UI Creative’s Best Fonts for iPhone
What font does the iPhone use, can you change it, and which fonts give your iPhone designs the same clean look? This guide answers all three, then lists 24 of the best fonts for iPhone designs: clean sans serifs with an iOS feel, aesthetic serifs and statement fonts for wallpapers, widgets, social posts and app mockups.
What font does the iPhone use?
The iPhone’s system font is San Francisco, usually called SF Pro. Apple designed it in-house and has used it on iPhone since iOS 9 (2015), replacing Helvetica Neue. Apple also ships New York (a serif) and SF Mono (a monospaced font) as system fonts.
Nama font iPhone: font bawaan iPhone adalah San Francisco (SF Pro).
iPhone and iOS system fonts
| Font | Type | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| SF Pro (San Francisco) | Sans serif | The iPhone interface: menus, settings, Messages and most apps |
| SF Compact | Sans serif | Apple Watch, where space is tight |
| New York | Serif | Apple Books and some editorial screens in Apple apps |
| SF Mono | Monospaced | Code and technical text, e.g. in developer tools |
Older iPhones used Helvetica (up to iOS 6) and Helvetica Neue (iOS 7 and 8). San Francisco and New York are licensed for designing Apple-platform apps and mockups, not for general branding, so for your own designs choose a font with a commercial license, like the ones below.
Can you change the font on iPhone?
You cannot replace the system font of the iPhone interface, but you can change how text looks:
- Text size and bold text: Settings > Display & Brightness > Text Size, and turn on Bold Text.
- Lock screen clock font: touch and hold the Lock Screen, tap Customize, then tap the time to pick a different font and color.
- Fonts inside apps: custom fonts you install can be used in apps that support them, such as Pages, Keynote and many design apps.
How to install custom fonts on iPhone
- Download the OTF or TTF file to the Files app.
- Install a font installer app from the App Store that supports installing your own font files.
- Open the font file with that app and follow its steps to install it (it adds the font through iOS).
- Check Settings > General > Fonts to see the installed font.
- Open Pages, Keynote or another app that supports custom fonts and pick it from the font list.
For designing on your computer, install the same OTF or TTF file on PC or Mac and use it in Photoshop, Illustrator, Figma or Word.
Clean sans fonts with an iOS feel
If you like the look of the iPhone’s own San Francisco font, start here: neat, modern sans serifs with several weights.
1. Mondapick
A modern sans serif family with 9 fonts (per the preview), in bold black on bright green. Round, friendly and very close to the clean iOS look; one of UI Creative’s best-selling fonts.
Personal and commercial licenses · webfont use included
2. Mangiola
A modern sans serif family with tall, elegant letters, in white on black with a red circle. Stylish for fashion-inspired iPhone wallpapers and app mockups.
OTF + TTF · PC and Mac · works in Word
3. Roundelay
A rounded sans serif family with 9 styles plus a variable font (per the preview), in white on black. Soft corners like iPhone app icons and widgets.
OTF + TTF · PC and Mac · works in Word
4. Fieldstones
A modern sans family from thin to extrabold, 9 fonts on the preview, over misty grey mountains. Neutral and readable, great for minimal home screen designs.
OTF + TTF · PC and Mac · works in Word
5. Anteroly
A rounded, lowercase-friendly modern font in white on electric blue. Clean and approachable for app names and widgets.
OTF + TTF · PC and Mac · works in Word
6. Goodspace
A rounded sans serif logo font with geometric letters, over dark 3D shapes. Friendly and techy for app logos.
OTF + TTF · PC and Mac · works in Word
7. Pachinko Sans
A modern sans serif family in black on orange; the preview shows 9 styles plus a variable font. Clean and friendly, close to the iOS look.
OTF + TTF · PC and Mac · works in Word
8. Goodliness
A modern sans serif family with 9 styles and a variable font (per the preview), in black on a soft blue gradient. Simple and very readable.
OTF + TTF · PC and Mac · works in Word
9. Gatsbyline
A clean modern display family with 9 font styles (per the preview), in white on grey textured shapes. Minimal and Apple-like.
OTF + TTF · PC and Mac · works in Word
10. Nitrosamines
A condensed modern family with 9 styles plus variables (per the preview), shown with a glass roof photo. Tall and tidy for widgets and headlines.
OTF + TTF · PC and Mac · works in Word
11. Imposture Grotesk
A condensed geometric grotesk in white on electric blue with a locomotive. Bold and compact for lock screen-style layouts.
OTF + TTF · PC and Mac · works in Word
12. Howlings Grotesk
A bold grotesk with 9 variable styles (per the preview) and cartoon faces on mustard. Fun and confident for social graphics.
OTF + TTF · PC and Mac · works in Word
Aesthetic serif fonts for iPhone designs
Elegant serifs are the go-to for an aesthetic iPhone look: wallpapers, quote graphics, widget designs and Instagram posts.
13. Solenoidal
A classic elegant serif in white over marble statues in a stone hall. Timeless and calm.
OTF + TTF · PC and Mac · works in Word
14. Blackhander
A sturdy serif display in white on black, with a 2024 badge. Strong and classic for bold headlines.
OTF + TTF · PC and Mac · works in Word
15. Skywalks
An elegant serif with a lowercase tagline, in black over warm window light on linen. Soft and minimal.
OTF + TTF · PC and Mac · works in Word
16. Kinematical
A light, elegant serif in dark grey on blue-grey with leaf shadows. Quiet and refined for minimal wallpapers.
OTF + TTF · PC and Mac · works in Word
17. Seraphinem
A modern elegant serif in white over a dark beach with an oval frame. Graceful for quotes and covers.
OTF + TTF · PC and Mac · works in Word
18. Progesteron
A luxury and stylish serif in yellow capitals over a portrait in a floral dress; the preview calls it elegant with a slight retro touch.
OTF + TTF · PC and Mac · works in Word
19. Candlefish
A stylish modern serif in yellow on black, with a portrait in a rounded frame. Trendy and editorial.
OTF + TTF · PC and Mac · works in Word
20. Modest Steady
A high-contrast display serif in white on purple. Bold and fashionable for big, short text.
OTF + TTF · PC and Mac · works in Word
Statement and display fonts
Fonts with more character, for when you want your design to stand out on a small screen.
21. Wockie Bookers
A soft modern serif typeface in cream on burnt orange, with a desert photo. Warm and stylish.
OTF + TTF · PC and Mac · works in Word
22. Gerovape
A bold, rounded lowercase font in white on black marble. Friendly and modern for logos and titles.
OTF + TTF · PC and Mac · works in Word
23. Infusive
A futuristic display font in white capitals next to a robot helmet. Techy and bold.
OTF + TTF · PC and Mac · works in Word
24. Grace Signature
A brush signature font in black over a light blue watercolor wash. Personal and handwritten.
OTF + TTF · PC and Mac · works in Word
How to choose a font for iPhone designs
| If you are making… | Choose | Try |
|---|---|---|
| an app mockup or UI with an iOS feel | Clean sans family | Mondapick, Roundelay, Pachinko Sans |
| an aesthetic wallpaper or quote | Elegant serif | Skywalks, Kinematical, Seraphinem |
| a bold lock screen-style design | Condensed or display font | Imposture Grotesk, Nitrosamines, Modest Steady |
| a handwritten touch | Signature font | Grace Signature |
More ideas: sans serif fonts, aesthetic fonts, fonts for Instagram, script fonts and tech fonts.
Frequently asked questions
What font does the iPhone use?
San Francisco, also called SF Pro. It has been the iPhone system font since iOS 9. Apple also uses New York (serif) and SF Mono (monospaced).
What is the iPhone font name?
The iPhone font name is San Francisco (SF Pro). Before iOS 9 the iPhone used Helvetica Neue, and before iOS 7, Helvetica.
Can I change the system font on my iPhone?
No. You can change text size, turn on bold text and pick a different Lock Screen clock font, and you can install fonts for use inside apps like Pages and Keynote, but the system font itself stays San Francisco.
How do I use custom fonts on my iPhone?
Install the font with a font installer app from the App Store, check it under Settings, General, Fonts, then select it in an app that supports custom fonts.
Which fonts look like the iPhone font?
Clean sans serif families with several weights, such as Mondapick, Roundelay or Pachinko Sans, give a similar modern, neutral look for your own designs.
Looking for more fonts?
Browse the full collection of sans serif and serif fonts.