6 Speedy Ways to Identify What Font a Website Is Using
You scroll through a beautiful site, and a specific font catches your eye. It’s clean, modern, and maybe even perfect for your project. But finding that exact font can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Luckily, uncovering a website’s font is pretty easy if you know where to look! You can get all the font details without guesswork with simple tools and tricks.
Let’s explore how to identify what font a website is using. Ready to get started? Let’s turn that font mystery into font mastery!
1- Using Browser Extensions
One of the quickest ways to identify a font on a website is through browser extensions. These tools make font identification as easy as a single click.
Popular Font-Finding Extensions
- WhatFont (Chrome & Safari): This extension is popular among designers and developers. It’s free, lightweight, and simple to use. Just hover over any text on a website, and WhatFont will display the font name, size, and weight.
- Fonts Ninja (Chrome): Fonts Ninja shows the font and offers a quick preview. It lets you see how it would look in different styles.
How to Use an Extension?
- Download and install the Chrome Web Store or Safari Extensions Gallery extension.
- Click on the extension icon in your browser toolbar.
- Hover over the text on the website, and voila! The font details will appear instantly.
Example: Say you are on a website with sleek, modern typography. Open Fonts Ninja, hover over the text, and find out it’s “Roboto Slab” in seconds. Now you know exactly which font to try out for your design!
2- Using Inspect Element in Your Browser
If you’d rather not install an extension, use your browser’s “Inspect Element” feature. This method is a bit more manual but works just as well.
Steps to Find a Font Using Inspect Element
- Right-click on the text you want to identify.
- Select “Inspect” (or “Inspect Element” in some browsers).
- You will see a “Styles” section in the developer tools that open. Look for the “font-family” property, which will tell you the font name.
Example: You are on a blog and love the font used for the article headings. Right-click, choose “Inspect,” and find that the font family is “Playfair Display.” Now, you can try this classic font on your site.
Read More: 5 Reasons a Responsive Web Design is Important
3- Identifying Fonts from Images
Sometimes, you see a font on an image or logo and want to identify it. For this, specialized tools can scan the photo and recognize the font type.
Top Tools to Identify Fonts from Images
- WhatTheFont by MyFonts: Simply upload an image, and WhatTheFont will analyze the text and suggest possible font matches. It’s free and works well for clear, distinct text.
- FontSquirrel Matcherator: Another great option for image-based font identification. It’s particularly helpful for unique or script fonts.
How to Use WhatTheFont?
- Take a screenshot or save the image containing the font.
- Go to WhatTheFont.
- Upload the image, and WhatTheFont will display similar font options.
Example: You have a screenshot of an ad with an eye-catching font. Upload it to WhatTheFont, which identifies the font as “Montserrat.” Now you know exactly what to search for!
4- Using Online Font Identifier Tools
If extensions or manual methods aren’t your thing, several online tools make font identification a breeze.
Free Font Identification Sites
- FontSpring Matcherator: Another great choice if you are trying to identify fonts with an image or directly from a webpage URL.
- Identifont: This tool works differently by asking questions about the font characteristics (e.g., “Are the characters rounded or angular?”). Based on your answers, Identifont narrows down matches.
Example: You can input a website URL into FontSpring Matcherator to scan the page to identify the fonts used. It is useful for those working with a specific design reference in mind.
5- Finding Fonts on Mobile Devices
Identifying fonts while browsing your phone can be challenging since most font tools are desktop-based. However, there are a few mobile options that can help.
Mobile Apps for Font Identification
- Font Inspector (iOS): Font Inspector is available for iPhone users and lets you scan fonts directly from the screen.
- WhatTheFont App (iOS & Android): The WhatTheFont app is available for iOS and Android. You can snap a picture of any font in real life or online and quickly find a match.
Example: You are on your phone and notice an amazing font in an app. Snap a photo with the WhatTheFont app, which tells you the font name within seconds. Perfect for design inspiration on the go!
6- Font Resources for Downloading and Trying New Fonts
Once you identify a font, you can download it and see how it looks in your projects. Here are some popular font libraries where you can browse and download fonts:
- Google Fonts: Google Fonts is free, with hundreds of font families available for download or direct embedding on your website.
- Adobe Fonts (formerly Typekit): Adobe Fonts requires a subscription but offers a wide variety of high-quality fonts, many unavailable elsewhere.
- Font Squirrel: A go-to for free, commercial-use fonts with a robust selection and download options.
Example: After identifying that “Open Sans” was used on a blog you liked, you can easily download it for free from Google Fonts and start using it on your site.
Wrapping it Up!
Now, you have everything necessary to uncover the fonts used on almost any website. So, next time you are captivated by a font, don’t let it slip away!
With these tools and tips, you can bring professional, stylish fonts to your designs and make sure your content stands out.
Happy font hunting with Site Architects!
People Also Ask!
How do you identify a font on a website?
The easiest way is using a Chrome extension like WhatFont or Fonts Ninja. You can also use “Inspect Element” to check the font directly from your browser’s developer tools.
How do I find the right font for my website?
For inspiration, browse free libraries like Google Fonts or Font Squirrel, and check other websites to see which fonts resonate with your style.
What font do websites usually use?
Many websites use popular fonts like Arial, Roboto, and Open Sans, which are versatile and easy to read.
How do I find the font of a website plugin?
Plugins like Fonts Ninja or WhatFont are popular and user-friendly options to instantly identify fonts on a webpage.