TikTok fonts: how and why to choose text for your video

Is there anything more important than choosing the right TikTok fonts? And no, we won’t accept “the birth of your first child”or “at the time you graduated from university”as answers.

It sounds like we’re exaggerating (and okay, we are), but like any other design decision, font choice says a lot about your brand identity and the audience you’re trying to reach on TikTok.

And while the decision can be important, choosing the right font for TikTok shouldn’t scare you.

We’ll teach you what TikTok fonts are, what they say about your video, and answer your frequently asked questions about them.

What are TikTok fonts?

TikTok fonts are lettering styles available in the app. While they should technically be called “TikTok fonts,”we’ll save the pedantic “font vs. typeface”definitions for another day.

When adding text to a video or photo, you can choose between Classic, Lettering, Neon, and Serif. Everyone has their own taste so to speak, so choose wisely.

Here’s our take on TikTok fonts.

Classical

The classic is simple and clean. And if this reminds you of the good times of 2020 (when everyone was stuck at home making popular TikTok), it’s because TikTok used this font back then.

The classic TikTok font is very similar to Proxima Nova, the still popular typeface that was all over the place in the early 2000s. It has been the go-to font for many online giants such as BuzzFeed, Mashable, NBC News, and Wired.

Classic is friendly and reserved. It won’t detract from your content, so you can use it for any body text in your videos. It also makes learning videos or infographics easier to read.

Try mixing it up by pairing it with a more stylish typeface, and boom, you have a logical design.

Typewriter

The typewriter is reminiscent of old-school private investigators smoking incessantly in the pouring rain while tracking down the femme fatale. This creates an atmosphere of grunge and nostalgia for the 1950s.

The vintage feel of a typewriter makes it perfect for retro content, but it also works great for more poetic or dreamy posts.

Just a word of caution: we don’t recommend using a typewriter for long blocks of text. Classic may be the best font choice if you need to write a paragraph.

Handwriting

TikTok Handwriting font is perfect for home friends. This font is more feminine, so it’s great for those who create any kind of beauty or fashion related content.

However, be careful when using handwriting to type more than a few words. Even though this font is beautiful, it is difficult to read. It works best as a headline, title, or for emphasis.

Neon

Geometric, bright and poppy, Neon has a slight Art Deco twist. You can also argue that Neon has Vegas vibes and you can’t go wrong.

Use it to mimic old-school movie posters or give your content a gritty Hollywood look.

Just remember: this font is meant to stand out, so don’t make it compete with itself. Neon can stand alone.

You also don’t want to use it to write long paragraphs. One or three words are enough.

serif

The only serif font on this list is the classic serif font. (Serifs, for your information, are decorative lines added to the basic shape of a letter.)

Serif fonts usually read as more expensive or luxurious, so using this typeface can evoke the feeling of a celebration, such as a wedding or a queen’s visit.

You can be a little more relaxed when using Serif. A lowercase serif font is suitable for body text, so you can type longer pieces of text. All caps can work well as a title or title.

How to add text to TikTok

There are two main ways to add text to your TikTok videos: using the TikTok app or a third-party TikTok font generator.

External tools can give you more font options, but they’re not always the best choice. Keep reading to find out more about it!

Adding text to the TikTok app

Add text to your content in four easy steps:

Step 1Open the TikTok App

Go to the plus icon in the middle of the bottom row. Here you can take down a new TikTok or upload your content.

Step 2: Click the “Text”button in the top right corner.

Then scroll through the fonts and colors and choose the one that suits your preference.

Step 3: Click “Done”in the top right corner.

Complete the caption and add any hashtags you like.

Step 4: Publish your content by clicking Publish!

That’s all!

Adding text with a third-party desktop tool

There are several tools you can use to add text to your TikTok, so the method you follow will depend on the tool you have. But with intuitive options like Canva or Vimeo, the process should be pretty easy.

For example, for Canva, the steps would be:

Step 1. Get a template or upload your own video.

Step 2: Click on the text

Step 3: Adjust if necessary

Step 4: Upload and upload to TikTok as usual

Unlike TikTok’s rather limited selection of fonts, using an external tool opens up a whole world of quirky characters that you can add to your content.

But FYI, TikTok that look like they’re made on the app are usually better received than super polished marketing videos. So even if you’re creating a video in a third party app, you can still use TikTok fonts anyway.

Why you should use text on your TikTok

Adding text is an easy win for your TikTok content. Here are some reasons why.

And don’t forget, if something doesn’t work, try something else! Experiment with different text and font types until you find what works for your brand.

Clarity

The For You page is an unrelenting waterfall of content. If you want to stand out, you need to grab people from the start. Put eye-catching text on the video thumbnail and in the first few seconds.

Your screen text can also highlight important parts of your message that you don’t want viewers to miss.

@oilshore

Replying to @Aussie_Cnt another day another slay from Gen Z 🫡 #genzlife #genzoffice #corporatelife #workhumour #emailsignoffs #corporatetiktok

♬ original sound — oilshore

If you are still not seeing the success you deserve, try TikTok marketing strategies and complement them with some TikTok tricks.

Availability

Not everyone watches videos with sound. You can reach a wider audience by including text in your videos.

You can also use text to break up longer sections and make it easier for viewers to understand what you’re saying.

Also, TikToks with text components is more accessible to deaf and hard of hearing viewers, which means you can reach more people.

@noahandlori

Ignore our alphabet cheat sheets 😂 #alphabetchallenge #abcchallenge #couplestiktok #husbandwife #couple #trend #marriage #nailedit

♬ original sound — Noah and Lori

SEO

TikTok’s algorithm is no longer as mysterious as it used to be, and video search engine optimization is a real thing.

You can also optimize your TikTok SEO by including keywords in the text on the screen.

TikTok has also stated that using its features such as effects and text will positively impact your content’s ranking on the For You page.

Frequently Asked Questions About TikTok Fonts

What font does TikTok use?

TikTok uses a classic font that is almost identical to Proxima Nova – Semibold.

How to get font username in TikTok?

Figuring out how to get a font username on TikTok or use special characters or cool fonts in your TikTok bio is easy. You just need to use a third party text generator like this one from Fontalic. Enter your desired text, choose your favorite output text, and then paste your fancy font into your TikTok profile.

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