Free Alternatives to Nocturno

Nocturno font preview
Best match: EB Garamond (85%) | Updated: Jan 2026

About Nocturno

Foundry
Typotheque
Classification
serif
Style
venetian

Nocturno is a refined serif typeface from Typotheque. Drawing from classical typography traditions while incorporating contemporary refinements, Nocturno 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

Nocturno 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 Nocturno

  • Licensing cost: Nocturno requires a paid license from Typotheque
  • 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 venetian serif

Quick Comparison

FeatureNocturnoEB Garamond
LicensePaidOFL-1.1
WeightsMultipleVariable (100-900)
VariableNoYes
CyrillicYesYes
SourceTypothequeGoogle Fonts

FAQ

Is Nocturno free?

No, Nocturno is a premium font from Typotheque. The best free alternative is EB Garamond.

What is the best free alternative to Nocturno?

EB Garamond is the closest free alternative at 85% similarity. Similar classical venetian 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 Nocturno support Cyrillic?

Yes, Nocturno includes Cyrillic character support.

Free Alternatives (2)

[Google Fonts] · OFL-1.1 · Variable

Similar classical venetian serif

Get Font ↗
[Google Fonts] · OFL-1.1 · 5 weights

Comparable elegant serif

Get Font ↗

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 Nocturno?

EB Garamond is the best free alternative to Nocturno 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 Nocturno?

There is no official free version of Nocturno. 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 Nocturno?

The Google Fonts most similar to Nocturno 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 Nocturno?

EB Garamond achieves 85% similarity to Nocturno. 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 Nocturno and its free alternatives?

Free alternatives to Nocturno 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 Nocturno?

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.