14 GIF Icons and Icon Sets in GIF File Format

5 Best GIF Icons and Icon Sets in GIF File Format 2026

GIF Icons Sets to Download

GIF icons are very popular across the web. Their ability to render your content more pleasing to view makes them one of the first elements to add to a website, presentation, mobile app, and so on.

Other than their appealing functionality, icons can also enhance the user experience.

For instance, they are universal. This means they're understood and recognized globally. People with other cultures and who speak other languages can easily understand the icon's meanings without further information. Thus, by using icons, you'll make your content accessible worldwide, with no need for translations.

Icons can also improve the readability of your content. As nobody likes to see and read walls of text, you can split them into smaller parts placing icons in between. This way, users will be more pleased to go through the text and spend more time interacting with your content or digital asset.

These advantages and many others make it clear that using icons is beneficial for you or your business and the users.

However, to perform their functions the best, the creation of icons requires expertise in design and hands-on experience using professional editing software.

Thus, if you're a beginner or inexperienced, buying ready-to-use icons can be a better solution for your necessities that will allow you to save time and money.

GIF icons at TemplateMonster

The TemplateMonster marketplace offers a wide variety of GIF icon sets designed by experts from all around the world.

Every set presents multiple icons representing different objects, ideas, and actions related to the same topic or industry. Thus, whatever the industry you or your business operate in, you'll find a corresponding set of graphics.

To make the research more straightforward, you can also filter the results by price, file format, compatibility, colors, topic, and rating.

All the icon sets are ready to use. However, if you don't find the design that best represents and fits your brand identity or personal preferences, most icons are also customizable and editable. Thus, you can use a compatible editing program or online tools and align their style according to your necessities.

GIF icon topics

As aforementioned, the objects or ideas the GIF icons can represent can be related to different industries and topics. The following are some of the most common you can encounter across the marketplace:

• data;
• security;
• medical;
• industrial;
• business;
• people;
• nature;
• food;
• game;
• sports.

Where to place icons

As for the other formats, also GIFs are versatile elements. You can place them wherever you like or need them the most. For example, you can add GIFs in Google Slides or insert them into PowerPoint.

If they're not compatible with the intended use, you can use a free online converter and convert them into another more suitable file format.

However, some of the most common placements include:

• websites;
• landing pages;
• social media posts;
• ebooks;
• mobile apps;
• brochures;
• Instagram stories highlight covers;
• presentations.

How to animate GIF icons

Images are the basis for icons. Then, they can be easily animated using some editing programs or online tools. The following are some of the most popular that you can use:

• Photoshop;
• Adobe After Effects;
• GIPHY.

GIF icons advantages and disadvantages

GIF files present many advantages over the other formats. However, like with every other format, they can also present some disadvantages that, based on your necessities, can make you choose another one.

We listed below some of the most relevant advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages

Small file size

GIF files are very small if compared to the others. Because of this, you're free to add them wherever you'd like or need to, as they won't slow down nor ruin the overall performance of your website or digital asset. To reduce even more the file size, you can also consider compressing the GIFs.

Professional looking graphics

GIFs support a transparent background. As images and videos with a transparent background look more professional and nice to see, users will appreciate them more, and their experience will be more enjoyable and memorable.

Convey messages better

GIFs can convey messages better than other types of images. Opposed to static images, they show emotions and movements that draw users' attention more easily. Plus, you can use GIFs to explain processes and make it for the users to follow them.

Supported by all web browsers

All browsers can view GIFs. Thus, whatever the browser the users use, they'll be able to see your GIF files.

Disadvantages

Limited colors

GIFs have a color palette of 256 colors. This means the icons with this format aren't rich in details nor characterized by in-depth colors. If not created correctly and with professional software, they may also look pixelated or blocky.

They can load your website or document

Although GIFs are small file sizes, you may slow down or ruin the overall performance of your website, document, or any other digital asset when using too many. Thus, if you need to add many representations, it is recommended to choose another type of file format you can compress and reduce in size, losing no visual quality.

No editing and customization

Once the animation has been coded into the GIF file, you can't edit the animated GIF. Thus, make sure the final image is set before putting it into action. Otherwise, you may start all over again because of minor adjustments.

Internet connectivity is important

Some of the animated GIFs can depend on internet speed. Unfortunately, this means that when the internet connection lags a bit, the icons will not load right away, and they'll probably display with a poor quality visual version.

Best practices for choosing icons

It would help if you chose icons keeping into consideration some relevant details. Then, by putting them into practice, you'll present the users with a tidy and organized layout, other than offering a more pleasant and aesthetic design.

Below are listed some of the most important.

Simple design

The first thing to look at is the design. It must be as simple as possible, with clear and well-defined shapes and colors. Avoid complex designs which may raise doubts in the users' minds.

Brand consistency

Especially when choosing among ready-made icons, you should keep into consideration the design consistency. Colors, shapes, and overall designs should be like the ones you used across your content. If not, you should at least edit and make them more suitable.

Immediately understandable

What's most important about the icons you choose is their understandability. Users should be able to understand their meaning within a few seconds; otherwise, they may lose interest and abandon your content. To make sure this won't happen, you can test icons for recognizability. If tested people take over five seconds to guess the right meaning, then you should use another type of icon.

Choose a set with enough icons

If you're looking for more than a single icon, you should consider the number of icons that every set includes. If there aren't enough icons, you'll need to choose them from distinct sets with different designs. As a result, your content will look unprofessional and unorganized.

Right size and format

When choosing icons, check the availability of the sizes and formats. For certain uses, you may need a specific format. For example, for web uses, the SVG format is the most appropriate. As well as for the format, also the size plays an important role. This will determine whether you'll be able to make it proportionate to the other elements of your content or not.

Best practices for using GIF icons

When placing GIF icons to your content, you must pay attention to some important details that will ensure a better user experience.

Below, we listed some of the best practices to follow.

Place GIF icons strategically

As icons can be a source of distraction for the users, place them in the right position. However, they shouldn't obscure other more important elements of your content.

You should place icons where you'd like to draw attention. Thus, choose those spots you'd like users to notice more.

Make them of the right size

Another important consideration is referred to the size you choose for the icons. They should be proportionate to the other elements present on your website or document. You can make them bigger than less relevant information, but always smaller than other important details. Consider choosing a different size for every different screen format (mobile, tablet, desktop). This is why you should ensure the best user experience regardless of the device the users use to access your content.

Make sure users understand the GIF purpose and meaning

Sometimes, users may find it difficult to understand the purpose or meaning of a GIF. Thus, you better add some information that will help them. For example, you can add a text label summarizing the purpose with two or three words. Then, if possible, write a few lines of additional informational words below or next to the text label and the GIF. This way, you'll clear any doubt or uncertainty from the users' minds.

Leave enough space between GIF icons

Having too close GIF icons may look unprofessional and messy. Too many animations together and close to each other could confuse the users and make them leave. This is the reason why you should consider leaving enough space between them.

Try not to overdo it

Despite GIF icons being lightweight files, you may slow down your website or load your document when adding too many. More than when adding too many things, your content may look messy, unorganized, and unpleasant to see and interact with.

Thus, make sure to use GIF icons only to highlight some important processes or concepts of your content without exaggerating.