Free Alternatives to Perpetua

Perpetua font preview
Best match: EB Garamond (80%) | Updated: Jan 2026

About Perpetua

Foundry
Monotype
Classification
serif
Style
transitional

Perpetua is a refined serif typeface from Monotype. Drawing from classical typography traditions while incorporating contemporary refinements, Perpetua excels in editorial design, book publishing, and premium branding. Its well-balanced proportions and elegant stroke contrast ensure excellent readability in long-form text. Its elegant letterforms add sophistication to any design, from luxury packaging to high-end editorial layouts.

Why People Replace Perpetua

  • Licensing cost: Perpetua 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

EB Garamond is the closest free match at 80% similarity.

Similar refined elegance

Quick Comparison

FeaturePerpetuaEB Garamond
LicensePaidOFL-1.1
WeightsMultipleVariable (100-900)
VariableNoYes
CyrillicNoYes
SourceMonotypeGoogle Fonts

FAQ

Is Perpetua free?

No, Perpetua is a premium font from Monotype. The best free alternative is EB Garamond.

What is the best free alternative to Perpetua?

EB Garamond is the closest free alternative at 80% similarity. Similar refined elegance

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 Perpetua support Cyrillic?

No, Perpetua does not include Cyrillic support. However, EB Garamond does support Cyrillic.

Free Alternatives (2)

[Google Fonts] · OFL-1.1 · Variable

Similar refined elegance

Get Font ↗
[Google Fonts] · OFL-1.1 · 2 weights

Comparable transitional character

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 Perpetua?

EB Garamond is the best free alternative to Perpetua with 80% 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 Perpetua?

There is no official free version of Perpetua. However, EB Garamond is available under the OFL-1.1 open-source license and offers 80% visual similarity. It includes variable weights and supports latin, latin-extended.

What Google Font looks like Perpetua?

The Google Fonts most similar to Perpetua are EB Garamond, Libre Baskerville. Among these alternatives, EB Garamond offers the closest match at 80% 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 Perpetua?

EB Garamond achieves 80% similarity to Perpetua. 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 Perpetua and its free alternatives?

Free alternatives to Perpetua 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 Perpetua?

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.