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