Skip to main content

New and (almost) Free Serif Fonts

By October 30, 2013Design, Typography-Font

Here comes the “readable type” of print! (Unlike san serif fonts, which are the choice for legibility on the web). Serifed fonts (also known as the “Roman” typeface) are widely used for body text because they are considered easier to read than sans-serif fonts in print (not a scientific study).


A4 Serif | Download from Source
A4 Serif is a modern serif typeface


Abril Fatface | Download from Source
Abril Fatface is part of a bigger type family system, Abril, which includes 18 styles for all Display and Text uses. The titling weights are a contemporary revamp of classic Didone styles, display both neutrality and strong presence on the page to attract reader attention with measured tension by its curves, good color and high contrast. Abril is designed by TypeTogether – Veronika Burian & José Scaglione.

Aleo | Download from Source
Aleo is a contemporary typeface designed as the slab serif companion to the Lato font by Łukasz Dziedzic. Aleo has semi-rounded details and a sleek structure, giving it a strong personality while still keeping readability high. The Aleo font family is released under the SIL Open Font License, so it is free for both personal and commercial use.

Born | Download from Source
Born is a humanistic typeface that is based on traditional calligraphic forms, but with some new features in its endings, strokes and drops, that provide a more open, fresh and actual look. It also has a big X height, so it offers a high legibility even at small sizes. Pay with a tweet or a facebook post.

Corduroy Slab | Download from Source

Homestead | Download from Source
Even though this hearty, slab serif typeface has been around for a while, I thought I would share this again, because I really like it!

Musket | Download from Source
Musket is a robust and slightly condensed slab serif perfect for heading and optimized for small sizes. Authorized for both personal and commercial uses. Unauthorized distribution or sale is prohibited.

Nautik | Download from Source
This font is free for personal and commercial use.

Nexa-Slab | Download from Source
Nexa Slab is a geometric slab serif font whose design is based on the already popular best-seller Nexa san serif type.
Price: from $29, two fonts (Regular & Bold for free)

Oranienbaum | Download from Source
Oranienbaum is a modern high contrast Antiqua with well-defined, recognizable features. Based on the architecture of classic Antiqua fonts, such as Bodoni, Oranienbaum is typical of the typefaces from the first quarter of the 20th century: pronounced serifs, contrasting geometry, and an interplay of right angles and flowing lines. The font is well suited for both headlines and body text.

Rufina | | Download from Source

Salome | Download from Source

Unna | Download from Source
Unna is a kindly font, whose character is expressed through soft serifs and intense contrast, causing the typical vertical texture of neo-classical fonts. Unna is the surname of the mother of the designer.

Valentina | Download from Source
Valentina is a tribute to the artist’s grandmother. It is a classic didone that follows some of the canons proposed by Bodoni in the eighteenth century but incorporates many of the characteristics of the antique Spanish punches of the time. It is a complete font of 457 glyphs, in which there are 125 alternative lower cases or the 46 ligatures.

Vast Shadow | Download from Source
Victorian slab serif

All credits to the font designers and their willingness to share their artistry with the rest of the world!