Can I trademark a logo made with a free font?

Yes. Open licences like the SIL Open Font License allow you to use the font in a logo, and you can trademark your logo design. What you cannot do is sell the font file itself as your own.

Should a logo font be bold?

Usually, yes. Logos are often seen small, on phones, favicons and social profiles, so a medium to bold weight stays readable. Very thin fonts can disappear at small sizes.

Serif or sans-serif for a logo?

Serifs feel classic, trustworthy or luxurious. Sans-serifs feel modern, clean and friendly. Pick the one that matches how you want customers to feel.

How do I turn a font into a logo?

Type your name, choose a weight, then adjust the letter spacing and colour. Our brand kit maker does this automatically and gives you PNG logo files, colours and matching fonts.

All free · safe for logos and trademarks

Free fonts for logos

A good logo font does the work of a designer until you can afford one. These look professional, are free for commercial use, and come in a style for every kind of brand.

Montserrat

Sans-serif · Almost any modern brand

Northfield

Geometric, clear and confident in every weight. The safest choice if you are not sure.

Download Montserrat free More sizes

Unbounded

Sans-serif · Tech, music, bold startups

Northfield

Wide, rounded and futuristic. Instantly memorable in a heavy weight.

Download Unbounded free More sizes

Syne

Sans-serif · Creative studios, galleries

Northfield

An art-school font that gets wider and stranger as it gets bolder. Very distinctive.

Download Syne free More sizes

Bebas Neue

Sans-serif · Sport, fitness, events

Northfield

Tall, condensed capitals that grab attention. Made for headlines and signs.

Download Bebas Neue free More sizes

Playfair Display

Serif · Fashion, editorial, interiors

Northfield

High-contrast serif with a luxury magazine feel.

Download Playfair Display free More sizes

Instrument Serif

Serif · Modern fashion, agencies

Northfield

A sharp, slightly condensed serif that feels current and stylish, especially in italic.

Download Instrument Serif free More sizes

Fraunces

Serif · Food, cafés, warm brands

Northfield

A soft, chunky "old style" serif with personality. Friendly without being childish.

Download Fraunces free More sizes

Cinzel

Serif · Luxury, hotels, classic brands

Northfield

Capitals inspired by Roman inscriptions. Instantly formal and timeless.

Download Cinzel free More sizes

DM Serif Display

Serif · Boutiques, beauty, publishing

Northfield

Elegant, high-contrast serif that holds up well at big sizes.

Download DM Serif Display free More sizes

Space Grotesk

Sans-serif · Tech, apps, design studios

Northfield

A quirky grotesque with a technical edge. Looks great in lowercase.

Download Space Grotesk free More sizes

Archivo Black

Sans-serif · Bold, no-nonsense brands

Northfield

Heavy and solid. Built for impact in just one weight.

Download Archivo Black free More sizes

Abril Fatface

Serif · Magazines, bold headlines

Northfield

A fat display serif with dramatic contrast, inspired by 19th-century posters.

Download Abril Fatface free More sizes

Righteous

Sans-serif · Games, retro tech, kids

Northfield

Rounded, playful letters with an Art Deco twist.

Download Righteous free More sizes

Bricolage Grotesque

Sans-serif · Modern, friendly brands

Northfield

A characterful grotesque with ink-trap details that make it feel hand-made.

Download Bricolage Grotesque free More sizes

Big Shoulders Display

Sans-serif · Urban, industrial, sport

Northfield

Condensed, Chicago-inspired capitals that look great stacked.

Download Big Shoulders Display free More sizes

Italiana

Serif · Elegant, minimal brands

Northfield

Thin, high-contrast and refined. Gives a light, airy luxury look.

Download Italiana free More sizes

Outfit

Sans-serif · Clean startups, apps

Northfield

A neat geometric sans, softer and simpler than Montserrat.

Download Outfit free More sizes

Lobster

Script · Diners, retro food

Northfield

A bold, connected script with a strong vintage sign-painting feel.

Download Lobster free More sizes

Quick comparison

18 fonts

Font	Best for	Style
Montserrat	Almost any modern brand	Sans-serif
Unbounded	Tech, music, bold startups	Sans-serif
Syne	Creative studios, galleries	Sans-serif
Bebas Neue	Sport, fitness, events	Sans-serif
Playfair Display	Fashion, editorial, interiors	Serif
Instrument Serif	Modern fashion, agencies	Serif
Fraunces	Food, cafés, warm brands	Serif
Cinzel	Luxury, hotels, classic brands	Serif
DM Serif Display	Boutiques, beauty, publishing	Serif
Space Grotesk	Tech, apps, design studios	Sans-serif
Archivo Black	Bold, no-nonsense brands	Sans-serif
Abril Fatface	Magazines, bold headlines	Serif
Righteous	Games, retro tech, kids	Sans-serif
Bricolage Grotesque	Modern, friendly brands	Sans-serif
Big Shoulders Display	Urban, industrial, sport	Sans-serif
Italiana	Elegant, minimal brands	Serif
Outfit	Clean startups, apps	Sans-serif
Lobster	Diners, retro food	Script

Which one should I pick?

A business that needs to look trustworthyMontserrat or Outfit in a semi-bold weight.

A luxury or fashion brandCinzel, Playfair Display or Italiana, in capitals with a little extra letter spacing.

A café, bakery or food brandFraunces or Lobster.

A tech or creative startupUnbounded, Syne or Space Grotesk.

Turn your brand name into a logo, colours and fontsMake a free brand kit

Questions

Can I trademark a logo made with a free font?: Yes. Open licences like the SIL Open Font License allow you to use the font in a logo, and you can trademark your logo design. What you cannot do is sell the font file itself as your own.
Should a logo font be bold?: Usually, yes. Logos are often seen small, on phones, favicons and social profiles, so a medium to bold weight stays readable. Very thin fonts can disappear at small sizes.
Serif or sans-serif for a logo?: Serifs feel classic, trustworthy or luxurious. Sans-serifs feel modern, clean and friendly. Pick the one that matches how you want customers to feel.
How do I turn a font into a logo?: Type your name, choose a weight, then adjust the letter spacing and colour. Our brand kit maker does this automatically and gives you PNG logo files, colours and matching fonts.