Fonts. Ah, fonts. Who doesn’t love fonts? You can literally create the most basic design and make it original by simply choosing some unique and well-designed fonts. We’ll introduce you to some of the most useful font services out there and show you how they can help you dive into the rabbit hole of this design element.
Key takeaways 👌
Font pairs set the style and improve readability
Online services help you quickly find font combinations
The choice of service depends on the task and the project’s level
What’s the deal with font pairs?
Don’t listen to people who say that fonts are about “practicality” and not aesthetics — they couldn’t be more wrong. You shouldn’t go down the “visual overuse” road — that will only result in an overdesigned website. But forgetting that fonts are, in fact, one of the most important design elements your product can have isn’t an option either.
Trying to balance the tightrope between originality and practicality will inevitably lead you to font pairs — two fonts that are just different enough to not feel the same, but harmonious enough to not seem out of place.
This "harmony," however, can mean a whole lot of things depending on what exactly you’re trying to convey to your customers: a sense of security, absurdity, chaos, maybe coziness? There are (probably) font pairs that will do just that.
Back in the day, the choice of fonts wasn’t as vast, so there was one particularly overworked and OCD-driven designer in the team who was responsible for picking the ones fit for the product.
Now, though, there are quite a few services to lend a much-needed helping hand. And the selection of fonts themselves is... staggeringly bigger.
Interesting fact 👀
Studies show that fonts with rounded shapes, such as Comic Sans or Arial Rounded, are perceived as more friendly and approachable, while fonts with sharp angles, like Impact, can create a sense of aggression or seriousness.
Google fonts
Google Fonts is the largest library of free fonts, integrated into many design and web platforms. Here, you can find individual typefaces as well as full font pairs for any digital project. It’s a basic, yet very powerful tool that almost every designer relies on.
What Google Fonts offers:
- Over 1500 free fonts — regularly updated and supporting many languages, including Cyrillic.
- Preview mode — the ability to test fonts in headers, body text, and custom blocks.
- "Pairings" section — ready-made font pairing suggestions (though not as deep as specialized services).
Benefits of Google Fonts:
- Completely free — can be used in both commercial and personal projects without restrictions.
- Ideal for web design — easy integration via CSS or API.
- Integration with other services — from Figma to Tilda, saving time.
When to use Google Fonts:
- For web projects: especially when fast loading and good adaptability are important.
- For minimalist solutions: fonts are easy to read and don’t overload the design.
- For quick font selection: perfect in combination with services like Fontpair or Fontjoy.
Fontjoy
Fontjoy is a service that helps you find the perfect harmonious font pairs with minimal effort. Using artificial intelligence, Fontjoy makes the process of font selection quick and easy.
How Fontjoy works:
- Font Pair Generation: The service lets you choose a font for the header, and it then suggests matching fonts for body text and subheaders.
- Contrast Adjustment: With a slider, you can adjust the contrast between fonts, selecting more similar or more contrasting options.
- Google Fonts Support: All fonts suggested by Fontjoy are available on the Google Fonts platform, ensuring no licensing issues.
Benefits of Fontjoy:
- Intuitive interface — easy for even beginners to use.
- No registration required — you can access all features right away.
- Ideal for prototypes — perfect for quickly testing fonts.
- Wide selection of fonts — over 1000 fonts from Google Fonts.
When to use Fontjoy:
- For quick font selection: ideal during layout or prototype development.
- For web design: Google Fonts fonts are perfect for websites.
- For experimentation:With adjustable contrast, you can easily play with visual perception.
An ideal font pair is like a duet of dancers: one leads, the other follows, but both move to the rhythm of a single idea. And a good service is the choreographer who brings them to the same stage
Fontpair
Fontpair is the perfect tool for those who want to save time and get pre-selected font combinations right away. Unlike other services, Fontpair doesn’t generate random pairs but offers combinations carefully chosen by experts. The focus is entirely on harmonious font pairs for working with Google Fonts.
What makes Fontpair unique:
- Ready-made pairs: Fontpair offers font combinations that harmonize perfectly together.
- Grouping by category: The service categorizes fonts into different groups: for headers, for body text, for use with italics, etc.
- Style-based selection: You can choose fonts for different design styles, from minimalism to more expressive solutions.
Benefits of Fontpair:
- Ease of use — simply select a pair and instantly see the result.
- Optimized for Google Fonts — all fonts are free and available for web design use.
- Ideal for beginners — if you’re unsure which fonts to pair, Fontpair provides trusted combinations.
When to use Fontpair:
- For quick start: if you need to quickly find the right fonts for a web project, Fontpair is a great choice.
- For web design: the tool is perfect for Google Fonts users and creating simple yet stylish interfaces.
- For visual harmony: ready-made font combinations help create a harmonious look for any type of content.
Typography is what language looks like.
– Ellen Lupton, designer, author, and curator in typography
Mixfont
Mixfont offers a unique approach to font pairing. It’s based on randomness: you can see random font combinations and immediately assess how they look on real mockups.
It’s a great tool for those looking for harmonious font combinations with an element of experimentation and creativity.
What makes Mixfont unique:
- Random combinations: Every time the page refreshes, Mixfont generates a new set of fonts, giving you the chance to see unexpected combinations.
- Real-time visualization: The service shows you how the font pair will appear on a website, helping you better assess their harmony.
- Wide selection of fonts: Mixfont supports many fonts, including popular Google Fonts and commercial typefaces.
Benefits of Mixfont:
- Interactivity — see font pairs in real context.
- Unconventional solutions — generates unexpected combinations that might inspire new ideas.
- Perfect for experimentation — test fonts casually, without overthinking.
When to use Mixfont:
- For inspiration: if you want to test unconventional font combinations, Mixfont is a great tool.
- For experimentation: ideal for designers who need to quickly see how different fonts can interact.
- For creative projects: if your project calls for original solutions, Mixfont can help you find unusual but harmonious combinations.
Learn more about website design in our article Interactive prototypes: What they are and how they are created
Typotheque
Typotheque is a full-fledged platform designed for professionals. The service offers access to carefully curated fonts and allows for use in multiple languages, including Cyrillic. It’s an ideal choice for those working on international projects and who value high-quality, unique fonts.
What makes Typotheque unique:
- Premium quality font collection: The service offers only high-quality fonts created by experienced typographers.
- Language support: Unlike other services, Typotheque supports Cyrillic and other non-standard scripts.
- Usage flexibility: Fonts can be purchased or rented, which is convenient for short-term projects.
Benefits of Typotheque:
- Ideal for professionals — high-quality fonts for complex commercial projects.
- Flexible licensing system — you can rent fonts and use them in different countries.
- Strong focus on originality — you won’t find popular free fonts here, but you’ll get access to unique and one-of-a-kind typefaces.
When to use Typotheque:
- For large projects: if your project requires professional typography and premium fonts, Typotheque is the perfect choice.
- For international brands: fonts supporting Cyrillic and other languages are ideal for localized websites and marketing materials.
- For designers working with unique solutions: if you need exclusive fonts for special projects, Typotheque offers great options.
Typewolf
Typewolf is a complete ecosystem for designers interested in typography. Its main feature is real examples of font use in design. There’s no random generation or mechanical pairings—just carefully selected, harmonious font combinations used on the best websites.
What Typewolf offers:
- Daily site examples — with details on the fonts used and their combinations.
- Lists of top typefaces — curated selections by categories, styles, and platforms (including Google Fonts).
- Pairing guides — recommendations on font compatibility from the creator of the project.
Benefits of Typewolf:
- Based on practice — all font pairs come from real projects.
- Relevance — the site is regularly updated and reflects current typographic trends.
- Educational content — useful not only for font selection but also for learning.
When to use Typewolf:
- For inspiration: if you’re tired of template solutions, here you’ll find new ideas.
- For studying trends: the site shows which fonts and combinations are truly used in the industry.
- For references: perfect for preparing presentations and mood boards.
To sum up
Whew, quite a list, huh? There’s a chance it might just make things worse for you — so many options, so little… understanding of what to actually do next.
So, let’s break things down for the sake of simplicity:
- If you need to quickly select fonts, use Fontjoy or Fontpair.
- For unconventional solutions, try Mixfont and Typewolf.
- For professional projects with international reach, trust Typotheque.
- And if you’re working in web design, start with Google Fonts, especially in combination with other design tools.
Conclusion
Successful font pairing is not magic, but the result of practice and careful tool selection. Use these online typography tools to speed up your workflow, improve design quality, and create truly expressive visual solutions. Don’t be afraid to experiment — that’s how new, successful combinations are born.
Recommended reading 🤓
“Thinking with Type”, Ellen Lupton
A practical guide to typography covering font basics, combinations, and grids
On Amazon
“The Elements of Typographic Style”, Robert Bringhurst
A deep analysis of typography, blending theory, practice, and the history of font design.
On Amazon
“Just My Type: A Book About Fonts”, Simon Garfield
A fascinating journey through the world of fonts, their history, and influence on everyday life.
On Amazon
Fonts are like people — not all of them are made for each other. But when you find a pair, you instantly feel that it’s the one 😉