Font management software explained

Font management software is a kind of utility software that computer users use to browse and preview fonts and typically to install and uninstall fonts. Some font management software may be able to also:

Objectives

Font management software generally possesses more font management capabilities than most operating systems.

Finding and Evaluating Fonts

Font management software allows its users to catalogue and inspect fonts on their system. Font management software allows its users to view a font in multiple ways.

Users can inspect the font in more detail, such as looking at the fonts glyphs, or comparing another font.

Font management software may also provide detail on the glyph count of a font, if the font can be embedded (such as in a PDF), or the creator of the font.

System Stability

Font management software may be able to activate or deactivate fonts depending on when they are needed. This reduces the load on the system to keep many font active at the same time.

Some font management programs can activate fonts or a specific group of fonts when a program or document launched. When the program or document is closed, the font management software can deactivate the same fonts. This method of activating fonts can activate fonts on the fly (such as during a specific project), reducing the load on the system.

Linux-based operating systems generally do not pre-load fonts on a system-wide basis. Instead, each application loads them as it needs them. Current Linux desktop environments (such as KDE and Gnome) manage fonts for applications using their internal framework library calls for font display, allowing management of fonts via the GUI.

List of font management software

Note: Information on supported fonts is not readily available from many manufacturers. However, most of the major commercial programs support OpenType and TrueType fonts.

NameOperating systemLicenseAuthorPublisherSupported fontsNotes
BDF Font ViewerWindowsKomeil BahmanpourChortkeh
ConnectMacOS, WindowsExtensisOpenType TT (OTF or TTF), OpenType PS (OTF), PostScript CID, Multiple Master (MM), TrueType, TTC, Apple Advanced Typography (AAT), Datafork TrueType (dfont), Color Fonts. Syncs with Google Fonts and Adobe FontsClassic desktop font manager with additional web-based tools for remote access and font suggestions.
DiskFontsMac OS, WindowsAnastasiyBitmap, OpenType, TrueTypeFont manager panel for Adobe Creative Suite (CS3, CS4, CS5), supports FontExpert groups
dp4 Font ViewerWindowsStephan DeutschDigital PerformanceOpenType (OTF), TrueType (TTF)Portable font manager and viewer, with advanced search and filtering capabilities.
Elara Online Font ManagerMac OS, Windows, Linux, BSDs and others Everything FontsTrueType, OpenType, Woff and many other formatsWorks directly from the browser. No local install necessary.
FontBaseMac, Windows, LinuxMac OS, Windows, LinuxDominik Levitsky StudioOpenType, TrueType
FontAgent ServerMac OS, WindowsInsider SoftwareOpenType, TrueType
FontExpertWindowsProxima SoftwareOpenType, TrueType, TTC, WOFF (preview and create), Bitmap and vector (*.fon)
Font Explorer X ProMac OS, WindowsLinotype/Monotype
Font-ManagerLinux, BSDsJerry Casianofont-manager projectprogrammed in Vala, depends on GTK+ 3
FontmatrixMac OS, Windows, Linux and BSDsPierre MarchandHosted on GitHubOpenType, TrueTypeprogrammed in C++, depends on Qt
MainType Free EditionWindowsOpenType TT (OTF or TTF), OpenType PS (OTF), PostScript CID, TrueType, TTC, Color Fonts, Variable FontsThe free edition supports up to 2500 fonts in your font library and can only be used by a non-commercial entity for personal, educational and non-commercial use.
MainTypeWindowsOpenType TT (OTF or TTF), OpenType PS (OTF), PostScript CID, TrueType, TTC, Color Fonts, Variable Fonts
NexusFontWindowsNoh JungHoonXilesOpenType, TrueType,
RightFontMac OSMarkly Team
Suitcase FusionMac OS, WindowsExtensisOpenType TT (OTF or TTF), OpenType PS (OTF), PostScript CID, Multiple Master (MM), TrueType, TTC, Apple Advanced Typography (AAT), Datafork TrueType (dfont), Color Fonts Fully-featured font manager.OS support and partner application support info Was previously merged with Font Reserve. Evolved into Connect Fonts.
Suitcase TeamSyncMac OS, WindowsExtensisSame as Suitcase Fusion Cloud-based font server that serves as an optional central backend for Suitcase Fusion. Evolved into Connect Fonts.
TypefaceMac OSFloor van SteegBy DefaultOpenType, TrueType, WOFF, TTC, Datafork TrueType (dfont), PostScript CID, Color Fonts, Variable FontsNative local font manager for macOS. Syncs with Google Fonts.
Universal Type ServerMac OS, WindowsExtensisSame as Suitcase Fusion On-site/local font server that serves as an optional central backend for Suitcase Fusion. Server OS support and compatibilityClient OS support and compatibility
X-FonterWindowsBlacksun SoftwareTruetype, OpenType, PostScript Type 1, raster, vector

Discontinued font management software

Note: Information on supported fonts is not readily available from many manufacturers. However, most of the major commercial programs support OpenType and TrueType fonts.

NameOperating systemLicenseAuthorPublisherSupported fontsNotes
Adobe Type Manager Light (ATM Light)Mac OS 8.6 through 9.1, Mac OS X Classic; Windows 95, 98, NT 4.0 with Service Pack 4Adobe SystemsDiscontinued: ATM Deluxe and ATM Light were discontinued in 2005.[1] [2]
Advanced Font ViewerWindowsStyopkin Software
AMP Font ViewerWindowsAMPsoftOpenType, PostScript Type 1, TrueType
California FontsWindowsThe Scone Company, LLCOpenType, Postscript Type 1, TrueTypeDiscontinued: Blocked by Win 10.
Font CardMac OS 10.4 (but not Mac OS X 10.6 Leopard)UnsanityOpenType, PostScript, TrueTypeDiscontinued: Website no longer active.[3] Modifies the Font menu and the font panel in Carbon and Cocoa applications. Supports FontAgent Pro, FontExplorer X, and Suitcase Fusion font sets.
FontcaseMac OS XBohemian CodingDiscontinued: Fontcase was discontinued in November 2013.[4] Bohemian Coding currently develops UX design app Sketch
FontDropMac, WindowsRamon MendesMI Software
  • .ttf, *.otf
Discontinued: Website points to spam site. Allows to drag'n'drop fonts directly to Sketch or Photoshop creating a new text layer
Font Fitting Room DeluxeWindowsQweasMicrosoft Windows (*.fnt, *.fon), OpenType (*.ttf, *.ttc, *.otf), PostScript Type 1 (*.pfm, *.pfb), TrueType (*.ttf, *.ttc)Last release date in 2013 (as of April 2022)
Font FrenzyWindowsTimothy Williams (computer programmer)SDSoftwareLast updated in 2010
Font ManagerWindowsStyopkin SoftwareWebsite offline, last update in 2010[5]
Font PilotOS XKoingo SoftwareDiscontinued in 2008
FontRainbowWindowsTony WicksEverclear SystemsMS TrueType / TT Collections, MS OpenType, Adobe Type 1, Adobe OpenTypeDiscontinued: Website active but screenshots are from Windows Vista. The first program to use Everclear System's "Rainbow Interface"
Font SafariMac OS 9+Dreystone SoftwareLast updated in 2006
Font WranglerWindowsAlchemy MindworksTrueTypeDoes not support Windows 12
Font XplorerWindowsAhto TannerMoon SoftwareTrueType, OpenType (only those with TrueType outlines)Discontinued: No mention of Font Xplorer on developer website. Does not support Adobe Type 1 fonts or OpenType fonts with PostScript outlines.
Free & Easy Font ViewerWindowsStyopkin SoftwareOnly views characters A-I, a-i, 0-9 and basic punctuation of installed fonts. See Advanced Font Viewer for improved features.
gnome-specimenLinux, BSDsgnome-specimenOpenType, PostScript Type 1, raster, TrueType, vectorPackage removed from Debian in 2018[6]
MasterJugglerOS XAlSoftOutline, OpenType, PostScript, printer, screen, TrueTypeDiscontinued[7]
The Font ThingWindowsSue FisherSue FisherTrueTypeA legacy font management program; has not been updated since 1999, though apparently is still popular among some users
TypografWindowsAlex NeuberNeuber Software GmbHTruetype, OpenType, PostScript Type 1, printer, raster, vectorOnly supports Windows up to Windows 10 https://www.neuber.com/typograph/
Opcion Font ViewerJavaP. ChiuOpcionLast update: 08.2007. Windows .exe installer may not work with current versions of Java (above 1.5.9).
Printer's ApprenticeWindowsBryan T. KinkelLose Your Mind DevelopmentOpenType, PostScript, TrueTypeLast update, 1/25/2017 – Supports Windows 10

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. http://www.adobe.com/products/atm/ ATM Discontinued
  2. Web site: ATM Light. adobe.com. 2016-11-03.
  3. Web site: Unsanity . 2022-04-25 . unsanity.com.
  4. http://bohemiancoding.tumblr.com/post/65603011680/retiring-fontcase Retiring Fontcase
  5. Web site: 2021-05-25 . Font Viewer for Windows 7, Vista, XP, Free and Easy Font Viewer, Advanced Fonts Viewer . 2022-04-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210525013745/http://www.styopkin.com/ . 25 May 2021 . dead.
  6. Web site: gnome-specimen – Debian Package Tracker . 2022-04-25 . tracker.debian.org.
  7. Web site: MasterJuggler Support . 2022-04-25 . ALSOFT . en-US.