Avenir, designed by Adrian Frutiger in 1988, is a geometric sans-serif that blends the clean precision of Bauhaus geometry with subtle humanist touches for improved readability. Its versatility has made it a favorite for corporate branding, signage, editorial design, and digital interfaces.
However, Avenir’s premium licensing can be a barrier, and in some cases, you may want a similar geometric-humanist sans that offers a different personality, more weights, or free web licensing.
Here’s our curated list of 7 typefaces similar to Avenir, including both premium and free alternatives.
Visual Comparison
Sample Text: The Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over The Lazy Dog
| Font | Preview |
|---|---|
| Avenir | Image preview here |
| Avenir Next | Image preview here |
| Gotham | Image preview here |
| FF Mark | Image preview here |
| Sofia Pro | Image preview here |
| Nunito Sans | Image preview here |
| Montserrat | Image preview here |
| Raleway | Image preview here |
Premium Alternatives
1. Avenir Next (Adrian Frutiger & Akira Kobayashi, 2004)
- Style: Sans-serif, Geometric/Humanist
- Why It’s Similar: An updated version of Avenir with more weights and refined spacing.
- Key Difference: Improved kerning and expanded family for digital and print.
- Price & Availability: Paid — Linotype, Monotype.
2. Gotham (Tobias Frere-Jones, 2000)
- Style: Sans-serif, Geometric/Humanist
- Why It’s Similar: Shares Avenir’s geometric proportions and versatility.
- Key Difference: More uniform strokes and a slightly friendlier tone.
- Price & Availability: Paid — Hoefler & Co.
3. FF Mark (Hannes von Döhren, Christoph Koeberlin, 2013)
- Style: Sans-serif, Geometric
- Why It’s Similar: Crisp geometric style with similar clarity to Avenir.
- Key Difference: More modern aesthetic with slightly tighter spacing.
- Price & Availability: Paid — FontFont/Monotype.
4. Sofia Pro (Olivier Gourvat, 2008)
- Style: Sans-serif, Geometric
- Why It’s Similar: Balanced geometry and humanist details echo Avenir’s warmth.
- Key Difference: Slightly softer curves for a friendlier look.
- Price & Availability: Paid — Mostardesign.
Free Alternatives
5. Nunito Sans (Vernon Adams, Jacques Le Bailly, 2016)
- Style: Sans-serif, Geometric/Humanist
- Why It’s Similar: Clean proportions and versatile usage similar to Avenir.
- Key Difference: Rounded edges for a warmer feel.
- Price & Availability: Free — Google Fonts.
6. Montserrat (Julieta Ulanovsky, 2011)
- Style: Sans-serif, Geometric
- Why It’s Similar: Urban-inspired geometry with a similar modern elegance.
- Key Difference: Slightly wider shapes and more stylistic alternates.
- Price & Availability: Free — Google Fonts.
7. Raleway (Matt McInerney, 2010)
- Style: Sans-serif, Geometric
- Why It’s Similar: Shares Avenir’s refined geometric feel.
- Key Difference: Higher stroke contrast and more delicate in lighter weights.
- Price & Availability: Free — Google Fonts.
Recommendation Summary Table
| Font Name | Similarity Score (1–5) | Free/Paid | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avenir Next | ★★★★★ | Paid | Expanded Avenir family |
| Gotham | ★★★★☆ | Paid | Corporate & editorial design |
| FF Mark | ★★★★☆ | Paid | Crisp modern branding |
| Sofia Pro | ★★★★☆ | Paid | Friendly corporate identity |
| Nunito Sans | ★★★★☆ | Free | UI/UX and branding |
| Montserrat | ★★★★☆ | Free | Modern web typography |
| Raleway | ★★★★☆ | Free | Elegant headlines |
Conclusion
For a premium upgrade, Avenir Next keeps the original feel with added versatility, while Gotham offers a clean, approachable alternative. For free options, Nunito Sans and Montserrat work beautifully in both print and digital spaces.
Typeface Similar to Font 