Free Alternatives to Sabon
About Sabon
- Foundry
- Linotype
- Classification
- serif
- Style
- old-style
Sabon is a refined serif typeface from Linotype. Drawing from classical typography traditions while incorporating contemporary refinements, Sabon 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 Sabon
- Licensing cost: Sabon requires a paid license from Linotype
- 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 90% similarity.
Nearly identical old-style character and elegance
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Sabon | EB Garamond |
|---|---|---|
| License | Paid | OFL-1.1 |
| Weights | Multiple | Variable (100-900) |
| Variable | No | Yes |
| Cyrillic | No | Yes |
| Source | Linotype | Google Fonts |
FAQ
Is Sabon free?
No, Sabon is a premium font from Linotype. The best free alternative is EB Garamond.
What is the best free alternative to Sabon?
EB Garamond is the closest free alternative at 90% similarity. Nearly identical old-style character and 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 Sabon support Cyrillic?
No, Sabon does not include Cyrillic support. However, EB Garamond does support Cyrillic.
Free Alternatives (2)
Nearly identical old-style character and elegance
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 Sabon?
EB Garamond is the best free alternative to Sabon with 90% 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 Sabon?
There is no official free version of Sabon. However, EB Garamond is available under the OFL-1.1 open-source license and offers 90% visual similarity. It includes variable weights and supports latin, latin-extended.
What Google Font looks like Sabon?
The Google Fonts most similar to Sabon are EB Garamond, Cormorant Garamond. Among these alternatives, EB Garamond offers the closest match at 90% 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 Sabon?
EB Garamond achieves 90% similarity to Sabon. 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 Sabon and its free alternatives?
Free alternatives to Sabon 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 Sabon?
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.