Are all these legit websites?

Amelia:

THE QUICK ANSWER:

If the free font website looks too good to be true, it probably is.

There are specific typefaces available on Adobe Fonts that are free-to-use; these are open-source typefaces like Source Sans:

https://fonts.adobe.com/fonts/source-sans-3

Other typefaces require licensing, but may include one or two free fonts as part of a larger commercial typeface. A good example is the Questa family:

https://fonts.adobe.com/foundries/the-questa-project

Otherwise: it’s probably best to assume that any typeface you find online requires commercial licensing.

Please keep in mind that whatever typefaces you download or purchase will have some form of licence describing precisely how you can use them. Make sure that you have the correct licences in place for the typefaces that you plan to use.

THE MORE DETAILED ANSWER:

The internet is quite a large place these days, so it’ll always be easy to find websites offering commercial fonts for free download. For the typefoundries – and that includes Adobe – tracking down these websites is a never-ending task.

To answer your question: how do you know when to trust a free font website? Simply find a specific typeface on the website that’s available for free download, check out the original type designer’s own website. If the designer is selling licences on their own website or through other typefoundries, then the free font website is too good to be true.

But there are typefaces available everywhere that you can download and use freely. These typefaces have open-source licences which grant you the right use and modify the fonts however you need.

And there are several well-known websites where you can find these open-source typefaces:

Font Squirrel
https://www.fontsquirrel.com/

Google Fonts
https://fonts.google.com/

Many websites across the internet use open-source typefaces. And if you’re working on projects that are not covered by Adobe Fonts’ licensing terms, using open-source typefaces may be an attractive alternative to commercial typefaces.

When working on a project for a client, keep in mind that you’re going to have to make sure that they purchase the appropriate typeface licences. Sometimes, Adobe Fonts’ general licence is good enough. But in cases where a client needs to do something specific like embed fonts into a mobile application, they’ll need special licensing above what Adobe Fonts general licence offers.

If you’re working with a client that you know cannot afford unforeseen or extra expenses – like a non-profit organization or charity – then consider using open-source fonts available through Adobe Fonts, Font Squirrel, Google Fonts, and other well-known websites.

I hope that answers your question. If not, please let me know.

Best regards
Andrew

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