The best websites for free fonts are Google Fonts, Fontshare, Font Squirrel, Open Foundry, The League of Moveable Type and Fontsource, because they either host open-licensed fonts or state licenses clearly per font. Sites such as UrbanFonts, DaFont and 1001 Fonts have far larger catalogs, but license terms vary from font to font, so you need to check each one. This guide describes what each site is, how its licensing works, and who it suits.
Quick comparison
| Site | What it is | Licensing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Fonts | Large library of open-source families | Open licenses, mostly SIL OFL, some Apache or Ubuntu; shown on each font page | Web and print, commercial work |
| Fontshare | Free fonts from Indian Type Foundry | ITF Free Font License: free for personal and commercial use; no reselling or redistributing the files | Branding, editorial and web design |
| Font Squirrel | Hand-picked free fonts plus a Webfont Generator tool | Fonts are selected as free for commercial use; terms vary by font, so read each license | Desktop fonts, converting fonts for the web |
| Open Foundry | Curated collection of open-source fonts | Each font page lists its license; open-source fonts | Browsing a tidy, curated set |
| The League of Moveable Type | Open-source type foundry | Open licenses, mostly the SIL OFL; check each font | Strong display and text faces |
| Fontsource | Open-source fonts packaged for developers | Follows each font’s own open license | Self-hosting fonts in code projects |
| UrbanFonts | Large catalog of fonts hosted from many designers | Set by each designer, mixing personal-use and commercial licenses; check each download | Decorative, script, retro and themed fonts |
Google Fonts
Google Fonts hosts open-licensed families only, and shows the license for each one. Most use the SIL Open Font License, which allows commercial use, embedding on websites and use in print, without paying anything. You can download a ZIP for desktop use or copy embed code for a website. The catalog covers many languages, and many families are available as variable fonts. Its page on open-source fonts explains the model.
The weakness is style. Google Fonts leans toward practical text and display fonts, so very decorative or niche designs are less common.
Fontshare
Fontshare offers professional-quality families such as Satoshi, General Sans, Clash Display and Cabinet Grotesk. It is run by Indian Type Foundry, and the fonts are free for personal and commercial use under the ITF Free Font License. This is not an open-source license, so you should not redistribute the font files or resell them. Read the license, because it differs from the OFL in what it lets you do with the files.
Font Squirrel
Font Squirrel describes itself as a collection of hand-picked free fonts that are licensed for commercial use. Its own FAQ says this is “as far as we know”, so it is wise to read the license file that comes with each download and to contact the designer if you are unsure. It is also known for its Webfont Generator, which converts a font you have the right to use into web formats. Some fonts are blocked from the generator when a foundry asks for that. The site sometimes blocks automated requests, so open it in a normal browser.
Open Foundry
Open Foundry is a curated collection of open-source fonts. Its catalog includes well-known families such as Inter, Poppins, Work Sans, Oswald, EB Garamond and Libre Baskerville. It works well when you want a shorter, tidier list than a full library. Because it presents other designers’ open-source fonts, confirm the license on the font page or in the download.
The League of Moveable Type
The League of Moveable Type is an open-source type foundry. It is known for fonts such as League Spartan and League Gothic, and releases them under open licenses so you can use them in client work. The selection is small, which is part of the appeal: it is a handful of carefully drawn fonts rather than thousands.
Fontsource
Fontsource packages open-source fonts so developers can install them as npm packages and self-host them, rather than linking to a third-party server. It is aimed at web developers and does not host decorative personal-use fonts.
UrbanFonts
Our own UrbanFonts library hosts fonts from many different designers, across script, retro, gothic and other styles. Each font is licensed by its designer, not by UrbanFonts. Each font’s page indicates whether it is free for personal use, free for commercial use or needs a separate license, and each download includes a license or read-me file. Most free fonts are free for personal projects, but only some allow commercial use, so open the license before using one on a product, logo or client project. We cannot give legal permission for any particular use.
Other sites you will see mentioned
- DaFont and 1001 Fonts. Huge catalogs of fonts from independent designers. License labels vary: some say “free for personal use,” some “100% free,” and some are donationware. Check the label and the read-me for every font.
- Adobe Fonts. A large library available with an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription. It is included with a paid plan rather than free in the same sense, and it has its own usage terms.
- Velvetyne. An independent open-source foundry that offers experimental, distinctive fonts under open licenses.
How to avoid licensing trouble
- Find the license text. It is usually in the download as a .txt, .md or PDF file, or on the font page.
- Look for “personal use only.” That means you cannot use the font for business, client work or anything you sell without buying a commercial license.
- Know which uses count as commercial. Logos, merchandise, ads, products for sale, client work and websites for a business all usually count.
- Keep proof. Save the license file and the page where you downloaded the font.
- Ask the designer. If it is unclear, email them. Many will grant a low-cost commercial license.
Our post on uploading fonts to Canva also covers the licensing check you should do before uploading a font, and the advantages of free and paid font sites is an older, broader comparison.
Which site should you use?
- For a website: Google Fonts, or Fontsource if you self-host.
- For brand work with a modern look: Fontshare.
- For desktop fonts you want to convert: Font Squirrel.
- For a curated shortlist of open fonts: Open Foundry or The League of Moveable Type.
- For decorative and themed fonts: UrbanFonts, checking the license before commercial use.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best website for free fonts?
For safe commercial use, Google Fonts is the best starting point because everything is open-licensed. For modern branding fonts, Fontshare is excellent. For decorative fonts, large catalogs like UrbanFonts have more variety but require license checks.
Are Google Fonts really free for commercial use?
Yes. Google Fonts families are open-licensed, mostly under the SIL Open Font License, and can be used in commercial websites, apps and print. The license is listed on each font’s page.
Is Fontshare free for commercial use?
Yes, its fonts are free for personal and commercial use under the ITF Free Font License. The files cannot be resold or redistributed, so link people to Fontshare instead of sharing the files.
How can I tell if a free font is safe for commercial use?
Read the license file in the download or on the font page. Look for OFL, Apache, CC0 or an explicit statement that commercial use is allowed. If it says personal use only or the license is missing, contact the designer before using it commercially.
