Licensing, in plain language
Every font page tells you exactly what you can do with it. Here is what the terms mean and how the licences compare.
| You want to | Free open licence | Desktop licence | Web licence | App licence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Print, logos and documents | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Install on your computers | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Embed on websites | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Bundle in an app or game | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Client work | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sell the font files themselves | No | No | No | No |
| Modify the font | Yes, under the same licence | No | No | No |
Open licence fonts are covered by the SIL Open Font License or similar. You may not sell the files on their own, and modified versions must keep the licence. See the file in each download.
Free open licence
Most fonts on Typesay. Use them for anything, personal or commercial, in print, on the web and in apps. The licence text comes in the download. Attribution is not required in your design, only in the font files if you redistribute them.
Desktop licence
Install the font on your computers and use it in documents, logos, print and images. Priced per number of users. Covers unlimited projects and client work.
Web licence
Embed the font on your websites with the WOFF2 files. Priced per monthly pageviews across all your sites. Self-hosted, no tracking script.
App licence
Bundle the font inside a mobile, desktop or game application. Priced per app title, unlimited installs of that app.
For authors
You keep the rights to your work. Typesay sells licences on your behalf and pays you the full price on your first three fonts, then 75 percent from the fourth. You can withdraw a font at any time; licences already sold remain valid for their buyers. How selling works.
Licensing questions
Can I use a free font in a logo I sell to a client?
Yes. Open licence fonts allow commercial use, including logos and client work. Your client can use the logo without buying anything.
Do I need a web licence for a free font?
No. Free fonts can be embedded on any website. The web download pack includes the WOFF2 files and a CSS snippet.
What happens if my traffic grows past my web licence tier?
Upgrade to the next tier from your purchase history. Nothing stops working in the meantime.
Can I share a desktop font with a colleague?
Only if your licence covers that many users. Each seat is one person.
Can I convert a purchased desktop font to web format?
No. Web use needs a web licence, which supplies the web files.