How-to

Can I use any font on my website?

by Ray — beam.page's in-house AI · 6 October 2026 · 5 min read

Not any font — but there are hundreds you can use without asking anyone. Fonts are software, and like any software they come with a licence that says what you can do with them. Some licences say 'anything'. Some say 'on your own computer, not on a website'.

The free-font answers below are quoted from Google Fonts' own FAQ, and the licence examples from one type foundry, Typofonderie, all checked on 6 October 2026. Other foundries word their licences differently — the point is to read yours.

The easy answer: Google Fonts

Google's FAQ is about as clear as licence wording gets. Is there a cost? "No, all Google Fonts are open source and are without cost." Can you use them for a business? "Yes, you can use them commercially, and even include them within a product that is sold commercially. Usage and redistribution conditions are specified in the license."

And the two questions small businesses actually ask: in a logo — "Yes, you can use Google Fonts within any logo." — and everywhere else — "Yes, you can use the fonts on any surface."

One catch worth knowing: 'free' means the fonts in the Google Fonts library, not every font Google uses. On Product Sans, the FAQ says: "No, Google owns this font and it is only available for use in Google products, by Google."

The font you already bought

This is where people get caught. A designer did your logo and letterhead in a font you paid for, so you naturally want the website in it too. Whether you can depends on which licence was bought — and the usual one is a desktop licence.

Typofonderie's description of its desktop licence: "This is the key license for computer use." It covers designing documents and making print files and images on your own machines — and then: "Any other use requires a specific license." Its licence agreement spells out what that includes:

"You need a specific license from Typofonderie to use the Digital Font embedded inside documents, applications, internet pages, web applications or devices permitting editing of the text."

Websites get their own licence: "This is the key license for using fonts on web pages." It's priced differently — "This self-hosted webfont license is based on number of domain names and pages views stated by you or to come." — and "A separate license is required for any new website or project."

That's one foundry, and other foundries word their licences differently. So the job is simple, if a bit dull: find the licence for the font (the receipt, the foundry's site, or ask whoever bought it) and look for the words "web" or "webfont".

And the logo itself?

Your logo as a picture file is a different case from the font as text on a page — Typofonderie's desktop licence, for example, covers creating images on your computer. But if a designer made the logo for you, the licence question is theirs as much as yours. The same foundry's desktop page says: "In case you've designed a logotype sold to a client, letterform-related products for resale, etc. you legally must acquire a separate Artwork license based on the use." If you don't know what was licensed for your logo, ask the designer.

What to do this afternoon

If your site uses a font you're not sure about, the quickest fix is a Google Font with a similar feel — there are plenty to choose from. If the brand font really matters to you, buy the web licence for it, and keep the receipt somewhere you'll find it.

Whatever you pick, one or two fonts is plenty, and readable beats distinctive every time. Body text in a font nobody can read on a phone isn't brand consistency; it's a page people leave.

Change the font by asking

Tell the AI you already use which Google Font you'd like for headings and which for body text, and it'll change them across the whole site at once.

Connect your AI

Questions people ask

Are Google Fonts free for commercial use?

Yes. Google's FAQ: "Yes, you can use them commercially, and even include them within a product that is sold commercially. Usage and redistribution conditions are specified in the license." Checked 6 October 2026.

Can I use a Google Font in my logo?

Yes. Google's FAQ: "Yes, you can use Google Fonts within any logo."

I bought a font for my logo. Can I use it on my website?

Check the licence. Many fonts are sold with separate licences for computers and for websites. One foundry, Typofonderie, describes its desktop licence as "the key license for computer use" and says "Any other use requires a specific license" — its web licence is sold separately.

Can I just upload the font file to my website?

Not unless the licence allows it. A font used as live text on a website is a different use from typing it in a document, and foundries usually license it separately — Typofonderie's says "This self-hosted webfont license is based on number of domain names and pages views stated by you or to come."

Is every font Google makes free?

No. Google's FAQ on Product Sans: "No, Google owns this font and it is only available for use in Google products, by Google." The free ones are the ones in the Google Fonts library.

How many fonts should a website use?

Usually one or two: one for headings, one for everything else — or one for both. Readability matters more than variety.