Fonts similar to Courier
4 free Google Fonts that share Courier’s structure, compared side by side. Type your own text to test them.
About Courier
The typewriter monospace, still the screenplay standard (12pt Courier) and bundled everywhere as Courier New.
How to spot it
- Every character the same width
- Slab serifs throughout
- Thin, even strokes
- Typewriter spacing
Not sure it’s really Courier? Upload a screenshot and let the identifier check. Looking for a different font? Use the similar font finder.
Free alternatives to Courier
Courier Quartz 1234
Courier redrawn for screenplays, same metrics.
View on Google Fonts ↗Courier Quartz 1234
Metric-compatible with Courier New.
View on Google Fonts ↗Courier Quartz 1234
Modern monospace with typewriter DNA.
View on Google Fonts ↗Courier Quartz 1234
Clean coding monospace.
View on Google Fonts ↗Choosing between them
Start with Courier Prime if you need the most faithful substitute. Courier redrawn for screenplays, same metrics. If you want the same feeling with a little more personality, try Source Code Pro. For body text, check the specimen at 16–18px: some display-leaning alternatives look closest in headlines but tire the eye in paragraphs.
Pairing one of these with a contrasting serif or sans? Open it in the font pairing generator.
Questions people ask
What is the closest free font to Courier?
Courier Prime is the closest free alternative in our list: courier redrawn for screenplays, same metrics. Other good options are Cousine and IBM Plex Mono.
What kind of font is Courier?
Courier is a monospace. Every character takes the same width; the “i” and “l” get big serifs or slabs to fill their cell.
How can I tell Courier apart from lookalikes?
Check these details: every character the same width; slab serifs throughout; thin, even strokes; typewriter spacing.
Are these Courier alternatives free for commercial use?
Yes. All alternatives listed are Google Fonts released under open licences (SIL Open Font License or Apache 2.0) that allow commercial use.