FontBase vs iFontCloud

FontBase is a font manager for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Users can group fonts into collections and sub-collections, then activate them with one click. Watched folders keep fonts in their original locations while making them available in FontBase, and the app can automatically activate fonts placed in designated folders. The free feature set includes OpenType features, glyph viewing and copying, and access to Google's font library as if those fonts were local. The paid Awesome plan can synchronize collections across computers using a cloud drive, automatically activate missing fonts in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign documents, and manage team licenses and activations. It also supports team membership tools, including viewing who is online and how many fonts they use. Awesome costs $3 a month per user and can be used on up to two personal computers at once. The maker says it does not keep user data on its servers; Stripe handles subscription data and Auth0 handles login and authentication data. Organizations are advised to subscribe per user or contact the maker about a multi-seat account.

iFontCloud is a cloud font service offering licensed font rentals and web fonts, with products from Arphic and Morisawa. Its catalog can be filtered by type, weight, language, application, style, and designer, and supports TTF/TTC and OTF formats. Rental licenses run annually, and fonts included in a plan may be used during its license period. The Windows and Mac desktop app lists Windows 10 with .NET Framework 4.6 or macOS 10.13 and later as requirements. Supported applications include Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects, InDesign, and Premiere Pro, along with Microsoft Office and Apple Keynote, Pages, and Numbers. Registered members can access four free fonts to check software compatibility. Members with an active font or package order can install included fonts on one iPad or iPhone through the app at no extra charge. One account can be used across multiple computers, but only one computer can be logged in at a time. The service also offers personal and commercial web font plans selected according to page views. Work completed during a license period may continue to be sold after the font plan is not renewed.