TTF vs OTF vs WOFF2: Which Font Format Should You Use?
Many font downloads include the same typeface in several formats: TTF, OTF, WOFF and WOFF2. Which one should you install, and which one belongs on a website? This guide explains what each font format actually is, clears up the most common myths about TTF vs OTF, and gives you a simple rule for choosing the right file for Word, design apps, Cricut and the web.
In brief
- For your computer: install TTF or OTF. Both work on Windows and Mac, and for most people the visible difference is zero.
- For websites: use WOFF2. It’s the smallest web format and every modern browser supports it.
- Sharing Word or PowerPoint files with embedded fonts? Choose TTF, because Office can’t embed .otf fonts with PostScript outlines.
- “TTF can’t have ligatures” is a myth. Both TTF and OTF files can be OpenType fonts with the same advanced features.
- Install one format per font, never both TTF and OTF of the same family.
Contents
- TTF vs OTF vs WOFF vs WOFF2 at a glance
- What is OpenType?
- TTF vs OTF: the real differences
- Myths about TTF and OTF
- Which font format should you download?
- WOFF and WOFF2: fonts for websites
- Variable fonts
- Other font formats you may see
- How to check a font’s format
- Should you convert font formats?
- Checklist before you download
- Common mistakes to avoid
- FAQ
- Official sources
TTF vs OTF vs WOFF vs WOFF2 at a glance
| Format | Full name | Made for | Install on computer? | Use on website? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TTF | TrueType Font (often OpenType with TrueType outlines) | Desktop apps, documents | Yes | Works, but too heavy |
| OTF | OpenType Font (usually with PostScript/CFF outlines) | Desktop apps, design, print | Yes | Works, but too heavy |
| WOFF | Web Open Font Format 1.0 | Websites | No | Yes, older fallback |
| WOFF2 | Web Open Font Format 2.0 | Websites | No | Yes, best choice |
What is OpenType?
OpenType is the modern font standard developed by Microsoft and Adobe. It works like a container: inside, the letter shapes (outlines) are stored in one of two ways.
- TrueType outlines, built from quadratic curves. Fonts with these outlines can use either the .ttf or the .otf extension.
- PostScript outlines, stored as CFF data and built from cubic curves. Fonts with these outlines always use the .otf extension.
So a .ttf file you download today is usually an OpenType font too. The extension tells you mainly which kind of outlines are inside, not which features the font has.
TTF vs OTF: the real differences
| Feature | TTF | OTF (CFF outlines) |
|---|---|---|
| Outline curves | Quadratic | Cubic |
| Ligatures, alternates, small caps | Possible if the designer added them | Possible if the designer added them |
| Screen hinting | Detailed instructions, precise control at small sizes | Simpler hints, device-independent |
| File size | Depends on the font | Depends on the font |
| Embedding in Word and PowerPoint files | Yes, if the font allows it | No |
| Adobe apps, print, professional layout | Works well | Works well; often preferred by designers |
| Windows and Mac support | Full | Full |
Here is the outline difference in practice. Both images show the letter “S” from the same font, Source Sans 3, as published by Adobe in both formats. The TrueType version shapes its curves with one control point per curve segment; the CFF version uses two:
In everyday use, such as Word documents, Canva, Cricut and social graphics, you won’t see a difference between a well-made TTF and a well-made OTF of the same font. Quality depends on the designer, not the extension.
Myths about TTF and OTF
Myth 1: “TTF files don’t support ligatures and alternate characters”
Several popular guides claim that only OTF files can contain advanced typography. That’s wrong. Microsoft’s OpenType specification states that fonts with TrueType outlines may use either the .ttf or .otf extension, and OpenType layout features such as ligatures and alternates work with both outline types. Whether a font has these features depends on what the designer built in, not on the file extension.
Myth 2: “OTF is always better, so always choose it”
OTF is a fine default for design work, but it’s not always the better choice. Microsoft Office can only embed fonts with the .ttf extension; .otf fonts with PostScript outlines are never embedded. If you send a Word or PowerPoint file with embedded fonts, TTF is the right format.
Myth 3: “OTF files are smaller” (or “TTF files are smaller”)
You’ll find guides claiming both. In reality, file size depends on how many characters, weights and hinting instructions the designer included. In our test with Source Sans 3 Regular, the OTF was 327 KB and the TTF 421 KB, but other fonts show the opposite. For websites, the format that reliably makes fonts smaller is WOFF2.
Which font format should you download?
| What you’re doing | Best format | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Word or PowerPoint files you’ll share with embedded fonts | TTF | Office only embeds .ttf fonts |
| Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, print design | OTF (TTF also fine) | Cubic outlines match how designers draw; full feature support |
| Canva uploads, Cricut, everyday documents | Either | Both work the same |
| Website or WordPress theme | WOFF2 | Smallest file, supported by all modern browsers |
| Download includes both TTF and OTF | Install one only | Duplicates cause conflicts |
| Only a Type 1 version (.pfb/.pfm) is available | Look for an OpenType version | Current Adobe apps no longer support Type 1 |
Once you’ve picked a format, follow our guide on how to install fonts on Windows and Mac. For design apps, see how to add fonts to Photoshop and Illustrator and how to upload fonts to Canva.
WOFF and WOFF2: fonts for websites
WOFF and WOFF2 aren’t new designs. They’re compressed packages of an OpenType font, made for fast delivery over the internet. WOFF2 is a W3C Recommendation and uses Brotli compression plus font-specific preprocessing. In W3C’s own tests, WOFF2 files were smaller than WOFF 1.0 files for every font tested, with median savings of roughly 24–27%.
We measured the difference on one real font. Compressing the 421 KB TTF of Source Sans 3 Regular produced a 196 KB WOFF and a 136 KB WOFF2, about a third of the original size, with exactly the same letters:
- No quality loss. The browser unpacks the font and renders it exactly as the original design.
- Not for installing. Windows and macOS won’t install WOFF or WOFF2 files. Download the TTF or OTF version for desktop use.
- Old formats are obsolete. EOT (for old Internet Explorer) and SVG fonts are no longer needed on modern websites.
A minimal modern setup needs only WOFF2:
@font-face {
font-family: "My Font";
src: url("my-font.woff2") format("woff2");
font-display: swap;
}Before putting any font on a website, check that its license allows web use. See our font license guide for how desktop and web licenses differ.
Variable fonts
A variable font packs a whole range of weights, and sometimes widths or slants, into a single file. Instead of separate Light, Regular and Bold files, you get one file with a slider. Variable fonts use the same .ttf or .otf extensions (and WOFF2 on the web), and current Windows and macOS versions support them. App support varies: modern design apps and browsers handle them well, but some older software shows only the default style.
Other font formats you may see
| Extension | What it is | Still useful? |
|---|---|---|
| .ttc / .otc | A collection of several fonts in one file | Yes; installs like a normal font |
| .pfb / .pfm / .afm | PostScript Type 1, the pre-OpenType standard | No; current Adobe apps ignore it |
| .dfont | An old Mac-only format | Only on Mac; prefer OpenType |
| .eot | Embedded OpenType for old Internet Explorer | No |
| .svg (font) | An early web font format | No; use WOFF2 |
How to check a font’s format
The extension doesn’t always tell the whole story, but your operating system can show you what’s inside.
- Windows: double-click the font file. The font viewer header shows the outline type, for example “OpenType Layout, TrueType Outlines” or “PostScript Outlines”.
- Mac: select the font in Font Book and open its information panel. The “Kind” field shows TrueType or OpenType PostScript.
Should you convert font formats?
Online converters make it easy to turn OTF into TTF or TTF into WOFF2, but think twice:
- Check the license first. Many licenses forbid converting or modifying the font file. Microsoft’s own font FAQ, for example, doesn’t allow converting the fonts that come with Windows. OFL fonts generally allow conversion.
- Quality can suffer. Converting cubic OTF outlines to quadratic TTF outlines means approximating curves, and hinting is usually lost.
- Look for an official version first. Many designers already offer TTF, OTF and WOFF2 versions.
Checklist before you download
- Decide where the font will be used: desktop app, shared Office document, or website.
- Pick the matching format from the table above.
- If the download includes several formats, install only one.
- Check that the font includes the characters you need, including numbers, accents and punctuation.
- Confirm the license covers your use: personal, commercial, web or app.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Installing both TTF and OTF versions of the same font. Apps may show duplicates or the wrong version.
- Trying to install WOFF2 files on your computer. They only work on websites.
- Uploading TTF or OTF files as website fonts. They work, but they’re much heavier than WOFF2 and slow your pages.
- Choosing OTF for Office documents you’ll share. The font won’t embed, and recipients see a fallback font.
- Converting fonts without reading the license. Format conversion can breach it.
- Keeping old Type 1 fonts in your workflow. Current Adobe apps no longer show them.
FAQ
Is OTF or TTF better?
Neither is better in general. OTF is a good default for design and print work; TTF is better when you need to embed fonts in Word or PowerPoint. Font quality depends on the designer, not the format.
Can I install WOFF or WOFF2 fonts on Windows or Mac?
No. WOFF and WOFF2 are web formats. Download the TTF or OTF version to install a font on your computer.
Do TTF fonts support ligatures?
Yes, if the designer included them. TTF files are usually OpenType fonts and support the same layout features as OTF files.
Which font format is best for websites?
WOFF2. It’s the most compressed web font format and is supported by all modern browsers.
Why won’t my OTF font embed in PowerPoint?
Microsoft Office only embeds fonts with the .ttf extension. Use the TTF version of the font if you need to share the file with the font embedded.
Should I install both TTF and OTF versions?
No. Install one format per font family to avoid duplicates and conflicts.
Official sources
- Microsoft Learn: The OpenType font file specification
- Microsoft Learn: Recommendations for OpenType fonts (filenames)
- Microsoft Learn: Can’t embed an Adobe OpenType font in an Office document
- W3C: WOFF File Format 2.0 Recommendation
- W3C: WOFF 2.0 Evaluation Report
- Adobe Fonts on GitHub: Source Sans (TTF and OTF releases used in our test)
- Adobe: PostScript Type 1 fonts end of support
- MDN Web Docs: @font-face
