Wether a novice or advanced designer it’s well known that typography can make or break a design, both for user interfaces (UI) and print. Lending itself to improved readability and clear communication and even translating itself into the right tone for your brand, not all typefaces fit the bill and are suitable for cross platform projects. It’s key to take into consideration legitimacy and usage rights and especially consider legibility, accessibility, and design consistency as you work on your multi-platform design.
In this quick summary, we’ve done the hard work for you and quickly go over 15 typefaces that are both free for commercial use, and are high performers in both digital and print instances. (As a bonus, these are some lesser-known typefaces that I think deserve some recognition.)
Versatile enough for a range of design projects, from web apps and mobile interfaces to marketing materials and editorial designs, these 15 of our favorites that would make a welcome addition to your library (if not already included.)
Typeface 1. Exo 2
Style: Sans-serif
Designer: Natanael Gama
License: SIL Open Font License
Use Cases: UI design, tech branding, digital interfaces, print
Exo 2 is a sleek, futuristic sans-serif typeface with a geometric design that works well in modern interfaces. It’s highly legible on digital platforms, making it ideal for app and web design, especially for tech-oriented brands. It also has a strong presence in print, especially when you want a clean, contemporary look in posters or marketing materials.
Typeface 2. Bitter
Style: Serif
Designer: Sol Matas
License: SIL Open Font License
Use Cases: Print materials, digital interfaces, articles
Bitter is a serif typeface designed for optimal reading on digital screens, thanks to its slightly condensed letterforms. This makes it a solid choice for both long-form content in digital environments and printed articles. Its strong contrast and traditional design give it an authoritative and professional tone for print materials like newspapers or reports.
Typeface 3. Muli
Style: Sans-serif
Designer: Vernon Adams
License: SIL Open Font License
Use Cases: Web design, mobile apps, branding
Muli is a minimalist sans-serif typeface with smooth, clean lines, making it versatile for both digital and print use. It’s ideal for UI design because of its readability at small sizes, and its modern feel makes it suitable for branding, packaging, and digital media. Muli’s simple aesthetic works particularly well for websites and apps where simplicity is key.
Typeface 4. Armata
Style: Sans-serif
Designer: Matt McInerney
License: SIL Open Font License
Use Cases: UI, web design, print
Armata is a modern sans-serif typeface with a clean, neutral design that works well for both user interfaces and print materials. Its simple, geometric shapes ensure good readability on screen, making it an excellent choice for mobile apps and websites. Additionally, its straightforward style is appropriate for print materials such as brochures, posters, and flyers.
Typeface 5. Candal
Style: Sans-serif
Designer: Manushi Sinha
License: SIL Open Font License
Use Cases: UI design, print design, corporate branding
Candal is a contemporary sans-serif typeface with bold, strong lines and a geometric feel. It’s excellent for headers, branding, and UI design, especially when you need to make a strong statement without being overwhelming. It also works well for print materials that need to stand out, such as business cards, flyers, and posters.
Typeface 6. Karla
Style: Sans-serif
Designer: Jonathan Pinhorn
License: SIL Open Font License
Use Cases: Web design, UI, branding
Karla is a clean, simple sans-serif typeface that’s great for both digital and print materials. It’s a good option for UI design, especially for navigation and body text, because of its high legibility at smaller sizes. Karla’s neutral style also lends itself well to branding and print designs like brochures and newsletters.
Typeface 7. Gloock
Style: Serif
Designer: Designova
License: Free for commercial use
Use Cases: Editorial print, web design, branding
Gloock is a contemporary serif typeface with a traditional look, featuring slightly condensed letterforms and high contrast between thick and thin strokes. It works well for editorial content, especially in printed books and magazines. In digital design, it adds a touch of class to headers, buttons, and banners, providing a sophisticated and modern aesthetic.
Typeface 8. Mada
Style: Sans-serif
Designer: Mohamed Gaber
License: SIL Open Font License
Use Cases: UI design, websites, branding
Mada is a modern sans-serif font designed with both Latin and Arabic characters, making it a unique choice for multilingual websites and applications. Its geometric structure is highly legible, making it perfect for digital interfaces like apps and websites. Its versatility also extends to print design, where it can be used for corporate branding, packaging, and event materials.
Typeface 9. Hind
Style: Sans-serif
Designer: Indian Type Foundry
License: SIL Open Font License
Use Cases: UI design, mobile apps, branding
Hind is a versatile sans-serif typeface with strong, clean lines and excellent legibility, even at small sizes. It’s a great choice for web and mobile UI, especially for user-friendly interfaces. Hind also works well for print materials that need clear, straightforward text, making it ideal for everything from infographics to corporate presentations.
Typeface 10. Corki
Style: Serif
Designer: Manushi Sinha
License: SIL Open Font License
Use Cases: Print design, editorial, digital content
Corki is a serif font with a touch of elegance, featuring gentle curves and organic shapes. Its classic design makes it perfect for editorial content like magazines, books, and reports. It also performs well in digital formats, providing a sophisticated option for websites and apps that need a more refined typographic style.
Typeface 11. Oxygen
Style: Sans-serif
Designer: Vernon Adams
License: Open Font License
Use Cases: UI design, mobile apps, print materials
Oxygen is a sans-serif typeface designed to be highly readable, especially on small screens. It’s optimized for user interfaces and is a great choice for mobile apps, websites, and any digital design that needs a simple, easy-to-read font. Oxygen’s clean and clear style also translates well into print, especially for short text, captions, or headers.
Typeface 12. Spectral
Style: Serif
Designer: Production Type
License: SIL Open Font License
Use Cases: Print, editorial, UI design
Spectral is a serif font with a slightly vintage aesthetic, combining readability with a touch of elegance. It’s particularly well-suited for editorial design, where longer paragraphs are involved. Its balance of classic serif design with contemporary features makes it a good fit for both print and digital media, especially for articles and blogs.
Typeface 13. Saira
Style: Sans-serif
Designer: Héctor Gatti
License: SIL Open Font License
Use Cases: Web design, branding, print
Saira is a modern sans-serif typeface with a sleek, geometric design. Its bold letterforms give it a strong presence, making it ideal for headings and branding projects. Saira is suitable for both web design and print, offering versatility for everything from corporate websites to advertising materials and packaging.
Typeface 14. Varela Round
Style: Sans-serif
Designer: Joe Prince
License: SIL Open Font License
Use Cases: Web design, mobile apps, print materials
Varela Round is a clean, rounded sans-serif font with a modern, approachable feel. It works well for both user interface design and print materials, thanks to its high legibility and friendly aesthetic. Its rounded edges make it ideal for digital interfaces where you need to soften the design and create a more welcoming tone.
Typeface 15. Zilla Slab
Style: Serif
Designer: Mozilla
License: Open Font License
Use Cases: Web design, print materials, branding
Zilla Slab is a bold and modern slab serif typeface, designed with readability and impact in mind. It’s a great choice for headers, titles, and branding projects, where you need a strong visual presence. Zilla Slab is equally at home in digital environments as it is in print, providing excellent legibility in large-format posters or digital ads.
Conclusion
These 15 lesser-known typefaces provide unique and creative opportunities for your UX/UI and print design projects to stand out. Whether you’re looking for clean sans-serifs like Muli and Oxygen or elegant serifs like Gloock and Spectral, these fonts provide versatility, readability, and a touch of personality that can elevate any design project.
Interested in reading more articles like this that go over free commercial-use license typefaces for websites, mobile apps, marketing materials, and more? Comment with what you’d like to know more of next!
Lovely resources. How about free/freemium softwares for design? I love Linearity Curve when working on my iPad