In the world of digital marketing, things that look creative attract the attention of readers. So, when creating your website, an important aspect to decide on is the fonts you will be using and where and how you can use them. Whether you’re looking to use unique serif, retro, or other fonts for your brand or within your company, ProfileTree will help you find the perfect free font for your next project.
If you want to change up your website a bit and spice up your designs, the best way to do so is by adding fonts. However, not everyone can afford the license to pay for a font or even agree to buy one. Luckily, there are several free font websites that provides free fonts if you want to just cut down on some prices and look for something free. Let’s discover some of them together!
10 Websites That Offer Free Fonts
There’s a way to freshen up your website on a budget. This could be done by adding special fonts to a website or a couple of blog posts within the website. In the following lines, we’re sharing a handful of awesome free font websites to find the font you need.
1. Google Fonts
The first free font website we have is Google Fonts. It has a collection of free, creative, open-source fonts available in different languages. You can filter your searches by category or language and adjust the font properties, including font size, family, and weight.
One of the best things Google Fonts offers is the font preview tool; You can type a sentence or a paragraph and preview it with any chosen font. You can also switch to a different style of font, from light 200 to black 900 italic. The categories it has are serif, sans-serif, display, handwriting, and monospace.
Google Fonts also has a “Fonts Knowledge” section, where you can get original guides about the typography world. Created by the Google Fonts team and some typographic experts around the world, these guides allow you to use any font with purpose and achieve the best font combination.
2. Fonts.com
The next free font website we will review is Fonts.com. Although it has some best sellers and sells a variety of fonts, fonts.com offers more than 1330 free fonts. It has a price range where you can have it set to free.
You can narrow down your searches by language, category, or property. When you’re browsing through Fonts.com, you can easily pick the one you need. If you click on it, the website shows you the mediums you can use this font in.
3. Font Bundles
Moving on to the next one, Font Bundles also has a section of free fonts with various free fonts that you could use for your website once you sign up. It has some popular categories, including brush fonts, logo fonts, script fonts, and graffiti fonts. Besides the standard free fonts, you will get one premium font on the “Free Font of the Week” page.
4. Dribbble
Our next website used to download free fonts is called Dribbble. It has a wide range of fonts from which you can choose your desired fonts. When you click on it, the website shows you how this font can be advertised or used. You can follow the designer and save, like, or share any font. However, before you download, make sure the font is free so that you download the right one.
Dribbble’s team or other designers created the fonts. If you like a font design, you can hire its designer to create or modify a specific font for you. The best part is that Dribbble has incorporated tags to make your browsing easier. Just write “free fonts” in the search bar and get started.
5. Behance
Similar to Dribbble, Behance or Hance is another popular website providing free fonts. Now, they’ve got a few really cool fonts, but not all of them are free. So, also, before you download a font design, ensure it is in the free section.
Behance is a great resource for non-coder designers. You will not find a complete font set with multiple versions on Behance. So, its font designs are best used in posters, social media banners, graphic design projects, and logos.
If you want to explore and download one of the free fonts there, type “fonts” in the search bar and then choose the free option. Behance allows you to like or save a font design and follow the designer.
6. UrbanFonts
Next, we’ve got UrbanFonts, another great platform for getting free fonts. It is easy to use and pleasing to the eyes. If you just scroll down, you can find numerous free fonts to choose from. You can narrow down your search by release date, category, and popularity.
What makes UrbanFonts unique is that you can change the background colour, which will automatically update the preview of all fonts. You can also type a specific text to preview before you download the font you need.
7. DaFont
DaFont, similar to UrbanFonts, is a little bit old school; however, it is still a platform to grab some free fonts. It is a more simplistic area to get some custom fonts to use without creating an account.
Filtering the more than 80,200 fonts can be challenging due to the huge collection. Nonetheless, there is a category system where you can browse fonts by style, theme, author, and popularity. We highly recommend downloading free fonts from DaFont.
8. Fontesk
The next one we have is Fontesk. It is another modernised platform where you can download free high-quality fonts. It has various categories, including display, handwritten, and sans-serif.
All free fonts are available for personal use, with most available for commercial use. Fontesk allows you to filter easily based on your needs. The best thing is that you can download the font you need without signing up or having a quota.
9. Font Squirrel
If you are looking for free fonts for commercial use, Font Squirrel, the “Free Font Utopia,” is the right platform. Although it has its own fonts, it compiles some fonts from other websites with licenses. It offers OTF and TTF formats.
You can explore the free fonts by category, language, tag, license, and more. Using the Test Drive functionality, you can preview the font with different text.
10. Fontspace
Moving on to the very last free font website, FontSpace is a great platform that we highly recommend to grab the font you want. With over 110,000 free fonts, you can search for any font easily, change the font size of the preview, and change the foreground colour.
All fonts are free for personal use; however, if you want to use them commercially, you can click on the commercial-use option. The website has no license fees for any fonts, and it is easy to use.
How to Add A Font to Your Website
Now that we have explored the top 10 free font websites, let’s find out how we can upload a font into an actual Wix website. When you choose the font you want from any platform, just click “Download”, and you’ll get a zip file. Extract the file, and let’s get started.
To change the actual text of the website, click on the binned text item at the top. A pop-up message will appear with text settings. Click on “Fonts,” and you will find an area that says “Upload Fonts” at the bottom. Click on it and upload the OTF or TTF file. Once it is uploaded, it will give a go-ahead and tick. This could apply to any other website, not just to Wix.
If you click “Done,” you can search for the font you uploaded. When you choose it from the Fonts list, the text will change accordingly. You can also change the font size until you feel it looks better in your eyes.
Enjoy the Free Fonts!
Free font websites offer eye-catching free fonts that can spice up your website or design. However, always check whether the font you need is available for commercial use before you utilise it. In this article, we have explored the top 10 free font websites, learnt how to download fonts for free, and found out how to upload them into an actual website. For any questions, please leave them in the comments section below.
Understanding Font Licenses
When selecting free fonts, it’s crucial to pay attention to their licensing terms. Font licenses dictate how you can use the font, including whether it’s for personal or commercial purposes. Here are some common font licenses:
Personal Use: This allows you to use the font for non-commercial projects, such as personal websites, blogs, or hobby projects. However, you cannot use it for commercial purposes, like selling products or services.
Commercial Use: This license permits you to use the font for commercial purposes, including selling products, services, or digital assets. However, there might be restrictions on how you can use the font, such as limitations on font modifications or distribution.
Open Source: Open-source fonts are typically free for both personal and commercial use. They often come with permissive licenses that allow you to modify, distribute, and use the font in various ways.
Shareware: Shareware fonts are usually free for personal use, but require a fee for commercial use.
Trial or Demo: Some fonts offer free trial or demo versions with limited features or time constraints. You may need to purchase a full license to use the font without restrictions.
It’s important to carefully review the specific license terms of each font you consider. Some fonts might have additional restrictions or requirements, such as attribution or limitations on font modifications. By understanding font licenses, you can ensure that you are using the fonts legally and ethically in your projects.
Best Practices for Choosing Fonts
When selecting fonts for your website, consider the following factors:
Readability:
Font type: Sans-serif fonts like Arial, Helvetica, or Roboto are generally more readable on screens than serif fonts.
Font size: Choose a font size that is easy to read on different devices.
Line spacing: Ensure proper line spacing to prevent text from appearing cramped or too spaced out.
Contrast: Use a color combination that provides sufficient contrast between the text and background for better readability.
Brand Alignment:
Font style: Select fonts that align with your brand’s personality and messaging. For example, a playful font might be suitable for a fun and creative brand, while a more traditional font could be better for a formal or conservative brand.
Consistency: Use consistent fonts throughout your website to maintain a cohesive look and feel.
Aesthetics:
Visual appeal: Choose fonts that are visually appealing and enhance the overall aesthetic of your website.
Typography rules: Follow basic typography rules to ensure your text is well-formatted and easy to read.
By considering these factors, you can select fonts that improve the readability, enhance the visual appeal, and strengthen the brand identity of your website.
Alternatives to Free Fonts: Premium Fonts
While free fonts can be a great starting point, premium fonts often offer additional benefits that can elevate your website’s design. Here are some key advantages of using premium fonts:
Wider character sets: Premium fonts often include a wider range of characters, supporting multiple languages and special characters. This is especially important for websites targeting international audiences.
Greater design flexibility: Premium fonts may offer more customization options, such as varying weights, styles, and widths. This can help you create a unique and personalized look for your website.
Enhanced quality: Premium fonts are typically designed with higher quality and attention to detail, resulting in a more professional and polished appearance.
Exclusive access: Many premium fonts are exclusive to their creators, providing you with a unique and distinctive look that sets you apart from competitors.
While free fonts can be a good option for basic needs, investing in premium fonts can offer significant advantages in terms of design flexibility, quality, and uniqueness. If you have the budget, consider exploring premium font libraries to discover new and exciting options for your website.
FAQ
Q: Can I use free fonts for commercial purposes? A: It depends on the specific font license. Some free fonts are restricted to personal use, while others allow commercial use. Always check the license terms before using a font for commercial purposes.
Q: How do I add a custom font to my website? A: The process for adding a custom font to your website varies depending on the content management system (CMS) you’re using. Generally, you’ll need to upload the font file to your website’s server and then reference it in your CSS code.
Q: Are there any limitations to using free fonts? A: Free fonts may have limitations, such as restricted character sets, limited customization options, or attribution requirements. Premium fonts often offer more flexibility and features.
Q: Can I modify or customize free fonts? A: The ability to modify fonts depends on the font license. Some licenses allow for modifications, while others restrict them.
Q: Is it worth investing in premium fonts? A: The decision to invest in premium fonts depends on your specific needs and budget. If you require a unique and high-quality font that offers advanced features and customization options, premium fonts can be a worthwhile investment.
Conclusion
Choosing the right fonts for your website is essential for creating a visually appealing and professional design. By understanding font licenses, considering best practices for font selection, and exploring both free and premium options, you can find the perfect fonts to enhance your website’s overall aesthetic and user experience.
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