Freedom251 › Font Design Software
FontLab 8
What FontLab 8 is
FontLab 8 is an integrated font editor for creating typefaces ranging from simple designs to complex families. It creates, opens, tests and exports font families, variable OpenType fonts, color fonts and web fonts for Unicode writing systems. Drawing tools include Brush, Pencil, Rapid, Pen, Ellipse, Rectangle, Polygon and Star, with integer or fractional coordinates. Spacing features include phrase spacing, kerning classes, automatic metrics and kerning, plus right-to-left kerning for scripts such as Arabic and Hebrew. OpenType Layout features can be created manually or automatically with FEA format and Adobe FDK for OpenType. FontLab handles OTF, TTF, WOFF, WOFF2, UFO, designSpace, Glyphs and other listed formats. It supports interchange with Glyphs, RoboFont, FontForge and Microsoft VOLT, along with Python 3 and TypeRig. It runs on macOS and Windows and offers a fully functional 10-day trial.
Who it suits
It suits professional typeface designers, graphic designers, students and foundries working with advanced font families and Unicode scripts. Separate student, teacher, course and workshop plans address academic or teaching use.
What it does well
- Variable and color font creation
- Right-to-left kerning support
- OpenType Layout feature tools
- Many import and export formats
- Fully functional 10-day trial
What to know first
- No free plan
- Starter and Pro licenses limit use to three computers
- Windows 7 has limited functionality
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Student 1-year | $109 for 365 days · Academic students · use for any purpose · upgradable to lifetime | $109 a year |
| Course 4-months | $249 once · Teacher or school · 20 students · 4 months of use | $249, paid once |
| Student / teacher lifetime | $335 once · Academic students, teachers or institutions · lifetime use · discounts on future upgrades | $335, paid once |
| Pro — Lifetime license | US$499, buy once · Mac & Windows · 1 user, 3 computers · full functionality forever · regular feature updates · expert support · volume discount available | $499, paid once |
| Starter — 3-months license | US$ 97, buy once · Mac & Windows · 1 user, 3 computers · 97 days · full functionality · regular feature updates · expert support | $97, paid once |
| Workshop 2-weeks | $99 once · Workshop organizer · 20 participants · 14 days of use | $99, paid once |
As fontlab.com lists them, read 28 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
FontLab 8 combines drawing, spacing, kerning, OpenType and broad format support in one editor. Its paid licensing choices and computer limits should be matched to the intended user and project.
Facts from FontLab 8's own pages
- Audience
- The maker describes FontLab as a tool used by professional typeface designers, designers, students and foundries. · fontlab.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Drawing
- Drawing tools include Brush, Pencil, Rapid, Pen, Ellipse, Rectangle, Polygon and Star, with integer or fractional coordinate precision. · fontlab.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Font types
- It creates, opens, tests and exports font families, variable OpenType fonts, color fonts and web fonts for Unicode writing systems. · fontlab.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Founded
- 1992 · fontlab.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- Warsaw, Poland · fontlab.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Import and export
- It opens and exports OTF, TTF, variable and color OpenType, PostScript Type 1, WOFF, WOFF2, UFO, designSpace and Glyphs v2/v3 formats, among others. · fontlab.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- The maker lists interchange with Glyphs, RoboFont, FontForge and Microsoft VOLT, plus Python 3 scripting and the TypeRig library. · fontlab.com, 28 Sept 2026
- License limit
- The Starter and Pro offers each allow one user on up to three computers. · fontlab.com, 28 Sept 2026
- OpenType
- FontLab supports automatic and manual OpenType Layout feature creation using FEA format and Adobe FDK for OpenType. · fontlab.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Operating systems
- FontLab 8.4 works on macOS 10.15–26 Tahoe on Intel and Apple Silicon, and Windows 8.1–11; Windows 7 has limited functionality. · fontlab.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Privacy
- FontLab says it does not sell personal data and only uses submitted fonts or crash reports for support, without sharing them with third parties absent permission. · fontlab.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Product
- FontLab 8 is an integrated font editor for creating fonts from simple designs to complex projects. · fontlab.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Security
- FontLab says it uses appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect personal data and will notify the Polish authority within 72 hours when a breach is likely to risk people’s rights. · fontlab.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Spacing and kerning
- The editor supports phrase spacing, kerning classes, automatic metrics and kerning, and right-to-left kerning for scripts such as Arabic and Hebrew. · fontlab.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Support
- The maker offers expert support with the Starter and Pro licenses and provides support through its support portal and email. · fontlab.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Trial
- The maker offers a free, fully functional 10-day trial for Mac or Windows. · fontlab.com, 28 Sept 2026
Where FontLab 8 stands on Freedom251
- Font Design Software#24 of 33