Published•Updated
FontForge
Font editor and converter for outline and bitmap fonts
Design & CreativeFree
v2025-10-09
What is FontForge?
Font editor and converter for outline and bitmap fonts
Install with Homebrew
brew install --cask fontforge-appHow to Install FontForge on Mac
Follow these steps to install FontForge using Homebrew, the most popular package manager for macOS. This works on both Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4) and Intel Macs.
- 1
Open Terminal
Launch Terminal from your Applications > Utilities folder, or press Cmd + Space and type "Terminal".
- 2
Install Homebrew
If you don't have Homebrew yet, paste the install script from brew.sh into Terminal and follow the prompts.
- 3
Run
brew install --cask fontforge-appPaste the following command into Terminal and press Enter:
brew install --cask fontforge-app - 4
Verify Installation
Run `brew list` to confirm fontforge-app is installed, then try `fontforge-app --version` to check the version number.
- 5
Launch FontForge
Run `fontforge-app` in your Terminal to start using it.
Troubleshooting
- • If you see a permission error, try prefixing the command with
sudo. - • If Homebrew can't find the package, run
brew updatefirst to refresh the package list. - • On Apple Silicon Macs, make sure Homebrew is installed at
/opt/homebrew(the default for M-series chips).
Key Features
Easy installation via Homebrew
Regular updates and maintenance
Free to use
Professional support available
Pros
- ✓Simple one-command installation
- ✓Well-maintained and regularly updated
- ✓Completely free to use
Cons
- ✗Requires Homebrew to be installed
- ✗macOS only
Frequently Asked Questions about FontForge
Open Terminal, install Homebrew if you haven't already (visit brew.sh), then run `brew install --cask fontforge-app`. The app will be downloaded and installed automatically. You can then run `fontforge-app` from Terminal.
About the Author
Creative Software Expert
Design & Graphics SoftwarePhoto & Video EditingUI/UX Design Tools
10+ years in graphic design · Former creative director