Dazed Studio’s Jethro Nepomuceno shares 10 platforms for free fonts and typefaces
When it comes to platforms for free fonts, it’s clear that you can’t have too much of a good thing. As a follow-up to our previous article, we asked designer at Dazed Studio, Jethro Nepomuceno to share some of his hard-won sources, accumulated during a summer spent scouring the web. With recommendations ranging from French foundry Velvetyne’s eclectic selection to Fontesk’s expansive bank of fonts, there’s bound to be something here for you.
As a graphic designer I love hoarding fonts. But while the thought of spending hundreds or thousands on a well-crafted typeface is tempting, as an emerging creative, it’s hard to justify spending that much so early on in my career. Which is why I often go in search of the next best thing: free fonts!
While many typefaces allow you to experiment by offering free trials for personal work, scrounging around the depths of the internet to find an open source or free type foundry can be like finding a needle in the haystack. But if you look hard enough, you’ll find some gems, which I’ve shared below.
🚨 A word of warning: when it comes to legalities, you should always double-check the terms and conditions. In most cases, if a typeface is open source or tagged as being “CC0” (Creative Commons license), you don’t have to worry about anything. However some conditions will vary, depending on whether you are using the font for personal or commercial use. For example, in some cases you might be required to attribute the creator of the typeface.
1. Fontshare
Good for: Minimalist design, supports type design for near-extinct languages
A well-collated type foundry that showcases some of the best type designs on the internet. All minimalist designers should definitely know about this site. The website is beautifully designed, too.
2. Use & Modify
Good for: Weird and punk typefaces, working with emerging designers
With a huge index of fonts, you’ll have fun getting lost in 25 pages of pure type. Ranging from funky display types to elegant serifs, you’re sure to find everything you need.
3. Collectttivo
Good for: Typography knowledge, alternative typefaces
A small but mighty collection, showcasing some great designers and their personal type designs, all enclosed in a minimal website. What else do you need?
Visit Collectttivo here.
4. Uncut
Good for: Contemporary type
Boasting over 90 different typefaces, Uncut’s catalogue has fonts that I haven't even heard of before. It’s always a pain seeing the same three free typefaces being shown on top 10 lists, so Uncut showcasing new and exciting type families is a great thing for emerging creatives.
5. Fontesk
Good for: Large database of fonts, non-Latin alphabetic typefaces
This site is more familiar to those who grew up in the Dafont days. This acts as a free type hub, pulling different typefaces from across the internet. So no more searching ‘free typefaces’ on Behance, because Fontesk has already got the majority of them!
6. Badass Libre Fonts by Womxn
Good for: Fonts made by womxn
An amazing collection of fonts made by womxn type designers. I mean, what else is there to say? You’ll be missing out if you don’t search the site and use any of these typefaces. As they’re shared for free, users with a design budget are encouraged to donate to the designers.
7. Rory King
Good for: Experimentation
From the weird and wonderful brain of [multidisciplinary designer, writer and art director] Rory King, this site is a collection of his type experiments that are all super-bizarre. With anti-design being in the spotlight, this is a gold mine for all emerging designers.
8. Fontain
A more generic collection, nothing too exciting – but still a solid group of typefaces. I mean it’s free so you can’t really complain, can you?
9. Velvetyne
Good for: Weird fonts
Have you ever seen those cool designs on Behance or It’s Nice That and thought to yourself, ‘Man I wish I had those funky fonts’? Well look no further! French type foundry VTF (Velvetyne Type Foundry) showcases the weirdest and more bizarre fonts that some of your favourite designers use. And if you’re a bit hesitant, check out the ’in use’ section to see how young designers are making the typefaces their own!
10. SUVA Type Foundry
Good for: Supporting student designers, quirky typefaces
SUVA Type Foundry’s fonts are all made by students of Estonian Academy of Arts. Honestly, this collection may just be the best out there, visually. So if any of you Gen Z designers need something to add a quirky element to your designs, then SUVA Type Foundry is your best choice.
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See more of Jethro’s work on his website here, and follow him on Instagram here.
Written by Jethro Nepomuceno
