good web fonts
Lively, subtle, perfectly legible fonts for the web.
You’ve read Bringhurst. You keep The Elements of Typographic Style on your bedside table. You can’t wait to use more fonts online... but you want to do right by your clients and your readers.
Who has time to test web fonts? Relax. We’re doing it for you.
Calluna Regular
An old-style serif font by Jos Buivenga (exljbris.com). Calluna has a smaller x-height and pen-formed serifs and terminals. The rising crossbar of the lowercase e is reminiscent of early Renaissance letterforms. It works best at 15px and larger. Available for free download at myfonts.com. Italic and bold styles are available for webfont linking via typekit.
View the web font specimen sheet.
Charis Regular
A serif font from SIL International. Charis has a larger x-height than Georgia, slab-like serifs and exaggerated pen-formed shoulders and terminals. It works best at 14px and larger. Available for free download at fontsquirrel.com. Also available for free download are Charis Italic and Charis Bold.(Note: a bold italic is also available.)
View the web font specimen sheet.
DejaVu Serif
A slab serif font by Tavmjong Bah, based on the Vera fonts. Unlike traditional slab serif fonts, DejaVu has contrast between thick and thin strokes. The bowls are slightly square, and the large x-height means it works well at smaller sizes. Available for free download at fontsquirrel.com. Also available for free download are DejaVu Italic and DejaVu Bold. (Note: a bold italic is also available.)
View the web font specimen sheet.
Museo Sans 500
A sans serif font by Jos Buivenga (exljbris.com). Museo Sans 500 has a smaller x-height and smaller counterforms than Verdana. It works best at 14px and larger. Available for free download at myfonts.com. Also available for free download are Museo Sans 500 Italic and Museo 700 (a different font, but with the same internal structure).
View the web font specimen sheet.
Museo Slab 500
A slab serif font by Jos Buivenga (exljbris.com). Museo Slab 500 has a smaller x-height and smaller counterforms than Verdana. It works best at 14px and larger. Available for free download at myfonts.com. Also available for free download are Museo Slab 500 Italic and Museo 700 (a different font, but with the same internal structure).
View the web font specimen sheet.
Myndraine Regular
A sans serif font by Christopher Miller. Myndraine has a large x-height, but due to quirky bowls and shoulders is more lively and legible at 14px and larger. Available for free download at fontsquirrel.com. No italic or bold styles are available at this time (04.27.10).
View the web font specimen sheet.
PT Sans Regular
A sans serif font designed by Alexandra Korolkova, Olga Umpeleva and Vladimir Yefimov. Released by ParaType in 2009. PT Sans is a modern, humanist sans serif with a smaller x-height than Verdana. It works best at 14px or larger. Available for free download at fontsquirrel.com and at ParaType. Also available for free download are PT Sans Italic and PT Sans Bold.
View the web font specimen sheet.
Serif 6 Beta
A font by Christian Robertson (Betatype). Serif 6 Beta has a smaller x-height than Serif 12 Beta, and slightly heavier strokes. It works best at 14px and larger. Available for free download at Betatype. Also available for free download are Serif 6 Beta Italic and Serif 6 Beta Bold. (Note: a bold italic is also available.)
View the web font specimen sheet.
Serif 12 Beta
A font by Christian Robertson (Betatype). Serif 12 Beta has a generous x-height, open bowl, and tear-drop shaped terminals. Strokes are on the delicate side, so it works best at 15px and larger. Available for free download at Betatype. Also available for free download are Serif 12 Beta Italic and Serif 12 Beta Bold. (Note: a bold italic is also available.)
View the web font specimen sheet.
Bitstream Vera Sans
A sans serif font trademarked by Bitstream, Inc. With a large x-height and generous aperatures, Bitstream Vera Sans should work well at 12px. But I find the letterspacing is uneven (Safari) at small sizes. I recommend using 13px and larger. Available for free download at fontsquirrel.com. Also available for free download are Bitstream Vera Sans Oblique and Bitstream Vera Sans Bold. (Note: a bold italic is also available.)
FYI
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What makes a good web (text) font?
Fonts by Style
Some lovely fonts that didn’t make the cut.
About Us
Rule 1
Honor the reader.
Rule 2
Honor the content.
Rule 3
Choose a web font that helps you do both.
We’re testing dozens of fonts for online text... so you don’t have to.
More Fonts
to Come
This site started as a resource for my web typography students.
The quickest way to connect them with good web fonts was to think “free.”
the next step?
Good web fonts via subscription-based linking and webfont licensing.
