Free Alternatives to Cotford

Cotford font preview
Best match: Libre Baskerville (82%) | Updated: Jan 2026

About Cotford

Foundry
Monotype
Classification
serif
Style
transitional

Cotford is a refined serif typeface from Monotype, designed by Tom Foley in 2020. Drawing from classical typography traditions while incorporating contemporary refinements, Cotford 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 Cotford

  • Licensing cost: Cotford requires a paid license from Monotype
  • 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

Libre Baskerville is the closest free match at 82% similarity.

Similar transitional character

Quick Comparison

FeatureCotfordLibre Baskerville
LicensePaidOFL-1.1
WeightsMultiple2 weights
VariableNoNo
CyrillicNoNo
SourceMonotypeGoogle Fonts

FAQ

Is Cotford free?

No, Cotford is a premium font from Monotype. The best free alternative is Libre Baskerville.

What is the best free alternative to Cotford?

Libre Baskerville is the closest free alternative at 82% similarity. Similar transitional character

Can I use Libre Baskerville commercially?

Yes, Libre Baskerville is licensed under OFL-1.1, which permits commercial use without fees.

Is Libre Baskerville on Google Fonts?

Yes, Libre Baskerville is available for free on Google Fonts.

Does Cotford support Cyrillic?

No, Cotford does not include Cyrillic support.

Free Alternatives (2)

[Google Fonts] · OFL-1.1 · 2 weights

Similar transitional character

Get Font ↗
[Google Fonts] · OFL-1.1 · Variable

Comparable elegant serif

Get Font ↗

How to Use Libre Baskerville

Copy these code snippets to quickly add Libre Baskerville to your project.

CSS Import

@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Libre+Baskerville:wght@400;700&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=Libre+Baskerville:wght@400;700&display=swap" rel="stylesheet">

Tailwind CSS

// tailwind.config.js
module.exports = {
  theme: {
    extend: {
      fontFamily: {
        'libre-baskerville': ['"Libre Baskerville"', 'sans-serif'],
      },
    },
  },
}

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

React / Next.js

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

const libre_baskerville = Libre_Baskerville({
  subsets: ['latin'],
  weight: ['400', '700'],
});

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best free alternative to Cotford?

Libre Baskerville is the best free alternative to Cotford with 82% 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 Cotford?

There is no official free version of Cotford. However, Libre Baskerville is available under the OFL-1.1 open-source license and offers 82% visual similarity. It includes 2 weights and supports latin, latin-extended.

What Google Font looks like Cotford?

The Google Fonts most similar to Cotford are Libre Baskerville, Source Serif Pro. Among these alternatives, Libre Baskerville offers the closest match at 82% similarity with 2 weights for design flexibility.

Can I use Libre Baskerville commercially?

Yes, Libre Baskerville 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 Libre Baskerville similar enough to Cotford?

Libre Baskerville achieves 82% similarity to Cotford. 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 Cotford and its free alternatives?

Free alternatives to Cotford 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 Cotford?

Download Libre Baskerville 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.