Tired of Calligraphr? Here's What FontCraft Does Differently

Calligraphr is the tool that introduced a lot of people to making fonts from their own handwriting. It's been around for years, it works, and plenty of people have made great fonts with it. This isn't a case against Calligraphr.

But if you've tried Calligraphr and found the workflow a bit clunky, or if you're on iPad and the print-and-upload process feels like too many steps, FontCraft might suit you better.

Here's an honest comparison of both tools.

How Calligraphr Works

Calligraphr's workflow is based around a template. You download a PDF template, print it out, write your letters into the printed boxes with a real pen or brush, then scan (or photograph) the completed sheet and upload it back. Calligraphr traces your handwriting from the upload and generates a font.

This works well if you:

• Like writing with a physical pen on paper
• Have access to a scanner (not just a phone camera)
• Want to create brush lettering or calligraphy-style fonts where the physical texture of ink on paper is part of the appeal

The print-scan approach preserves the genuine feel of physical media in a way that digital drawing can't quite replicate. That's a real advantage for certain styles.

The friction, though, is real. You need to print. You need to scan (phone photos work but the quality varies). If you're not happy with how a letter turned out, you're reprinting or carefully cutting and replacing individual cells. Iteration is slow.

How FontCraft Works

FontCraft gives you two ways to get your handwriting in: draw directly in the browser, or upload a scan of your own handwriting. Either way, you end up with a real, editable font file.

The draw-in-browser option is the faster path. The Draw page shows a 4×3 grid of 12 canvases. Draw directly into any canvas to create that character. A character carousel above the grid lets you scroll through the full character set and pick which 12 are showing. If your letter looks wrong, hit undo and draw it again. The whole loop takes seconds.

If you already have physical lettering you're happy with, scan it and bring it straight into FontCraft. No template required, and no need to redraw anything you've already done.

The left toolbar gives you three pen styles (Biro, Felt-tip, Fountain pen), each with thickness and smoothness controls. For iPad users, drawing in FontCraft with Apple Pencil feels close to writing on paper, with pressure sensitivity and natural stroke variation included.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Pricing for both tools changes over time. Check each site for current rates.

When Calligraphr Makes More Sense

Calligraphr is the better choice in a few specific situations:

You want the print-and-trace workflow. Calligraphr is purpose-built around printing a template, filling it in with a physical pen, and uploading the result. If that process suits how you work and you're already familiar with it, Calligraphr's interface is designed specifically for it.

You want physical ink texture in your font. Brush lettering and calligraphy styles that depend on the organic imperfection of ink on textured paper look genuinely different from digitally drawn letters. If that texture is core to your style, Calligraphr's workflow captures it in a way that's hard to replicate on screen.

You're already invested in Calligraphr. If you have templates, a working process, and fonts you're actively developing there, switching tools mid-project has a real cost. There's no pressing reason to move unless the friction is bothering you.

When FontCraft Makes More Sense

You want to draw and scan. FontCraft supports both: draw directly in your browser or upload a scan of your handwriting. You're not locked into one workflow, and you can switch between them as the project needs.

You're on iPad. The print-and-upload workflow is awkward without a desktop and scanner. FontCraft on iPad with Apple Pencil is the fastest path from idea to finished font, with no physical equipment needed.

You want to iterate quickly. If you draw a letter, decide it looks wrong, and want to fix it immediately, FontCraft's in-browser drawing is much more responsive to that. No reprinting, no rescanning, no waiting.

You want a simpler experience. Calligraphr has more panels and more things to configure. That flexibility suits advanced users, but for someone who just wants to make a font from their handwriting without spending an hour understanding the interface, FontCraft is easier to navigate.

You want to start right now. Opening FontCraft in a browser and drawing your first letter takes about two minutes. Nothing to install, no template to download, no waiting for a print queue.

The Honest Conclusion

Both tools work. Both have real users who make real fonts with them. The question is which workflow fits how you actually work.

If you like the physical template process and Calligraphr's established workflow suits you, stick with it. If you want to draw directly in the browser, or you have existing scanned work you want to bring straight in, or you're on iPad and want the fastest possible path to a finished font, FontCraft is worth trying.

The best way to decide is to try both free tiers. Neither requires a credit card to get started.

Try FontCraft free.