Fonts to use for Mobile Websites & Apps – iOS Android

Can any font be used in app design?

That is a yes / no answer. Yes you could use any font as long as it is accessible by the operating system through the device you are using. No as not all fonts are designed specifically for the mobile / app environment in which it wil be rendered.

Your safest bet is to use fonts that are pre-installed fonts that come with your target OS. For example Apples iOS font is San Francisco (also see iOS Fonts) and for Google’s Android OS being Roboto.

Lets look at some other go to fonts for use for mobile websites and apps. Will focus on fonts that function well  when used for app development in both Apples iOS and Googles Android environments and mobile friendly websites.

Good fonts to use for Apples iOS & Google Android

Roboto (Standard font for Android)

The latest version of Roboto is designed for both mobile and web usage. Roboto has six weights: Thin, Light, Regular, Medium, Bold, and Black.

Check out Roboto

Oswald

The characters of Oswald have been re-drawn and reformed to better fit the pixel grid of standard digital screens. Oswald is designed to be used freely across the internet by web browsers on desktop computers, laptops and mobile devices.

Check out Oswald

Lato

The semi-rounded details of the letters give Lato a feeling of warmth, while the strong structure provides stability and seriousness. “Male and female, serious but friendly. With the feeling of the Summer,” says Łukasz. Learn more at www.latofonts.com

Check out Lato

Open Sans

Open Sans is a sans-serif typeface designed by Steve Matteson and commissioned by Google. According to Google, it was developed with an “upright stress, open forms and a neutral, yet friendly appearance” and is “optimized for legibility across print, web, and mobile interfaces.”

Check out Open Sans