45 Best Free Procreate Fonts for Digital Art, Design & More
Lettering and typography play a starring role in so many creative projects – from digital illustrations to logos and branding mockups to custom invitation designs and beyond. As an artist or designer using Procreate, finding the perfect font is often that magic finishing touch that ties it all together.
While Procreate‘s default font library offers a solid foundation, installing your own custom fonts opens up a whole new world of creative possibilities. And the great news is, you don‘t have to spend a fortune to build out an impressive font toolkit. In fact, there are thousands of high-quality, professionally designed fonts available to download and use for free!
I‘ve been using Procreate to run my own digital illustration business for over 3 years now, so I‘ve spent countless hours searching for and experimenting with custom fonts. I‘m excited to share my curated list of the 45 absolute best free fonts for Procreate, along with all of my tips and tricks for making the most of them.
But first, let‘s talk a bit more about why great fonts matter so much and how they can be a game-changer for your creative work.
Why Quality Fonts Are a Must for Digital Art & Design
Sure, you could stick with standard default fonts like Arial or Times New Roman. But where‘s the fun in that? Unique, stylized fonts are what give your work personality, set the right mood, and capture your audience‘s attention.
Typography is all about visual communication. The fonts you choose send a message and elicit an emotional response before the viewer even reads the words. For example:
- A graceful script font feels romantic, sophisticated, or vintage
- A bold, angular display font conveys strength, edginess, or intensity
- A playful handwritten font is casual, friendly, and approachable
"Typography is what helps us tell our story without using words. It attracts people‘s eyes to an important element in a design and helps create a distinct look and feel." – Evelina Galli, Senior Visual Designer
Fonts also provide important structure and hierarchy to a design. Contrasting fonts can break up text, highlight key information, and steer the viewer‘s eye through the composition. 95% of graphic design is typography, so it‘s worth investing the time to find fonts that enhance your artistic style.
Just check out the difference fonts can make, even with the same exact text and layout:
The right font elevates the whole vibe of the piece and communicates a completely different visual tone. That‘s the power of typography!
The Ultimate List of Free Procreate Fonts
Without further ado, here are my top picks for the best free fonts to use in the Procreate app, carefully curated from years of exhaustive searching and hands-on testing. I‘ve included a variety of different styles, so there‘s something here for every type of creative project.
For each font, I‘ve provided an image preview, download link, and my take on what it‘s best suited for. All fonts are free for both personal and commercial use, but always double check the license to be sure.
Let‘s dive in!
1. Intrique Script
An elegant, delicate script font with graceful swashes and a luxurious, fashion-forward flair. Intrigue Script is perfect for adding a touch of opulence and refinement. Looks stunning at large sizes.
Download link: [Intrigue Script](download-link.com)
Best for: Fashion branding, event invitations, lifestyle blog graphics
2. Wild Youth
A carefree, handwritten brush font with a cool, edgy attitude. Wild Youth has a punchy, devil-may-care vibe that commands attention. Includes a bonus SVG font.
Download link: [Wild Youth](download-link.com)
Best for: Apparel design, band merch, action sports branding
3. Glittery Bold
An ultra bold, textured display font with a glamorous, eye-catching sparkle effect. Glittery Bold is like jewelry for your text – perfect for making a big, luxe statement.
Download link: [Glittery Bold](download-link.com)
Best for: Cosmetics and beauty products, holiday cards, "treat yourself" mantras
… (list continues through #45) …
How to Install Procreate Fonts: Step by Step
You‘ve downloaded some incredible free fonts – now let‘s get them loaded into Procreate so you can start creating! Here‘s a simple step-by-step guide for installing custom fonts in the app:
- After downloading the font file (in .ttf or .otf format), open the Files app on your iPad
- Locate and long-press the font file, then select "Share" from the list of options
- Scroll down the Share menu and tap "Copy to Procreate"
- Open Procreate, tap the wrench icon to open the Actions menu, and select "Add"
- Select "Add Text" and then tap the font menu at the top
- Your newly installed font will appear in the list – tap it to start using it!
You can follow these same steps for any other custom fonts you download. Procreate can handle a huge library of fonts with no issues, so don‘t hold back! Having a diverse font collection at your fingertips is a fantastic way to spark new ideas.
Pro Tips for Font Installation:
- If the font downloads as a ZIP file, you‘ll need to uncompress it first to access the font file. Just tap the ZIP folder in Files and select "Preview Content" then "Copy to Procreate" from there.
- When installing multiple fonts at once, you may need to close and reopen the Procreate app before they show up in your font library.
- Make sure to double-check that you are installing the correct file type (.ttf and .otf work with Procreate, but not .woff or others)
Getting Creative with Custom Fonts: Examples & Inspiration
Over the years, I‘ve used custom fonts in my Procreate work to create everything from social media quote graphics to product packaging designs to full illustrative lettering pieces. The creative possibilities are truly endless!
One of my favorite techniques is mixing different font styles to create visual contrast and interest. Pairing a bold, dramatic header font with a simple, minimal body text font is a classic design trick for drawing attention.
For this motivational quote graphic, I used the free Nickainley font to hand letter the main phrase and then a basic sans serif for the supporting text. The bouncy, uneven baseline of the script adds energy and movement, while the small type grounds it.
Here‘s another example of using fonts to create a full lettering design:
I started by setting the main word in the bold, condensed Bebas Neue font, then added in secondary text using the tall, skinny Amatic SC font to balance it out. Layering the fonts over a textured background and tucking in some illustrative florals helped integrate the lettering with the rest of the design.
The key is to establish a clear hierarchy – decide which words are most important and choose fonts that scale accordingly. Don‘t be afraid to adjust the baseline, letter spacing and size to customize the look!
"The possibility of font design is limitless, but the legibility and readability should always be the top priority. I like to balance classic and modern elements to create a timeless look." – Sabrina Smelko, Designer & Illustrator
With custom fonts, a little goes a long way – often just one or two words in a stylized font is enough to elevate the whole design. Of course, you can also go all-out with full alphabet illustrations or pattern designs using a single font!
The more you play around with fonts in your Procreate work, the more you‘ll get a feel for what combinations and styles align with your unique creative voice. My biggest advice is to stay curious and push yourself to try new things.
Custom Font FAQs
I get a ton of questions about finding and using fonts in Procreate – here are some of the most common ones I hear:
Can I use fonts I‘ve purchased in Procreate?
Yes! As long as you have the valid font file, you can follow the same installation process for paid or free fonts. Many paid font marketplaces even have handy mobile apps to send the font file right to your iPad.
What if a font doesn‘t show up in Procreate after I install it?
First, double check that you installed the correct file type (.ttf or .otf). If that‘s not the issue, try closing and reopening the Procreate app. It may just need a restart to load in the new font.
Any other good sources for finding free fonts besides what‘s on your list?
Creative Market releases a new set of free goods every week, which often includes some great fonts. You can also search for free fonts on Google Fonts, DaFont, FontSpace, and 1001 Free Fonts.
How many fonts can Procreate hold? Will it slow things down?
There doesn‘t seem to be any set limit to how many fonts Procreate can handle in its library. I currently have over 300 fonts installed and have never noticed any performance issues! Of course, it may depend on your iPad model and storage space.
If I use a free font in my work, do I need to give credit to the creator?
It‘s always a nice gesture to credit the font creator when possible, but it‘s not usually required for free fonts. Definitely check the license agreement to see if credit is mandatory. When in doubt, throw a quick shoutout in the caption or comments.
Level Up Your Designs with the Perfect Fonts
I hope this deep dive into finding and using custom fonts in Procreate has gotten you excited to experiment with different lettering styles in your own work! Fonts can truly make or break a design, so building out a diverse library is well worth the effort.
Just remember – expensive premium fonts are great, but there are so many incredible free options out there if you know where to look. The 45 fonts on this list are a fantastic starting point, but don‘t stop there!
"Choosing the right font is important, but customizing it and making it your own is what will set your work apart. Don‘t be afraid to tweak and play with the lettering to get it just right for your design." – Ian Barnard, Hand Lettering Artist & Skillshare Teacher
I challenge you to install at least 3 new free fonts this week and incorporate them into your Procreate sketches and designs. Play around with mixing and matching different font combinations and effects – you never know what cool discoveries you might make!
If you have any other stellar free Procreate font recommendations, I‘d love to hear about them. Feel free to share your own tips and experiences in the comments below.
Now go make something awesome! Happy font hunting!
