Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

FontForge VS Input Mono

Compare FontForge VS Input Mono and see what are their differences

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FontForge logo FontForge

Free (libre) font editor for Windows, Mac OS X and GNU+Linux

Input Mono logo Input Mono

Multiform monospace font.
  • FontForge Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-10-14
  • Input Mono Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-23

FontForge features and specs

  • Open Source
    FontForge is an open-source font editor, which means it is free to use, modify, and distribute. This makes it accessible for individuals or organizations with limited budgets.
  • Cross-Platform
    FontForge is available for various operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, allowing users to work on their font projects regardless of the platform.
  • Extensive Feature Set
    FontForge boasts a wide range of features for font creation and editing, including support for multiple font formats, scripting abilities, and advanced typographic tools.
  • Active Community
    As an open-source project, FontForge has an active community of users and developers who contribute to its improvement and provide valuable support and resources.
  • Scripting Capabilities
    FontForge supports Python scripting, which allows users to automate repetitive tasks, create custom tools, and extend the functionality of the software.

Possible disadvantages of FontForge

  • Steep Learning Curve
    FontForge can be challenging for beginners due to its complex interface and extensive feature set, requiring a significant time investment to become proficient.
  • Less Polished Interface
    Compared to some commercial font editors, FontForge’s user interface may appear less modern and less intuitive, which can be a drawback for users accustomed to more polished software.
  • Inconsistent Documentation
    While there is a wealth of information available, the documentation for FontForge can sometimes be outdated or incomplete, making it difficult for users to find the help they need.
  • Limited Customer Support
    As an open-source project, FontForge lacks dedicated customer support. Users must rely on community forums and user groups for assistance, which may not always provide timely or comprehensive help.
  • Occasional Stability Issues
    Some users have reported encountering bugs and crashes, which can disrupt work and result in lost progress if proper precautions like frequent saving are not taken.

Input Mono features and specs

  • Legibility
    Input Mono is designed with a focus on clear distinguishability of characters, which enhances reading comfort, especially for coding where character misidentification can lead to errors.
  • Customization
    The font offers extensive customization options, allowing users to adjust weight, width, and line height among other features, to suit personal preferences or specific requirements.
  • Open-source Availability
    Input Mono is available under an open-source license, making it freely accessible for modification and integration into various projects without licensing issues.
  • Technical Design
    It has been designed specifically for users working in technical environments, with glyphs that support programming and eliminate common confusion with similar-looking characters.

Possible disadvantages of Input Mono

  • Complexity of Choices
    The many customization options can be overwhelming, especially for users who prefer a simple, ready-to-use font, or those who find the selection process tedious.
  • Aesthetic Preference
    While the font is technically optimized, its aesthetic might not appeal to everyone, especially those who prioritize style or visual design over practicality in their font choice.
  • Web font Support
    Some users may experience challenges when integrating Input Mono as a web font, potentially requiring additional steps to ensure full compatibility across different browsers.

FontForge videos

FontForge Master Class Part 1 - Install & Intro

More videos:

  • Review - Introduction to FontForge
  • Tutorial - Turn your handwriting into a font! (Calligraphr/Fontforge Tutorial)

Input Mono videos

Exploring Monospaced Fonts: A Fontribute of Input Mono

Category Popularity

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Design Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Typography
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100% 100
Image Marketplace
100 100%
0% 0
Design
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using FontForge and Input Mono. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Input Mono seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 35 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

FontForge mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of FontForge yet. Tracking of FontForge recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Input Mono mentions (35)

  • Coding Font Selection 'Tournament'
    DejaVu is one of my favorites, and it is odd to not see it included. Input Mono [1] by David Jonathan Ross is what I use these days. It's very similar to DejaVu, but I like it better because its geometry is a little rounder. DejaVu's "m" is very narrow, and it has fewer serifs (l, i, etc.), but it also has a serif version for those who want that (it's still very "sans"). It comes in many weights and has a... - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Monaspace
    Seems like in modern times, on modern systems, we can move beyond monospaced fonts for code. I have recommended this many times here, but I use a proportional coding font: Input Sans https://input.djr.com. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • B612 Font Family
    Yes I ran into problem with distinguishing between ; and : as well on this monospace font. I'll say it was fun to try it and I used it for awhile but it isnt suitable for coding purposes. Im much more happy now with a highly customizable font like Input[0] where I can make it as wide or as narrow as I like it to be and also customize the various characters [0]: https://input.djr.com/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Bad Apple Font
    Does your browser have a "Reader" mode? There are font systems that target code and aren't monospace. An example is Input: https://input.djr.com/ - https://input.djr.com/preview/ The niche seems to be people who like to code without monospace, or who present code without monospace, e.g. In slides or in blog posts. Or if you want typographical consistency between non-code and code, as I understand you are suggesting. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • FiraCode: Free monospaced font with programming ligatures
    I’ve used Ligaturizer [2] to update the font to include ligatures. I believe the ligatures are even taken from FiraCode itself. I wonder how it’s fitting it to the width of a character as it’s much narrower, but still monospaced. - [1] https://input.djr.com/. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing FontForge and Input Mono, you can also consider the following products

BirdFont - Birdfont is a free font editor which lets you create vector graphics and export TTF, OTF, EOT and...

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M+ 1m - Download and install the M+ 1m free font family by M+ Fonts as well as test-drive and see a complete character set.