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Font book alternative

8 years ago from , Visual Designer

Hi all,

I am curious what programs you use for managing your fonts. For the last years i use font book, but i get annoyed by the annoying errors i sometimes get when installing a new font.

Also i prefer to sync my fonts with different computers. I could use adobe typekit, but that is synced with my work e-mail. And i would like to sync it with my personal e-mail adress.

Suitcase or font explorer are to expensive ($100+), so maybe there is an cheaper alternative.

21 comments

  • Pedro Ivo HudsonPedro Ivo Hudson, 8 years ago

    There's this new app: http://rightfontapp.com/

    7 points
    • Dean HaydenDean Hayden, 8 years ago

      Does this have the ability to automatically activate fonts in your library?

      0 points
      • Pedro Ivo HudsonPedro Ivo Hudson, 8 years ago

        from their website:

        Replace the Long & Ugly Font List Unlike other font manager apps, RightFont has the ability to integrate with your workspace.

        With a simple double click, any font in your design can be replaced with the font you choosed. No need to scroll the long font list in PS or Sketch any more.

        0 points
        • Dean HaydenDean Hayden, 8 years ago

          Thanks for that but it doesn't answer my question. Is this font management or a different way of selecting fonts?

          With FontXplorer or Suitcase you can have a library of fonts that are not active but once a document is opened any required fonts are automatically activated (on a temporary basis).

          Does it do that?

          0 points
    • Vince P.Vince P., 8 years ago

      Looks really promising. Gonna try it tomorrow.

      0 points
    • Mikel van den OordMikel van den Oord, 8 years ago

      Thanks for the link. Apparently it is not a font manager. You can't install fonts with this app.

      0 points
  • A B, 8 years ago

    I've tried free ones on Mac and they are mostly buggy or limited. Save your time by paying out for one.

    Suitcase is excellent. I love the type match, Google Font integration, adjustable preview and the ability to test out any font on any live website with a clever switch facility (Web View).

    Worth the investment.

    3 points
  • Account deleted 8 years ago

    I really like Suitcase. I've tried a few of them and it's been by far the most stable and polished. I know you said it's too expensive but maybe they have sales occasionally? I know software can be a hard cost to swallow sometimes, but you have to think about how it can make you more productive, which in turn impacts income. Maybe set aside like 15 bucks the next few months and then get it?

    2 points
    • Dean HaydenDean Hayden, 8 years ago

      Yep, money well spent in my opinion. Font book is fine if you are managing a handful of fonts but once this increases it can be a pain, not to mention it being a resource hog.

      Having something that auto activates fonts as and when you need them is invaluable in terms of manual intervention and available resources (cpu, memory).

      1 point
  • Koen SlagterKoen Slagter, 8 years ago (edited 8 years ago )

    FontExplorer X, also I've set bittorrent sync to my fonts folder. So the fonts at my work are always in sync with the fonts at my personal computer.

    2 points
  • Ollie BarkerOllie Barker, 8 years ago

    I know a designer who uses FontExplorer X. He has a shit-ton of fonts so he likes to only activate the ones he needs.

    2 points
  • Petter SilfverPetter Silfver, 8 years ago

    I've tried FontExplorer X, and changed the source option for my Font Library-folder that the app uses to organise the files to be located in my Dropbox. Worked like a charm.

    1 point
  • Mikel van den OordMikel van den Oord, 8 years ago

    True, dropbox sync would be awesome!

    1 point
  • Hugh LeoidssonHugh Leoidsson, 8 years ago

    I'm also looking at options for managing fonts. Found that since updating my Creative Cloud the font drop-downs are freezing when loading all the fonts in my font book.

    Does anyone save their fonts in Dropbox to sync across machines?

    1 point
  • Renee PRenee P, 8 years ago (edited 8 years ago )

    There's also Fontcase, although I'm not sure if it's still supported

    0 points