Transfonter alternative

FontPivot vs Transfonter

Transfonter is a long-running free @font-face generator. FontPivot’s webfont generator does a similar job with one main difference: your fonts are converted and subset in your browser instead of on a server. Transfonter offers more controls for older formats and font rendering. Here is how they compare, so you can pick the right one for the job.

We checked Transfonter’s converter page on November 12, 2026. Features change, so confirm the details on transfonter.org before you decide.

Feature comparison

Transfonter and FontPivot compared, as of November 12, 2026
Feature	Transfonter	FontPivot
Where your fonts are processed	Uploaded to Transfonter’s server, converted there, and returned as a ZIP download	In your browser; the files are not uploaded
File limits	5 MB per file, up to 20 files	25 MB per file; several files at once
Input formats	TTF, OTF, WOFF, WOFF2, SVG, TTC, DFONT, BIN, CFF, PFA, PFB, PS, PT3, SFD, T11, T42	TTF, OTF, WOFF, WOFF2, and TTC or OTC font collections
Font collections (TTC)	Accepted by the converter, plus a separate TTC unpacker	The converter lists the fonts in a collection; pick the ones to convert, each as its own file
Output formats	TTF, EOT, WOFF, WOFF2, SVG	TTF, OTF, WOFF, WOFF2
Hinting	Keep existing, TTFAutohint, or strip hinting	Keep existing (default) or remove it, with the size saved shown; no automatic hinting such as TTFAutohint
Vertical metrics	“Fix vertical metrics” option	“Fix vertical metrics” option (off by default): follows Google Fonts’ rules, turns on USE_TYPO_METRICS, keeps the macOS line height, and shows the line height on macOS and Windows before and after
Variable fonts	No instancing options in the converter settings	Variable font instancer: fix an axis at one value or narrow its range, with the real file size shown; the CSS follows the new weights
Fallback font CSS to reduce layout shift	Not offered	Font fallback generator: calculates `size-adjust`, `ascent-override`, `descent-override`, and `line-gap-override` for system fallbacks such as Arial or Roboto from your font’s metrics and character widths, with a layout shift demo. Released versions of Safari apply only `size-adjust`
Subsetting	Keep all characters, chosen characters, or Unicode ranges	Character sets (starting from the Latin set Google Fonts serves), extra characters, and Unicode ranges, with the real file size shown as you choose; OpenType features and every name record are kept unless you remove features; optional split into one file per script, like Google Fonts
`unicode-range` in the CSS	No setting for it in the converter options	Added for each subset in the web font kit
`font-display`	auto, block, swap, fallback, optional	auto, block, swap, fallback, optional
Other CSS options	`local()` rule, base64 embedding, fonts directory, family support	`local()` sources, base64 embedding, font folder; weights and styles of one family share a `font-family`
Demo page	Optional, in English, French, Georgian, German, Portuguese, Russian, or Spanish	Sample page in the web font kit (English) with a layout shift comparison, plus a README with CSS, preload, and framework snippets
Other tools	TTC unpacker, font explorer, format converter	Webfont generator, font subsetter, variable font instancer, font fallback generator, font viewer (details, characters, OpenType features, variable axes, vertical metrics, license notes), and 12 format-to-format converter pages
Price	Free; the site has a donation page	Free, no account

Where your fonts are processed: TransfonterUploaded to Transfonter’s server, converted there, and returned as a ZIP download; FontPivotIn your browser; the files are not uploaded
File limits: Transfonter5 MB per file, up to 20 files; FontPivot25 MB per file; several files at once
Input formats: TransfonterTTF, OTF, WOFF, WOFF2, SVG, TTC, DFONT, BIN, CFF, PFA, PFB, PS, PT3, SFD, T11, T42; FontPivotTTF, OTF, WOFF, WOFF2, and TTC or OTC font collections
Font collections (TTC): TransfonterAccepted by the converter, plus a separate TTC unpacker; FontPivotThe converter lists the fonts in a collection; pick the ones to convert, each as its own file
Output formats: TransfonterTTF, EOT, WOFF, WOFF2, SVG; FontPivotTTF, OTF, WOFF, WOFF2
Hinting: TransfonterKeep existing, TTFAutohint, or strip hinting; FontPivotKeep existing (default) or remove it, with the size saved shown; no automatic hinting such as TTFAutohint
Vertical metrics: Transfonter“Fix vertical metrics” option; FontPivot“Fix vertical metrics” option (off by default): follows Google Fonts’ rules, turns on USE_TYPO_METRICS, keeps the macOS line height, and shows the line height on macOS and Windows before and after
Variable fonts: TransfonterNo instancing options in the converter settings; FontPivotVariable font instancer: fix an axis at one value or narrow its range, with the real file size shown; the CSS follows the new weights
Fallback font CSS to reduce layout shift: TransfonterNot offered; FontPivotFont fallback generator: calculates size-adjust, ascent-override, descent-override, and line-gap-override for system fallbacks such as Arial or Roboto from your font’s metrics and character widths, with a layout shift demo. Released versions of Safari apply only size-adjust
Subsetting: TransfonterKeep all characters, chosen characters, or Unicode ranges; FontPivotCharacter sets (starting from the Latin set Google Fonts serves), extra characters, and Unicode ranges, with the real file size shown as you choose; OpenType features and every name record are kept unless you remove features; optional split into one file per script, like Google Fonts
unicode-range in the CSS: TransfonterNo setting for it in the converter options; FontPivotAdded for each subset in the web font kit
font-display: Transfonterauto, block, swap, fallback, optional; FontPivotauto, block, swap, fallback, optional
Other CSS options: Transfonterlocal() rule, base64 embedding, fonts directory, family support; FontPivotlocal() sources, base64 embedding, font folder; weights and styles of one family share a font-family
Demo page: TransfonterOptional, in English, French, Georgian, German, Portuguese, Russian, or Spanish; FontPivotSample page in the web font kit (English) with a layout shift comparison, plus a README with CSS, preload, and framework snippets
Other tools: TransfonterTTC unpacker, font explorer, format converter; FontPivotWebfont generator, font subsetter, variable font instancer, font fallback generator, font viewer (details, characters, OpenType features, variable axes, vertical metrics, license notes), and 12 format-to-format converter pages
Price: TransfonterFree; the site has a donation page; FontPivotFree, no account

When Transfonter is the better choice

You need EOT or SVG fonts for very old browsers or devices.
You want to add new hinting with TTFAutohint. FontPivot can keep or remove a font’s hinting, but not create it.
Your source is a format FontPivot does not read, such as a DFONT, a PostScript Type 1 font (PFA, PFB), or a FontForge SFD file.
You want the demo page in a language other than English.

When FontPivot is the better choice

You would rather not upload a font, for example an unreleased brand font or a font from client work.
Your files are larger than 5 MB each.
You want text to jump less when the web font loads: the fallback generator writes adjusted fallback @font-face rules for you.
You want each subset to come with the matching unicode-range, and to see the real file size while you choose characters.
You want to inspect a font first: its name, weight, characters, OpenType features, variable axes, and license notes.

Good to know

Most websites today only need WOFF2. EOT and SVG fonts were for browsers that are no longer in use; see WOFF2, WOFF, TTF, or OTF?
Neither tool changes what a font’s license allows. Check that your license permits web use and conversion before you convert or subset a font.
Converting a font between TTF and OTF means rebuilding its outlines in any tool, so keep your original file.

Open the font converter Subset a font