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Fontello
What it is
Fontello is a web tool for assembling icon artwork into webfonts for use on web pages. It can reduce glyph collections and combine symbols from multiple fonts into one file, and it includes open-source artwork. Users can add their own SVG icons or SVG fonts by dragging them into the app. Fontello packages generated files in a ZIP archive, with a config.json file that can be imported to continue editing. Its API can start a session from a font configuration, reopen the configured project and download the resulting font; sessions remain available for 24 hours. The project also lists a Makefile example, Node.js and Ruby command-line tools, and a Grunt integration. Fontello is free, and its code is MIT-licensed, while included fonts keep their own licenses. Generated font icons are single-color. The service does not provide user accounts for server-side project storage and recommends saving project archives in version control. Its site requires JavaScript and does not work if cookies are completely disabled.
For and against
For
- Free webfont generation
- Accepts custom SVG icons and SVG fonts
- Exports generated files in a ZIP archive
- API supports configuring, reopening and downloading sessions
- Lists Node.js, Ruby and Grunt integrations
Against
- Generated icons are single-color
- No user accounts for server-side project storage
- Sessions are stored for 24 hours
- Requires JavaScript and enabled cookies
The verdict
Fontello offers a focused way to build and export icon webfonts, including from custom SVG artwork. Keep the single-color output and project-storage limitations in mind when deciding whether it fits your workflow.
Who it suits
Fontello suits web developers who want to combine icon sources or custom SVG artwork into a webfont. Its API and listed command-line and build-tool integrations may help teams automating that workflow.
Plans and prices
Free
Free service; generated fonts are intended for web use
Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
On the record
- Browser requirements
- The site requires JavaScript and will not work if cookies are completely disabled.fontello.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Built-in artwork
- The tool includes a collection of open-source artwork.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Combine icons
- It can shrink glyph collections and merge symbols from several fonts into one file.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Custom artwork
- Users can import their own artwork in SVG format and generate a font from it.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Custom icons
- The web app accepts custom SVG icons or SVG fonts by drag and drop.fontello.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Export
- The site offers downloads for a webfont and for its configuration alone.fontello.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Icon color
- The project documentation describes generated iconic-font icons as single-color.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The project lists a Makefile example, a Node.js CLI, a Ruby CLI gem, and a Grunt integration.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Intended audience
- The project describes the tool as a way to combine icon webfonts for use in a user's own project.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- License
- Fontello's code, except for fonts, is distributed under the MIT license; embedded fonts retain their primary licenses.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Licensing
- The code is MIT-licensed, while embedded fonts retain their primary licenses, including SIL OFL, CC BY, and CC BY-SA.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- No project accounts
- The project says it does not provide user accounts for storing projects on its server and recommends storing projects in version control such as GitHub.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Notable limitation
- The introduction says icons in the generated fonts are single-color.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Project recovery
- Generated archives contain a config.json file that users can import back into Fontello to continue editing.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Project storage
- Fontello does not provide user accounts for storing projects; it recommends saving project archives in version control such as GitHub.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Fontello combines icon webfonts for a project, shrinks glyph collections, merges symbols from several fonts, and provides open source icons.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project directs users to its wiki for help and its GitHub issue tracker to share ideas.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
- Support and help
- The project links to a help wiki covering usage, importing, licensing, and troubleshooting topics.github.com · read 11 Oct 2026
