Font Licenses Explained: What Free Really Means

A free download is not the same as free to use for anything. Fonts are software, and each comes with a license that sets the rules.

The main license types

SIL Open Font License (OFL). Free for personal and commercial use, including logos and websites. You can bundle it with products, but you cannot sell the font files by themselves.

Apache License 2.0. Similar freedoms, with a requirement to keep the license and notices when you redistribute the files.

Public domain. No copyright restrictions, so use it however you like.

Free for personal use. Fine for your own non-commercial projects. Client work, products and business logos need a commercial license from the designer.

Demo, shareware and donationware. Free to try, with limits or an expectation of payment. Read the terms before relying on these.

What counts as commercial use?

In general, anything connected with earning money: client work, merchandise, a company website, ads, or monetized videos and social accounts. Definitions vary, so check the license itself.

Common questions

Can I use an OFL font in a logo? Yes. The OFL does not restrict how you use the output of the font.

Do I have to credit the designer? Not with the OFL, unless you are redistributing the files. Other licenses can differ.

Can I put the font on my website? Embedding is allowed under the OFL and Apache licenses. Personal-use licenses often do not allow it.

How to stay safe

1. Read the license file that is included with the font.
2. Keep a copy along with your project files.
3. If the terms are unclear, ask the designer in writing.

This guide is general information, not legal advice.