In the world of web design and frontend development, typography plays an incredibly important role in creating an effective user interface. In fact, nearly 90% of the average website consists of typography. It’s not just about choosing a pretty font, though. Typography helps to convey information, set the tone, and establish a hierarchy on a webpage. When done right, it can be the difference between a website that feels polished and professional, and one that falls flat.
Furthermore, research shows that 75% of website credibility comes from design, and 94% of first impressions relate to your web design. When someone finds your business for the first time, you want to set an excellent first impression, and having a solid, bold (pun intended) typography strategy can help you achieve that.
Typography Websites for Frontend Developers
With so much competition for user attention online, having a comprehensive understanding of typography and utilising the top 12 typography websites for frontend developers can make all the difference in standing out from the crowd. Let’s dive in.
1. Google Fonts
Google Fonts is a splendid resource for frontend developers looking for high-quality, free fonts. It offers an extensive collection of over 1,000 fonts that cover various styles, from classic serif fonts to modern sans-serif fonts. The best part about Google Fonts is its exceedingly easy integration: you don’t need to download or install any software to use these fonts on your website — simply add the code snippet provided by Google into your HTML document, and you’re good to go! Overall, Google Fonts is a highly recommended resource for developers looking for free, easy-to-use fonts for their projects.
2. Font Squirrel
Font Squirrel offers a curated collection of free, high-quality fonts for commercial use. The site has a vast library of handpicked fonts perfect for web design and other digital projects. In addition to the font library, Font Squirrel also offers a valuable font identifier tool and web font generator. This identifier tool can help you identify the name of a font based on an image or screenshot of it, while the web font generator can help you create web fonts that are optimised for use on your website.
3. Fontjoy
Fontjoy is an innovative font pairing generator that uses machine learning to help users find harmonious and visually appealing font combinations. The site has a clean interface and easy-to-navigate categories of fonts such as serif, sans serif, display, and handwriting.
To create your own pairings, simply select two different fonts from the dropdown menus at the top of each column (one for each typeface), then click “Generate Pairings.” Fontjoy will show you a grid of options with different combinations of your chosen typefaces; clicking on any will bring up more details about it, including its name and where it can be found online if you want to purchase it directly from there instead!
4. Adobe Fonts
Adobe Fonts is a premium resource for frontend developers. It offers over 800 fonts from the industry’s top designers and is available with an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription. The fonts are available in your web projects and can seamlessly integrate into your design workflow through the Adobe Typekit application. They also offer exclusive access to new releases before they’re publicly released, so you can stay ahead of the curve. Not an easy feat these days.
5. Typekit
Typekit is a cloud-based service offering premium fonts for web and print. It is used by many top brands worldwide, including Airbnb, Coca-Cola, and The New York Times. With a vast collection of professional fonts available through subscription, it’s an excellent choice for developers who need access to top-tier typography. The service offers over 2,500 options from leading type designers such as Adobe Originals, Hoefler & Co., Monotype Imaging Inc., and others.
6. MyFonts
MyFonts is a marketplace for buying and selling professional-grade fonts. It also offers an extensive library of free fonts, as well as font identification tools like WhatTheFont and FontRecognition. The latter helps you identify the name of a font based on an image or screenshot of it, so you can find more similar options if you like what you see.
7. Typography.com
Typography.com is the website of the renowned type foundry, Hoefler & Co. The website has stood the test of time: it has been around since 1999 and is one of the most popular resources for designers and developers alike. Their unique fonts designed for various use cases make them a valuable resource for designers and developers.
With Typography.com, frontend developers can access fonts that are designed to be both beautiful and functional. The site has a wide variety of options, including fonts for print, online use, and even custom fonts that can be designed specifically for your project.
8. Typewolf
If you’re looking for inspiration and resources to create beautiful typography combinations, Typewolf is the perfect website. Their curated collections of fonts and helpful articles make it an excellent resource for developers and designers.
It’s also an exceptional resource for developers who are looking for some guidance when it comes to creating their own websites, apps, or products. The site has an extensive library of articles covering everything from choosing the suitable typeface, to designing with legibility in mind and even how to use different font families together (a topic that can be pretty confusing).
9. FontPair
FontPair is a tool that helps you find the perfect font pairings from Google Fonts. The interface is easy to use and allows you to search for fonts in different styles, from Slab to Handwriting. The variety of combinations available on this site makes it an ideal resource for developers looking for inspiration when building websites with web fonts. The site also offers tips and tricks for pairing fonts together and creating a cohesive design.
10. DaFont
DaFont is a superior resource for finding free fonts, with an extensive collection contributed by various designers. It’s been around since Flash Player belonged to Macromedia, so it’s definitely got some staying power. Kids printing out their scary invitations for a Halloween peek-a-boo using pumpking-shaped typefaces can attest to its homebrew impact.
The user-friendly interface and categorisation by style and theme make it easy to find the perfect font for your project. You can also filter your search results based on whether you want an italicised or bolded font, for example — and, if you don’t know what those terms mean yet but want to learn more about them anyway (you should), DaFont has got you covered with helpful links in their sidebar menu.
11. Emigre
Emigre is a well-known independent type foundry offering an extensive collection of unique fonts. Their focus on quality and originality makes them a valuable resource for developers who want to stand out.
It is a perfect resource for typography enthusiasts: the site houses an extensive collection of design-focused articles that can help you learn more about typeface design and how it works with other elements on the page. So, if you’re looking for something specific, such as a font family with a particular style or feel (bold, thin), Emigre has got it covered — you’ll find plenty of options there. Props to the owners for not writing Émingré — never a feeling so despairing as trying out a jazzy new font and realising it doesn’t accept special characters.
12. JetBrains Mono
JetBrains Mono is a free, open-source font designed specifically for coding. Its unique design makes it easier to read code, improving developer productivity and reducing eye strain. Simply put, JetBrains Mono operates as a modern, open-source font for developers. The design-focused approach to typeface design makes it easy to create beautiful code in any editor or IDE.
JetBrains was created with a set of fundamental principles in mind. The font’s consistent and clear shapes make it easy on the eye. Its lines are clean and sleek, adding to its overall appeal. Additionally, Mono boasts a diverse range of weights, spanning from thin to bold, with each weight possessing its own unique character. These factors combined make Mono a great choice for those seeking a versatile and aesthetically pleasing font.
