Licensing

Desktop Fonts

Commercial use desktop font licenses from Fontspring

Worry-Free licensing

Most font users know what to expect from a desktop license. However, if you are a new font user, you probably have some questions. Desktop licenses are the only license where type designers don’t all use our license, so at first it can be a tad overwhelming. We’re here to help. With our Worry-Free badge and kick ass support team, we make font licensing easy.

Fontspring vs. OEM licenses

If a foundry uses our license, read the rest of this page to understand what it allows. If they use their own license, it’s going to be similar to ours with a few exceptions. But don't worry, we’ve done all the hard work for you. Each font has Worry-Free badge if the license meets a standard set of requirements. It doesn’t absolve you from reading the license, but it allows you to shop with confidence.

In a nutshell

A desktop license is the most common license and covers most commercial font usage. You can create graphical designs (logos, signs, etc.) and products (mugs, t-shirts, hats, etc.) for yourself, or your client(s). Products may be sold for profit as long as the letters are not the main selling point of your product (like a house number or stamp set). This license is limited by “users,” usually the total number of people using the font. Embedding fonts is not allowed with this license with a few exceptions (such as a PDF reports). All licenses on our site are perpetual, which means you pay once and use it forever.
 
Note: Embedding a font means to include the font in a file to be used by the person receiving the file. For example, a font file embedded in a website’s code. Embedding rasterized images created by the font is not considered embedding the font. Embedding licenses for websites, apps, ebooks, and more are available from Fontspring.

Read The Fontspring Desktop License

Branding

You may brand your business with this font. If your business becomes very successful, you will not need to pay any additional fees. If you are a branding company, you may create brands for your clients as well. However, if your client would like to the font use on their computers, they must purchase their own license.

Greeting Cards

You may use the font to create greeting cards. They may be for you, your business, to be sold for profit, and/or to be intended for resale by your customers. However, you cannot use the font in a system that allows your customers to create and customize their own greeting cards. An additional license may be available for this use.

Logos

You can create logos for yourself or your clients.

Movie Captions

You may use the font to create captions for your movie creations, but you cannot embed the font in movie software you sell or in the movie itself... In other words, make sure that the recipient of your product cannot extract the font file. If you need to embed the font, an additional license may be available.

Movie Credits

You may use the font to create movie credits for your movie creations, but you cannot embed the font in movie software you sell or in the movie itself... In other words, make sure that the recipient of your product cannot extract the font file. If you need to embed the font, an additional license may be available.

Movie Titles

You may use the font to create titles for your movie creations, but you cannot embed the font in movie software you sell or in the movie itself... In other words, make sure that the recipient of your product cannot extract the font file. If you need to embed the font, an additional license may be available.

PDFs

You may create read-only, non-editable PDF files. Extended PDF embedding is available with an ebook license.

Pens

You may use the font to create pens. They may be used by you or your business, or sold for profit, and/or intended for resale by your customers. However, you cannot use the font in a system that allows your customers to create and customize their own pens. An additional license may be available for this use.

Signs

You may use the font to create signs. They may be for you, your business, to be sold for profit, and/or to be intended for resale by your customers. However, you cannot use the font in a system that allows your customers to create and customize their own signs. An additional license may be available for this use.

T-shirts

You may use the font to create t-shirts. They may be for you, your business, to be sold for profit, and/or to be intended for resale by your customers. However, you cannot use the font in a system that allows your customers to create and customize their own t-shirts. An additional license may be available for this use.

Why buy from
Fontspring?

01

Worry-Free licensing

We go through every font license and flag any onerous requirements so you don't have to. A Worry-Free badge guarantees that the font license covers the most common rights and uses a typical designer would expect. Now you can browse fonts without your lawyer.

02

Try then buy

Many of our fonts now have free demo versions. These demo fonts are fully installable versions of the font with a reduced character set. You can try the font in any program for testing and comping.

03

Kick-Ass support

Font help is only a chat, email, phone call, or tweet away. Our unbelievably friendly and knowledgable support gurus are ready and able to assist in any issue, big or small. All you need to do is ask.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I create a coffee mug, pen, greeting card etc. to be sold for profit?
Can I create clothing to be sold for profit?
Can I create graphical titles, credits, or captions for a movie?
Can I create a logo for my business?
I am a graphic designer. Can I create logos, websites or other products for my clients?
Can I temporarily distribute the font to a printer, designer or developer?
Can I modify the outlines in my artwork to make it how I want it?
Can I embedded the font in a PDF document and email it to people, sell it, or make it available on my website?
If my business becomes really successful and I have branded myself with the font, will I need to pay more later?
Can I use a dingbat to create a logo or product where the main image is the dingbat?
Can I use the font to make house numbers or stamps that would then be sold one letter at a time?
Can I build the font into a computer game, mobile app, eBook, phone, printer, TV or camera?
Can I use the font in my web service that allow my customers to compose items such as business cards, marketing materials, collateral items and photobooks?

Too many choices?
We can help.

Out the wazoo

540+ font designers keep us stocked with an unbelievable selection of fonts. Over 69,000 fonts in 14,000+ families in fact. We probably have what you need.

Real, live help

Can’t find that particular one? Contact us by email or phone and we’ll be glad to help you. Digging through such a large library can be daunting. And we are REALLY good at it too.