Font Licensing Hub
Everything you need to know about using fonts legally. From commercial licenses and web embedding rules to open-source rights and agency workflows, these guides cover the full legal context of font usage.
Important Legal Note
Using a font without the right license is copyright infringement, even if the font was free to download. Font foundries actively scan the web for unlicensed usage and pursue legal action. Always verify your license covers your specific use case before deploying any font.
Commercial vs Personal Licenses
Understand the legal boundary between personal-use and commercial font licenses, and when you must upgrade.
Web Embedding Restrictions
Rules for serving fonts via @font-face, CDN usage, self-hosting permissions, and pageview caps.
Font Modification Rights
When you can legally subset, edit, fork, or convert a font file under different license types.
Open Source Font Licenses
How OFL, Apache 2.0, Creative Commons, and public domain licenses work for fonts.
Google Fonts License Guide
What Google Fonts' open-source licenses actually allow for commercial use, modification, and embedding.
Font Piracy Risks
Legal exposure, fines, DMCA takedowns, and compliance risks from using unlicensed fonts.
Client Font Licensing
Agency and freelancer guide to sublicensing, project scope, and font file handoff for client work.
Quick Licensing Reference
Common License Types
- • Desktop: Install on computers
- • Web: Serve via @font-face
- • App: Embed in mobile/desktop apps
- • E-book: Embed in digital publications
- • Server: Generate dynamic content
Web Embedding Rules
- • Desktop license ≠ web license
- • Check pageview caps
- • Verify domain restrictions
- • Self-hosting needs explicit rights
- • CDN may require separate terms
Open Source Summary
- • OFL: Free, derivatives stay OFL
- • Apache 2.0: Free, most permissive
- • CC BY: Free, attribution required
- • CC0: Public domain, no restrictions
- • GPL+FE: Free, with font exception
Licensing Tools & Resources
Font License Checker
Upload any font file to analyze its embedded license metadata, usage rights, and restrictions. Free and instant.
Check a font license →Font Licensing Explained
In-depth editorial guide walking through font licensing from basics to advanced scenarios for developers and designers.
Read the guide →Verify Your Font Licenses
Use our free Font License Checker to analyze any font file's embedded licensing data, or explore our guides to understand your rights.