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MyFontbook was a free browser-based viewer for fonts installed on a user’s computer, documented by August 2009. Contemporary coverage described tools for previewing, comparing, tagging, rating, and printing fonts. It appears unavailable today, but the available evidence does not establish an exact shutdown date or an official closure announcement.
What was MyFontbook?
A 2009 article described MyFontbook as an online font viewer that let designers browse installed fonts through a web browser. It presented the service as a free, platform-independent option for viewing and organizing a font collection. The article associated the project with developer Jeremy Taylor, but the available evidence does not independently verify his identity or ownership of the service.
SmashingApps coverage documents MyFontbook by August 24, 2009. That establishes it was publicly described by then, not its exact launch date.
Features reported in 2009
These are features described in historical coverage, not functions verified in a live application today.
#1 Best Overall
| Feature | Reported purpose |
|---|---|
| Overview of installed fonts | Browse and sort a font collection visually. |
| Swatch and list views | Scan samples in a condensed view or inspect fonts in a more expanded layout. |
| Custom sample text | Compare typefaces using chosen text. |
| Paragraph previews | Judge fonts with longer samples. |
| Character previews and ASCII codes | Inspect characters alongside their codes. |
| Tags and ratings | Mark fonts for consideration and identify preferred or frequently used choices. |
| Printable samples | Print selected fonts in several styles for comparison. |
The historical descriptions do not explain how the browser accessed local fonts. They do not establish that MyFontbook uploaded font files, stored them online, guaranteed privacy, required no installation, or previewed arbitrary uninstalled files.
What happened to MyFontbook?
MyFontbook appears unavailable as a usable service today. A SaaSHub status listing identifies myfontbook.com as the service’s website and reports its status. The reviewed evidence does not include an official closure announcement, a reliable shutdown date, or a direct statement from the developer.
Domain or DNS resolution alone would not show that the original application is operating. The available sources do not establish whether the service ended through an intentional shutdown, expired infrastructure, or another cause.
MyFontbook is not MyFonts
The similar names refer to different things. MyFontbook was described as a viewer and organizer for fonts installed on a user’s computer. MyFonts is a separate digital marketplace for discovering and licensing typefaces, owned by Monotype.
Rank #3
- Vault Editions The Sign Painter and Lettering Artists Reference Book
| Name | What it is | What the evidence says |
|---|---|---|
| MyFontbook | Historical browser-based font viewer | Reported features included previews, organization, and printing. |
| MyFonts | Font discovery and licensing marketplace | Helps users find, license, and download typefaces; it is not a confirmed successor to MyFontbook. |
Monotype announced in 2023 that it would phase out the Linotype, FontShop, and Fonts.com direct-commerce platforms and focus on MyFonts. MyFonts says those catalogs became available there from March 2024. This change does not mean MyFonts replaced MyFontbook’s reported local-font viewing and cataloging functions. See Monotype’s announcement and the MyFonts About page.
MyFonts reports a catalog of more than 300,000 fonts from over 4,500 foundries and independent designers; these are company-published figures, not independently audited counts. Its marketplace is relevant if you want to discover and license a typeface, not as a direct replacement for a local font viewer.
What can you use instead?
The reviewed sources do not independently validate a like-for-like replacement for MyFontbook. Choose a tool based on whether you need to preview fonts already installed on your computer, manage a local collection, or find and license new typefaces. MyFonts is an option for the last of those needs, but its marketplace role is different.
FAQ
Is MyFontbook still available?
It appears unavailable as a usable service. The reviewed sources do not establish an exact shutdown date or an official closure announcement.
When did MyFontbook launch?
The service was publicly described by August 24, 2009. The available evidence does not establish its exact launch date.
Was MyFontbook the same as MyFonts?
No. MyFontbook was described as a viewer and organizer for installed fonts; MyFonts is a separate marketplace for discovering and licensing typefaces.
Did MyFontbook upload fonts or keep them private?
The historical descriptions do not explain how it accessed fonts or establish whether it uploaded files or how it handled privacy. Those claims cannot be confirmed from the reviewed evidence.
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