The Secret Life of Fonts & Why Some Have Price Tags
One of the questions I get asked most often is: “Can you just give me the fonts?” The short answer? Nope. And trust me, I get why that answer is annoying. But there’s a good reason behind it. I always give an easy fix, you can buy your own license.
Here’s the deal. Designers (like me) collect fonts the way some people collect sneakers, vinyl records or coffee mugs. We absolutely don’t need more of them, but we keep buying anyway. Some fonts are free, but those tend to be the ones you see everywhere, which makes them not-so-special. The really good ones, the ones that make your brand shine, usually come from type designers who’ve spent years crafting them. And those beauties can cost anywhere from $15 to several thousand dollars depending on the font family. (Yes, some fonts cost more than your couch.)
So why can’t I just hand them over like a party favor? Because fonts are protected by copyright law. When I purchase a font, I’m buying the right to use it in my work. Not to pass it around like free samples at Costco. It’s kind of like buying a Netflix subscription: you can watch all you want, but you can’t just give your login to the entire neighborhood.
Why Fonts Aren’t Free-for-Alls
They’re Intellectual Property Fonts are art. Someone designed every curve, swash, and serif, and they deserve to be paid for it.
Licensing Rules Some fonts are only for personal use, others for commercial. Sharing them can break those rules.
Legal & Financial Trouble Sharing fonts without permission can get expensive—fines, legal action, headaches. Not fun.
Quality Control Licenses make sure fonts are used as intended so they don’t end up looking janky or broken.
How to Get Fonts the Right Way
Buy a License The safest and simplest option.
Use Free/Open Source Fonts There are tons of great, legal ones out there.
Ask for Help Your designer (hi, that’s me!) can point you in the right direction.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: “So you’re telling me I can’t have the font, and now I also have homework?” Kind of, but here’s the good news. Designers aren’t out to make fonts difficult. We actually think about your budget when we choose them. If you’re a small business or non-profit, we’ll often pick something affordable or even free that still looks polished and professional.
So, while I can’t slip you fonts under the table like some kind of design black market dealer, I can promise you this. You’ll walk away with a brand that looks amazing, feels original and doesn’t get you sued. And really, isn’t that way better than free?
