Crimson Pro

Replaces: Bradford (82%) | OFL-1.1 | Updated: Feb 2026

About Crimson Pro

Classification
serif
Weights
Variable (100-900)
Features
Variable, Italics
SIL Open Font License 1.1

Free to use, modify, and distribute. Can be used commercially without attribution.

What's allowed?
  • Client work
  • SaaS / Web apps
  • YouTube / Video
  • Sell products
  • Print materials

Note: Derivative fonts must use the same license.

Full license guide →
Get Crimson Pro Free ↗

Crimson Pro is an elegant serif typeface designed by Jacques Le Bailly, created as an update to the original Crimson Text. Released as a variable font in 2019, it offers refined letterforms optimized for both screen and print.

History and Design

Jacques Le Bailly developed Crimson Pro as a modernized version of Sebastian Kosch's Crimson Text. The redesign focused on improving consistency, refining spacing, and adding a variable font axis. The typeface draws inspiration from old-style serifs like Garamond while incorporating contemporary refinements for digital readability.

Why Crimson Pro is Popular

Crimson Pro has become a popular choice for designers seeking a free alternative to premium old-style serifs like Minion and Garamond. Its elegant letterforms, comprehensive weight range, and variable font technology make it suitable for both web and print projects. The combination of classical beauty and modern engineering appeals to discerning typographers.

Technical Features

  • Variable font: Full weight range from ExtraLight (200) to Black (900)
  • True italics: Elegant cursive forms with calligraphic influence
  • Old-style figures: Available through OpenType features
  • Refined spacing: Improved from the original Crimson Text
  • Vietnamese support: Extended character set for Southeast Asian languages

Best Use Cases

Crimson Pro excels in:

  • Academic publishing: Scholarly journals and dissertations
  • Literary works: Novels, poetry, and creative writing
  • Editorial design: Magazine features and long-form articles
  • Corporate communications: Refined annual reports and white papers
  • Web typography: Excellent rendering at text sizes

Usage Tips

For body text, use weight 400 at 16-18px. Enable old-style figures for a more classical appearance in body copy. Use weight 600-700 for subheadings and 800-900 for major headlines. The elegant italics work beautifully for emphasis and block quotes. Pairs well with geometric sans-serifs for a scholarly yet modern aesthetic.

Is Crimson Pro on Google Fonts?

Yes, Crimson Pro is available for free on Google Fonts. Get Crimson Pro on Google Fonts ↗

Alternative For (10)

Crimson Pro is a free alternative to the following premium fonts:

#1 Alverata 68%
[typetogether] · serif

Renaissance-inspired text serif with variable weight support

View all alternatives
#2 Appeal 78%
[WeType] · serif

Renaissance-inspired text serif with variable weight and comprehensive features

View all alternatives
[Mark Simonson Studio] · serif

Comparable reading serif

View all alternatives
#4 Bradford 82%
[LL Type] · serif

Similar classical book serif

View all alternatives
#5 Edgar 79%
[Frere-Jones Type] · serif

Renaissance-inspired text serif with variable weight and comprehensive features

View all alternatives
[Colophon] · serif

Similar humanist book serif

View all alternatives
[Grilli Type] · serif

Contemporary serif with refined details

View all alternatives
#8 GT Canon 75%
[Grilli Type] · serif

Renaissance-inspired text serif with variable weight and comprehensive OpenType features

View all alternatives
#9 Karmina 78%
[TypeTogether] · serif

Refined text serif with similar proportions

View all alternatives
#10 Reforma 80%
[PampaType] · serif

Comparable readable serif

View all alternatives

Compare Crimson Pro

See how Crimson Pro compares to other fonts side by side.

Variable Font Axes

Crimson Pro is a variable font with 1 axis you can fine-tune.

Axis Min Default Max
wght 200 400 900

Font Pairings

Fonts that pair well with Crimson Pro based on contrast and complementary design characteristics.

Alex Brush + Crimson Pro
80/100
display + serif
Crimson Pro + Great Vibes
80/100
serif + display
Crimson Pro + Josefin Sans
80/100
serif + display
Crimson Pro + Sacramento
80/100
serif + display
Education
Crimson Pro + Uncial Antiqua
80/100
serif + display

Performance

Key metrics for evaluating Crimson Pro in production.

Score
56 /100 Average
File Size
234.8 KB Medium
Weights
9 (variable) + Italics
Languages
3 groups CDN delivery

Font Metrics

x-Height Ratio
0.42
Cap Height Ratio
0.573
Ascender
918
Descender
-220

Fallback CSS Overrides

Apply these overrides to Georgia to minimize layout shift when loading Crimson Pro.

@font-face {
  font-family: 'Crimson Pro Fallback';
  src: local('Georgia');
  ascent-override: 89.65%;
  descent-override: 21.48%;
  line-gap-override: 0%;
  size-adjust: 87.22%;
}
woff2 Measured via Google Fonts API Metrics extracted from WOFF2

How to Use Crimson Pro

Copy these code snippets to quickly add Crimson Pro to your project.

Quick Start

CSS code for Crimson Pro

@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Crimson+Pro:wght@100..900&display=swap');