GT Maru, designed by Noël Leu and Seb McLauchlan for Grilli Type, is a playful sans-serif that blends geometric shapes with quirky, humanist details. Known for its rounded terminals, friendly curves, and soft personality, GT Maru strikes a balance between modern utility and approachable charm. It’s widely used in branding, editorial, and digital interfaces where warmth and character are key.
Designers looking for alternatives to GT Maru often seek typefaces that carry the same friendly tone and versatility but may offer a wider range of weights, licenses, or price points.
Here are 7 fonts similar to GT Maru.
Visual Comparison
Sample Text: The Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over The Lazy Dog
| Font | Preview |
|---|---|
| GT Maru | Image preview here |
| Sofia Pro Rounded | Image preview here |
| Avenir Next Rounded | Image preview here |
| Museo Sans Rounded | Image preview here |
| Nunito | Image preview here |
| Baloo | Image preview here |
| Quicksand | Image preview here |
| M PLUS Rounded 1c | Image preview here |
Premium Alternatives
1. Sofia Pro Rounded (Olivier Gourvat, Mostardesign)
Style: Rounded geometric sans
Why It’s Similar: Shares GT Maru’s friendly geometry with rounded terminals.
Key Difference: Slightly more refined and less quirky.
Price & Availability: Paid — Adobe Fonts, MyFonts.
2. Avenir Next Rounded (Adrian Frutiger & Akira Kobayashi)
Style: Geometric sans with softened edges
Why It’s Similar: Classic modernism softened for friendliness.
Key Difference: Less playful, more corporate-friendly.
Price & Availability: Paid — Linotype.
3. Museo Sans Rounded (Jos Buivenga, exljbris)
Style: Rounded humanist sans
Why It’s Similar: Balanced readability with rounded edges.
Key Difference: Narrower proportions compared to GT Maru.
Price & Availability: Paid — MyFonts.
Free Alternatives
4. Nunito (Vernon Adams, Jacques Le Bailly)
Style: Rounded sans-serif
Why It’s Similar: Friendly, approachable, widely available on Google Fonts.
Key Difference: Less expressive, more neutral.
Price & Availability: Free — Google Fonts.
5. Baloo (Ek Type)
Style: Display rounded sans
Why It’s Similar: Bold, bubbly shapes echo GT Maru’s personality.
Key Difference: More exaggerated and cartoonish.
Price & Availability: Free — Google Fonts.
6. Quicksand (Andrew Paglinawan, 2008)
Style: Rounded geometric sans
Why It’s Similar: Light, rounded forms with simple structure.
Key Difference: Minimalist compared to GT Maru’s quirkiness.
Price & Availability: Free — Google Fonts.
7. M PLUS Rounded 1c (Coji Morishita, part of M+ project)
Style: Rounded sans
Why It’s Similar: Geometric yet playful, much like GT Maru’s digital tone.
Key Difference: Lighter strokes and more uniform rhythm.
Price & Availability: Free — Google Fonts.
Recommendation Summary Table
| Font Name | Similarity Score | Free/Paid | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sofia Pro Rounded | ★★★★★ | Paid | Branding, editorial |
| Avenir Next Rounded | ★★★★☆ | Paid | Corporate-friendly design |
| Museo Sans Rounded | ★★★★☆ | Paid | UI and body text |
| Nunito | ★★★★☆ | Free | Web and digital projects |
| Baloo | ★★★☆☆ | Free | Playful branding |
| Quicksand | ★★★☆☆ | Free | Minimalist interfaces |
| M PLUS Rounded 1c | ★★★☆☆ | Free | Digital & mobile typography |
Conclusion
GT Maru’s playful design language makes it a favorite for brands seeking warmth and friendliness. If you’re looking for premium alternatives, Sofia Pro Rounded and Avenir Next Rounded offer professional refinement. For free substitutes, Nunito and Quicksand provide versatile, approachable choices ideal for web use.
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