Free Alternatives to Berkeley Mono
About Berkeley Mono
- Foundry
- Berkeley Graphics
- Classification
- mono
- Style
- monospace
Berkeley Mono is a professional monospaced typeface from Berkeley Graphics. Built specifically for code editors and terminal applications, Berkeley Mono offers excellent legibility at small sizes with distinctive character differentiation. Features like slashed zeros and clear distinctions between similar characters (1, l, I) make it a favorite among developers.
Why People Replace Berkeley Mono
- Licensing cost: Berkeley Mono requires a paid license from Berkeley Graphics
- Per-seat pricing: Most premium fonts charge per user or device
- No variable font: Requires purchasing multiple weights separately
- Limited language support: May not cover all required scripts
- Web font licensing: Additional fees for web embedding
Best Free Alternative
JetBrains Mono is the closest free match at 85% similarity.
Similar modern programming mono
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Berkeley Mono | JetBrains Mono |
|---|---|---|
| License | Paid | OFL-1.1 |
| Weights | Multiple | Variable (100-900) |
| Variable | No | Yes |
| Cyrillic | No | Yes |
| Source | Berkeley Graphics | Google Fonts |
FAQ
Is Berkeley Mono free?
No, Berkeley Mono is a premium font from Berkeley Graphics. The best free alternative is JetBrains Mono.
What is the best free alternative to Berkeley Mono?
JetBrains Mono is the closest free alternative at 85% similarity. Similar modern programming mono
Can I use JetBrains Mono commercially?
Yes, JetBrains Mono is licensed under OFL-1.1, which permits commercial use without fees.
Is JetBrains Mono on Google Fonts?
Yes, JetBrains Mono is available for free on Google Fonts.
Does Berkeley Mono support Cyrillic?
No, Berkeley Mono does not include Cyrillic support. However, JetBrains Mono does support Cyrillic.
Free Alternatives (2)
How to Use JetBrains Mono
Copy these code snippets to quickly add JetBrains Mono to your project.
CSS Import
@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=JetBrains+Mono: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=JetBrains+Mono:wght@100..900&display=swap" rel="stylesheet">Tailwind CSS
// tailwind.config.js
module.exports = {
theme: {
extend: {
fontFamily: {
'jetbrains-mono': ['"JetBrains Mono"', 'sans-serif'],
},
},
},
}
// Usage in HTML:
// <p class="font-jetbrains-mono">Your text here</p>React / Next.js
// Using next/font (Next.js 13+)
import { JetBrains_Mono } from 'next/font/google';
const jetbrains_mono = JetBrains_Mono({
subsets: ['latin'],
weight: ['100', '200', '300', '400', '500', '600', '700', '800', '900'],
});
export default function Component() {
return (
<p className={jetbrains_mono.className}>
Your text here
</p>
);
}
// Or using inline styles with Google Fonts link:
// <p style={{ fontFamily: '"JetBrains Mono"' }}>Your text</p>Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free alternative to Berkeley Mono?
JetBrains Mono is the best free alternative to Berkeley Mono with 85% similarity. It shares similar proportions and characteristics while being available under the OFL-1.1 license for both personal and commercial use at no cost.
Is there a free version of Berkeley Mono?
There is no official free version of Berkeley Mono. However, JetBrains Mono is available under the OFL-1.1 open-source license and offers 85% visual similarity. It includes variable weights and supports latin, latin-extended.
What Google Font looks like Berkeley Mono?
The Google Fonts most similar to Berkeley Mono are JetBrains Mono, Fira Code. Among these alternatives, JetBrains Mono offers the closest match at 85% similarity with variable weights for flexible typography options.
Can I use JetBrains Mono commercially?
Yes, JetBrains Mono can be used commercially. It is licensed under OFL-1.1, which allows free use in websites, applications, print materials, and commercial projects without purchasing a license or paying royalties.
Is JetBrains Mono similar enough to Berkeley Mono?
JetBrains Mono achieves 85% similarity to Berkeley Mono. 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 Berkeley Mono and its free alternatives?
Free alternatives to Berkeley Mono 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 Berkeley Mono?
Download JetBrains Mono 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.