Best Font Design Software in 2026
Updated
In short: FontBob is ranked #1 of 29 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of FontForge and Fontra. The best-ranked option with a free plan is FontForge. The lowest first paid tier on this page is FontBob at $7/mo.
Font design software supports the work of shaping glyphs and preparing typefaces for different uses. Compare glyph capacity and OpenType layout tools with support for variable fonts and color fonts. Collaboration level and webfont export add further distinctions, while supported platforms can help you check workflow fit. FontBob, Fontself, and Birdfont are among the options, with Glyphr Studio and FontForge also listed. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing provide cost context as you compare tools for the typeface you want to create. Consider which font capabilities matter to your design work and where you need to use the software, then use the listed criteria to assess the options.
29 font design software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Recognised 40% · Phone app 26% · Documented 20% · Free plan 14% of the score
- 1 FontBob iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.9$7/mo Variable fonts: Yes
- 2 FontForge No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.9Free Webfont export: Yes
- 3 Fontra No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.7Free Variable fonts: Yes
- 4 Runebender No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.6Free Variable fonts: YesColor fonts: Yes
- 5 FontLab 8 No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.5$9.08/mo Variable fonts: YesColor fonts: YesWebfont export: Yes
- 6 Birdfont No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.5Free Variable fonts: YesColor fonts: Yes
- 7 FontCreator No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.3 Variable fonts: YesColor fonts: YesWebfont export: Yes
- 8 FontStruct No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.2Free Color fonts: YesWebfont export: Yes
- 9 Glyphr Studio No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.2Free Variable fonts: NoColor fonts: NoWebfont export: Yes
- 10 Fontself iPhone only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.2 Color fonts: YesWebfont export: No
- 11 Glyphs No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.0 Variable fonts: YesColor fonts: YesWebfont export: Yes
- 12 FontCreator No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.8 Variable fonts: YesColor fonts: YesWebfont export: Yes
- 13 RoboFont No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4 Variable fonts: YesColor fonts: YesWebfont export: Yes
- 14 Counterpunch No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3 Variable fonts: Yes
- 15 Calligraphr No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.2 Webfont export: No
- 16 Prototypo No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.9
- 17 Shift No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.9 Variable fonts: YesWebfont export: No
- 18 Metaflop No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.7 Webfont export: Yes
- 19 Fontastic No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.6 Color fonts: NoWebfont export: Yes
- 20 FontMaker No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.5
- 21 Brutalita No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.5 Webfont export: Yes
- 22 Glyphter No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Webfont export: Yes
- 23 Type Light No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.4 Variable fonts: No
- 24 Bezy No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.2
- 25 Mixfont No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.1
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Variable fonts | Color fonts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FontBob | 8.9 | Free plan | $7/mo | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 2 | FontForge | 7.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 3 | Fontra | 7.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 4 | Runebender | 7.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 5 | FontLab 8 | 7.5 | No | $9.08/mo | No | 97 one-time | Yes | Yes |
| 6 | Birdfont | 7.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | 4.99 one-time | Yes | Yes |
| 7 | FontCreator | 7.3 | No | — | No | 49 one-time | Yes | Yes |
| 8 | FontStruct | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 9 | Glyphr Studio | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | No | No |
| 10 | Fontself | 7.2 | No | — | No | — | — | Yes |
| 11 | Glyphs | 7.0 | No | — | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 12 | FontCreator | 6.8 | No | — | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 13 | RoboFont | 6.4 | No | — | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 14 | Counterpunch | 6.3 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 15 | Calligraphr | 6.2 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 16 | Prototypo | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 17 | Shift | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 18 | Metaflop | 5.7 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 19 | Fontastic | 5.6 | No | — | Yes | — | — | No |
| 20 | FontMaker | 5.5 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 21 | Brutalita | 5.5 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 22 | Glyphter | 5.4 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 23 | Type Light | 5.4 | No | — | Yes | — | No | — |
| 24 | Bezy | 5.2 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 25 | Mixfont | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which font design software is ranked first on Samsung Mobile US Press?
FontBob is ranked #1 of 29 with a score of 8.9. FontForge is second and Fontra third.
How many of these have a free plan?
7 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, FontBob has the lowest first paid tier we found: $7/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked mobile-first: a phone app alongside the web or desktop product, a free tier and the depth of its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.