When you click "Download" on a font, you're often given a choice: TTF, WOFF2, WOFF, or OTF. They all contain the same typeface, so which one should you pick? The answer depends on where you're using the font.
TTF — TrueType Font
Best for: desktop use, apps, documents, video editors, print
TTF is the original digital font format, created by Apple and Microsoft in the late 1980s. It works everywhere: macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator, Word, Premiere, and virtually every other application. When in doubt, download TTF — it has the broadest compatibility of any format.
Downside: TTF files are larger than WOFF2, so they're not ideal for serving on a website where page speed matters.
OTF — OpenType Font
Best for: desktop use when you need advanced features (ligatures, small caps, stylistic alternates)
OTF is a joint format by Adobe and Microsoft that extends TrueType. Most professional fonts (from Klim, Grilli Type, Commercial Type) ship as OTF because it supports advanced OpenType features. For everyday desktop use, TTF and OTF are interchangeable in modern apps.
WOFF2 — Web Open Font Format 2
Best for: embedding on websites
WOFF2 is a compressed web font format. The same font file can be 30–50% smaller than its TTF equivalent, which matters for page load speed. WOFF2 is supported in all modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari 12+, Edge). Use WOFF2 in your @font-face CSS declarations.
WOFF — Web Open Font Format
Best for: web with legacy browser support
WOFF is the predecessor to WOFF2 — less compressed but supported in older browsers going back to IE9. If your audience might be on old browsers, include WOFF as a fallback alongside WOFF2. Otherwise, skip it.
Quick decision guide
- Installing on your Mac or PC → TTF or OTF
- Using in Figma, Sketch, or Adobe apps → TTF or OTF
- Embedding on a website → WOFF2 (with WOFF fallback for legacy)
- Mobile app development → TTF or OTF
- Video / motion graphics → TTF or OTF
How to download in the right format
In Typescope, each font card has a Download button. For Google Fonts and Fontshare fonts, click the small arrow (▾) next to "Download" to choose your format. TTF is the default. All downloads go directly from the font CDN to your device — no middleman, no login.
