Arabic Font Comparison

Make informed typography decisions with our comprehensive side-by-side comparison of Arabic fonts. Analyze features, readability, performance, and use cases to find the perfect font for your project.

📊 Comparison Categories

Readability

Legibility across different sizes and contexts

Performance

Loading speed and rendering quality

Use Cases

Best applications and contexts

Features

Technical capabilities and OpenType features

🆚 Modern vs Traditional: Cairo vs Amiri

The classic debate in Arabic typography: modern functionality versus traditional elegance. Here's how the two most popular fonts in each category compare across key metrics.

FeatureCairo (Modern)Amiri (Traditional)Winner
Screen Readability
Excellent
Good
Cairo
Cultural Authenticity
Good
Excellent
Amiri
Web Performance
Excellent
Good
Cairo
Formal Documents
Good
Excellent
Amiri
Modern UI/UX
Excellent
Poor
Cairo
File Size
Small
Medium
Cairo

🏆 Cairo Wins When:

  • • Building modern websites and apps
  • • Prioritizing screen readability
  • • Need fast loading times
  • • Creating contemporary designs
  • • Targeting younger audiences

🏆 Amiri Wins When:

  • • Creating formal or religious content
  • • Cultural authenticity is crucial
  • • Designing for print materials
  • • Academic or scholarly work
  • • Traditional aesthetic is preferred
💻 Tech & Startup Fonts: Tajawal vs Mada vs Cairo

For technology companies and startups, the choice of Arabic font can significantly impact user experience and brand perception. Here's how the top contenders compare for tech applications.

Tajawal

Modern Appeal9.5/10
UI Suitability9.0/10
Readability8.5/10
Performance9.0/10

Best for: Fintech apps, modern websites, tech startups

Mada

Modern Appeal9.0/10
UI Suitability9.5/10
Readability9.0/10
Performance8.5/10

Best for: Mobile apps, dashboards, SaaS platforms

Cairo

Modern Appeal8.5/10
UI Suitability8.5/10
Readability10/10
Performance10/10

Best for: Content platforms, e-commerce, general web use

🎯 Recommendation Matrix

Choose Tajawal if:
  • • Brand identity is key
  • • Targeting young demographics
  • • Need distinctive character
  • • Marketing-focused content
Choose Mada if:
  • • Building complex interfaces
  • • Data-heavy applications
  • • Need geometric precision
  • • Mobile-first design
Choose Cairo if:
  • • Content readability is priority
  • • Mixed Arabic/English content
  • • Need proven reliability
  • • Large-scale deployment
⚡ Performance & Technical Comparison

Technical performance can make or break user experience, especially in web and mobile applications. Here's how popular Arabic fonts compare on key technical metrics.

FontFile SizeLoad TimeRenderingMobileOverall
Cairo45KBFastExcellentOptimizedA+
Tajawal52KBFastExcellentGoodA
Amiri180KBMediumExcellentFairB+
Mada58KBFastGoodExcellentA
Lateef95KBMediumGoodGoodB+

🚀 Performance Tips

  • • Use font-display: swap for faster loading
  • • Preload critical fonts in HTML head
  • • Consider variable fonts for flexibility
  • • Implement proper font fallbacks
  • • Use CDN for font delivery

📱 Mobile Optimization

  • • Test on various screen sizes
  • • Ensure touch-friendly text sizes
  • • Optimize for slower connections
  • • Consider data usage implications
  • • Test on actual devices
🎯 Use Case Decision Matrix

Choose the right font for your specific use case with this comprehensive decision matrix. Each scenario is rated based on font suitability and real-world performance.

📱 Mobile Apps

Cairo
Mada
Tajawal
Amiri

🌐 Websites

Cairo
Tajawal
Lateef
Amiri

📄 Print Materials

Amiri
Scheherazade
Cairo
Lateef

Test These Fonts Side-by-Side

Experience the differences firsthand with our interactive font comparison tool. See how each font performs with your own text and design requirements.

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