Typeface Similar to FF Meta: 7 Look-Alike Alternatives

FF Meta, designed by Erik Spiekermann between 1991 and 1998, is one of the most influential humanist sans-serif typefaces of the late 20th century. Originally created for the German Post Office, it’s known for its warm personality, excellent legibility, and distinctive curved strokes. FF Meta has become a staple in branding, editorial work, and wayfinding systems.

However, FF Meta is a premium font, and you might be looking for alternatives that offer a similar humanist feel—whether for budget reasons, open licensing, or a slightly different design nuance.

Here’s our curated list of 7 typefaces similar to FF Meta, including both premium and free options.

Visual Comparison

Sample Text: The Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over The Lazy Dog

Font	Preview
FF Meta	Image preview here
Myriad Pro	Image preview here
Frutiger	Image preview here
Corbel	Image preview here
Avenir Next	Image preview here
Source Sans Pro	Image preview here
Open Sans	Image preview here
PT Sans	Image preview here

Premium Alternatives

1. Myriad Pro (Robert Slimbach & Carol Twombly, 1992)

Style: Humanist Sans Serif
Why It’s Similar: Shares FF Meta’s friendly openness and clean letterforms.
Key Difference: Slightly more neutral tone, smoother curves.
Price & Availability: Paid — Adobe Fonts.

2. Frutiger (Adrian Frutiger, 1976)

Style: Humanist Sans Serif
Why It’s Similar: High legibility and warm, humanist details.
Key Difference: More geometric consistency in stroke widths.
Price & Availability: Paid — Linotype.

3. Corbel (Jeremy Tankard, 2005)

Style: Humanist Sans Serif
Why It’s Similar: Open counters and soft, flowing strokes.
Key Difference: Slightly wider letterforms for screen clarity.
Price & Availability: Paid — Microsoft (bundled with Office).

4. Avenir Next (Adrian Frutiger & Akira Kobayashi, 2004)

Style: Humanist/Geometric Hybrid Sans Serif
Why It’s Similar: Balanced proportions and approachable character.
Key Difference: Leans toward geometric influence for a modern feel.
Price & Availability: Paid — Linotype.

Free Alternatives

5. Source Sans Pro (Paul D. Hunt, 2012)

Style: Humanist Sans Serif
Why It’s Similar: Warm, readable, and professional with Meta-like proportions.
Key Difference: More neutral personality for UI/UX work.
Price & Availability: Free — Google Fonts.

6. Open Sans (Steve Matteson, 2011)

Style: Humanist Sans Serif
Why It’s Similar: Similar x-height and readability, works well in body text.
Key Difference: Slightly more uniform stroke contrast.
Price & Availability: Free — Google Fonts.

7. PT Sans (Alexandra Korolkova, Olga Umpeleva & Vladimir Yefimov, 2009)

Style: Humanist Sans Serif
Why It’s Similar: Friendly and open, with humanist forms like FF Meta.
Key Difference: More pronounced contrast in strokes.
Price & Availability: Free — Google Fonts.

Recommendation Summary Table

Font Name	Similarity Score (1–5)	Free/Paid	Best For
Myriad Pro	★★★★★	Paid	Corporate branding & editorial
Frutiger	★★★★★	Paid	Wayfinding and signage
Corbel	★★★★☆	Paid	Screen-based projects
Avenir Next	★★★★☆	Paid	Modern branding
Source Sans Pro	★★★★☆	Free	Web & UI design
Open Sans	★★★★☆	Free	Body text & digital platforms
PT Sans	★★★☆☆	Free	Friendly headings & UI labels

Conclusion:
If you want the closest premium match to FF Meta, Myriad Pro and Frutiger are top choices. For free options, Source Sans Pro and Open Sans deliver excellent legibility and warmth for both digital and print work.