Best Font Design Software in 2026
Updated
In short: FontBob is ranked #1 of 29 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Fontra and Runebender. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Fontra. The lowest first paid tier on this page is FontBob at $7/mo.
Building a typeface involves shaping glyphs and choosing how a finished font can be used. Compared on glyph capacity and OpenType layout tools, these entries also cover variable fonts, color fonts, and webfont export. Collaboration level may matter for shared work, while supported platforms, free-plan availability, and paid-from pricing help clarify practical fit. FontBob, Fontra, and Runebender are among the options shown. Think about the typeface you want to create and the platforms you work on, then compare the listed capabilities to see which tools align with your design process.
29 font design software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
7 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FontBobWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 6 of 6 | $7/mo | 6.7 | |
| 2 | FontraWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 3 | RunebenderWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 4 | BirdfontWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 5 | FontForgeWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 6 | Glyphr StudioWeb · Self-hosted | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 7 | BezyWeb · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.5 |
| 8 | Bitmap Font EditorWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 9 | PrototypoWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 10 | ShiftWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 11 | Type LightWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 12 | CalligraphrWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 13 | FontStructWeb · Windows · Mac | Two bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 5.2 | |
| 14 | GlyphterWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 15 | PixelForgeWindows · Linux | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 16 | BrutalitaWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 17 | CounterpunchWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 18 | FontasticWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 19 | FontCreatorWindows · Mac | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 20 | FontelloWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 21 | FontLab 8Windows · Mac | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | $9.08/mo | 5.1 |
| 22 | FontMakerWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 23 | MetaflopWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 24 | MixfontWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 25 | GlyphsMac | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which font design software is ranked first on Freedom251?
FontBob is ranked #1 of 29 with a score of 6.7. Fontra is second and Runebender third.
How many of these have a free plan?
7 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, FontBob has the lowest first paid tier we found: $7/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.