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Font Licenses Explained

Every font page shows its license. Here is what the common ones mean in plain English. This is a friendly summary, not legal advice: the license file inside each download is what counts.

SIL Open Font License (OFL)

The most common license for free fonts.

  • You can use the font for personal and commercial work: logos, printed products, videos, websites and apps.
  • You can share the font and change it.
  • You cannot sell the font file by itself.
  • A changed version cannot use the original name if the designer reserved it.
  • When you share the font file, include the license with it.

Apache License 2.0

  • You can use, share and change the font, including for commercial work.
  • When you share the font file, keep the license and any notices with it.

Public Domain

The designer has given up their rights. You can use the font for anything.

Free for personal use only

  • You can use the font for personal projects that do not make money, such as a birthday card or a school project.
  • For business, client work or anything you sell, you need to buy a commercial license from the designer.

Other licenses

Some fonts come with their own terms. Read the license file in the download before using the font in a paid project.