FontCreator vs Shift

FontCreator is a font editor for creating, modifying, and exporting OpenType, TrueType, variable, and color fonts. Its editing tools include quadratic and cubic curves, image import, an OpenType Layout Designer, and real-time validation. When changing an existing font, it can preserve OpenType layout feature data. Variable-font work can define axes, masters, and outline layers, while scalable color fonts can use COLR and SVG extensions. The listed supported formats include OpenType, TrueType, WOFF, and WOFF2; projects can also be exchanged in .glyphs, UFO, and designspace formats. FontCreator runs on Windows 7, 8, 10, or 11 (64-bit) and macOS 11 or later, on Apple Silicon or Intel. Essentials is presented for everyday creation and editing, while Professional targets advanced development and production work. The fully functional trial includes all features for 30 days, after which a license is required. Essentials costs 49.00 USD one-time; Professional costs 199.00 USD one-time.

Shift is a free, open-source desktop font editor for designing variable fonts on macOS, Windows, and Linux. Version 0.1.1 is the first alpha release, and the maker says workflows and document details may change. The editor draws and edits straight and cubic curves, shapes, points, handles, side bearings, and advance width. Shape operations include moving, resizing, rotating, flipping, aligning, distributing, union, intersect, and subtract on closed contours. Users can inspect and edit variable-font axes, sources, mappings, style labels, and named instances. The glyph catalog uses Hyperglot language data to indicate required characters for selected languages and scripts. Shift opens `.shift` documents and inspects TTF, OTF, UFO, Designspace, Glyphs, and Glyphspackage sources. TTF and OTF files are view-only previews. Editable `.shift` files can be saved and TrueType fonts exported. Text proofing and complete spacing and kerning workflows are not yet available.