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“Type design—how cool is that! Just draw a stroke, add a serif, and you’ve got an international style!”

I’m sure many of you, like me, suddenly felt the urge to dive into type design one day—to appreciate the beauty of glyphs—and started searching for accessible type design software.

Searching online for “what software to use for type design” inevitably leads to unanimous recommendations for Glyphs. After all, Glyphs was once considered practically sponsored content, even hailed as the Holy Grail for designers.

Unfortunately, Glyphs software is exclusively available on Mac, making it extremely unfriendly for the vast majority of Windows users.

On August 4, 2022, Glyphs published an official article titled Why there’s no Windows version of Glyphs, explaining why Glyphs has consistently been released only for Mac and not for Windows. As an amateur typeface enthusiast, I clicked on this statement hoping to find objective reasons like technical barriers or development challenges. Instead, I encountered nothing but a “Versailles-style” display of superiority. The arrogance seeping from every word was palpable. I clicked on the statement expecting to find objective reasons like technical barriers or development challenges. Instead, I encountered nothing but a smug display of “Versailles-style” boasting. The arrogance and prejudice seeping through every word felt like a sharp thorn, piercing the hearts of every designer and amateur type enthusiast yearning for fairness.

The seemingly noble reasons cited in the statement appear more like perfunctory excuses to Windows users. “While we do not generally say no to going cross-platform, such a venture currently appears economically unfeasible.” This official statement strikes me as utterly absurd. It’s common knowledge that Windows dominates over 80% of the global PC market, with usage far exceeding Mac. Based on the company’s own assumption that “every request would translate into a sold license”, they should be raking in massive profits. Yet the company claims that “we would have to invest a 6-figure number for an expected revenue of a few hundred dollars per year” and “we’d need to invest 6 figures to earn a few hundred dollars in annual revenue”—a stance that smacks of deliberate disregard for market demand and a crude rejection of user choice.

Moreover, anyone with even a passing familiarity with the industry knows that cross-platform development is no longer a pipe dream. From design software to office suites, countless products now achieve seamless compatibility between Windows and Mac systems. Among font design software, FontCreator’s official developer High-Logic announced in September 2024 that it’s now available on macOS(previously only available for Windows). In contrast, Glyphs hasn’t developed a Windows version so far. For Windows users who wish to use Glyphs, this undoubtedly represents an irreparable disappointment.

Why does Glyphs insist on being so special? At its core, it’s nothing but arrogance at play. In their article, they even proudly declare that “Type design is a Mac business”. But if you see Windows users creating fonts with software like FontCreator, FontLab, FontForge, etc., you’ll realize this statement betrays a distinct air of arrogance from the Glyphs team. Mac seems to have become Glyphs’ spiritual totem and refuge. They’d rather curl up in the small circle of Mac users, basking in the false halo of being an “elite tool”, than lower themselves to serve enthusiasts and designers using Windows. It’s as if Windows users aren’t worthy of stepping through the gates of high-end font design. This practice of “classifying” user groups not only crudely dismisses Windows users’ choices but also exposes Glyphs’ hypocrisy: wanting to profit from “Apple User” while shirking the responsibility to serve the broader public. It’s a classic case of having your cake and eating it too.

Perhaps the moment they saw the title, some Mac users who rely on Glyphs began questioning my opinion. “If Glyphs isn’t available for Windows, why not just use another software?” From my perspective, every software has its own unique characteristics. There will inevitably be certain features that other software simply can’t replicate (or provide the same experience). This isn’t something that can be easily solved by switching to another program.

Undeniably, Glyphs has achieved remarkable success on the Mac platform, garnering a dedicated user base through its powerful features and efficient editing tools like “Smart Components”. Yet this success is no excuse to neglect Windows users. After all, Windows holds absolute dominance in the global PC market, home to countless enthusiasts passionate about type design and eager for professional tools. They might be newcomers to the field, brimming with passion for type design, yet left sighing at the sea of possibilities due to Glyphs’ “system discrimination”. They might be seasoned designers accustomed to Windows’ operational logic, forced to switch devices and incur extra costs just for one software. This is undoubtedly unfair treatment for the vast Windows user base. As for Glyphs’ official claim that “it would be cheaper for us to hand out Macs to all the people asking for a Windows version than to actually produce, manage and maintain a Windows version”—this upside-down argument merely serves as a fig leaf to cover their inherent arrogance toward Windows users.

As the title suggests, after reading Glyphs’ official explanation, as an amateur font enthusiast using Windows who longs to use Glyphs but remains denied access, I simply cannot agree. This isn’t so much an explanation as it is sophistry. Surely many designers and enthusiasts share my view that such actions by Glyphs are utterly unforgivable? Their approach not only alienates Windows users but also holds back the entire type design industry. Type design should be an open, inclusive field where different systems and tools each hold value. Yet Glyphs artificially erects barriers, shutting out Windows users while trapping itself within Mac’s insular circle. This short-sighted behavior only makes the type design community increasingly closed off, ultimately hindering innovation and progress across the entire industry.

For Windows users aspiring to delve into type design, Glyphs’ absence is an irreparable disappointment. We’re forced to make difficult choices between limited-functionality tools or bite the bullet and splurge on Mac hardware. Most likely share my experience: opting for the former, struggling through a patchwork of disparate software. This helplessness and disappointment are things Glyphs will never understand. I can’t help but ask the Glyphs team: How long will your arrogance persist? When will you finally humble yourselves, truly listen to your users, and bring Windows users an equally excellent type design tool?

The charm of type design lies in its ability to transcend boundaries, showcasing the beauty of text while conveying emotions and ideas. This magic should not be confined by operating system barriers. I sincerely hope Glyphs will awaken soon, break free from the shackles of system discrimination, and embrace every type design enthusiast with an open and inclusive attitude. After all, only by inviting more people to participate can the type design industry truly flourish.

As long as Glyphs refuses to develop a Windows version, I’ll never forgive “Why There’s no Windows Version of Glyphs”!