Recommendations: Major Font Distributors

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Supherb
Supherb Posts: 6
edited July 19 in Type Business
Hey there peeps,

Finally, I have my web foundry up and running, but now, I am considering putting my fonts on a major font distribution site, just to help with promotion.

Myfonts seems to be the biggest platform available, but taking 75% from every sale seems to be robbery and/or theft.

Creativemarket seems like the next best option, bet they still take a whopping 50% from every sale.

From your personal experience,

Do you use any of these major platforms?
Do the pros outweigh the cons?
Would you recommend them?
Has it helped boost your sales?
Would you say it's worth it?
Any other viable options?


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Answers

  • DanRhatigan
    DanRhatigan Posts: 42
    Just to clarify one thing, I'll quote from Monotype's FAQ about distribution: 

    “Our simple royalty structure is designed to match how we do business today and provide clarity and certainty for foundries: 50% for your fonts sold on myfonts.com, and 25% for everything else. There are no additional costs. The 25% rate covers Monotype Fonts, orders sold by our enterprise sales teams, and any revenue from enforcement-related orders. These orders have a lower royalty rate because they are more complicated, expensive, and time consuming to conduct.”
  • John Hudson
    John Hudson Posts: 3,444
    Enterprise sales should be an à la carte service provided to font makers by distributors, and the cut to the distributor should be negotiated on a case-by-case basis with the onus on the distributor to demonstrate value-for-money.
  • Ray Larabie
    Ray Larabie Posts: 1,461
    edited July 20
    A few things to think about: one key factor is how each distributor handles embedding licenses. Some offer a subscription model for embedded use, often with a low entry price, great for customers with tight budgets. Others might provide perpetual, all-inclusive licenses for a one-time fee.

    In my case, the majority of my income comes from subscriptions and enterprise deals. So, while it can be tempting to push volume, it may not be worth risking those larger, high-value sales. Be especially cautious…some distributors have been known to drastically undercut enterprise bids, and I’ve seen firsthand how that can backfire.

    Fortunately, some platforms let you opt out of certain license types if needed. Ultimately, it depends on how you want to position yourself. Maybe your focus is on Creative Market’s budget-conscious, younger crowd. Or maybe you're aiming for a boutique vibe, or targeting corporate buyers with deep pockets.

    Also worth noting: Font Bros doesn’t pull the same traffic as the major players, but they offer the best commission rates I’ve seen.

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