Google Fonts vs Type Network
Google Fonts
fonts.google.comType Network
typenetwork.comSide by side
| Figure | Google Fonts | Type Network |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 0 |
| Spec score · Font Marketplaces | 8.6 (#5) | 7.7 (#18) |
| Spec score · Web Font Marketplaces | 8.5 (#5) | 7.8 (#11) |
| Integrations | Google Design says hosted families integrate with Figma, Canva, Google Workspace, Adobe and Wix. | The desktop licensing page names Microsoft Office/365, Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva, and Figma as supported application examples. |
| Privacy | Google says the Google Fonts Web API is designed to limit data collection, storage, and use and is not used to create end-user profiles or for advertising. | Type Network says its hosted webfont service collects the number of times a licensed font loads on assigned domains and does not collect end-user data from visitors to those sites. |
| Support | The Google Fonts repository directs users to its issue tracker for font-file problems and future-development requests. | The company offers help with licensing, font selection, and design, and lists weekday support hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST. |
| What it does | Google Fonts is a web directory and delivery service for downloadable and embeddable typefaces. | Type Network offers font licensing and download options, advice, and typography services for businesses and organizations. |
Plans
In their own words
Google Fonts
Google Fonts is a catalog of fonts for websites, released under open-source licenses for commercial and non-commercial use. A website can use a font by linking a stylesheet and referencing the font in CSS. Developers can also query the REST-based Google Fonts Developer API for font metadata in JSON; each request requires an API key. The API supports sorting by alphabet, date, popularity, style count, and trending growth, plus filters for family, subset, and category. It can return variable font files and axis-range metadata when capability=VF is requested. For projects that need specific characters, the text parameter can reduce a requested font file’s size by up to 90%. Native Android apps can use the Font Provider in Google Play Services, supported from Android Jelly Bean API level 16 onward. Fonts can also be self-hosted for redistribution under their license terms. Google says the Web API is designed to limit data collection, storage, and use, and is not used to create end-user profiles or for advertising. The catalog is free at free.
Type Network
Type Network offers font licensing, downloads, typographic advice, and services for businesses and organizations. Its catalog brings together designers from nearly 100 foundries in 15 countries, and the company says it covers scripts beyond Latin. License options include desktop, web, ePub, app, and server use, with team and enterprise arrangements also described. Desktop fonts can be installed for use in applications such as Microsoft Office/365, Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva, and Figma, subject to licensing exceptions. Web fonts can be served from Type Network’s CDN or hosted on a customer’s own server; self-hosted downloads include WOFF, WOFF2, and EOT formats. Web licenses use a selected pageview allocation, and the company asks customers to upgrade if usage exceeds it by more than 25%. Hosted web fonts have a free 30-day trial, but no files are provided during the trial. Additional services include custom typeface development, font customization, language expansion, variable fonts, logos and lettering, and consulting. Type Network offers help with licensing and font selection, and lists weekday support hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST.