Our top ten fonts are split into two groups (Serif and Sans-serif) and ranked from 5 to 1, with 1 being the highest recommendation based on factors like diacritic clarity, readability for the Biblical Greek text, aesthetics, and wide availability.
For those not familiar, “serifs” are small marks at the edges of letters, often at the top or bottom. Printed text is easiest to read with serifs, whereas digital text is usually better viewed with sans-serif (meaning, “no serif”) fonts.
Top 5 Serif Fonts for Koine Greek
5. Cardo
α β γ δ ε ζ η θ ι κ λ μ ν ξ ο π ρ σ τ υ φ χ ψ ω
Α Β Γ Δ Ε Ζ Η Θ Ι Κ Λ Μ Ν Ξ Ο Π Ρ Σ Τ Υ Φ Χ Ψ Ω
Cardo is a free, open-source serif font with excellent polytonic diacritic support. It looks and feels like something old and handwritten. This can be charming in small doses but is not always the best for extended reading. It’s widely available via Google Fonts or Font Squirrel, making it easier to obtain than proprietary system fonts, though it’s ranked lower for its slightly heavier weight that can feel less elegant in digital displays.
4. Old Standard TT
α β γ δ ε ζ η θ ι κ λ μ ν ξ ο π ρ σ τ υ φ χ ψ ω
Α Β Γ Δ Ε Ζ Η Θ Ι Κ Λ Μ Ν Ξ Ο Π Ρ Σ Τ Υ Φ Χ Ψ Ω
Old Standard provides excellent polytonic support with glyphs that closely mimic classic Teubner editions of ancient Greek texts, giving it a scholarly feel. It’s free and easily available, but ranked lower because its style can feel a bit dated or dense for extended reading compared to more modern options.
3. EB Garamond
α β γ δ ε ζ η θ ι κ λ μ ν ξ ο π ρ σ τ υ φ χ ψ ω
Α Β Γ Δ Ε Ζ Η Θ Ι Κ Λ Μ Ν Ξ Ο Π Ρ Σ Τ Υ Φ Χ Ψ Ω
With full polytonic diacritic support, this font brings an elegant, hand-written feel. It’s free and versatile, but placed in the middle due to occasional spacing quirks with certain diacritic combinations, though it’s highly praised for its aesthetic quality. SImilar to Cardo however, this may not be the easiest font to read in large doses.
2. Times New Roman
α β γ δ ε ζ η θ ι κ λ μ ν ξ ο π ρ σ τ υ φ χ ψ ω
Α Β Γ Δ Ε Ζ Η Θ Ι Κ Λ Μ Ν Ξ Ο Π Ρ Σ Τ Υ Φ Χ Ψ Ω
Times New Roman is available everywhere and has excellent diacritic support. It is a conservative choice, without the personality of the options above. But when reading an ancient text, often conservatism is what you what. It doesn’t quite make the top spot due to its excessively sharp and angular design.
1. The best serif font for Koine Greek is…Gentium Plus
α β γ δ ε ζ η θ ι κ λ μ ν ξ ο π ρ σ τ υ φ χ ψ ω
Α Β Γ Δ Ε Ζ Η Θ Ι Κ Λ Μ Ν Ξ Ο Π Ρ Σ Τ Υ Φ Χ Ψ Ω
Gentium stands out as the top choice for its incredibly clear and elegant polytonic glyphs, full diacritic support, and versatility across presentations, reading, and printing. Developed by SIL International, it’s free and widely used. It has personality without sacrificing clarity or readability, making it perfect for long Koine Greek reading sessions.
Now onto the sans-serif options…
Top 5 Sans-Serif Fonts for Koine Greek
5. Arial
α β γ δ ε ζ η θ ι κ λ μ ν ξ ο π ρ σ τ υ φ χ ψ ω
Α Β Γ Δ Ε Ζ Η Θ Ι Κ Λ Μ Ν Ξ Ο Π Ρ Σ Τ Υ Φ Χ Ψ Ω
Arial has reliable support for polytonic diacritics and is ubiquitous on most operating systems, making it a practical fallback. However, it’s ranked lowest here because it’s often seen as unaesthetic for Greek, with simple, almost blocky forms that lack aesthetic appeal.
4. Noto Sans
α β γ δ ε ζ η θ ι κ λ μ ν ξ ο π ρ σ τ υ φ χ ψ ω
Α Β Γ Δ Ε Ζ Η Θ Ι Κ Λ Μ Ν Ξ Ο Π Ρ Σ Τ Υ Φ Χ Ψ Ω
Noto Sans is a free, open-source sans-serif font from Google with comprehensive polytonic Greek support, including extended diacritics. It’s highly available via Google Fonts and offers clean, modern proportions, but ranked lower for its neutral design. In fact, this font and the next three are fairly similar, with sans-serif designs leaving somewhat less room for variation and creativity.
3. Ubuntu
α β γ δ ε ζ η θ ι κ λ μ ν ξ ο π ρ σ τ υ φ χ ψ
Α Β Γ Δ Ε Ζ Η Θ Ι Κ Λ Μ Ν Ξ Ο Π Ρ Σ Τ Υ Φ Χ Ψ Ω
Ubuntu provides excellent polytonic diacritic support with balanced, rounded proportions in a true sans-serif style, making it good for reading Koine texts. It’s free via Google Fonts, widely available, and placed mid-tier for its contemporary look that enhances digital readability without being overly stylized.
2. Source Sans 3
α β γ δ ε ζ η θ ι κ λ μ ν ξ ο π ρ σ τ υ φ χ ψ ω
Α Β Γ Δ Ε Ζ Η Θ Ι Κ Λ Μ Ν Ξ Ο Π Ρ Σ Τ Υ Φ Χ Ψ Ω
With excellent polytonic support, clear diacritics, and good proportions, this font is highly regarded for modern sans-serif reading of ancient Greek. It’s free from Adobe and versatile, ranking high for its clean aesthetics but just below the top for being slightly less calligraphic in feel.
1. The best sans-serif font for Koine Greek is…Alegreya Sans
α β γ δ ε ζ η θ ι κ λ μ ν ξ ο π ρ σ τ υ φ χ ψ ω
Α Β Γ Δ Ε Ζ Η Θ Ι Κ Λ Μ Ν Ξ Ο Π Ρ Σ Τ Υ Φ Χ Ψ Ω
Alegreya Sans tops the list for its beautiful design with clear diacritics and excellent proportions, providing a clean sans-serif that’s easy on the eyes. It’s free, supports polytonic Greek fully, and stands out for balancing modern style with readability, making it ideal for extended use.