TTF vs OTF vs WOFF vs WOFF2: Which Font Format Should You Use?

You download a font for a logo and get a folder full of files: a TTF, an OTF, a WOFF and a WOFF2. Your design app ignores half of them, your website builder asks for something else, and the cutting machine refuses the file you picked. They are all the same typeface, so why are there four?

This guide explains what each format is for, which one to use where, and how to convert between them in a few seconds.

Font ConverterConvert fonts between TTF, OTF, WOFF and WOFF2, in bulk.

The four formats in one minute

TTF (TrueType). The classic desktop font format, created by Apple and Microsoft. Letters are drawn with quadratic curves. Every operating system and almost every app can install and use it.

OTF (OpenType with PostScript outlines). The modern desktop format from Adobe and Microsoft. Letters use cubic curves, and the file often carries extra typographic features such as ligatures, small caps and alternate letters. Designers love it, but some apps and machines still only accept TTF.

WOFF (Web Open Font Format). A TTF or OTF wrapped and compressed with zlib so it downloads faster on websites. It was the standard web format around 2012.

WOFF2. The newer web format. It uses Brotli compression and a smarter way of storing glyphs, so files are usually 30% smaller than WOFF and 50–70% smaller than TTF. Every current browser supports it.

Which format should you use?

A simple rule: desktop means TTF or OTF, web means WOFF2. You do not need EOT or SVG fonts any more; those were for browsers that are long gone.

How to make web fonts from a TTF or OTF

1. Open the TTF to WOFF2 converter and drop in every weight you use, for example Regular, Medium and Bold.
2. Wait a second while each file is compressed.
3. Download the WOFF2 files, or all of them as a ZIP.
4. Copy the ready-made @font-face CSS and paste it into your stylesheet.

TTF to WOFF2 ConverterConvert TTF fonts to WOFF2 web fonts with @font-face CSS.

Hosting fonts on your own site instead of loading them from a third-party server removes an extra connection, lets the browser cache them with your other files, and helps your Core Web Vitals. Keep font-display: swap in the CSS so text appears straight away while the font loads.

How to install a web font on your computer

Sometimes you only have a WOFF2 file, for example from a theme or a brand kit. Windows and macOS cannot install it, so convert it back to TTF first:

WOFF2 to TTF ConverterConvert WOFF2 web fonts to installable TTF files.

Then right-click the TTF and choose Install on Windows, or double-click it and press Install Font on a Mac.

When an app only accepts TTF

Cutting machines, some games and older office software reject OTF files. Converting OTF to TTF redraws the curves in TrueType format. The letters look the same at normal sizes, and names, spacing and kerning are kept. Advanced OpenType extras such as stylistic alternates may not all survive, so keep the original OTF for design work.

OTF to TTF ConverterConvert OpenType OTF fonts to TrueType TTF.

Check the license before you convert

Converting a font does not change who owns it. Fonts under the SIL Open Font License, which covers most of Google Fonts, can be converted and used commercially. Commercial fonts often come with separate desktop and web licenses, and a font downloaded from someone else's website is usually licensed for that site only. The Font Viewer shows the copyright and license text stored inside a file:

Font ViewerPreview a font file and see its name, license and characters.

Frequently asked questions

Is WOFF2 lower quality than TTF? No. WOFF2 compression is lossless, so every glyph and kerning pair is kept exactly.

Can I convert WOFF2 back to OTF? If the WOFF2 was made from an OTF, decoding it gives back PostScript outlines. Our converter outputs TTF so the result opens everywhere.

Do I need both WOFF and WOFF2 on my site? Only if you must support very old browsers. For most sites, WOFF2 alone is enough.

Are my fonts uploaded when I convert them? No. Conversion happens in your browser, so licensed and unreleased fonts stay on your computer.

Pick the right format for the job, keep your originals safe, and your fonts will look the same everywhere they appear.