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SPECIFICTION
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Fontello

fontello.com

Free plan WebAPI
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Spec score 8.2 #8 of 33 in Font Design Software

What it is

Fontello is a free web and API service for turning vector artwork into icon webfonts for websites. It can reduce glyph collections and combine symbols from multiple fonts into one generated file. The web app includes open-source artwork and accepts custom SVG icons or SVG fonts by drag and drop. Generated files arrive in a single ZIP archive, with a config.json file that can be imported later to continue editing. Its API can create a session from a font configuration, reopen that project, and download the resulting font; API sessions remain stored for 24 hours. Fontello lists Makefile, Node.js, Ruby, and Grunt integrations for workflow automation. It does not offer accounts for project storage, so archives should be kept in version control. Generated font icons are single-color. The code is MIT-licensed, while embedded fonts retain their own licenses.

Spec sheet

What it does
Fontello packs vector images into webfonts for use on web pages.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
Purpose
Fontello combines icon webfonts for a project, shrinks glyph collections, merges symbols from several fonts, and provides open source icons.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
Integrations
The project lists a Makefile example, a Node.js CLI, a Ruby CLI gem, and a Grunt integration.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
Support
The project directs users to its wiki for help and its GitHub issue tracker to share ideas.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
License
Fontello's code, except for fonts, is distributed under the MIT license; embedded fonts retain their primary licenses.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
Browser requirements
The site requires JavaScript and will not work if cookies are completely disabled.Read 11 Oct 2026 · fontello.com
Built-in artwork
The tool includes a collection of open-source artwork.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
Combine icons
It can shrink glyph collections and merge symbols from several fonts into one file.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
Custom artwork
Users can import their own artwork in SVG format and generate a font from it.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
Custom icons
The web app accepts custom SVG icons or SVG fonts by drag and drop.Read 11 Oct 2026 · fontello.com
Export
The site offers downloads for a webfont and for its configuration alone.Read 11 Oct 2026 · fontello.com
Icon color
The project documentation describes generated iconic-font icons as single-color.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
Intended audience
The project describes the tool as a way to combine icon webfonts for use in a user's own project.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
Licensing
The code is MIT-licensed, while embedded fonts retain their primary licenses, including SIL OFL, CC BY, and CC BY-SA.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
No project accounts
The project says it does not provide user accounts for storing projects on its server and recommends storing projects in version control such as GitHub.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
Notable limitation
The introduction says icons in the generated fonts are single-color.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
Project recovery
Generated archives contain a config.json file that users can import back into Fontello to continue editing.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
Project storage
Fontello does not provide user accounts for storing projects; it recommends saving project archives in version control such as GitHub.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
Support and help
The project links to a help wiki covering usage, importing, licensing, and troubleshooting topics.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
Workflow API
The API can create a session from a font configuration, reopen it with the configuration loaded, and download the resulting font; sessions are stored for 24 hours.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com
Workflow automation
Its API can create a session from a config file, reopen a configured project, and download the generated font; sessions are stored for 24 hours.Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com

Plans and prices

Free Free Free service; generated fonts are intended for web use Read 11 Oct 2026 · github.com

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Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free webfont generation
  • Imports custom SVG artwork
  • Combines symbols from multiple fonts
  • API supports configurable sessions
  • ZIP includes editable config.json

Limits

  • Generated icons are single-color
  • No accounts for storing projects
  • API sessions last 24 hours
  • JavaScript and cookies are required

Who it suits

It suits web developers combining icon fonts or importing custom SVG artwork into a project. Teams automating font generation can use the API and listed build-tool integrations.

Verdict

Fontello provides a focused workflow for assembling icon webfonts, with custom imports, archives, and automation options. Plan for external project storage and single-color output when evaluating it.

Where Specifiction places it

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