More and more illustrators are incorporating typography into
their illustrations. To aid in this there are many online sources for fonts that
can be used as reference or downloaded for use. Years ago
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| © 2014 Don Arday. |
The listing below is by no means a complete one as new sites
are frequently going live online by font providers. Included are sites offering
freeware and shareware fonts, fonts for purchase, fonts available by
subscription, limited application font sites, and a few type resources.
Free And Shareware Font Sites
Fonts2u
The fonts at Fonts2u are grouped into particular categories
mainly based on the font appearance or style. Users can find the required font
either by browsing the relevant font category or by using the extended search
system. The latter makes it possible to search for a particular font by
specifying font category, type, target computer platform as well as its
physical characteristics, such as width, weight, special glyphs, character maps
in any combination. Every font is supplied with the font details page, where
all the information on the font, including its author, type of license,
physical characteristics, etc. The functionality of the site allows users to
download available computer fonts, upload the fonts of their own authorship
into this online database, and convert font files from one format to another. Fonts
available at Fonts2u.com are
either GNU/GPL, Freeware, free for Personal use, Donationware, Shareware or
Demo. Read the information shown in the details area of each font to avoid any
confusion.
Being an online archive of the fonts for free downloading,
Fonts2u also offers opportunities for font designers to upload their works to
the database. The list of instruments or software applications for font
creating, editing, and managing are provided at the site. Free and
proprietary font editors are included in the list.
The registration on Fonts2u is free. Membership gives users
access to additional resources and functions, such as fonts rating and
commenting.
Dafont
Dafont offers a large selection of unique fonts in lots of
specific categories. Selecting a font is easy with the category specific list
provided. The fonts presented on the Dafont website are their authors'
property, and are freeware, shareware, demo versions or public domain. The
license mentioned above the download button is just an indication. Look
at the readme files in the archives or check the indicated author's website for
details, and contact him if in doubt.
Urban Fonts
Urban Fonts features an amazing collection of free
fonts, premium fonts and free dingbats. With over 8,000 freeware
fonts, you've come to the best place to download fonts! Many fonts on this
site are freeware, some are shareware, or linkware. Some fonts provided are
trial versions of full versions and may not allow embedding unless a commercial
license is purchased or may contain a limited character set. Review any files
included with your download, which will usually include information on the
usage and licenses of the fonts. If no information is provided, please use at
your own discretion or contact the author directly. Although many fonts are
freeware or shareware, Urban Fonts also offers a selection of “Premium” fonts
for a fee of $15 and up.
With Urban Fonts you can customize the look of the font previews
by typing text in the input text field provided in all the font pages, or
choose the AsBbCc button to switch to an alphabetical view.
The Names button switches your preview back to the name of the font.
The colors of the text and background can be easily changed using the built in
color picker.
California Fonts
California Fonts has 20,000 free fonts to browse and
download. Unlike other font sites, California Fonts don't have to download
a font, then unzip it and then move it to its final destination. All the
fonts and types on this site are pre-packaged and are executed and installed as
an application, a few clicks, and the downloaded free font is ready
to be used. Instructions on how to use these fonts as web fonts are
included to easily integrate them into website projects. California Fonts offers
self-extractable and installable fonts with a Mac OSX free font
manager that can be download and used without charge.
Most impressive, California Fonts can provide a list of the
currently installed fonts on you own computer, and they are displayed in sample
form! Check which fonts you currently have installed on your computer.
Font Squirrel
Find quality freeware fonts that are licensed for commercial
work at fontsquirrel.com. The fonts are hand-selected typestyles and designs
that are presenting in an easy-to-use format. In addition to freeware fonts,
Font Squirrel also has what they call “Almost Free Fonts”, which are available
for purchase. Read the license on each font before you use them. Some
licenses may allow more uses than others. Font Squirrel marks fonts for
different common uses, such as commercial and embedding, by using a set of
symbols to indicate a font’s usage status.
Fontstruct
FontStruct is a free font-building tool sponsored by
the world’s leading retailer of digital type, FontShop.
FontStruct easily and quickly lets fonts be created by constructing
letters out of geometrical shapes, which are arranged in a grid pattern, like
tiles or bricks. ‘FontStructions’ are created using the ‘FontStructor’ font
editor. Once done building, FontStruct generates
high-quality TrueType fonts, ready to use in any Mac or Windows application.
Font creations can also be shared by "FontStructions" creators.
Explore the Gallery of
fonts made for other FontStruct users and download them or even copy them
and make your own variations. You can also use the FontStruct widget
to show your FontStructions on your own website or blog.
Acid Fonts
Acid Fonts has many categories free fonts to browse through
with each listing the number of fonts it contains. Fonts can also be searched
for by keyword. The font preview is simplified and there isn’t a character map view.
Abstract Fonts
Abstract Fonts has over 12,000 fonts uploaded by designers
all over the world. Offerings can be browsed by category, designer, most recent,
most popular, and by language. Abstract Fonts Registered members get the added
benefit of being able to download up to 100 fonts in one zip file. Registration
is completely free and isn't requited to download fonts.
1001 Free Fonts
1001 Free Fonts first opened its doors in December 1998 and
has since grown to become the most popular free fonts archive online. We
receive more than 50,000 visitors daily and have received 150,000,000 visitors
since 1998. Over 3,000,000,000 free fonts have been downloaded since 1998. In
addition to free fonts, a 10,000 font package is available for download for
$19.95.
Font Space
Over 23,000 free fonts are available on FontSpace through designers
out there who share their fonts for free. FontSpace uses Fontologist,
which adds many rare fonts from the late 90's. All the fonts are checked
periodically to ensure they are freeware, shareware, or under an open source
license, but if in doubt, it is advised to contact the designer of the font for
correct licensing.
FontSpace makes it easier to find fonts with generous 100%
free commercial-use licenses. Just click "Filter Options" and check
the commercial-use box shown with the font.
Font River
Font River's goal is to provide visitors with free
downloadable fonts and dingbats for both Windows and Mac. This includes
offering useful content, easy font finding features and a huge selection of
original typefaces and font families organized by categories. All fonts can be
downloaded for free, certain usage restrictions may apply in respect to the
different font licenses. Some fonts, although they can be used privately, are
not free for commercial use. The FontRiver.com Typeface Collection was
retrieved from various sources on the web. All fonts are their authors'
property, and are freeware, shareware, demo versions or public domain.
Search Free Fonts
One of the Largest Free Font Selections on the web with over
13,000 free fonts to find the unique font for your document to make an
attractive and successful statement. SearchFreeFonts.com. makes finding these
high quality fonts easier. The SearchFreeFonts.com collection contains
over 13,000 free fonts and over 91,000 commercial fonts available for
a fee.
Font Freak
Font Freak is one of the largest and most visited freeware
and shareware font sites on the net. Here you can download free fonts - well
over 9000 of them - as well as purchasing over 125,000 commercial fonts. Thousands
of free fonts can be found to download from over 400 different designers. Most
fonts have a PC and Mac version. The fonts are sorted alphabetically for easy
downloading. There are free cursive fonts, calligraphy fonts, cool fonts,
graffiti fonts. All dingbats are in true type format. New fonts are added
daily. Font software can be obtained by visiting the software section for the
latest updates of font editors and font managers available for download with free
trial versions available.
Open Font Library
The Open Font Library promotes freedom as it relates to the
use of type. All the fonts that appear on the site come with the freedom to
use, study, share and remix them. The site also includes web fonts that can be
effortlessly included on your website's design, thanks to the wonderful
features of CSS. Open Font Library features a “Guidebook”, a how-to
guide for anything and everything regarding the Open Font Library. For those interested in
knowing more about creating open fonts, there is technical information and
creative tips on how to design your own typeface can be found.
Discover Fonts
Like Acid Fonts, Discover Fonts lists many categories free
fonts to browse through with each listing the number of fonts it contains.
Fonts can also be searched for by keyword. The font preview is simplified and
there isn’t a character map view. The fonts shown range from amateur
submissions to professional ones.
ReFont
Like Acid Fonts and Discover Fonts, ReFont lists many
categories free fonts to browse through with each listing the number of fonts
it contains. However ReFont contains over 30,000 fonts. Fonts can also be
searched for through a browser link back to ReFont. The fonts presented are
their authors' property, and are either freeware, shareware, demo versions, or
public domain. The license mentioned above the download button is just an
indication. Review the readme-files in the zips or check the indicated author's
website for details, and contact him or her if in doubt. The site has tools for
font creation, font management and more.
Fontsy
Fontsy offers free fonts for use in designs or other
documents, print media and so on. Fontsy.com currently has 14708 free fonts. A
custom preview can be created of each font of interest in different sizes to see
how every character looks. Users can also rate fonts. Every font is categorized
into one of 81 categories. In addition to free fonts, Fontsy also has font
packs of 2,000, 5,000, and 15,000 fonts available for purchase.
Font Spring
Font Spring is a font license distributor who’s goal is to
make buying fonts easy. Font licensing can be so complex that licensors can't
just focus on design, they have to navigate cumbersome embedding permissions.
This is not the case at Font Spring. Fonts licensed from Font Spring can be used
on as many projects as needed. No annual fee. Font Spring is taking the
guesswork out of font licenses and making ethical font usage achievable by
everyone. Font Spring has partnered with many favorite font foundries including
Exljbris, Mark Simonson Studio, Canada Type, Shinntype and more.
Limited Application Font Sites
Google Fonts
Google Fonts (previously called Google Web Fonts)
is an interactive directory of free hosted application programming
interfaces for web fonts. It was launched in 2010. Google fonts contains hundreds
of free open source fonts optimized for primarily web-based use. They are
released under the SIL Open Font License 1.1, a free
software licence. The fonts are also served by Monotype’s SkyFonts,
and Adobe’s Edge Web Fonts and Typekit services. Google Fonts
provides high-quality fonts that you can include in your pages using the Google
Fonts API.
Microsoft Fonts
Microsoft provides access to downloadable fonts and links to
a variety of type resources such as meta-lists of foundries, typography forums,
type speci-fications for developing fonts, and much more. Microsoft's Typography
group researches and develops fonts and font technologies, and supports the
develop-ment of TrueType and OpenType formatted fonts by independent type
vendors. They list free font foundries and commercial foundries in a Links
section.
Free Mac Fonts
Similar to Urban Fonts with free downloading of 10,000 fonts
with one click for just $19.95, and instant and unlimited access to 10,000
fonts plus a free font manager and font catalog.
Free Mac Fonts first opened its doors in December 2002 and
has since grown to become the most popular pure free Mac OSX fonts archive
online with over 3,000 visitors daily and 1,000,000 visitors since 2002. More
that 10,000,000 free Mac OSX fonts have been download since 2002.
Pay Font Sites
Fonts.com
The Fonts.com store from Monotype offers more than 150,000
desktop and Web font products from Adobe, Linotype, Monotype, ITC, and
hundreds of others
for you to preview, purchase and download. You can also
learn about new typeface releases and discover typographic tips and techniques.
Fonts.com has limited free access, but is mainly a
subscription-based service with fees ranging from $10 to $100 per month.
Explore the world of typography with Fonts.com as your
guide. Our Learn About Fonts & Typography section is your resource for
improving your typographic acumen and keeping up with what’s new on Fonts.com
and the latest trends in visual design.
My Fonts
My Fonts is the world’s largest collection of fonts for your
project. Fonts can be identified and tried before buying. Favorite fonts can be
organized for later use and purchase.
My Fonts was established in January 1999 to create a new way
of finding, trying and buying fonts. My Fonts created the website as a showcase
of the world’s fonts available. My Fonts hosts the largest collection of fonts
ever assembled for on-line delivery, and offers easy ways to find and purchase
fonts on-line. My Fonts allows a search for fonts using any keyword you want.
Use a descriptive term such as invitations, a font name such as
Baskerville, or a foundry or designer’s name, and My Fonts returns the fonts that most closely match what
is searched for.
What The Font™, one of My Fonts’s most popular features,
lets you upload scanned images of fonts to the Web site, where What The Font
displays the closest match to your font sample.
Select a font license based on your needs. My Fonts sells desktop, web, mobile
app, eBook, and server fonts. This makes it easy to extend
designs across platforms. There is also an additional discount when multiple
license types are purchased together.
Ascender Fonts
Ascenderfonts.com has the finest, high quality fonts
available for instant download. The font experts at Monotype Imaging has a
professional grade selection of TrueType fonts and OpenType fonts from licensed
type designers and foundries. With a strong corporate emphasis, Ascender Fonts
offers a variety of license extensions for fonts used on web servers,
application servers, and enterprise-wide licenses. The Ascender type
design team has created many custom fonts for Fortune 500 companies. Our
specialty is adding logos, language support, creating new weights and styles,
and converting font formats and platforms including custom fonts & bespoke fonts.
Ascender Fonts also licenses fonts to a to developers and companies who bundle
or integrate fonts into their software products.
Adobe Typekit
Typekit is trusted by the web’s biggest sites, from The
New York Times to WordPress, Twitter, and more. Scale from our smaller
plans to millions of pageviews with our Business Plans. Typekit has thousands
of world class fonts, from old classics to new favorites fonts, and is growing.
New fonts are added all the time, so Typekit continues to get better and
better. Typekit works in all modern browsers and operating systems. Fonts are
updated as browser support and font technology evolves. Typekit selects fonts by their rendering
quality and work closely with Ourfont foundries to ensure that their fonts
meet high standards.
Typekit is a subscription service with yearly subscriptions
that range in price from $24.99 to $99.99 per month.
Ultimate Font Download
The Ultimate Font Download is the largest and best selling font collection online containing over 10,000 fonts licensed directly from award winning font designers. The Ultimate Font Download is licensed for commercial use and is perfect for scrapbooking, invitations, web design, newsletters, flyers, logos, t-shirt prints and more. Get instant and unlimited access to 10,000 fonts today. Font collection contains thousands of exclusive fonts licensed for commercial and personal use including a font manager and printable font catalog. Download 10,000 fonts with one click for just $19.95 with a 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back.
Font Resources
What The Font
To identify a font in use just submit an image to What The Font
to find the closest matches in our database. Or, let cloak-draped font
enthusiasts lend a hand in the What The Font Forum. Fonts can be uploaded
as an image or as a link to a URL. What The Font is also available as an IOS
app.
Identifont
Since its launch in November 2000 Identifont has become the
largest independent directory of digital fonts on the Internet. It provides a
range of features to help you locate fonts or find information about fonts by descriptive
appearance, name, similarity of traits, or by using a picture.
Foundries and designers have been extremely supportive in
providing samples of their fonts for use by us in adding the information to
Identifont. We do the work of training the expert system and creating the
character-set GIF sample images ourselves, to ensure accuracy and consistency.
Identifont also allows a personal Fontset of fonts to be
created for reference as a shopping list of fonts to buy, or a list
of close matches to a font search.
Ico Moon
Build custom fonts using the Ico Moon
App that only contain icons needed with pixel perfect results. Unlike
similar services, the Ico Moon app takes grid sizes of icons into account and
generates crisp, pixel perfect results. With a proper alignment, the font
size directly translates to the size of the icons. The Ico Moon
app is free. The Ico Moon Library features many high quality icon sets. All of
these icons are designed on a grid and are optimized for use with the Ico Moon
app. Add any set to easily browse and search it's icons.
The Ico Moon app is an advanced iconography tool. It sorts icons, manages icon collections, or makes icons
searchable by adding tags to them. In addition to fonts, the app can generate PNGs,
SVGs and CSS sprites in any size and color. The Ico Moon app allows the importing of personally created vectors (SVG images or SVG fonts). Vectors won't get uploaded to Ico Moon servers when imported. Some basic editing options such as moving, mirroring and
rotating are available too.
Once loaded in a browser, the Ico Moon app works offline.
When an icon is imported or a font is generated, everything
happens locally, in the browser. And the icons/fonts won't be uploaded to Ico
Moon’s servers. The Ico Moon app is available without a connection
if installed from the Google Chrome Web Store.
Your Fonts
Your Fonts is an online font generator that allows a user to
create handwritten OpenType fonts within a couple of minutes. Personal
handwriting can now be turned into a font. handwriting as a font! Create fonts
with more than 200 characters that optionally include a signature and
digitally sign contracts with it. Users can make as many fonts as they like with
each font being made within 15 minutes. Use the fonts on Windows, Mac OS X and
Linux. Use your fonts in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and others.
The cost is $9.95 (plus $5.00 if you upload both template
pages). Purchase is only required if satisfied with the created font. YourFonts
allows large templates (up to 6000 x 9000 pixels) to be uploaded and it has the
most advanced raster to vector conversion algorithm. Together this results
in unbeatable high quality
personal fonts.
