Almost half of creatives say font licensing is hard to understand. That’s not your fault — the industry loves long legal pages. So here is the short version, written for real projects.
Start with one question: where will people see the font?
- In your logo or on a sign → Logo License. A logo is used everywhere and often registered as a trademark, so it needs its own license.
- On Instagram, flyers, menus or price lists → Desktop License. It covers design work for your business, including non-monetized social media and up to 1,000 printed pieces.
- On products you sell (packaging, T-shirts, printables) → Desktop for up to 1,000 pieces, Extended for more.
- On your website → Webfont License (up to 100,000 monthly page views).
- In an app or game → App/Game License.
- In videos you earn from (YouTube, TikTok, Reels) → Monetized License. TV, film and cinema → Broadcast License.
- For a personal, non-commercial project like your own invitation → Personal Use, free on most of our fonts.
Big brands and teams
If a whole company will use the font across a country, the Local Brand License covers unlimited users, products and channels nationwide. The Worldwide License does the same globally. Teams of up to 10 people usually fit the Extended License.
Three mistakes we see often
- Using a free personal-use font in a logo. It looks fine until the brand grows — then it becomes a legal risk. Upgrade before you print.
- Buying Desktop for a website. Desktop lets you design with the font; it doesn’t let your site load it for visitors. That’s the Webfont License.
- Forgetting the second person. Most licenses count users. If your designer and your social media admin both install the font, check the user count.
Real examples, real answers
- “I’m a freelancer designing a poster for a client’s event.” Desktop License — it covers commercial client work in up to 5 projects.
- “It’s for my café logo, the sign and the cups.” Logo License — the logo is a trademark use, and it also covers the printed items.
- “I post on TikTok and earn from brand deals.” Monetized License — content that makes money needs it.
- “I want the font on my online shop’s website.” Webfont License — it includes WOFF files and covers up to 100,000 page views a month.
- “We’re a team of eight designers in an agency.” Extended License — up to 10 users and unlimited commercial projects.
- “It’s for a nationwide bank campaign on TV.” Broadcast plus Local Brand License — or ask us for a custom quote.
Licenses are per font, not per family member
Each font you use needs its own license. If your logo uses a signature and a sans, both fonts need the right license. Buying two or more fonts together gets an automatic discount in the cart, and our bundles include the Desktop License for every font inside.
What if my project grows?
You don’t have to guess the future. Start with the license that fits today and upgrade on the same font page when the project grows — from Desktop to Extended, or from Personal to Logo. Your files stay in your account, so there is nothing to reinstall.
Keep proof of your license
Your order confirmation email and the “My fonts” page in your account are your proof of license. Keep them with the brand files you hand over to clients, so they can show it if anyone ever asks.
The 10-second version
Answer two questions in our license helper and it tells you exactly which license to pick on any font page. Every license is a one-time payment, and you can upgrade later.
