone must update the project, re-export, and commit assets.
• Licensing checks: icon packs can have different terms. Your legal team may care.
• Asset governance: teams lose the “source” IcoMoon project file and then nobody can rebuild the set.

Here is what we do: we store the IcoMoon project file in the repo, we name icons with a prefix, and we keep a changelog. Boring? Yes. It saves you later.

How To Choose For WordPress And WooCommerce (A Practical Checklist)

Let’s break it down with a checklist you can use on a real WordPress build. Pick the option that matches how your team works, not what looks cool on a GitHub page.

Decision Factors: Speed, Visual Style, Accessibility, And Maintenance

Ask these questions:

1. Do you need consistency across many pages? If yes, Remix Icon usually fits.
2. Do you need lots of categories fast? If yes, IcoFont can work.
3. Do you care about shipping the lightest possible set? If yes, IcoMoon.
4. Do icons carry meaning or act as labels? If yes, favor SVG so you can add accessible text.
5. Who will maintain it? A solo founder needs fewer steps. A team can handle an IcoMoon pipeline.

Entity maintenance -> affects -> long-term cost. Fewer rebuild steps -> reduce -> broken UI surprises.

Implementation Notes: Theme, Page Builder, And Plugin Compatibility

WordPress gives you a few clean paths:

• Theme or child theme: enqueue icon CSS in functions.php, then use classes in templates.
• Page builders (Elementor, Divi, Bricks): many support custom icon fonts or SVG uploads. Test in staging.
• WooCommerce: icons show up in add-to-cart buttons, notices, mini-cart, and account menus. Keep contrast high and do not rely on icon-only meaning.

If you want more WordPress-specific guidance, these pages on our site help:

• WordPress maintenance services for ongoing updates and asset hygiene
• WordPress SEO services for speed and Core Web Vitals tuning
• WooCommerce solutions when your store UI needs tighter control

(Yes, we keep the links plain and useful. No weird detours.)

Privacy, Compliance, And Risk Controls (Especially In Regulated Industries)

Icons sound harmless until a compliance officer asks, “Why does this page call a third-party domain?“ That question matters in healthcare, legal, finance, and government work.

If you use a CDN for Remix Icon, you create an external request that can expose IP address and user agent data to that provider. Your policy team may treat that as a vendor relationship.

What we recommend:

• Prefer local hosting for regulated industries. Local files reduce third-party exposure.
• Document the source and license for the icon set. Keep it with your theme docs.
• Use staging and change logs. Icon updates can change glyph mappings in fonts.
• Keep humans in the loop for any icon that implies meaning like “secure,“ “verified,“ or “HIPAA.“ Those claims trigger legal review.

Entity third-party request -> affects -> privacy posture. Local hosting -> reduces -> external data sharing.

If you want formal guidance to cite in internal docs, start with:

• Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations (NIST SP 800-53)
• FTC guidance on endorsements and testimonials

Those sources do not mention icon fonts directly, but they frame the risk questions your team will ask.

Conclusion

If you remember one thing from the IcoFont vs Remix Icon vs IcoMoon debate, make it this: you are picking a habit, not just a file.

• Pick Remix Icon when you want a consistent set that helps marketing pages and product UI look sharp with minimal fuss.
• Pick IcoFont when you want a big free set, simple CSS, and local hosting without a build step.
• Pick IcoMoon when you want tight performance, brand control, and you can commit to a small build workflow.

If you want, we can review your WordPress or WooCommerce pages and tell you which path keeps your icon system clean, fast, and easy to maintain. We do it the same way we approach everything else: map the workflow first, then pick the tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between IcoFont vs Remix Icon vs IcoMoon?

IcoFont vs Remix Icon vs IcoMoon is really a choice between a font library, a consistent icon library, and a build pipeline. Remix Icon gives a ready-made, consistent catalog. IcoFont is a downloadable icon font you host. IcoMoon lets you subset and export only the icons you need.

Which is best for WordPress or WooCommerce: IcoFont vs Remix Icon vs IcoMoon?

For WordPress and WooCommerce, choose based on workflow. Remix Icon is best when you need consistent UI icons across many templates fast. IcoFont works when you want lots of free icons with simple CSS and local hosting. IcoMoon is best when performance and brand control matter most.

How do CDN icons vs local files vs SVG sprites affect page speed and Core Web Vitals?

CDNs are quick to set up but add third-party requests. Local files keep requests on your own domain and let you control caching. SVG sprites (often via IcoMoon exports) can be fastest because you ship only what you use. Fewer requests and smaller payloads usually improve Core Web Vitals.

Are font icons or SVG icons better for accessibility and styling control?

SVG icons typically give better accessibility and control. With SVG, you can add a title for meaningful icons and style fill or stroke precisely, even per path. Font icons are styled like text but can cause FOIT/FOUT if the font loads late, and they’re easy to misuse without aria-hidden on decorative icons.

When should I use IcoMoon instead of Remix Icon or IcoFont?

Use IcoMoon when you want to ship the lightest possible icon set and keep strict brand control. It’s ideal if you only need dozens of icons, want to import custom SVGs, or run multiple sites with one shared system. The tradeoff is workflow discipline: re-exporting, versioning, and governance.

Do icon CDNs create privacy or compliance risks in regulated industries?

Yes. If you load icons from a CDN (often done with Remix Icon), the page makes an external request that can expose IP address and user-agent data to that provider. In healthcare, finance, or government, that may be treated as a vendor risk. Local hosting and documented licensing reduce exposure.