Choosing a Formula

With hundreds of formulas available, choosing the right one can be challenging. This guide helps you find the perfect formula for your use case.

By Use Case

Desktop Publishing

For print design, desktop publishing, or local document creation:

Need	Recommended Formulas	Why
Professional typography	tex_gyre, dejavu, liberation	High quality, comprehensive character sets
Open source	google/* formulas	OFL licensed, free to use
Specific styles	Check formula for available weights	Look for "styles" section

Web Development

For self-hosted web fonts:

Need	Recommended Formulas	Why
WOFF/WOFF2 conversion	OFL-licensed formulas	Allow format conversion
Subsetting	OFL, Apache, MIT licenses	Permit subsetting
CDN hosting	Check license allows "Web (Hosting)"	Not all licenses allow this

Document Generation (CI/CD)

For automated document generation in pipelines:

Need	Recommended Formulas	Why
Reproducible builds	Open source formulas	Stable, well-defined licenses
GitHub Actions	Any formula with clear license	Install via fontist/setup-fontist action
Docker containers	Open source, freely distributable	Include in container images

By License Type

Open Source (Recommended)

Best for most use cases

Open source licenses provide the most flexibility for all use cases.

License	Formulas	Use Cases
OFL 1.1	google/*, sil/*	Any use case
Apache 2.0	Material fonts	Any use case
MIT	Various	Any use case

Platform Restricted

License compliance required

These fonts are only legal on specific platforms.

License	Platform	Cloud Options
Apple-only	macOS	GitHub Actions (macOS), MacStadium
Microsoft Software	Windows	Azure, Windows containers

Bundled Software

These fonts require the parent software to be installed:

License	Requires	Usage Rights
Adobe Software	Adobe product installed	Use anywhere on that machine
Microsoft Office	MS Office installed	Use anywhere on that machine

Search Tips

Search by Font Name

fontist search "Open Sans"

Search by Style

fontist search "Bold"

Browse All

fontist list

Common Scenarios

"I need a font for PDF generation"

1. Check if you need specific branding/fonts
2. If not, use OFL-licensed fonts like google/roboto, google/opensans
3. Install: fontist install "google/roboto"

"I need to use macOS fonts in CI"

1. Use GitHub Actions with macos-latest runner
2. Fonts are pre-installed on macOS runners
3. Or install via Fontist formula for reproducibility

"I need Microsoft fonts"

Option A: Microsoft Web Fonts (Freely Distributable)

• Core fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, Verdana
• Install: fontist install "andale"
• License allows redistribution

Option B: Microsoft Office Fonts

• Requires Microsoft Office license
• Install on Windows machines/VMs

Decision Matrix

Your Need	License Priority	Platform
Any use, maximum freedom	OFL, Apache, MIT	Any
Need specific font, flexible use	Check license	Any
Need specific font, restricted license	Check platform	macOS/Windows
Commercial product bundling	OFL, Apache, MIT	Any
Server-side rendering	OFL, Apache, MIT, Free	Any

Getting Help

If you're still unsure:

1. Check the formula page for license details
2. Visit the font's homepage (linked in formula)
3. Ask on GitHub Discussions