What are the best font management software tools?

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8

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293

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Jan 15, 2023

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Updated

Here’s the Deal

6 Options Considered

Best font management software tools	Price	Platforms	Last Updated
-- MainType	Free	-	Jan 15, 2023
78 NexusFont	Free	-	Nov 17, 2022
71 FontBase	Free	-	Jun 30, 2022
-- RightFont	$59+	-	Dec 29, 2022
-- SkyFonts	-	-	Oct 8, 2022

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score 44 · Answer 1

MainType

Top Pro

Can handle thousands of fonts

The (paid) Professional version lets you create a library of as many fonts as you want. Free version is limited to 2500 fonts, which is still a good amount. See More

Top Con

No previews for svg fonts (yet?)

MainType currently doesn't show previews of svg fonts. See More

PrudentPenthus's Experience

Fácil de usar, es completa a pesar de estar en versión free See More

Top Pro

Group fonts for organizing

Beside grouping by storage folder, you can create your own groups of fonts. For example for clients or projects. See More

Top Con

There are no cons.

OptimisticAtum's Experience

It is an excellent software package. It makes managing and selecting fonts so much easier!! See More

Top Pro

Add tags to fonts for easy organizing

Create tags to identify and organize your fonts. See More

Top Con

Identifies, but does not repair, fonts with integrity issues

Had to buy HighLogic's FontCreator to fix some problem fonts. See More

JoyfulPhilotes's Experience

I tried several other font managers, but High Logic's Main Type was by far the most reasonably priced for the most outstanding features. I do digital scrapbooking and some graphic design. I love having all of my fonts in one place, being able to see how they will look in the type I am considering and then being able to load the font right from there. Love it! See More

Top Pro

Instant view of all font information

You can customize your view so that you can arrange the "Information" panel with all the technical details of the font, e.g. no. of glyphs/characters (often different!), all OpenType features in the selected font, exact location of the font file, etc. See More

Top Con

Slightly dated interface

Though speedy and customizable, the interface looks a bit outdated. See More

PracticalNergal's Experience

I love that I can tag my fonts by type, so if I am looking for an all-caps, antique, or handwritten sans-serif font I can just set my filters to show me just those in those categories. I can also input the specific words I am using to see what they look like in that font. It saves me so much time! See More

Top Pro

Free version isn't extremely limited

Most features of the paid Standard and Professional versions are available in the Free version. The main difference is the number of fonts allowed in the library (2500 vs. 10,000 in Standard and unlimited in Professional). See More

Top Con

NOT a true free font manager

Yes and no to this. For the average non-pro user, it is free - but admittedly those seldom need a true font manager. Also, the company is very clear and open about the limitations of the free version (When compared to others.). That software distribution platforms often gain from promotion trial and restricted software as free isn't Hi Logics fault. See More

ProudThoosa's Experience

I compared and tried many font management programs over the years. MainType is by far the best. It has the most complete set of features and the UI is completely adjustable for your specific needs. Highly recommended. See More

Top Pro

Sample window with OpenType features preview

Click the X_2 button and enable/disable OpenType features of the selected font in the sample window with a customizable text preview. See More

JoyousUtnapishtim's Experience

I've been using MainType Professional for many years now, and I must admit that every now and then I was wondering if it is worth it, it's price - after all when everything works, you (or at least I) don't have to use it too often. But as soon as you need it, it saves you. It might not look as "chiqué " as one or the other (mac) tool, but it works much better once you have got the hang of it. Sure, there is room for improvement - where isn't? - but what is worth so much more than one or the other "coolness" improvement is reliability and service. Whenever I had a problem with it (mostly due to my own sloppiness when upgrading to a new computer) my support question was answered closer within minutes than hours. Fonts seem to be so simple when everything works, but once you take a closer look the topic is extremely complex. (Just look at all the blunders Adobe, Apple and Microsoft have produced...) In January support for PS1 Fonts will end. Getting prepared for that situation without MainType would have cost me so much more time and grievances. And while I know about one or the other shortcoming in my relationship with the program over the years (on both sides) I can tell you that no other tool comes close to it. And I've tried most of them or supported them on colleague's machines or my second ones. Last but not least, having been around in the industry for a long time, I (and everyone else) have experienced how bad it ist to have to rely on the 'big players' and their business decisions. Having a reliable independent player that helps you being al little more independent from all the subscription models ist worth a lot! See More

Top Pro

No subscription but permanent license

No subscription software that you don't own. How many utilities, plug-ins, suites, and so on do you have to subscribe to? See More

PositiveRudraige's Experience

MainType is the most convenient resource for handling a lot of fonts! See More

Top Pro

Access fonts from network locations

Any folder, including mapped network folders, can be checked for fonts that are added to the font library. See More

ArticulateWala's Experience

MainType is what EVERY FONT MANAGER should be. Simple, strong, logically structured, plenty of resources, NEVER bringing issues to Windows System or third-party applications. I don't want a font manager that automatically installs a lot of issues, just to keep a dubious professional appearance. I want a font manager that effectively WORKS in every circumstance or context, even when my system is stressed by multiple tasks. And more: I want a font manager that simply and strongly deals with thousands of fonts without a single gasp. And I found that manager, and I am proud to be a costumer, a hard MainType user. (Miguel Fernandes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) See More

Top Pro

Very good support

Very good support, which usually reacts extremely quickly when something goes wrong. So far there has been nothing unresolved. See More

PrudentSirara's Experience

Very powerful software to manage your fonts, explore and classify them, activate them by groups only when necessary. I bought the lifetime licence, very satisfied with it. See More

Top Pro

Temporary font installation

Fonts don't have to be installed for use, you can also load them. This way they're available for use in all programs, but won't stay 'installed' after a reboot. See More

PracticalIshat's Experience

I've been using MainType Pro since version 5, and every upgrade was worth the investment. No other font manager can make handling thousands of fonts this easy. See More

Top Pro

Multi-monitor capable

You know that there's always too little space. You can customize your "view" so that on the second monitor you can see a big window only with the glyphs of the selected font in the main window. See More

CaringTammuz's Experience

This is the best font manager out there. I have tried several and this one doesn't bog your system down and it is easy to see all the fonts. Amazing software! See More

Top Pro

Easily access glyphs and special characters

MainType easily allows you to view all the special characters and glyphs available in a font and copy and paste them into other programs. Definitely the easiest font manager to do this! See More

PhilosophicalHotuMatua's Experience

I love maintype it is the best font manager for pc and mac users it is a cut above the rest. I am a professional graphic designer of 20+ years. See More

Top Pro

Clear and Powerful interface, all data are exposed clearly, easy to find and use

All the organization of the panels is simple, clear, easy to change and adapt to everyone needs. Simply a great interface with everything is easy to find, organize and use. All the panels are re-sizeable! And the dark skin is beautiful and very relaxing interface for long work sessions! See More

PrivateArktos's Experience

Ich arbeite bereits seit Mitte der Achtziger-Jahre mit Desktoppublishing-Programme, habe in dieser Zeit sehr viele Schriftverwaltungen auf Windows sowie Mac kennen gelernt. Leicht gewöhnungsbedürftig (gekaufte Version). Wenn man das Programm kennt, kann man es nur weiterempfehlen. Für mich bis heute eines der besten Schriftverwaltungs-Programme. See More

Top Pro

Easy way to test different fonts for headlines

As some type faces only have caps, you can test my phrases by writing one in all caps and one in upper/lower on the same screen so you can see the contrast, if any. For visual purposes, you can capture a test along with font name using a screen capture program, then compare them all before committing on the one/s that fit the best in the design. In terms of font management, this beats what Adobe has to offer. See More

Sergio Bonfiglio's Experience

I'm a 62 YO programmer and a font designer since 3 years creationg fonts for my applications. I had a lot of font management apps. Plenty. And I have to say that NEVER (I repeat, NEVER) have found such a great application for font management. I have used the font managers of different applications suites, like Corel and others, and many font management programs, but never found such a complete set of functionalities, such a clear disposition of all the panels, such a great simplicity of usage. These guys are great! as simple as that. And let me say something about the other High-Logic software, Font Creator, which is simply exceptional. Easy to use, so much powerful, and with a wizard for the font metrics which is simply... magic! FANTASTIC. Folks, you have got a customer forever. See More

Top Pro

Create font books with samples

It's easy to create a number of different font sample sheets to include in style guides or create your own font book. See More

Dr.AlanHoffman's Experience

I have used High Logic MainType for several years now, and just upgraded to version 11. I find it a fabulous piece of software and much easier to use than the Suitcase offerings or some others that I have tried. It is fast, robust and meets all of my needs as a publisher and printer. It is the first piece of software that I used in years on the Window's side of things that actually allows me to see and sort and categorize all of my fonts. I absolutely love it. Support has been great as well. Every time I asked a question or created a ticket, the support team takes care of things in a very timely fashion. All in all, a great piece of software for the creative wordsmithing professional. See More

Top Pro

It is a true pro-tool, you must understand some background to use it right

Other tools or companies often try to make it look like dealing with fonts is trivial, while it isn't. See More

HilariousChthonius's Experience

I have tried several font managers to help me organize my font obsession. MainType is the best I've found! I love that I can add my own custom tags, install and uninstall my fonts as I need them, and easily access glyphs and extras. See More

Top Pro

25:9 ratio screens are supported magnificently

MAinType adapts splendidly to 25:9 screen ratio and the work is even more easy, because the columns of the font list not only can be moved, but resized to show larger, and better, and all the panels are beautifully resized. Fantastic. See More

ResourcefulTaranis's Experience

Love MainType. My only font software because it does everything I need. Customer service actually exists and they are fast and awesome! See More

Top Pro

It does not drag down system resources

DashingNephthys's Experience

I work at the La Capital newspaper in Rosario, Argentina. I am using MainType at work and since I knew it I bought it for my personal use and I am very happy. I will continue to use it for my design work every day. Very good work. jorge rubinetti, from Rosario, Argentina. See More

Top Pro

It's a fast, easy to use font manager and does everything you need. I can't evaluate su[port bc I never needed to use it.

StrongNanshe's Experience

After years of using other font manager software, I found the almost perfect one: MainType! See More

LikablePazuzu's Experience

Fast and easy. See More

See All

score 49 · Answer 2

NexusFont

Top Con

Apparently stopped in development

Top Pro

Installation from custom folder without copying to system folder

It's good to separate system fonts and user fonts, but Windows doesn't support it by default. NexusFont helps to manage big collections. See More

Sergio Bonfiglio's Experience

It is better to say anything about this piece of code. Uninstalled after 5 minutes. See More

Top Con

Organizing fonts is awkward

Top Pro

Free

David Aslan French's Experience

While I love FontBase's cross platform and great UI it runs so sluggishly that I've had to resort back to my original go to NexusFont. It's great! See More

Top Con

Scanning fonts on start up

Takes FOREVER. See More

Top Pro

Good for sorting poorly named font files into folders

Top Con

Windows only

NexusFont is not available for macOS or Linux. See More

Top Pro

Super fast

It can browse thousands of fonts instantly. Fontbase and Suitcase are nowhere near it. See More

Top Con

Good features, could get better with automation

The program is good for moving font files, but it would save me time if this could be automated, for instance, it would be nice to be able to automatically sort font files into folders based on family. See More

Top Pro

Easy to install and uninstall fonts as needed

See All

score 65 · Answer 3

FontBase

Top Con

It doesn't grab fonts when using the package features in Adobe software

You will have to manually grab the font folders from your library. As the fonts aren't actually installed locally, Adobe software can't see the font nor export it with your project. See More

Top Pro

It saves you from having to install fonts

CommunicativeAristaeus's Experience

Free, but also includes affordable upgrade plans for extended functionality. Super-fast, easy to use, works on both Windows and MacOS See More

Top Con

Must open it everytime to activate fonts

FontBase's main pro is its main drawback - not needing to install fonts is great, but opening files using fonts not installed may not show them properly unless FontBase is also opened. See More

Top Pro

Free to use

FontBase is free. See More

Sergio Bonfiglio's Experience

It starts right and after some seconds you realize that it is not a professional tool. Uninstalled after 10 minutes. See More

Top Con

Virtually non-existent support

Generally get one response and then dead silence. See More

Top Pro

Works fast with a lot of fonts

innn's Experience

Looks good and behaves well. Does not need installation. The executable is ready to go. You drag your folder of fonts into the window in the left column, you push the tiny button after it turns to green all your beloved fonts are available to you into programs without needing to burden the fonts directory of your OS, in my case Windows. See More

Top Con

Does not display all fonts, and there is NO support at all

No help/support, no spec, no tech page or forum. See More

Top Pro

Wonderful minimalist interface with good choice of controls

David Aslan French's Experience

It's beautiful UI and cross platform BUT barely usable due to bad performance. I'm running a Surface Book 2 and this thing makes Adobe PS run like crap. See More

Top Con

It doesn't make adding, activating or sorting through fonts any easier

When dragging font and font folders into the library you will still need to search for them and manually activate. The ability to search and sorting fonts is very limited. See More

Top Pro

Get Google Fonts on your system in a few seconds

IntelligentBrizo's Experience

Seems okay - stable and easy to use + it's free! See More

Top Con

Crashes with many fonts

Top Pro

Syncs font database from Dropbox easily

Fontbase allows you to easily set up watch folders allowing you to sync your font libraries directly from any cloud-based storage provider. See More

ReceptiveFangfeng's Experience

FontBase, where have you been all my life? See More

Top Con

Makes Adobe programs run slow and crash

Top Pro

Regular free updates

ExcitedFlidais's Experience

Uploads your fonts to FontBase servers. Uses an ENORMOUS amount of traffic. If many fonts, in the GB size. Supposedly to calculate attributes, but uploading my expensively purchased fonts to a central server is bad, if not illegal. See More

Top Con

Ask to buy

Search filter is need to buy. See More

Top Pro

Affordable upgrade option

TrustworthyNatsiliani's Experience

Saves a lot of time! See More

CommunicativePan's Experience

Love it! See More

MightyBochica's Experience

Great! See More

LoyalBythos's Experience

Paying customer since the beginning, changed from suitcase. Love their software, but the auto-activation plugin is just very buggy, and their support is just terrible, not existent. See More

PerseveringBacchus's Experience

I have no idea how to use this program although it has recommendations. Go figure! See More

CoolElatha's Experience

Frequent bugs, developer ignores feedback, support is virtually non-existant (you generally get one response and then dead silence). Has "broken" Illustrator several times, leaving loads of us trying to find out what the problem was on the Adobe forums. There is a massive performance impact currently when using a large amount of fonts. It's not ready for business use, fine for small personal libraries. See More

LikableCizin's Experience

It has big issues with indesign, if i dont close font base indesign drops and i cannot start it See More

See All

score 9 · Answer 4

RightFont

Top Pro

Auto activation

Top Con

No free version

Pablo R.'s Experience

works really fast and have auto-activation fonts See More

Top Pro

Lightweight

See All

score 13 · Answer 5

SkyFonts

Top Con

Only work with internet connection

Send to many information about you to internet See More

Top Pro

Widely used

score 13 · Answer 6

Suitcase Fusion

Top Con

Steep cost on upgrades

Expensive price to pay for a license the user has already paid for. Aside from being a standalone Digital Asset Management (DAM) tool focused on fonts, it's highly used purely as plugins for Adobe products (which are similarly also well known for high cost licensing & upgrades) . See More

Top Pro

Automatically activates required fonts

mrsnak's Experience

Suitcase 7 was great. Suitcase * is a total disaster. Just look at their forum on this See More

Top Con

Current version UI is terrible, not for designers

Top Pro

Works on Macs and PCs

Arin Ringwald's Experience

Cash grabbing upgrades makes me cringe at the prospect of having to buy a new license for a new version EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR. and or every time adobe releases a new version. Not only is it ridiculous, it's greedy, it's sneaky, it's manipulative, and it's got me scouring for alternatives. Version 7 had a great interface, complete with an 'explorer' view that allowed you to shuffle and sort fonts by a variety of methods. Version 8 came about as CC 2018 was released. Close to a year after version 7. The upgrade licence was like $60. More than most font programs cost outright. The single solitary reason I upgraded - so my auto-activation in CC 2018 keeps working. Not a single other valuable reason. It had an overhaul to the SF UI, doing away with the sort / explorer window completely, even at huge protest from customers who had grown to rely on it. This is even after they did a product testing and analysis with users. They blatantly ignored the community. Version 9 drops, again in tandem with CC 2019, and voila, the same story, 1 year later. Pay up $60 so I can auto-activate. What a load of sht. This time around, the new features include document tracking. Woop-de-who-the-f** cares about document tracking? I bought this for font navigation! More cash grab from a sleezy company. So sick of this. See More

ExcitedFlidais's Experience

Works great. Needs UI update, cannnot yet view SVG fonts. But having used each and every font software there is, it still beats others by a mile. hands down. Despite its new expensive annual lease price. See More

NiceTenjin's Experience

Newest version started a Font Version Warning. Which for a print/job shop means every file I open gets this warning. Anyone know the difference between Times ver 3 and Times 3.1? Anyone care if the document looks right? See More

See All

6 Options Considered

My Recommendation for MainType

My Recommendation for MainType

Can handle thousands of fonts

No previews for svg fonts (yet?)

Group fonts for organizing

There are no cons.

Add tags to fonts for easy organizing

Identifies, but does not repair, fonts with integrity issues

Instant view of all font information

Slightly dated interface

Free version isn't extremely limited

NOT a true free font manager

Sample window with OpenType features preview

No subscription but permanent license

Access fonts from network locations

Very good support

Temporary font installation

Multi-monitor capable

Easily access glyphs and special characters

Clear and Powerful interface, all data are exposed clearly, easy to find and use

Easy way to test different fonts for headlines

Create font books with samples

It is a true pro-tool, you must understand some background to use it right

25:9 ratio screens are supported magnificently

It does not drag down system resources

It's a fast, easy to use font manager and does everything you need. I can't evaluate su[port bc I never needed to use it.

My Recommendation for NexusFont

My Recommendation for NexusFont

Apparently stopped in development

Installation from custom folder without copying to system folder

Organizing fonts is awkward

Free

Scanning fonts on start up

Good for sorting poorly named font files into folders

Windows only

Super fast

Good features, could get better with automation

Easy to install and uninstall fonts as needed

My Recommendation for FontBase

My Recommendation for FontBase

It doesn't grab fonts when using the package features in Adobe software

It saves you from having to install fonts

Must open it everytime to activate fonts

Free to use

Virtually non-existent support

Works fast with a lot of fonts

Does not display all fonts, and there is NO support at all

Wonderful minimalist interface with good choice of controls

It doesn't make adding, activating or sorting through fonts any easier

Get Google Fonts on your system in a few seconds

Crashes with many fonts

Syncs font database from Dropbox easily

Makes Adobe programs run slow and crash

Regular free updates

Ask to buy

Affordable upgrade option

My Recommendation for RightFont

My Recommendation for RightFont

Auto activation

No free version

Lightweight

My Recommendation for SkyFonts

My Recommendation for SkyFonts

Only work with internet connection

Widely used

My Recommendation for Suitcase Fusion

My Recommendation for Suitcase Fusion

Steep cost on upgrades

Automatically activates required fonts

Current version UI is terrible, not for designers

Works on Macs and PCs

Don't see your favorite option? Add it.

My Recommendation for Eagle.cool

My Recommendation for Eagle.cool

My Recommendation for Dotbooker

My Recommendation for Dotbooker

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