Almost as soon as the World Wide Web was a real thing, designers have been pining for more type options than those offered by the core web fonts: Arial, Comic Sans, Courier, Georgia, Impact, Lucida, Palatino, Tahoma, Times New Roman, Trebuchet and Verdana. While Typekit has delivered on the promise of a web type revolution, it carries with it some baggage that doesn’t sit perfectly with many designers. Jeffrey Zeldman sums up these misgivings admirably. Personally, it’s important that I feel ownership over what I create, and Typekit’s rental model doesn’t quite fit. I also have a strong affinity for free. All of which is to say that Google Web Fonts scratches my itch.

They’re easy to set up, have a great breadth of options already and look good on the screen. While you won’t find Futura, Bodoni or Museo, there are plenty of nice typefaces available. Here are some of my favorites.

Blackletters
UnifrakturMaguntia
Most Sincere Congratulations!

UnifrakturCook
The royal hound says << woof >>

Germania One
Silent trenches of the Maginot
 
 
Sans-Serifs
Oswald
The DISTRICT PEDESTRIAN

Questrial
From Baghdad to Barcelona

Josefin Sans
New Permanent Marker Eraser

Raleway
Marvels of Spatial Awareness

Limelight
The Jewel of Budapest

Ubuntu
Four Rights, Then One Left

Voltaire
COUPE du MONDE
 
 
Serifs
IM Fell English
Fishwives Wanted. Also, Fishhusbands.

IM Fell English SC
rouges and roguettes need not apply

Sorts Mill Goudy
The aroma from the moonshine was intoxicating.

Abril Fatface
Do NOT Feed the Zebra

Vollkorn
Mark it, Dude.

Playfair Display
Balderdash & Poppycock
 
 
Scripts
Parisienne
Flay the skin gently before cooking.

Great Vibes
Thank you for the kind offer, but, alas, no.

Niconne
She’s a long way from Toledo, friend.

Miss Fajardose
Mrs. Herbert K. Eggshell
 
 
Other
Codystar
BRIGHTENING

Monoton
MEXICO CITY

Diplomata SC
Banco Popular – Estados Unidos