Birdfont

Birdfont is a font editor for making vector graphics and exporting TTF, OTF and SVG fonts. It runs on Linux, macOS and Windows, and supports monochrome and color font formats. Designers can bring in SVG files from Inkscape or Adobe Illustrator. The free Open Source plan covers TTF and monochrome SVG fonts, kerning, ligature substitutions, alternates, SVG import and commercial use; the Freeware plan is for making free fonts under the SIL Open Font license. Commercial costs $4.99, paid once and includes commercial fonts and one year of upgrades; the purchased version keeps working afterward. Plus costs $9.99, paid once and adds color fonts, OpenType SVG, OTF, COLR/CPAL, single-stroke CNC fonts and variable fonts. Plus can also export several static fonts from one variable master. The app does not collect user data by default, though crash reporting is optional. Users can seek help or report bugs by email, on social platforms or through GitHub issues.

Birdfont offers font editing and export tools across free and paid plans. Check which formats and licensing terms your project needs before choosing a plan.

Birdfont suits font creators who want to build vector-based typefaces on Linux, macOS or Windows. Its free and paid plans offer different font formats and licensing options.

Birdfont is a desktop font editor for turning vector artwork into fonts. It is best suited to designers who want a cross-platform tool with a free route to noncommercial or open-source type, and one-time licenses for commercial work. Its conventional font-making tools are inexpensive; color and variable-font projects call for the higher Plus tier.

Overview

Birdfont combines vector-based font creation with SVG import from Inkscape and Adobe Illustrator, letting designers bring existing artwork into a type project. It exports TTF and monochrome SVG fonts on its core plans, with broader output formats reserved for Plus. Linux, macOS and Windows support makes it a practical desktop option across the major systems, though it has no collaboration capability.

The free plans are not interchangeable: Open Source permits commercial use and includes source code under the GNU GPL, while Freeware is for free fonts under the SIL Open Font License. Buyers making commercial fonts can move to a low-cost paid license, but should check whether its format restrictions fit their output needs.

Key features

Vector artwork and font-making tools

SVG import is useful when glyphs begin as vector drawings in Inkscape or Illustrator. Open Source and Commercial include TTF and monochrome SVG fonts, kerning, ligature substitutions and alternates. That gives conventional type projects a solid set of production tools, but neither plan covers color fonts or OTF output.

Color and variable-font work

Plus adds color fonts, OpenType SVG, OTF fonts with OpenType CFF outlines, COLR/CPAL, single-stroke CNC fonts and variable fonts. It can also export multiple static fonts from one variable master. Those capabilities make Plus the relevant tier for designers working with richer font formats or variable families; they are unnecessary costs for projects limited to TTF and monochrome SVG.

Privacy and support

The app does not collect user data by default, though users can opt into crash reports. The website stores login cookies and request logs, and commercial purchases generate stored purchase information and receipts. Users can seek help or report bugs by email, Mastodon, Twitter, Facebook or GitHub issues.

Pricing

Birdfont is freemium, with no free trial and paid plans starting at $4.99 one-time. The paid tiers include upgrades for one year; the purchased version continues working afterward. A PayPal subscription instead provides the latest version and all upgrades for as long as the subscription lasts.

• Open Source — free: Source code under the GNU GPL, commercial use, TTF and monochrome SVG fonts, kerning, ligature substitutions, alternates and SVG import. It is the strongest no-cost fit for users comfortable with the open-source license.
• Freeware — free: Binary version for creating free fonts under the SIL Open Font License. It suits free-font projects, but not commercial font distribution.
• Commercial — $4.99, paid once: Commercial fonts, TTF and monochrome SVG fonts, kerning, ligature substitutions, alternates and SVG import. It fits paid type projects that do not need Plus formats.
• Plus — $9.99, paid once: Commercial fonts, color fonts, OpenType SVG, OTF, COLR/CPAL, single-stroke CNC fonts and variable fonts. It is the plan to choose when those specific outputs or workflows matter.

The lower-priced plans give up color and variable fonts, and the Commercial plan also lacks OTF support. No seat or quota limits are stated for these plans.

Platforms

Birdfont runs on Linux, macOS and Windows. It is also available through Steam.

Who it's for

Birdfont is a good fit for independent type designers and illustrators who want to convert vector artwork into fonts, especially if they already work in Inkscape or Illustrator. Open Source suits those seeking a free tool with commercial-use rights; Freeware fits creators distributing fonts under SIL Open Font License terms. Commercial is aimed at buyers making commercial TTF or monochrome SVG fonts, while Plus is for projects requiring color or variable-font capabilities.

It is less suitable for teams that need collaboration, or for anyone whose workflow depends on OTF or color fonts but is not prepared to pay for Plus.

Pros and cons

• Pros: SVG import from Inkscape and Illustrator can carry existing vector work into font creation.
• Pros: The free Open Source plan includes commercial use, while the Commercial license starts at $4.99 one-time.
• Pros: Plus combines color and variable-font support with several specialized output formats.
• Cons: Commercial and Open Source are limited to TTF and monochrome SVG fonts, so OTF or color projects require Plus.
• Cons: Freeware only allows free fonts under the SIL Open Font License, which rules it out for paid font distribution.
• Cons: There is no collaboration capability.

Alternatives

For a broader font design software shortlist, compare tools by their licensing and output needs. Choose FontBob if its listed drawing, spacing, preview, OTF export, production-ready fonts and sharing better match your workflow. Fontself is a paid alternative with a one-time Illustrator CC Maker plan. FontStruct is a free online font-building tool funded by advertising and sponsors. Glyphr Studio is free, open source and requires no sign-up. FontForge is a free, open-source alternative that permits redistribution. Fontra is a free/libre open-source browser-based option. Runebender is free and open source, but its native editor and experimental browser build are alpha software. Bitmap Font Editor is another free option.

Verdict

Choose Birdfont if you want to build fonts from vector artwork, need Linux, macOS or Windows support, and value either a free open-source route or a low one-time price for commercial TTF work. Its SVG import and core glyph tools make the entry plans useful, but OTF, color and variable-font requirements point to Plus. If collaboration is essential or your project does not fit Birdfont's licensing and format tiers, look elsewhere.