Choosing between the Font Giants

Fontfruits

Another interesting topic! If you had to choose between putting your type on Adobe Fonts or on Monotype Fonts - which would you choose and why...I'm sure many of you would say neither, but if you were forced to choose - which would it be?

Alex Visi

Adobe, at least they do something useful, even though the direction over the last years has been somewhat questionable. Monotype is merely an oversized middle man, isn’t it?

Eris Alar

Adobe. As a graphic designer in different teams, Adobe Fonts has been super helpful practically as there is fairly high confidence everyone in the team has it already, and I find myself and others experimenting more as there are no additional costs to try different fonts out. 

JoyceKetterer

I've already made this choice and I chose Adobe.  There are SOOOO many reasons.  Here's the top three:

1.  The Adobe distribution channel isn't exactly a reseller situation.  It's more like an OEM channel that allows us to add functionality for our customers
2.  The Adobe use is a relatively closed system where specific kinds of use are permitted, that doesn't conflict with our licensing imperatives.  In contrast, Monotype permits "add-on" licensing using their own documents which would create a conflict with ours.  
3.  Adobe isn't perfect but it's way more stable and sensible than Monotype

c.g.

From a consumer point of view, I prefer Adobe (with all its downsides) because has a very curated font library. Seems an Italian restaurant, while Monotype seems an all-you-can-eat.

Dave Crossland

I wouldn't exclude Type Network, Font Spring and Creative Market itself from this, they address different audiences, and even Adobe themselves retail their originals through TN and FS

James Puckett

Adobe has class and I think their products are excellent. That’s what I want to be associated with.

JoyceKetterer

@Dave Crossland, TypeNetwork is a different animal.  Closest analog is a publisher.  Also Font Spring is owned by Creative Market.  The whole question is a bit of a false construct because no one requires that you choose only one anyway.

Fontfruits

JoyceKetterer said:

@Dave Crossland, TypeNetwork is a different animal.  Closest analog is a publisher.  Also Font Spring is owned by Creative Market.  The whole question is a bit of a false construct because no one requires that you choose only one anyway.

True! But it's a good way to see what people feel about both I reckon. It's great to see all the reasonings. I find it most interesting!

Christopher Slye

The problem with choosing one or the other (Adobe or Monotype) — and I take it as more an academic than practical question — is that Adobe’s licensing options are different and limited. Some designers/foundries think of a distributor as a supplement for their own direct licensing, and others really want a partner to handle everything so they don’t have to. Obviously I’m glad people generally like Adobe as a distribution partner, but Adobe can’t sell a self-hosted web license or an app license for you. Monotype can. (So can Type Network, and others.)

Is Type Network like a publisher? Sure, sort of. These days we try to think and act like an agency, representing our foundry partners for sales, consulting, and other professional services. I think all font distributors at least dabble in that, but every distributor has to choose a customer and business model to prioritize, and everyone is different. And I think designers and foundries have different goals with distribution, so it’s nice to have choices.

Since the OP refers to “Monotype Fonts,” I wonder if it was a more specific question about their subscription service, rather that broader distribution through MyFonts or whatever. (And by the way, I will never tire of wishing that Adobe and Monotype had just stuck with “Typekit” and “Mosaic,” respectively. It would be a lot less confusing.)