Monaco vs SF Mono

Monaco and SF Mono are both mono typefaces sharing a monospace foundation. Where Monaco leans display, retro, SF Mono brings modern. Compare which suits your Code Editors project.

Design DNA

Design overlap:40%

Monaco

Structural
Monospace
Visual
Retro
Purpose
TechDisplay

SF Mono

Structural
Monospace
Visual
Modern
Purpose
Tech

Highlighted traits are shared between both fonts

Visual Comparison

Monaco

Premium

Premium font preview not available

Visit the foundry website to see samples

SF Mono

Premium

Premium font preview not available

Visit the foundry website to see samples

Feature Comparison

Feature Monaco SF Mono
Type Premium Premium
Classification mono mono
Variable Font No No
Weights Multiple Multiple
Italics Yes Yes
License Commercial License Required Commercial License Required
Language Support latin, latin-extended latin, latin-extended, cyrillic, greek
Source Apple Inc. Apple Inc.

Best Use Cases

Code Editors
Monaco SF
Terminal

Typography for command-line interfaces, terminal emulators, and shell environmen...

Monaco SF
Legacy Systems
Monaco SF
Retro Interfaces
Monaco SF
Developer Tools
Monaco SF
Documentation

Typography for technical documentation, user guides, and help content. Documenta...

Monaco SF

Which Should You Choose?

Recommended: Monaco

  • display, retro design character
  • Suited for Legacy Systems and Retro Interfaces
  • From apple
  • 6 free alternatives available
View Monaco →

Consider: SF Mono

  • modern design character
  • Suited for Developer Tools and Documentation
  • From apple
  • 6 free alternatives available
  • Broader language support
View SF Mono →
FontSwap Extension

Preview this replacement live on any site with FontSwap.

Install FontSwap →

Browse by Context

Monaco

For Terminal With Monospace With Retro With Tech With Display Supporting Latin Extended

SF Mono

For Terminal For Documentation With Monospace With Modern With Tech Supporting Latin Extended

Free Alternatives to Consider

Free fonts that can replace both Monaco and SF Mono

JetBrains Mono

85%

78% to Monaco · 92% to SF Mono

Google Fonts · OFL-1.1 · Variable

Fira Mono

83%

85% to Monaco · 80% to SF Mono

Google Fonts · OFL-1.1 · 3 weights

Source Code Pro

82%

82% to Monaco · 82% to SF Mono

Google Fonts · OFL-1.1 · Variable

Not Courier Sans

45%

45% to Monaco · 45% to SF Mono

Font Squirrel · GPL-2.0-with-font-exception · 2 weights

Free Twins: one premium font and its best free lookalikes, every Thursday.

Comparing fonts? We do this every week

Free alternatives to trending paid fonts, side by side, plus the Free Font Substitution Kit (100 paid fonts mapped to free twins) with your first issue.

We'll email you a link to confirm. Unsubscribe in one click. No spam, no selling your address. Privacy

Related Comparisons

Monaco vs Consolas

SF Mono vs Consolas

Monaco vs Dank Mono

SF Mono vs Dank Mono

Monaco

View all alternatives

SF Mono

View all alternatives

mono Fonts

Browse category
← Back to Home