10 Best Typography Software for PC to Elevate Your Design Game

Key Takeaways

• From completely free software like FontForge to professional applications such as FontLab, there’s something for every skill level and budget.

• For beginners, more accessible options such as Canva or Affinity Designer can help get you started. These tools take the pain out of making beautiful typography with a minimal learning curve!

• Make the investment in professional-grade software such as Adobe Illustrator or FontLab to create your font. These software solutions provide complex functionality and smooth workflow integration for enterprise-level design initiatives.

• Take advantage of community support, plugins, and wealth of resources available in these programs!

• Some typesetting software, Glyphs included, is Mac-only. As always, be sure to consider compatibility and feature lists to make sure the tool will meet your unique needs as a PC user!

• Choose the best typography software for your personal computer that will allow you to explore and create the most imaginative and eye-catching typography.

You determine the best typography software for your PC by choosing software that offer great control over execution while still providing speed and user-friendliness.

Whether you’re operating a local business or e-commerce store, effective typography can really help your visuals stand out. This feature can really help your brand to stand out!

From options that suit your wallet to powerful layouts—all with intuitive editing and customizable font management—your ideas have never looked better.

Our top photo editing software picks help you get started quickly—with minimal hassle.

1. FontForge

FontForge is unique among the apps on this list for its completely free access, providing you with a professional-level font editing tool without breaking the bank. You can draw new fonts or modify existing ones in popular formats such as TrueType and OpenType.

It’s time to get out those vector tools and perfect every curve and spacing! With the open-source nature of the setup, you’re introduced to a very active user base.

You will be intimidated at first—the interface is clunky and the features are overwhelming, to say the least. Yet, if you have the time and the right resources, you can forge type to your own specifications.

2. Glyphs

Glyphs is unique in its use of user-friendliness to guide you through the entire font creation process from beginning to end in record time. We hear all the time from users that making and modifying glyphs is just a nice experience, even on a trackpad.

By using automatic spacing features, you have added time savings correcting letter spacing and the fonts have a polished appearance. With updates released frequently, there’s always new tools and small adjustments to streamline your workflow even further.

Just remember, Glyphs is Mac only and pretty pricey for what hobbyists would be willing to shell out. Most designers combine Glyphs with Illustrator for added assistance.

3. Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator is where you get down to serious business when it comes to vector editing and glyph creation. From designing your own typefaces to adjusting every curve, the possibilities are endless.

Exporting fonts is an intuitive process, meaning that sharing your custom creations with teammates or clients is a seamless experience. If you enjoy working back and forth between Photoshop or InDesign, Illustrator meshes perfectly, keeping your workflow connected.

Fair warning, the tools are a bit tricky to learn—especially if you’re just starting out. Monthly plans are as low as $22.99 per month.

4. FontLab

FontLab really shines with its advanced glyph editing tools. It has great support for OpenType feature support, which makes it a powerful alternative for veteran type designers.

You get Python 3 scripting to supercharge your projects – imagine batch glyph processing or automating repetitive tasks with your own commands! Looking for pixel-perfect precision? FontLab offers drawing precision in fractions of points and integer rounding on the fly.

The price and learning curve are steep, but FontLab’s advanced features and tutorials are worth the investment.

It finally makes it possible to edit both PostScript Bézier and TrueType curves, even on open paths! You can print glyph maps and define kerning for complex scripts such as Arabic.

On top of that, you can create fully-featured professional Unicode 15-supporting fonts!

5. Affinity Designer

For one, Affinity Designer’s impressive vector tools allow you to create clear, precise typography. What you get is a workspace that feels approachable for both first-time users and veterans alike.

With its panel layout and custom keyboard shortcuts, you can mold the environment to match your workflow. Adjust kerning and tracking, experiment with variable fonts and easily import custom typefaces.

You can zoom into your work to ridiculous levels—useful for small adjustments on large projects. Though not a font creator, Affinity Designer’s typography tools are pro-grade and can satisfy most agency or small business needs.

6. Figma

Figma stands out for letting you and your team work together live in the cloud, swapping real-time feedback and tweaks. You get powerful vector tools to create unique letters and experiment with custom type.

Plugins like Google Fonts Connect and Font Previewer make it easy to quickly pick and preview fonts. Figma’s 8-point grid and 4-point baseline ensure all text is perfectly aligned.

Tools like “Grow Vertically” and smart style sync help you spend less time updating designs! It’s a tool that’s primarily geared towards UI/UX, so there are a lot of limitations to how you can create fonts.

7. Canva

Canva is unique among these options for how easy it is to get started, allowing you to create simple typography-based designs even if you have zero experience. You’ve got free fonts at your fingertips!

Have fun with choices like Josefin Sans, Dosis, Montserrat, and old favorites like Helvetica and Roboto.

Pairings such as Lato with Montserrat will keep your site crisp and clean. For easy wins, try these quick tips in Canva:

Canva does an excellent job of keeping everything very simple, but you don’t get into advanced pro design tools. For more advanced needs, Graphically.io can fill the gap.

8. Fontself

Fontself is a font creation tool that plugs directly into Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop. It allows you to convert your drawings or vector art into functional fonts without having to leave your beloved workspace! You’ll gain access to convenient vector tools alongside freehand drawing.

On top of that, you can bring in color for colorful creations—imagine fun logos or eye-catching display fonts!

Fontself is very straightforward, so you won’t find yourself buried in menus. Its price begins at $39, and $59 for both apps in a bundle, plus it’s available to try free.

Fontself is an ideal choice for Adobe enthusiasts. If you need a full team to develop your brand’s type, Graphically.io has got you taken care of! Just be aware that Fontself’s not really set up for heavy advanced features.

9. TypeTool

What really sets TypeTool apart is its price. Its short learning curve combined with your top concerns being budget and ease of use is the reason why it’s ideal for you!

For that $99 tag, you’re afforded basic glyph editing, single-style font editing, and convenient font conversion tools. Perhaps the greatest comfort comes from the knowledge that it employs the same Bézier drawing tools as FontLab Studio 5.

You can copy-paste vectors from Illustrator, or import AI and EPS outlines, so you stay smooth.

10. BirdFont

BirdFont’s notable features are its free, cross-platform access, and very simple font creation tools. You’ll be creating right on your computer using a user-friendly interface that allows you to create both monochrome and color fonts.

It opens up SVG import for custom graphics! It’s simple to get started creating your own handwritten font using scanned sheets. Although BirdFont is good for basic projects, it lacks the advanced features of FontForge for more complicated work.

The open-source model provides robust community support. When you’re ready for more advanced features or project quality control, a service like Graphically.io can assist.

Comparison of PC Typography Softwares at a Glance

Choose the Right Tool & Grow Your Brand

Choosing the best typography tool for your PC can be intimidating. It’s a little bit like digging through a huge tub at a flea market. You’re looking for solutions that help you get more done in less time, create breathtaking work, and stay within budget. Have exciting ideas in the works? Get on board with a tool that matches how you like to work—and what you can afford.

If you are looking for support creating pro-level graphics or are looking for a team that supports your mission, visit Graphically.io. It’s the smartest way to stay creative, stay on point, and stay on schedule—all without going over budget.

Try us out—together, we can make your next project stand out.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best free typography software for PC users?

FontForge is the best free alternative. It’s open source, PC compatible, and features an extensive library of tools for creating, editing, and converting fonts. It’s an excellent software for both beginners and advanced users.

Is Affinity Designer suitable for font creation?

Affinity Designer is better for lettering and vector text art, but not really font creation. If you’re creating complete font files, software such as FontForge or FontLab are more appropriate.

Which software is ideal for beginners in typography?

We found Canva and Figma to be highly intuitive and easy to learn, making them ideal tools for beginners. They provide intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces and pre-designed templates to help you create typography projects in a fraction of the time.

Do these typography software options support the Windows operating system?

Fortunately, all of the typography software on our list does support Windows PCs. This covers all the big ones such as FontForge, Adobe Illustrator, FontLab, Affinity Designer, Figma, Canva, Fontself Maker, TypeTool, BirdFont.

Can I create custom fonts without any design experience?

With software such as Canva and Figma, you can absolutely have fun with typography as a novice. These platforms give you access to thousands of templates and easy-to-use tools so you can hit the ground running.