Google Releases Google Sans Flex as an Open-Source Font for Commercial Use

Google has opened up its Google Sans Flex font. The company made it free for anyone to download. The announcement came a few days ago. It is already getting attention from designers and developers. 

A lot of people have always wanted easier access to the typeface that shapes so much of Google’s visual identity. With this release, the font isn't just free to view. It is also free to use, even in commercial products.

Google says all fonts on the Google Fonts platform are already open-source. However, this release feels a bit bigger. Google Sans has been a core part of the company’s branding for years. Now, the Flex version is available with no fees. 

There is also no need for a special license, and no fine print waiting to surprise you later. If you want to use it in an app, a website, a logo, or even a product you plan to sell, you can. Google wants the barrier to entry to be basically zero, and this release shows that.

What makes Google Sans Flex stand out is how adjustable it is. The Google Sans Flex family includes nine different styles, covering weights from Thin 100 to Black 900.

You also have the option to alter certain features like stroke width, optical size, or how rounded the corners feel. It still carries that clean, friendly look Google is known for, but it also gives you room to shape it into something that fits your own style.

San Flex is said to feature fonts in different languages, which include English, a wide range of Latin-based languages, French, German, and several others. One thing worth mentioning is that this release still doesn’t include Chinese characters, so for now it mainly works for projects that use Latin-based languages.

Google Sans Flex is released under the SIL Open Font License 1.1, a license that a lot of open-source fonts rely on. In simple terms, it gives anyone the freedom to use the font, change it, and share it with others, whether you’re working on something personal or building a commercial product.

The only real rule is that you can’t take a modified version and sell it as a separate font on its own. Other than that, you’re free to create with it however you like.

For designers, this release is a small but meaningful gift. Google is essentially sharing a piece of its design system with the rest of the world. This software isn’t the restricted version, but an open-source tool for you can explore and reshape.

It doesn’t matter if you’re designing a brand, refining an app, or simply experimenting with type, Google Sans Flex offers a polished yet personal tool. And the fact that it’s truly free makes it even easier to adopt.