I typically program and write with monospaced fonts in Sublime Text. Moreover, for some reason I get sick of one font after some time, so I like to switch to keep things fresh. Here are the fonts I use and actually like. Before reading, keep in mind the following:
- Some fonts look better at specific sizes
- Some rendering engines will make fonts look slightly different
- How a font looks will be affected by color as well…so try multiple themes you like
Okay, let’s get on with it!
Monaco
Overall Rating: 3/3
Alright, Monaco is a classic font that has been included in MacOS operating systems since the early days. It’s rounded, not to thin, and has a bit of blockiness to it. But it’s lithe, and has a quiet feel to it. The only thing that puts me off sometimes is the “@” sign, because the inner “a” is too close to the outer loop. But it’s a classic, so what can you say?
IBM Plex Mono
Overall Rating: 3/3
I always thought that IBM Plex Mono was quite similar to Monaco. But there are some differences. First, it doesn’t have that “serifed” “a” character, although it writes “g” in the more classic style. It’s a little rounder than Monaco, and gives me a bit of the “courier” vibe without being too much like Courier. It does have the asterisk centered, which I appreciate, as it makes the asterisk look more like a binary operator.
The “r”, “l” and “i” characters do have a strong horizontal base, which can make it look too boxy at times, and I think for that reason it might put some people off if they’re going for writing prose.
Download IBM Plex Mono from the IBM website.
Courier Prime
Overall Rating: 2/3
Who doesn’t know about the classic Courier fonts? I think this is either something you love or hate. Personally, I don’t like it much, but it’s a nice throwback from the days of early computers when Courier was one of the new font faces available. A little too high of a length:height ratio and too blocky too without much original personality.
Hack
Overall Rating: 2/3
Hack is an interesting font. Very round and has a bit of a sans-serif almost non-monospace feel. I have to admit, I think it’s too spacy for me, as it feels like some of the characters are floating too far away from each other. But I guess some people might like it.
Download Hack from the official website.
Inconsolata
Overall Rating: 3/3
Inconsolata looks a lot like Hack but I find the spacing a bit better, so I think it’s an overall better font. It also has a rounded appearance but I like the “s” and “?” characters better—they seem more distinct and give the font a bit more variation and less monotony. Also, compared to Hack, the asterisk is less pointed, which makes it look less like a ninja weapon and a bit softer. Really not a bad font.
Atkinson Hyperlegible Mono
Overall Rating: 1/3
I really like the Atkinson Hyperlegible font. That being said, I think this Mono version is way too spacious for me. It’s not bad looking, but come on, look at this thing:
For supposedly being very legible, I don’t think it lives up to its namesake. But if you like it, hey, you like it!
Download it from the official website.
PT Mono
Overall Rating: 3/3
For the longest time, I used PT Mono. I think it’s actually one of the most legible monospaced fonts. It’s got a bit of a serif-monospace vibe. The only thing I really dislike about it is the “@” sign being so low. Weird. But it’s tolerable. What I like best about PT Mono is that it looks just fancy enough without getting in the way.
Anonymous Pro
Anonymous Pro is like a modern courier with the boxiness removed. It’s round, but with just the right level of thinness. Personally, I think source code looks a little cramped, but prose looks a bit better with it. (For code, I’d rather use Monaco.) The only thing I think is a bit strange are the “#” and “*” symbols, that to me look a bit too low.
I feel like some people might find it a bit too curly and rounded but I like it.
Download Anyonymous Pro from Google.
Fonts That I Didn’t Like
Here are some fonts I didn’t like personally, and I didn’t even want to use them for a second. But they might be worth looking into as fonts are as personal as shirts:
- Menlo