Free Alternatives to Cardo
About Cardo
- Foundry
- David Perry
- Classification
- serif
- Style
- classical
Cardo is a refined serif typeface from David Perry. Drawing from classical typography traditions while incorporating contemporary refinements, Cardo excels in editorial design, book publishing, and premium branding. Its well-balanced proportions and elegant stroke contrast ensure excellent readability in long-form text.
Why People Replace Cardo
- Licensing cost: Cardo requires a paid license from David Perry
- 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
EB Garamond is the closest free match at 85% similarity.
Similar classical book serif
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Cardo | EB Garamond |
|---|---|---|
| License | Paid | OFL-1.1 |
| Weights | Multiple | Variable (100-900) |
| Variable | No | Yes |
| Cyrillic | No | Yes |
| Source | David Perry | Google Fonts |
FAQ
Is Cardo free?
No, Cardo is a premium font from David Perry. The best free alternative is EB Garamond.
What is the best free alternative to Cardo?
EB Garamond is the closest free alternative at 85% similarity. Similar classical book serif
Can I use EB Garamond commercially?
Yes, EB Garamond is licensed under OFL-1.1, which permits commercial use without fees.
Is EB Garamond on Google Fonts?
Yes, EB Garamond is available for free on Google Fonts.
Does Cardo support Cyrillic?
No, Cardo does not include Cyrillic support. However, EB Garamond does support Cyrillic.
Free Alternatives (2)
How to Use EB Garamond
Copy these code snippets to quickly add EB Garamond to your project.
CSS Import
@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=EB+Garamond: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=EB+Garamond:wght@100..900&display=swap" rel="stylesheet">Tailwind CSS
// tailwind.config.js
module.exports = {
theme: {
extend: {
fontFamily: {
'eb-garamond': ['"EB Garamond"', 'sans-serif'],
},
},
},
}
// Usage in HTML:
// <p class="font-eb-garamond">Your text here</p>React / Next.js
// Using next/font (Next.js 13+)
import { EB_Garamond } from 'next/font/google';
const eb_garamond = EB_Garamond({
subsets: ['latin'],
weight: ['100', '200', '300', '400', '500', '600', '700', '800', '900'],
});
export default function Component() {
return (
<p className={eb_garamond.className}>
Your text here
</p>
);
}
// Or using inline styles with Google Fonts link:
// <p style={{ fontFamily: '"EB Garamond"' }}>Your text</p>Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free alternative to Cardo?
EB Garamond is the best free alternative to Cardo 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 Cardo?
There is no official free version of Cardo. However, EB Garamond 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 Cardo?
The Google Fonts most similar to Cardo are EB Garamond, Cormorant Garamond. Among these alternatives, EB Garamond offers the closest match at 85% similarity with variable weights for flexible typography options.
Can I use EB Garamond commercially?
Yes, EB Garamond 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 EB Garamond similar enough to Cardo?
EB Garamond achieves 85% similarity to Cardo. 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 Cardo and its free alternatives?
Free alternatives to Cardo 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 Cardo?
Download EB Garamond 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.