Free Alternatives to Adelle

Adelle font preview
Best match: Roboto Slab (85%) | Updated: Jan 2026

About Adelle

Classification
serif
Style
slab-serif

Adelle is a refined serif typeface from TypeTogether. Drawing from classical typography traditions while incorporating contemporary refinements, Adelle excels in editorial design, book publishing, and premium branding. Its well-balanced proportions and elegant stroke contrast ensure excellent readability in long-form text.

Design Philosophy

Adelle was created with a clear vision: to provide designers with a typeface that balances functionality with aesthetic appeal. Every curve, angle, and proportion has been carefully considered to ensure optimal performance across different applications and sizes. The design team focused on creating letterforms that would remain distinctive while being highly readable, achieving the difficult balance between personality and practicality.

Why People Replace Adelle

  • Licensing cost: Adelle requires a paid license from TypeTogether
  • Per-seat pricing: Most premium fonts charge per user or device
  • No variable font: Requires purchasing multiple weights separately
  • Web font licensing: Additional fees for web embedding

Best Free Alternative

Roboto Slab is the closest free match at 85% similarity.

Similar friendly slab character

Quick Comparison

FeatureAdelleRoboto Slab
LicensePaidApache-2.0
WeightsMultipleVariable (100-900)
VariableNoYes
CyrillicYesYes
SourceTypeTogetherGoogle Fonts

FAQ

Is Adelle free?

No, Adelle is a premium font from TypeTogether. The best free alternative is Roboto Slab.

What is the best free alternative to Adelle?

Roboto Slab is the closest free alternative at 85% similarity. Similar friendly slab character

Can I use Roboto Slab commercially?

Yes, Roboto Slab is licensed under Apache-2.0, which permits commercial use without fees.

Is Roboto Slab on Google Fonts?

Yes, Roboto Slab is available for free on Google Fonts.

Does Adelle support Cyrillic?

Yes, Adelle includes Cyrillic character support.

Free Alternatives (2)

[Google Fonts] · Apache-2.0 · Variable

Similar friendly slab character

Get Font ↗
#2 Arvo 82%
[Google Fonts] · OFL-1.1 · 2 weights

Comparable editorial slab serif

Get Font ↗

How to Use Roboto Slab

Copy these code snippets to quickly add Roboto Slab to your project.

CSS Import

@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Roboto+Slab:wght@100..900&display=swap');

HTML Link Tags

<link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com">
<link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.gstatic.com" crossorigin>
<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Roboto+Slab:wght@100..900&display=swap" rel="stylesheet">

Tailwind CSS

// tailwind.config.js
module.exports = {
  theme: {
    extend: {
      fontFamily: {
        'roboto-slab': ['"Roboto Slab"', 'sans-serif'],
      },
    },
  },
}

// Usage in HTML:
// <p class="font-roboto-slab">Your text here</p>

React / Next.js

// Using next/font (Next.js 13+)
import { Roboto_Slab } from 'next/font/google';

const roboto_slab = Roboto_Slab({
  subsets: ['latin'],
  weight: ['100', '200', '300', '400', '500', '600', '700', '800', '900'],
});

export default function Component() {
  return (
    <p className={roboto_slab.className}>
      Your text here
    </p>
  );
}

// Or using inline styles with Google Fonts link:
// <p style={{ fontFamily: '"Roboto Slab"' }}>Your text</p>

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best free alternative to Adelle?

Roboto Slab is the best free alternative to Adelle with 85% similarity. It shares similar proportions and characteristics while being available under the Apache-2.0 license for both personal and commercial use at no cost.

Is there a free version of Adelle?

There is no official free version of Adelle. However, Roboto Slab is available under the Apache-2.0 open-source license and offers 85% visual similarity. It includes variable weights and supports latin, latin-extended.

What Google Font looks like Adelle?

The Google Fonts most similar to Adelle are Roboto Slab, Arvo. Among these alternatives, Roboto Slab offers the closest match at 85% similarity with variable weights for flexible typography options.

Can I use Roboto Slab commercially?

Yes, Roboto Slab can be used commercially. It is licensed under Apache-2.0, which allows free use in websites, applications, print materials, and commercial projects without purchasing a license or paying royalties.

Is Roboto Slab similar enough to Adelle?

Roboto Slab achieves 85% similarity to Adelle. While not identical, it offers comparable letterforms, proportions, and visual style. Most designers find it works excellently as a substitute in web and print projects.

What are the main differences between Adelle and its free alternatives?

Free alternatives to Adelle may differ in subtle details like letter spacing, curve refinements, and available weights. Premium fonts typically include more OpenType features, extended language support, and optimized screen rendering. However, for most projects, these differences are negligible.

Where can I download free alternatives to Adelle?

Download Roboto Slab directly from Google Fonts. Click the "Get Font" button on any alternative listed above to visit the official download page. Google Fonts also provides convenient embed codes for seamless web integration.