Know what your font license actually allows

Font licenses are written in legal language most people skip. This reference translates the key permissions into plain language so you can check compliance in under a minute.

Check Your Use Case Compare License Types

Last updated: January 2026 · License categories reflect common industry terms. Always read your specific license file.

License Usage Checker

Select how you plan to use the font. The results show which license types permit that use. A green check means it is generally allowed. A red cross means you need a different license type.

How do you want to use the font?
What license type do you have?
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Desktop license covers print

This combination is generally permitted. A desktop license lets you create static graphics, including printed materials like brochures, posters, and business cards.

Watch out for: Some desktop licenses limit the number of printers or commercial copies. Check for print-run caps if you are producing more than 10,000 units.

License Type Comparison

A side-by-side look at what each major license type permits. This table covers the most common categories. Individual foundries may have different terms.

Use Case Desktop Webfont App Broadcast OFL
Static graphics (social posts, PDFs) Yes No No No Yes
Website or blog (via CSS) No Yes No No Yes
Print (brochures, posters, packaging) Yes No No No Yes
Logo or wordmark Yes No No No Yes
Mobile or desktop app No No Yes No Varies
Video, film, or broadcast Varies No No Yes Varies
E-book or digital publication Varies No No No Yes
Selling products with font on them Varies No No No Yes
Yes Generally permitted No Not covered Varies Check your specific license

Real-World Scenarios

Walk through common project types and see which license you need. These examples cover the questions designers ask most often.

🏢

Logo for a Startup

You are designing a logo for a new company. They want to use the font as their primary wordmark across business cards, their website, and merchandise.

You need: A desktop license for the logo file (most desktop licenses allow logo use). If the font will also appear on the website via CSS, add a webfont license.
Tip: For logos that will be trademarked, check that the license does not restrict use in registered marks. Most do not, but a few independent foundries add this clause.
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Font in a YouTube Thumbnail

You create YouTube thumbnails with bold text overlaid on images. The font is visible for seconds at a time in each video.

You need: A desktop license covers static thumbnails. If the font appears in motion (animated text in the video itself), you may need a broadcast license depending on the foundry.
Tip: Most designers use a desktop license for thumbnails without issue. The gray area begins when the font is used in motion graphics inside the video.
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Typeface in a Mobile Game

You are building an indie mobile game and want to bundle a custom UI font into the app binary for menus and in-game text.

You need: An app license (sometimes called an end-user license or software license). A desktop license does not cover bundling fonts into software.
Tip: App licenses often scale by the number of app downloads or active users. Check the tier limits before launch. Some foundries charge per-platform (iOS and Android count separately).
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E-Book with Custom Typography

You are self-publishing a novel and want to embed a decorative font in the chapter headings of your e-book file.

You need: Check the license for embedding terms. Many desktop licenses permit read-only embedding in PDFs. E-book-specific licenses are rarer but some foundries offer them. OFL fonts are the safest choice for this.
Tip: If the e-book is sold commercially, some foundries consider this a "product" use and require an extended license. The OFL has no such restriction.

Common License Mistakes

These are the violations designers commit without realizing it. Each one can result in a cease-and-desist or a retroactive license fee.

Embedding a font in a client's PDF without checking embedding permissions

Many designers send print-ready PDFs to clients or printers. Some licenses restrict how the font is embedded. Read-only embedding is common, but editable embedding or embedding in PDFs that will be widely distributed can be a separate violation. Look for the word embed in your license file.

Using a desktop-only font on a website via screenshots of text

Some designers think that turning text into a PNG or screenshot avoids webfont licensing. This is a gray area. The font outlines are still being used to generate public-facing content. Most foundries consider this acceptable for small uses, but a site built entirely of text-as-images is risky.

Sharing a font file with a client or collaborator

Almost every commercial license restricts redistribution. Sending the .otf or .ttf file to a client, even for a project you were hired for, usually requires the client to have their own license. Adobe Fonts and Google Fonts solve this because the client can activate the font on their own account.

Assuming a free font has no restrictions

Free fonts can have licenses too. Some are free for personal use only. Some require attribution. Some use the SIL Open Font License which is very permissive but still has conditions (like not selling the font by itself). Always check the license file included with the download.

Using a font in a logo without checking trademark clauses

Most licenses allow logo use, but a few independent foundries restrict use of their fonts in registered trademarks. If your client plans to trademark the logo, read the license for any mention of trademark, mark, or logo restrictions.

Exceeding pageview limits on webfont licenses

Some webfont licenses cap monthly pageviews. If your site grows beyond that limit, you are in violation. Adobe Fonts includes unlimited pageviews. Google Fonts has no cap. Independent foundries on MyFonts or Gumroad may have tiers (like 100K, 500K, or 1M pageviews per month).

Foundry Cheat Sheet

A quick summary of typical terms from popular font sources. Terms can change, so treat this as a starting point and always verify with the current license.

Google Fonts

All fonts use the SIL Open Font License. Free for commercial use, web, print, logos, apps, and embedding. No attribution required (but appreciated). No pageview limits. Cannot sell the font by itself.

Best for: Any project

Adobe Fonts

Included with Creative Cloud. Covers desktop use and webfont serving with unlimited pageviews. Logos and print are permitted. App and broadcast use requires separate licensing. Cannot share font files with non-subscribers.

Best for: Designers with CC

MyFonts / Fontspring

Sells fonts from hundreds of independent foundries. License type varies by foundry and product. Desktop, webfont, app, and broadcast licenses are sold separately. Always read the specific foundry's EULA before purchasing.

Best for: Premium fonts

Independent Sellers (Gumroad, Creative Market)

License terms vary widely. Some use standard EULAs, others write their own. Common restrictions include no app use, no broadcast use, and no logo trademarks. Personal-use-only licenses are common for budget fonts.

Best for: Read the fine print

License Decision Flowchart

Follow this path to figure out which license type you need. Print it out and keep it at your desk.

1 What are you making?
→ Static image or print piece → Desktop license
→ Website with live text → Webfont license
→ Mobile or desktop app → App license
→ Video content → Broadcast license (or check desktop terms)
2 Is it a logo or trademark?
→ Most desktop licenses allow it. Check for trademark clauses if registering.
3 Will you share the font file?
→ Almost never allowed. Send a PDF or image instead, or have the other party buy their own license.
4 Still unsure? Buy the next license tier up, use an OFL font, or email the foundry. Most respond within a few business days.