Typeface Similar to Helvetica Now: 7 Look-Alike Alternatives

Overview of Helvetica Now

Helvetica Now, released by Monotype in 2019, is the modern reimagining of Max Miedinger’s 1957 Helvetica. This family was built from the ground up with optical sizes — Text, Micro, and Display — to ensure perfect readability across print, web, and mobile. With its improved spacing, diacritics, and expanded character set, Helvetica Now brings the world’s most iconic typeface into the digital age while maintaining its essential Swiss modernist DNA.

Why Designers Love It

Designers turn to Helvetica Now because it solves the problems of the original Helvetica in modern use. Its Micro cut is crystal clear in tiny UI labels, while the Display cut restores the balance and refinement of the original metal type at large sizes. This makes Helvetica Now equally at home in global corporate branding, tech interfaces, and high-end editorial design.

7 Fonts Similar to Helvetica Now

1. Neue Haas Grotesk

Style: Neo-grotesque revival
Why It’s Similar: Shares the exact pre-digital Helvetica roots.
Key Difference: Closer to the original metal Helvetica proportions.
Price & Availability: Commercial (Linotype).

2. Söhne

Style: Neo-grotesque reinterpretation
Why It’s Similar: Marketed as the “Helvetica that never was,” rooted in Swiss signage.
Key Difference: Slightly warmer tone with modern refinements.
Price & Availability: Commercial (Klim Type Foundry).

3. Arial Nova

Style: Neo-grotesque system font
Why It’s Similar: Neutral appearance designed as a Helvetica substitute.
Key Difference: Simplified curves and spacing, system-native.
Price & Availability: Free (Microsoft).

4. Univers Next

Style: Classic Swiss grotesque
Why It’s Similar: Same mid-century modernist design ethos.
Key Difference: More rationalized and modular in its system.
Price & Availability: Commercial (Linotype).

5. Aktiv Grotesk

Style: Modern grotesque
Why It’s Similar: Shares Helvetica’s neutrality with engineered sharpness.
Key Difference: More geometric, designed for digital legibility.
Price & Availability: Commercial (Dalton Maag).

6. Inter

Style: Digital grotesque
Why It’s Similar: Neutral shapes and large x-height, clear at any size.
Key Difference: Optimized for screens, open-source.
Price & Availability: Free (Google Fonts).

7. Nimbus Sans L

Style: Helvetica-inspired grotesque
Why It’s Similar: URW’s free Helvetica lookalike.
Key Difference: Spacing less refined, especially at display sizes.
Price & Availability: Free (URW).

Visual Comparison

Font Name	Preview Text
Helvetica Now	MODERN DESIGN
Neue Haas Grotesk	MODERN DESIGN
Söhne	MODERN DESIGN
Arial Nova	MODERN DESIGN
Univers Next	MODERN DESIGN
Aktiv Grotesk	MODERN DESIGN
Inter	MODERN DESIGN
Nimbus Sans L	MODERN DESIGN

Recommendation Summary Table

Alternative	Similarity Score	Best For	Price & Availability
Neue Haas Grotesk	96%	Branding, faithful Helvetica revival	Commercial
Söhne	94%	Editorial, cultural design, signage	Commercial
Arial Nova	85%	System-native, UI/OS fallback	Free
Univers Next	89%	Swiss modernist-inspired projects	Commercial
Aktiv Grotesk	88%	Corporate, digital-first platforms	Commercial
Inter	83%	UI/UX, open-source projects	Free
Nimbus Sans L	80%	Budget-friendly Helvetica replacement	Free

Conclusion

Helvetica Now is the modernized solution to Helvetica’s legacy, built for contemporary design needs. If you want the closest professional-level substitutes, Neue Haas Grotesk and Söhne carry the same timeless neutrality with distinct refinements. Univers Next and Aktiv Grotesk provide Swiss-style alternatives with unique personalities, while Inter and Nimbus Sans L are excellent free options for digital projects and budget-conscious designers.