Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups
Register | Login

FontForge VS Microsoft Typography

Compare FontForge VS Microsoft Typography and see what are their differences

Kimp
Kimp is an unlimited design company, specializing in graphic design (including print and digital designs, custom illustrations, landing page designs and email designs) and video design. featured
Contents:
  1. » Base Details
  2. » Videos
  3. » Reviews
  4. » Alternatives

FontForge logo FontForge

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

Microsoft Typography logo Microsoft Typography

Internal tools developed at Microsoft for manipulating and creating OpenType and TrueType font...
  • FontForge Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-10-14
  • Microsoft Typography Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-07

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    While there is a wealth of information available, the documentation for FontForge can sometimes be outdated or incomplete, making it difficult for users to find the help they need.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.

Microsoft Typography features and specs

No features have been listed yet.

Analysis of FontForge

Overall verdict

  • FontForge is a good tool, especially for those who are looking for a free, open-source solution for font creation and editing. It provides a robust set of features that can meet the needs of most font design projects, though its interface might not be as modern or intuitive as some premium alternatives.

Why this product is good

  • FontForge is a well-regarded open-source font editor that provides a comprehensive set of tools for designing, editing, and converting fonts. It is favored for its extensive format support, allowing users to work with various font types including TrueType, OpenType, and PostScript. It also offers scripting capabilities with Python, which can be very helpful for automating tasks. Despite its slightly outdated interface, its feature-rich environment accommodates both beginners and experienced users in typography design.

Recommended for

  • Graphic designers who need a free and open-source font design tool.
  • Beginners in font design who are willing to learn and explore font creation.
  • Advanced users who appreciate the ability to script and automate tasks using Python.
  • Projects requiring compatibility with multiple font formats.

FontForge videos

+ Add

FontForge Master Class Part 1 - Install & Intro

More videos:

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

Microsoft Typography videos

No Microsoft Typography videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to FontForge and Microsoft Typography)

FontForge

Microsoft Typography

Design Tools
83 83%
Design Tools
17% 17
Graphic Design Software
72 72%
Graphic Design Software
28% 28
Image Marketplace
81 81%
Image Marketplace
19% 19
OS & Utilities
100 100%
OS & Utilities
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using FontForge and Microsoft Typography. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Microsoft Typography seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1 time 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.

Microsoft Typography mentions (1)

  • Fonts and licensing
    For questions and licenses for Microsoft products, see Microsoft Typography in particular see the Font Redistribution FAQ as it answers some of your licensing questions and document embedding. Source: over 2 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing FontForge and Microsoft Typography, 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...

TruFont - TruFont is a font-editing application written with Python3, ufoLib, defcon and PyQt5.

FontCreator - This professional font editor allows you to create and edit TrueType and OpenType fonts.

Kami Home - Kami Home makes it practical and effortless to guard and stay connected with the things, such as family, friends, pets, offices, accessories, and all the others that you love the most.

Glyphs - Make everything from dingbat webfonts to full-fledged text typefaces in the most Mac-like font...

AFDKO - AFDKO is a collection of command-line tools used at Adobe for manipulating and creating OpenType...

Loading...