Free Alternatives to Recoleta
About Recoleta
- Foundry
- Latinotype
- Classification
- serif
- Style
- retro
Recoleta is a refined serif typeface from Latinotype. Drawing from classical typography traditions while incorporating contemporary refinements, Recoleta 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
Recoleta 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 Recoleta
- Licensing cost: Recoleta requires a paid license from Latinotype
- 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
Fraunces is the closest free match at 80% similarity.
Similar warm retro character
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Recoleta | Fraunces |
|---|---|---|
| License | Paid | OFL-1.1 |
| Weights | Multiple | Variable (100-900) |
| Variable | No | Yes |
| Cyrillic | No | No |
| Source | Latinotype | Google Fonts |
FAQ
Is Recoleta free?
No, Recoleta is a premium font from Latinotype. The best free alternative is Fraunces.
What is the best free alternative to Recoleta?
Fraunces is the closest free alternative at 80% similarity. Similar warm retro character
Can I use Fraunces commercially?
Yes, Fraunces is licensed under OFL-1.1, which permits commercial use without fees.
Is Fraunces on Google Fonts?
Yes, Fraunces is available for free on Google Fonts.
Does Recoleta support Cyrillic?
No, Recoleta does not include Cyrillic support.
Free Alternatives (2)
How to Use Fraunces
Copy these code snippets to quickly add Fraunces to your project.
CSS Import
@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Fraunces: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=Fraunces:wght@100..900&display=swap" rel="stylesheet">Tailwind CSS
// tailwind.config.js
module.exports = {
theme: {
extend: {
fontFamily: {
'fraunces': ['Fraunces', 'sans-serif'],
},
},
},
}
// Usage in HTML:
// <p class="font-fraunces">Your text here</p>React / Next.js
// Using next/font (Next.js 13+)
import { Fraunces } from 'next/font/google';
const fraunces = Fraunces({
subsets: ['latin'],
weight: ['100', '200', '300', '400', '500', '600', '700', '800', '900'],
});
export default function Component() {
return (
<p className={fraunces.className}>
Your text here
</p>
);
}
// Or using inline styles with Google Fonts link:
// <p style={{ fontFamily: "'Fraunces'" }}>Your text</p>Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free alternative to Recoleta?
Fraunces is the best free alternative to Recoleta 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 Recoleta?
There is no official free version of Recoleta. However, Fraunces 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 Recoleta?
The Google Fonts most similar to Recoleta are Fraunces, Vollkorn. Among these alternatives, Fraunces offers the closest match at 80% similarity with variable weights for flexible typography options.
Can I use Fraunces commercially?
Yes, Fraunces 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 Fraunces similar enough to Recoleta?
Fraunces achieves 80% similarity to Recoleta. 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 Recoleta and its free alternatives?
Free alternatives to Recoleta 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 Recoleta?
Download Fraunces 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.