Message Icons

There's overlap, since both often use a speech-bubble shape. This page covers a broader range, including envelope-style icons for message-as-mail contexts (like an inbox or direct message list), while the Chat page focuses specifically on real-time conversational bubble icons. If you're building a live chat widget specifically, the Chat page is more targeted; for a general inbox or DM feature, this page covers more ground.

This depends on how your product frames messaging — a speech bubble suits a real-time, conversational feel (like a chat app), while an envelope suits a more asynchronous, inbox-style feel (like checking messages later, similar to email). Social platforms with DM features commonly use a paper-plane or bubble icon; more formal messaging systems often lean toward envelope.

They can look identical, and the distinction is mostly about product framing — 'mail' typically implies external email, while 'message' with the same envelope shape can represent an internal messaging system within your product. If both exist in the same app, consider differentiating visually (e.g. a different color or badge) to avoid confusing the two.

Yes, this is standard for message icons used in navigation — a small badge (often red, showing a dot or number) positioned at the top-right corner of the icon to indicate unread messages, similar to how notification bells display unread counts.

Each icon keeps the license from its source library attached to it, and terms can differ depending on which library a specific icon comes from. Check the license shown on the individual icon's page before using it commercially.

A simpler, bolder shape (whether bubble or envelope) tends to hold up better at small tab-bar sizes than a more detailed version with multiple internal lines. Previewing the icon at your actual tab-bar size is the most reliable way to confirm it stays legible.