Instead of FontMaker
FontMaker alternatives
FontMaker is built around making a font from material you provide: handwriting, drawings, SVGs, or images. You can photograph a page, draw letters with a mouse, finger, or stylus, then refine individual glyphs with baseline, size, and spacing controls while previewing text. Exports include OTF, TTF, and WOFF, and the maker says files stay in the browser. Its free plan costs nothing, but limits downloads to 26 uppercase or lowercase characters for personal use. Pro unlocks all characters and commercial use for $3.99 a month or $19.99, paid once.
- 1
FontBob
Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+3Browser-based glyph drawing with sharing and version history — FontBob adds autosave, version history, font sharing, and Pro variable-font features to a browser glyph editor.
- 2
Counterpunch
Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+3Complex-script shaping and code-driven font editing — Counterpunch adds bidirectional shaping, in-place components, Python scripting, and a local-running AI assistant, but remains in Alpha.
- 3
Fontra
Free plan Open source LinuxMacSelf-hosted+2Variable-first editing and collaborative CJK production — Fontra edits Designspace and UFO sources with interpolation, OpenType features, and remote collaboration, rather than turning artwork into glyphs.
- 4
Prototypo
Free plan ExtensionLinuxMac+2Customizing parametric typefaces with live web previews — Prototypo offers four parametric typefaces, more than thirty controls, and a Chrome extension for live previews on websites.
- 5
Runebender
Free plan LinuxMacWeb+1Editing UFO and Designspace sources across platforms — Runebender supports source-font editing, kerning, feature code, color fonts, and compiled-font imports beyond FontMaker’s creation workflow.
- 6
Birdfont
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsDesktop vector and color-font creation — Birdfont is a desktop editor with vector, color-font, and SVG workflows; its Plus version adds variable fonts.
- 7
Calligraphr
Free plan MacWebWindowsHandwriting fonts with randomized character variants — Calligraphr uses printable character templates and adds randomized variants to simulate natural handwriting in TTF or OTF fonts.
- 8
FontForge
Free plan LinuxMacWindows - 9
Bitmap Font Editor
Free plan LinuxMacWindows - 10
Fontastic
Free plan Web - 11
Fontello
Free plan APIWeb - 12
FontStruct
Free plan MacWebWindows - 13
Brutalita
Free plan Web - 14
Glyphr Studio
Free plan Self-hostedWeb - 15
Mixfont
Free plan APIWeb - 16
PixelForge
Free plan LinuxWindows - 17
Shift
Free plan LinuxMacWindows - 18
Type Light
Free plan LinuxMacWindows - 19
Glyphter
Free plan Web - 20
Metaflop
Free plan Web - 21
FontCreator
Free trial MacWindows - 22
FontCreator
Free trial MacWindows - 23
FontLab 8
Free trial MacWindows - 24
Fontopia
Free plan Linux
A different tool may suit you better if you are designing from existing font sources, building a parametric typeface, or need detailed controls for shaping, interpolation, or kerning. FontMaker’s browser-based offering may also be a mismatch if you need a desktop editor, although its separate Studio app is described for iPhone, iPad, and Android. Before switching, compare each tool’s starting workflow, file formats, editing features, operating systems, and licensing. Consider whether your work needs collaboration, local processing, or broader glyph and font-source support.