This is a comparison of license terms, not an endorsement of any font. Check the original license linked on each font page before you use it.
Font Selection Criteria for Commercial Software and Products
When designing commercial SaaS products, enterprise dashboards, or consumer mobile applications, choosing the right typography extends beyond visual aesthetics. Long-term maintainability, multi-script harmony, and transparent licensing terms are paramount.
Using FontLens’s database of 53 verified typefaces (12 Korean, 41 Latin), we compared the license terms of free typefaces often used in commercial work.
1. Workhorse Sans-Serif Typefaces for Modern User Interfaces
For responsive websites and cross-platform applications where readability and scalable weights are non-negotiable:
Pretendard
- Scripts: Hangul (Korean) + Latin
- License: SIL OFL-1.1
- Profile: A state-of-the-art neo-grotesque interface typeface inspired by Apple’s SF Pro and Rasmus Andersson’s Inter. It balances Hangul and Latin metrics seamlessly. In FontLens’s Korean dataset, it is the most versatile option supporting commercial outputs, web embedding, app bundling, and subset modifications.
Inter
- Scripts: Latin
- License: SIL OFL-1.1
- Profile: Specifically engineered by Rasmus Andersson for high readability on micro-displays and high-density screens. It features tall x-heights and subtle ink traps, making it the industry standard for enterprise software, analytics consoles, and developer tools.
Roboto
- Scripts: Latin
- License: Apache-2.0
- Profile: Google’s foundational sans-serif typeface, battle-tested across billions of Android mobile devices and cloud consoles worldwide. Its geometric curves and open forms offer broad readability.
2. Expressive Display Typefaces for Brand Marketing
When visual impact and distinctive brand personality are essential for landing pages, promotional campaigns, and video assets:
S-Core Dream
- Scripts: Hangul (Korean)
- License: Custom (Corporate)
- Profile: A striking square-structured gothic typeface featuring 9 distinct weights from ultra-thin to heavy black. Ideal for bold hero headlines and poster typography. Note: Corporate terms enforce
modify: no, meaning glyph curves must not be altered.
Baedaluiminjok Hannache Pro
- Scripts: Hangul (Korean)
- License: Custom OFL
- Profile: An expressive display typeface with retro signage charm, widely embraced for playful marketing slogans and creative packaging.
Nexon MapleStory
- Scripts: Hangul (Korean)
- License: Custom (Corporate)
- Profile: An energetic typeface with curved terminal strokes, highly effective for gaming, entertainment, and casual promotional headlines.
Example Fonts by Project Type
| Product Scenario | Primary Typeface | License Framework | Core Operational Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise SaaS / Mobile App | Pretendard | SIL OFL-1.1 | Complete rights: commercial, web font, app bundle |
| Global Analytics / Developer UI | Inter | SIL OFL-1.1 | High-density readability, open-source governance |
| Android System Integration | Roboto | Apache-2.0 | Apache 2.0 terms, global device familiarity |
| High-Impact Marketing Titles | S-Core Dream | Custom | 9 weights; commercial print allowed (modify: no) |
| Casual Consumer Campaigns | Baemin Hanna Pro | Custom OFL | High-character display; brand name protections |
