ITC Charter, designed by Matthew Carter in 1987, is a transitional serif created for legibility in low-resolution printing. Known for its efficiency and clean forms, Charter became popular in books, academic publishing, and newspapers. Its sturdy serifs and generous proportions make it highly readable, while its restrained elegance ensures it feels professional and modern.
Since Charter is not as widely available as other classic serifs, many designers look for close alternatives to achieve its balance of readability and style.
Here are 7 fonts similar to ITC Charter.
Visual Comparison
Sample Text: The Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over The Lazy Dog
| Font | Preview |
|---|---|
| ITC Charter | Image preview here |
| Georgia | Image preview here |
| Utopia | Image preview here |
| Times New Roman | Image preview here |
| Tisa Pro | Image preview here |
| PT Serif | Image preview here |
| Source Serif Pro | Image preview here |
| Merriweather | Image preview here |
Premium Alternatives
1. Georgia (Matthew Carter, 1993)
Style: Transitional serif
Why It’s Similar: Both designed by Carter, Georgia carries Charter’s sturdy, practical DNA.
Key Difference: Georgia was optimized for screen use, whereas Charter was made for print.
Price & Availability: Paid (bundled with many systems, widely available).
2. Utopia (Robert Slimbach, 1989)
Style: Transitional serif
Why It’s Similar: Shares the same era and design intent of readability with robust proportions.
Key Difference: Utopia feels more refined and versatile across weights.
Price & Availability: Paid — Adobe Fonts.
3. Times New Roman (Stanley Morison, 1931)
Style: Transitional serif
Why It’s Similar: Comparable proportions, versatile for body text.
Key Difference: Times is more condensed, giving it a tighter feel than Charter.
Price & Availability: Paid — Monotype, bundled with most systems.
4. Tisa Pro (Mitja Miklavčič, 2008)
Style: Transitional/humanist serif
Why It’s Similar: Strong readability with warm, functional design.
Key Difference: Tisa has softer detailing, blending transitional and humanist styles.
Price & Availability: Paid — TypeTogether.
Free Alternatives
5. PT Serif (Alexandra Korolkova, Olga Umpeleva, Vladimir Yefimov, 2010)
Style: Transitional serif
Why It’s Similar: Sturdy, legible, with modernized transitional proportions.
Key Difference: Slightly more open and contemporary in feel.
Price & Availability: Free — Google Fonts.
6. Source Serif Pro (Frank Grießhammer, 2014)
Style: Transitional serif
Why It’s Similar: High readability and balance, much like Charter’s role.
Key Difference: Source Serif is a bit more neutral and digital-native.
Price & Availability: Free — Google Fonts.
7. Merriweather (Sorkin Type, 2010)
Style: Transitional serif
Why It’s Similar: Designed for on-screen reading with Charter-like clarity.
Key Difference: Merriweather has softer curves, more suited for digital.
Price & Availability: Free — Google Fonts.
Recommendation Summary Table
| Font Name | Similarity Score | Free/Paid | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | ★★★★★ | Paid (often bundled) | Print & screen |
| Utopia | ★★★★★ | Paid | Professional publishing |
| Times New Roman | ★★★★☆ | Paid | Everyday text & reports |
| Tisa Pro | ★★★★☆ | Paid | Editorial & digital |
| PT Serif | ★★★★☆ | Free | Modern publishing |
| Source Serif Pro | ★★★★☆ | Free | Screen and print |
| Merriweather | ★★★★☆ | Free | Web typography |
Conclusion
ITC Charter’s balance of practicality and elegance made it a pioneering font for low-resolution printing. If you want a premium match, Georgia is the closest relative thanks to Carter’s hand, while Utopia and Tisa Pro offer refined alternatives. For free choices, PT Serif, Source Serif Pro, and Merriweather provide highly readable, modern takes on Charter’s transitional style.
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