This chart compares the features of Mac OS X font managers. Great care has been taken to compare the capabilities of the products. If you have questions or suggestions that can improve the comparison, please send us your thoughts. Thank you.
| Font Viewing |
FontAgent
Pro 4 |
Suitcase
Fusion 2 |
Font
Explorer X |
Mac OS 10.5
Font Book |
| Font Viewing |
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Character set (ABC123)Displays alphabet and numbers in selected font |
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Waterfall of various sizesDisplays a text string in various text sizes in selected font |
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Lorem ipsum paragraphDisplays a paragraph of latin text in selected font |
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Custom paragraphDisplays text entered by user in selected font |
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Player or slideshowAutomatically displays and creates sets with font slideshow |
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Multi-font compareDisplays a text string in various fonts |
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View all fonts in one listLists all fonts in all libraries in a single pane |
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Font metrics and propertiesDisplays metadata and location information for the selected font |
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| Font Integrity |
FontAgent
Pro 4 |
Suitcase
Fusion 2 |
Font
Explorer X |
Mac OS 10.5
Font Book |
| Establish Font Integrity |
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Built-in, automatic font integrity checkAuto-validates fonts without external utilities - prevents crashes, hangs |
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Built-in, manual font integrity checkValidates selected fonts upon request to preserve font integrity |
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Requires |
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Remove PS fonts with no bitmapsStops unexpected font substitution, jaggy output (printer, screen, PDF) |
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FontDoctor |
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Remove bitmaps with no PS FilesEliminates fonts that cannot be printed or imaged proeprly |
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(not built-in) |
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Remove corrupt fontsEliminates confusing, unusable font files that can cause crashes |
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Remove unnecessary bitmap sizesSaves disk space and system resources |
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Test and optimize existing font libraryValidates fonts in an existing library upon request |
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| Maintain Constant Font Integrity |
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Identify problem fonts automatically
Isolates problems for fast, easy repair |
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Check font integrity before activationValidate fonts before activating them to ensure integrity |
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Prevent addition of corrupt fonts
Heads off potential crashes and lockups |
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Prevent addition of duplicate fontsEliminates accidental font duplication in libraries |
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Prevent activation of corrupt fontsEliminates crashes and lockups |
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Prevent activation of duplicate fontsAvoids confusion, ensures correct activation, saves system resources |
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Prevent activation of unmatched fontsStops unexpected font substitution, jaggy output (printer, screen, PDF) |
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Repair moved font filesChecks the organization of a library and reorganizes misplaced font files |
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Reorganize moved fonts automaticallyWhen possible, moves misplaced font files to their correct locations |
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| Libraries and Sets |
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FontAgent
Pro 4 |
Suitcase
Fusion 2 |
Font
Explorer X |
Mac OS 10.5
Font Book |
| Support Font Libraries |
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Create organized font libraryMakes managing fonts easy and reliable |
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Allow creation of multiple librariesKeeps fonts from various users and clients separate |
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Manage multiple libraries simultaneouslyEnables fast and easy library management |
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Manage system fontsSaves system resources, eliminates conflicts with users' fonts |
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Protect required system fontsStops accidental deletion of fonts required by Mac OS |
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Create new library via drag-and-dropCreates a new font library containing a group of newly imported fonts |
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| Support Font Sets or Collections |
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Manage setsCreates logical groups of fonts for easier font activation and management |
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Support hierarchical, nested setsAllows subsets within sets for easier font activation and management |
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Sort fonts by topics and categoriesOrganize fonts by topics and categories not contained in font metadata |
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Create startup setsActivates specific sets of fonts at startup |
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Create sets from slideshowMark fonts in slideshow to add them to a set for easy organization |
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| Search and Shop |
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FontAgent
Pro 4 |
Suitcase
Fusion 2 |
Font
Explorer X |
Mac OS 10.5
Font Book |
| Searching Fonts |
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View and search all fonts in one windowLists and searches all fonts with no need to search individual libraries |
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Search by font name and family nameFinds font names containing specific string (e.g. "Times" or "Helvetica") |
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Search by font file formatFinds fonts with a specific file format (e.g. OpenType or TrueType) |
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Search by font slant Finds fonts with specific properties (e.g. slant from .05 and .12, or width ) |
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Search by font proportionFinds fonts of a specific weight (e.g. narrow, condensed, extended, etc.) |
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Search by font weightFinds fonts of a specific weight (e.g. thin, regular, bold, black, etc.) |
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Search by font spacingFinds fonts that are fixed (monospaced) or variable width |
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Search by foundryFinds fonts from a specific foundry (e.g. Bitstream or Adobe))> |
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Search by keyword or topicFinds fonts for a specific topic (e.g. sports or wedding) |
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Search for fonts by classification Finds fonts for a specific classification (e.g. Grotesque or Serif) |
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Search font commentsFinds fonts whose user-entered comments contain specific words |
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Search for font in specific or all librariesSearch for fonts matching specific creiteria across all font libraries |
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| Shopping for Fonts on Internet |
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Search Internet fonts by keyword or topic Find fonts on the Internet by topic without importing them |
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View Internet fonts in WYSIWYG modeView fonts on the Internet in their native typefaces |
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Access to online font storeShop for and purchase fonts from the Internet |
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Prevent unauthorized font purchasesPrevent enterprise users form making Internet font purchases |
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| Activation |
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FontAgent
Pro 4 |
Suitcase
Fusion 2 |
Font
Explorer X |
Mac OS 10.5
Font Book |
| Activation of Inactive Fonts |
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Activate fonts requested by OS X appsAuto-activate fonts as Mac OS X-compliant apps require them |
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Font metrics for 100% matching Compare metrics of requested fonts to guarantee 100% matching |
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Rank similar fonts when match < 100%Show likelihood of matching fonts when unable to find 100% match |
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Adobe InDesign plug-insAuto-activate fonts when InDesign documents request them |
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CS 2,3,4 |
CS 2,3,4 |
CS 2,3 |
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Adobe Illustrator plug-ins Auto-activate fonts when Illlustrator documents request them |
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CS 2,3,4 |
CS 2,3,4 |
CS 2,3 |
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Adobe Photoshop plug-insAuto-activate fonts when Photoshop documents request them |
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CS 2,3,4 |
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Adobe InCopy plug-insAuto-activate fonts when InCopy documents request them |
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CS 2,3 |
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QuarkXpress plug-insAuto-activate fonts when QuarkXPress documents request them |
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V6, 6.5, 7, 8 |
V6, 6.5, 7, 8 |
V6, 6.5, 7 |
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Control font activation at startup Set preference for activating fonts at startup |
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Enable/disable auto-activation Allow user to turn auto-activation on and off |
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Control activation order by file formatControl auto-activation by file format (e.g. OpenType, then Type1, etc.) |
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Auto-activate fonts in Classic apps Activate fonts in Mac OS 9 applications running in Classic mode |
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| Export & Printing |
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FontAgent
Pro 4 |
Suitcase
Fusion 2 |
Font
Explorer X |
Mac OS 10.5
Font Book |
| Print and Export Fonts |
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Print font booksCreate print and PDF files of custom text strings in selected fonts |
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Export font libraryEnables copying of fonts to one location for easy sending to prepress |
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Export font setEnables copying of fonts to one location for easy sending to prepress |
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Export font familyEnables copying of fonts to one location for easy sending to prepress |
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Export selected fontsEnables copying of fonts to one location for easy sending to prepress |
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| Platform |
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FontAgent
Pro 4 |
Suitcase
Fusion 2 |
Font
Explorer X |
Mac OS 10.5
Font Book |
| Platform Support |
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Mac OS X 10.3 PantherWorks on systems running Mac OS X 10.3 (Panther) |
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Mac OS X 10.4 TigerWorks on systems running Mac OS X 10.3 (Tiger) |
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Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard Works on systems running Mac OS X 10.3 (Leopard) |
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Prevent changes to installed fontsLock system to prevent unauthorized addition and deletion of fonts |
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Automate tasks with AppleScriptCreate and run AppleScripts for repeating tasks consistently |
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| Font Server and Sharing |
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Connects to font serverConnects to font server for standardzing and managing fonts |
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separate product |
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Replication server for scalabilitySyncs redundant servers across enterprise to guarantee scalability |
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Peer-to-peer, serverless font sharingEnables publishing of fonts for temporary use by others on the network |
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| Support |
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FontAgent
Pro 4 |
Suitcase
Fusion 2 |
Font
Explorer X |
Mac OS 10.5
Font Book |
| Documentation and Support |
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User guideComprehensive user guide that explains each part of the font manager |
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Quick start guide Guide for getting started fast |
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Online help facility Built-in online help |
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Technical support - phoneTechnical support available by phone |
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Technical support - emailTechnical support available by email |
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24x7 support available 24x7 support plans available for enterprise users |
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