RoboFont vs FontForge

Struggling to choose between RoboFont and FontForge? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

RoboFont is a Design solution with tags like font-editor, typeface-design, vector-drawing.

It boasts features such as Vector editing of glyphs, On-canvas glyph editing, Glyph interpolation, Kerning and metrics editing, OpenType feature support, Python scripting API and pros including Powerful tool for designing fonts, Intuitive interface, Good for fine-tuning curves, Helpful interpolation tools, Supports OpenType features.

On the other hand, FontForge is a Photos & Graphics product tagged with font, editor, opensource, typography, glyphs, kerning, hinting.

Its standout features include Vector drawing tools for designing glyphs, Importing and exporting various font formats, Editing typographic features like kerning, ligatures, etc, Font hinting and optimization for screen and print, Scripting and automation via Python, Cross-platform - works on Linux, Mac, Windows, Command line and GUI versions available, and it shines with pros like Powerful feature set for free software, Open source with an active developer community, Cross-platform and widely compatible, Scripting allows advanced automation, Supports many font formats and professional features.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

RoboFont

RoboFont

RoboFont is a popular glyph editing tool used for designing typefaces. It allows for precise control over vectors and contours when creating font files.

Categories:
font-editor typeface-design vector-drawing

RoboFont Features

  1. Vector editing of glyphs
  2. On-canvas glyph editing
  3. Glyph interpolation
  4. Kerning and metrics editing
  5. OpenType feature support
  6. Python scripting API

Pricing

  • One-time Purchase

Pros

Powerful tool for designing fonts

Intuitive interface

Good for fine-tuning curves

Helpful interpolation tools

Supports OpenType features

Cons

Steep learning curve

Not ideal for drawing fonts from scratch

Lacks variable font support


FontForge

FontForge

FontForge is an open-source font editor that allows users to create and edit various types of fonts. It has robust tools for editing glyph shapes, kerning, hinting, and other typographic features.

Categories:
font editor opensource typography glyphs kerning hinting

FontForge Features

  1. Vector drawing tools for designing glyphs
  2. Importing and exporting various font formats
  3. Editing typographic features like kerning, ligatures, etc
  4. Font hinting and optimization for screen and print
  5. Scripting and automation via Python
  6. Cross-platform - works on Linux, Mac, Windows
  7. Command line and GUI versions available

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Powerful feature set for free software

Open source with an active developer community

Cross-platform and widely compatible

Scripting allows advanced automation

Supports many font formats and professional features

Cons

User interface can be complex for beginners

Limited native support for variable fonts

Not as full-featured as paid font editors

Documentation and learning resources could be better