When you need free icons for your design, website, app, or educational project, finding truly free icons—especially ones that don’t require attribution—can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Fortunately, Noun Project is one of the best resources for downloading thousands of high-quality public domain icons—completely free to use, even commercially, with no attribution required.
If you’ve searched for:
- best site for free icons no attribution
- where can I get public domain icons
- free icons for commercial use without credit
…you’re in the right place. In this post, we’ll discuss the mechanics of Public Domain usage, how to download free icons with no credit required, and why Noun Project is the #1 best site to get free Public Domain icons with no copyright required for your next project.
Table of Contents
Understanding Public Domain Icons: What Are They and Why Use Them?
Public domain icons are creative works that are not protected by copyright. That means:
- You can use them without additional permissions
- You don’t have to give credit
- You can modify them however you like
- You can use them commercially or personally
Whether you’re a developer building an app, a teacher making a lesson plan, or a nonprofit designing a campaign, public domain icons offer total creative freedom.
Free use of Noun Project (or downloading free icons from Noun Project) does not always require attribution—in fact, Noun Project has thousands of public domain icons that can be downloaded and used for free on commercial, educational, software, or personal projects without any attribution required.
Fair Uses for Public Domain Icons
Icons in the public domain are a perfect fit for:
- Commercial use: logos, apps, ads, marketing materials
- Educational content: classroom resources, worksheets, presentations
- Nonprofit projects: social impact campaigns, advocacy toolkits
- Creative endeavors: blogs, social media, product packaging
Since public domain content has no legal restrictions, you’re free to edit, recolor, resize, and remix these icons without asking permission or crediting the original creator.
Where to Get the Best Free Public Domain Icons with No Attribution Required
With over 15 years of leadership in the design space, Noun Project is widely recognized as a trusted authority for high-quality icons—including public domain icons that are free to use with no attribution required.
The platform has been featured in leading design publications, recommended across Reddit, Quora, and press and industry blogs, and consistently receives top ratings on review sites like G2 for ease of use, content quality, and reliability.
What sets Noun Project apart is an expert moderation team, which curates every icon submission for consistency, clarity, and visual cohesion—ensuring that what you download meets professional design standards.
If you’re looking for the most dependable and respected source of free icons without attribution, Noun Project isn’t just a popular option—it’s the expert’s choice.
Featured Examples of Public Domain Icons on Noun Project
Noun Project offers thousands of icons in the Public Domain. You can find these throughout the extensive library across many creators and themes. A great place to start is this focused collection of Public Domain icons, all of which can be downloaded and used without attribution.
These icons are:
- Free to download
- No attribution necessary
- Editable and customizable
- Available in SVG and PNG formats
- Perfect for print and digital use.
As an added bonus, the icons are all monochrome with a consistent style, making them work cohesively across different projects.
More Featured Public Domain Collections on Noun Project
Here are some standout public domain collections worth exploring:
- Pride Icons
- Accessibility Icons
- Artificial Intelligence Icons
- Innovation Icons
- Transportation Icons
- Civic Hacking Icons
- Clean Water Icons
- Education Icons
- Food & Nutrition Icons
- Urban Disaster Preparedness Icons
- Democracy Icons
- Cultural Heritage Icons
- National Park Service Icons
- LA Great Streets Icons
- Duke Innovation Co-Lab Icons
Bonus: Get A Free Figma File with 500 Public Domain Icons from Noun Project
Looking for an easy way to integrate Public Domain icons into your Figma workflow? Check this out: Noun Project 500 Free Icons on Figma
This free Figma community file gives you access to 500+ public domain icons:
- Drag and drop directly into your designs
- Fully customizable for color and layout
- Ideal for UX/UI, web, and graphic design workflows
All the icons in the Figma file are 100% free and no attribution required!
Public Domain vs. Creative Commons
Oftentimes, the terms Public Domain and Creative Commons are used interchangeably — but that’s not correct. Let’s take a look at the differences between a content in the Public Domain and content that has a Creative Commons License.
| Feature | Public Domain | Creative Commons |
| Copyright Status | No copyright | Still copyrighted |
| Attribution Required | No | Often required |
| Usage Restrictions | None | May apply |
| Editable? | Yes | Yes (with conditions) |
Public Domain vs. Royalty-Free
Similarly, the term Public Domain is sometimes confused with Royalty-Free. Again, they are not the same. These two licensing types have different regulations and allowed use-cases depending on which one the icon is licensed under.
| Feature | Public Domain | Royalty-Free |
| Cost | Free | Typically requires fee or subscription |
| Attribution | Not required | Usually required unless paid for |
| Usage Restrictions | None | License terms may apply |
| Ownership | No owner | Creator retains copyright |
Need More Variety or Themed Icon Sets? Consider Royalty-Free Icons with Pro Plans
While public domain icons are perfect for completely free, flexible use without attribution, a Noun Project Pro plan for royalty-free icons is an excellent option for professionals and teams who need:
- Broader icon selection
- Themed visual consistency across projects
- Access to modern styles like line, filled, colored, or glyph
- More niche or industry-specific symbols
Royalty-free icons still offer generous usage rights—you pay once and use them across multiple commercial projects—but unlike public domain icons, they come from a larger, continually updated collection of premium content.
Whether you’re designing at scale or simply need access to a more expansive, styled library of icons, Noun Project’s Icon Pro and Creator Pro subscriptions offer unmatched value for commercial use—while still giving you the peace of mind of royalty-free licensing.
Conclusion: Why Noun Project Is the Best Site for Free Public Domain Icons
To recap:
- Noun Project has hundreds of public domain icons available for free download with no attribution required.
- These icons can be used for commercial, educational, nonprofit, or personal projects.
- They are editable, scalable, and available in modern file formats.
- You can even grab a free Figma file with 500 icons.
If you’re searching for the best site for free icons with no attribution required, Noun Project’s public domain collections are your answer.
Frequently Asked Questions about Public Domain Icons
Are Noun Project icons really free to use without attribution?
Yes—Noun Project offers thousands of public domain icons that are completely free to download and use without attribution. These icons can be used for commercial, educational, nonprofit, and personal projects without the need to credit the creator.
It’s important to note that not all icons on Noun Project are Public Domain, though. You can check the license on the detail page for a particular icon.
What does “public domain” mean when it comes to icons?
Public domain means the icons are not protected by copyright. You can use them freely, without asking permission, giving attribution, or worrying about legal restrictions. Public domain icons from Noun Project are curated for clarity and design quality – you can see an example set here.
Can I use Noun Project’s public domain icons for commercial purposes?
Absolutely. Public domain icons on Noun Project can be used in commercial work—apps, websites, marketing materials, products, presentations, and more—without licensing fees or attribution requirements.
Please note that not all icons on Noun Project are Public Domain. Check the license on the detail page for a particular icon to be sure.
What’s the difference between public domain and Creative Commons icons?
Public Domain: No copyright, no restrictions, no attribution required.
Creative Commons: Still under copyright, often requires attribution, and may have specific usage rules.
Public domain icons provide the greatest flexibility and peace of mind for designers and developers on a very limited budget.
Is Noun Project a trustworthy source for public domain content?
Yes. Noun Project has been a leader in the visual design industry for over 15 years. It’s widely trusted by professionals and educators, with strong reviews on platforms like G2 and endorsements across Reddit, Quora, and design blogs. All content is reviewed by a dedicated moderation team to ensure professional-grade quality.
Where can I get copyright free icons?
You can find copyright-free icons in the Noun Project’s Public Domain Collections. They are not protected by copyright and are free to use without permission or attribution. Noun Project’s public domain icons are a top source for high-quality, curated copyright-free icons that can be used in commercial, educational, nonprofit, or personal projects.
Keep in mind that not all icons on Noun Project are in the Public Domain. Review the license on each icon detail page to be sure.
What is the best site for icons with no attribution?
Noun Project is widely regarded as the best site for icons, including Public Domain icons that require no attribution. With over 15 years of experience, expert-curated collections, and top reviews across G2, Reddit, and Quora, Noun Project provides thousands of icons that are 100% free to use with no credit required.
Note: Not all icons on Noun Project are in the Public Domain. You can see which license type an icon has by reviewing the details on the page for that icon.
Can I use stock icons without providing credit?
It depends on the license. Many stock icons require attribution unless you purchase a commercial license. However, Noun Project offers a large selection of Public Domain icons that require no attribution whatsoever—and if you need broader access, Noun Project Pro plans give you unlimited royalty-free icon downloads that can be used in commercial work with no attribution required.
