Font Awesome vs Open Iconic: What are the differences?

1. 1. Size of Icon Library: Font Awesome has a larger library of icons compared to Open Iconic. It offers over 7,500 icons, while Open Iconic has around 220 icons. This means that Font Awesome provides a wider range of icon options for designers and developers to choose from.

2. 2. Icon Styles: Font Awesome offers both solid and regular icon styles, allowing users to select the appropriate style for their design needs. On the other hand, Open Iconic focuses solely on providing icons in a minimalist, monochrome style. This means that Font Awesome offers more versatility in terms of visual styles.

3. 3. Accessibility Features: Font Awesome pays more attention to accessibility features by providing ARIA tags, which can enhance the accessibility of icons for users utilizing assistive technologies. Open Iconic, however, does not have built-in ARIA support. This makes Font Awesome a more accessible choice for web developers who prioritize inclusivity.

4. 4. Community Support: Font Awesome has a larger and more active community of users compared to Open Iconic. This means that there are more resources, tutorials, and forums available for Font Awesome, making it easier for developers to find help and support when working with the icon library.

5. 5. Integration Options: Font Awesome offers integration with popular web frameworks like Bootstrap and Foundation, making it easier to incorporate icons directly into these frameworks. Open Iconic, on the other hand, does not have the same level of integration options with popular frameworks. This can be advantageous for developers already using these frameworks as it simplifies the process of utilizing icons.

6. 6. Licensing: Font Awesome offers both free and paid options, with its icons available under the MIT License. Open Iconic, on the other hand, is completely open source and available under the SIL Open Font License. This means that Open Iconic may be a more suitable choice for developers seeking a fully open source solution without any licensing restrictions.

In Summary, Font Awesome offers a larger icon library, multiple icon styles, better accessibility features, more community support, integration with popular frameworks, and a flexible licensing structure compared to Open Iconic.