Start with the exact family
Choose a candidate using its full family name and author information. Keep that identity with your saved sample. A catalog category such as handwritten or retro describes a visual direction; it does not establish one shared license for everything in the category.
Read the accompanying terms
1001 Fonts directs commercial users to a readme, license PDF or equivalent document in the font package. Its general terms state that when commercial information is absent, written author permission is needed. Do not infer business permission solely from the lack of a download price.
Distinguish output from resource distribution
The site’s general terms address modification and distribution as separate matters and defer to custom author terms. Keep the font software and the finished design conceptually separate when reading a license. A permission for one task should not be silently expanded to every other task.
Keep a project record
Save the source URL, author, chosen style and supplied terms with the job. That record is more useful to a teammate than a folder named free fonts. Use the font-resource guide for discovery context and the file-type guide for installation resources.
Your questions, answered.
Are the general terms the only terms?
No. 1001 Fonts says author-supplied custom terms can override the general terms.
Where should I look for commercial permission?
The site directs users to a readme, license PDF or equivalent document supplied with the font.
Sources & background
Sources supporting this page’s explanations. Practical examples are our editorial suggestions.