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Shift

Shift is a free, open-source desktop font editor for designing variable fonts, available for macOS, Windows, and Linux.

Place
#20 of 33
Score
6.1
Shift's website

What Shift is

Shift is a free, open-source desktop font editor for designing variable fonts, available for macOS, Windows, and Linux. It can open editable `.shift` documents and inspect font sources in TTF, OTF, UFO, Designspace, Glyphs, and Glyphspackage formats. TTF and OTF files appear only as previews and cannot yet be turned into editable Shift documents in the desktop app. For outlines, users can draw or adjust straight and cubic curves, shapes, points, handles, side bearings, and advance width. Shape tools cover moving, resizing, rotating, flipping, aligning, distributing, and combining closed contours through union, intersect, and subtract operations. Variable-font controls include authored sources, axes, mappings, style labels, and named instances. The glyph catalog draws on Hyperglot language data to indicate required characters for selected languages and scripts. Shift saves `.shift` documents and exports TrueType fonts. Version 0.1.1 is its first alpha release, and the maker notes that workflows and document details may change. Text proofing and complete spacing and kerning workflows are not yet available.

Good

  • Free and open-source.
  • Available on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
  • Edits variable-font settings and outlines.
  • Exports TrueType fonts.
  • Glyph catalog covers selected languages and scripts.

Watch out

  • Version 0.1.1 is an alpha release.
  • TTF and OTF files are view-only.
  • Text proofing is not available.
  • Complete spacing and kerning workflows are not available.

Who it suits

Shift suits font designers seeking a free desktop tool for editing variable-font sources and outlines. It may also help users inspect supported font-source files, with the caveat that TTF and OTF are view-only.

Verdict

Shift offers font drawing and variable-font editing without a listed price. Its alpha status and missing proofing, spacing, and kerning workflows are important limits to weigh.

Plans and prices

From Shift's own pricing page, checked 8 Oct 2026.

All about pricing
PlanPriceWhat it gives you
FreeFreeFree and open-source font editor · currently in alpha

The facts

Each one read from Shift's own pages, with the date it was checked.

What it does

Alpha status
Version 0.1.1 is the first alpha release, and the maker says workflows and document details may change.checked 8 Oct 2026
Import and export
Shift can save editable `.shift` documents and export TrueType fonts; compiled TTF and OTF sources remain view-only.checked 8 Oct 2026
Language coverage
The glyph catalog uses Hyperglot language data to show required characters present for selected languages and scripts.checked 8 Oct 2026
Open and browse
Shift can open `.shift` documents and inspect TTF, OTF, UFO, Designspace, Glyphs, and Glyphspackage sources.checked 8 Oct 2026
Outline editing
The editor supports drawing and editing straight and cubic curves, shapes, points, handles, side bearings, and advance width.checked 8 Oct 2026
Read-only formats
TTF and OTF files open as view-only previews and cannot currently be converted into editable Shift documents through the desktop app.checked 8 Oct 2026
Security and signing
The release notes say macOS builds are signed and notarized, Windows builds are unsigned, and Linux RPMs and the checksum manifest are signed with the Shift repository key.checked 8 Oct 2026
Shape operations
Shift supports moving, resizing, rotating, flipping, aligning, and distributing shapes, plus union, intersect, and subtract operations on closed contours.checked 8 Oct 2026
Support
The Help menu includes Report a Problem, Show Logs, and Feedback, and the maker lists [email protected] for direct email.checked 8 Oct 2026
Supported systems
The maker lists macOS, Windows, and Linux as supported platforms.checked 8 Oct 2026
Variable fonts
Users can inspect and edit authored sources and settings such as axes, sources, mappings, style labels, and named instances.checked 8 Oct 2026
What it does
Shift is a free, open-source desktop font editor for designing variable fonts.checked 8 Oct 2026
Workflow limits
Text proofing and complete spacing and kerning workflows are not yet available.checked 8 Oct 2026

The company

Maker
The site footer identifies Kostya Farber, while the About page does not expose additional company details in the opened page.checked 8 Oct 2026

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