Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

MacType VS Linotype

Compare MacType VS Linotype and see what are their differences

MacType logo MacType

MacType render windows font smoothly and much more convenient to read.

Linotype logo Linotype

Linotype: Fonts for Desktop, Web & More
  • MacType Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-01
  • Linotype Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-07

MacType features and specs

  • Improved Font Rendering
    MacType enhances the font rendering on Windows systems, offering a more visually appealing, smoother text display similar to macOS.
  • Customization Options
    The software provides extensive customization options, allowing users to tweak the rendering settings to suit their personal preferences and needs.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source project on GitHub, MacType allows users to inspect, modify, and contribute to the codebase, fostering a community-driven development process.
  • Multi-language Support
    MacType supports multiple languages, making it accessible to a broader range of users around the world.

Possible disadvantages of MacType

  • Compatibility Issues
    MacType may have compatibility issues with certain applications, particularly those that use custom font rendering engines.
  • System Instability
    There is a possibility of system instability or crashes, as modifying system level font rendering can lead to unexpected behavior with certain system updates or configurations.
  • Complex Configuration
    Configuring MacType to achieve the desired results can be complex and time-consuming, particularly for users who are not familiar with font rendering settings.
  • Limited Support
    As an open-source project, support is limited to community forums and documentation, which may not be as comprehensive as commercial software support options.

Linotype features and specs

  • Extensive Font Library
    Linotype offers a vast collection of fonts, including classic and contemporary designs, which provides users with a wide range of options for various design projects.
  • High-Quality Typography
    Fonts from Linotype are known for their high quality and professional craftsmanship, ensuring reliable and visually appealing typography for print and digital use.
  • Historical Significance
    As one of the oldest type foundries, Linotype has a rich history and heritage in typographic design, offering fonts that have been influential in shaping modern typography.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The Linotype website provides a user-friendly interface for browsing, selecting, and purchasing fonts, making it accessible for designers and typographers.
  • Licensing Options
    Linotype offers various licensing options to accommodate different needs, including personal, commercial, and enterprise licenses, ensuring flexibility for different projects.

Possible disadvantages of Linotype

  • High Cost
    Premium fonts from Linotype can be expensive, which may not be feasible for designers or businesses with limited budgets, especially for extensive font families.
  • Limited Free Options
    The range of free fonts available is limited compared to the paid options, which might not be ideal for users looking for quality fonts without incurring costs.
  • Overwhelming Selection
    The sheer volume of available fonts can be overwhelming for users trying to select the right typeface, potentially complicating the decision-making process.
  • Potential Redundancy
    Some designers may find redundant font styles within the extensive library, as many fonts may not significantly differ from one another.
  • Online Interface Loading Speed
    Some users may experience slow loading times when browsing the Linotype website, particularly if they are on slower internet connections.

MacType videos

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Linotype videos

Linotype And Lyman #2 Nuggets From RotoMetals

More videos:

  • Review - How mechanical typesetting works (Intertype, Linotype, Hot Metal)
  • Review - "Linotype: The Film" Official Trailer

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to MacType and Linotype)
Fonts
45 45%
55% 55
Web Fonts
51 51%
49% 49
Free Fonts
100 100%
0% 0
OS & Utilities
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare MacType and Linotype

MacType Reviews

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Linotype Reviews

13 of the Best Font Sites
Linotype includes fonts for Mac and Windows and an array of fonts that designers can use for web and desktop design. Users can sort through fonts based on categories like popularity, inspiration type, bestsellers, latest releases, and more. It also includes design resources for creators to make the design process more manageable.
20 Best Font Websites To Get Free Fonts Online
Linotype is the home of traditional typeface families such as Helvetica, Frutiger, and Universe, acquired by Monotype in 2006. Its most popular typeface is Neusa Next, and it hosts a variety of foundries to choose from. However, youโ€™ll have to make your choice carefully because theyโ€™re not cheap, with prices ranging from $50 to $200.
Source: adsterra.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, MacType should be more popular than Linotype. It has been mentiond 16 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.

MacType mentions (16)

  • Memory Safety for Web Fonts
    I've recently been learning about how fonts render based on subpixel layouts in monitor panels. Windows assumes that all panels use RGB layout, and their ClearType software will render fonts with that assumption in mind. Unfortunately, this leads to visible text fringing on new display types, like the alternative stripe pattern used on WOLED monitors, or the triangular pattern used on QD-OLED. Some third-party... - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • Text Fringing? looks bad on the new Samsung OLED G9...
    Download Mactype. If you download the beta version (warning: it will trip windows defender) you can use one of the QD-OLED profiles, if you download the last stable version (has an installer and will not trip Windows defneder), use a grayscale rendered font like this one. It doesn't work on chromium browsers though so you're gonna have to use Firefox if you want it to be on your browser. Source: over 2 years ago
  • [HUB] One YEAR Using The Alienware AW3423DW QD-OLED - My Thoughts
    Already supported in WPF and DirectWrite. AFAIK DirectWrite by default only uses y-axis at large font sizes. I think MacType enables it system-wide. Source: over 2 years ago
  • [Oled_Gaming] Bessere Textwiedergabe fรผr OLED-Displays (ClearType loswerden)
    Step 2: Install it from the MacType homepage, it is an open-source project so it seems safe to me. I recommend installing it in "Load with MacTray" -> "Standalone Mode". Source: over 2 years ago
  • Recently got Windows 11, is there a way to fix this? The squished font looks terrible.
    You could try this : Https://github.com/snowie2000/mactype. Source: almost 3 years ago
View more

Linotype mentions (2)

  • Where to purchase fonts for commercial use?
    In most cases, as long as you have a license for the font on your computer (you didnโ€™t download it from some dodgy piracy site), youโ€™re fine. I see that Snell Roundhand is widely offered as a free download (and probably shouldn't be). If you need to purchase it, the Monotype conglomerate (which includes linotype.com. fonts.com, myfonts.com, etc.) has it for purchase. You would need the desktop license. If youโ€™re... Source: over 3 years ago
  • Where I can download those missing fonts.
    These are commercial fonts, so you would need to buy a license for them. These are all pretty big fonts, so you can buy them at linotype.com, fontshop.com or myfonts.com. Source: over 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing MacType and Linotype, you can also consider the following products

ClearType Tuner PowerToy - Windows XP and Vista users can use the online ClearType Tuner, or the ClearType PowerToy to...

Fount - Identify web fonts on any site

Typograf - Typograf previews, prints and manages opentype, truetype, type1 and printer fonts.

AMP Font Viewer - Jump to Download - Download.

fontconfig - Fontconfig is a library for configuring and customizing font access. Fontconfig can:

Find my Font - Identify any free or commercial font with your camera!