Designers, teachers, artists, presenters, and creatives rejoiced when recent versions of iOS and iPadOS facilitated the use of custom fonts on Apple’s mobile devices. This feature lets you install custom fonts in TrueType Font (TTF), OpenType Font (OTF), or TrueType Collection (TTC) formats, making it easier for creators to put a unique display and text face on their leaflets, posters, and reports. You still can’t change Apple’s system fonts, but updated font features significantly advance mobile workflows.
You can install custom fonts and apply them to compatible apps on your Apple mobile devices. To control those fonts or use your iPad as a creative workstation, you work directly through the app you’re using them with. It’s an ideal solution for anyone who creates presentations on their desktop to show on their iPad — no worries about surprise replacement fonts.
Despite the buzz — which has died down considerably over time — there still aren’t a ton of resources for installing and managing iOS fonts, and there’s not much momentum for radical changes right now. So far, vendors like Monotype (maker of theMyFonts appon iOS) andMorisawacontinue to offer downloadable apps on Apple’s App Store. Here are the most reputable font apps available now, and don’t forget to check out our guide onhow to install fonts.
Adobe Creative Cloud
Font Diner
The free Font Diner is a hugely popular app specializing in high-quality, retro-style fonts for creative projects. It features more than 400 original typefaces for graphic designers at all levels. It offers a basic set of fonts for free and several additional font sets for $5 each. It’s compatible with Pages, Keynote, and Numbers only.
AnyFont ($2)
AnyFont lets you install — well — any font in TTF, OTF, or TTC format on your iPhone or iPad via a configuration profile. After installation, you can use these fonts with Word, PowerPoint, Pages, Excel, Numbers, Keynote, and others that employ the device’s font book. You can add single or multiple fonts simultaneously as ZIP or TTC files and preview them in the app.
Fonteer lets you install OTF or TTF fonts on whatever device you’re using by emailing the fonts as a configuration profile. From the emailed file, you can unzip the fonts into FontBook to make them accessible to any app that allows you to change fonts. This app lets you manage various font collections simultaneously, explore and install Google Fonts, and download different fonts using your browser or email. You can use it with a wide range of apps, including Pages, Keynote, Numbers, Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Autodesk SketchBook, Pixelmator, and Adobe Comp. Test the app by downloading the free version, which will let you try out three fonts. If you like the interface and find it easy to use, you can buy the full app at a one-time price and have access to unlimited font installations. Fonteer does not let you alter the font on your home screen, in messages, or in emails.
RightFont ($3)
You can get the flexible RightFont app for iOS at no charge. With this app, you can install, preview, and manage fonts on both your iPhone and iPad. The app supports OTF, TTF, and TTC formats, and once installed, the fonts work with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Pages, Keynote, Numbers, and numerous other apps. You can download fonts on your device, iCloud Drive, or Google Drive. You can even share fonts via AirDrop and email and easily install them using RightFont. RightFont is compatible with iOS 13 and later, and lets you preview all the font families with customized content.
