ITC Avant Garde Gothic Pro is the expanded and refined digital version of the original Avant Garde Gothic typeface designed by Herb Lubalin and Tom Carnase in the early 1970s. Known for its strong geometric shapes, tight kerning, and iconic ligatures, the Pro version offers a larger weight range, OpenType features, and better spacing for modern design needs. It’s a favorite in branding, posters, and editorial layouts.
If you love the clean, geometric precision of ITC Avant Garde Gothic Pro but want different licensing, a lighter cost, or subtle stylistic changes, here are 7 similar fonts to consider.
Visual Comparison
Sample Text: THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG
| Font | Preview |
|---|---|
| ITC Avant Garde Gothic Pro | Image preview here |
| Avant Garde Gothic | Image preview here |
| Futura | Image preview here |
| Avenir Next | Image preview here |
| Gotham | Image preview here |
| Geom Graphic | Image preview here |
| Montserrat | Image preview here |
| Poppins | Image preview here |
Premium Alternatives
1. Avant Garde Gothic (Herb Lubalin, Tom Carnase)
- Style: Geometric sans-serif
- Why It’s Similar: This is the original inspiration for the Pro version, with the same geometry and ligatures.
- Key Difference: Fewer weights, tighter spacing, less OpenType functionality.
- Price & Availability: Paid — Monotype.
2. Futura (Paul Renner, 1927)
- Style: Geometric sans-serif
- Why It’s Similar: Bauhaus-inspired geometry with clean, modern forms.
- Key Difference: More restrained letter spacing, lacks decorative ligatures.
- Price & Availability: Paid — Linotype/Monotype.
3. Avenir Next (Adrian Frutiger, 2004)
- Style: Geometric/Humanist sans-serif
- Why It’s Similar: Geometric structure with smoother curves, offering improved legibility.
- Key Difference: Less condensed, warmer personality.
- Price & Availability: Paid — Monotype.
Free Alternatives
4. Gotham (Tobias Frere-Jones, 2000)
- Style: Geometric sans-serif
- Why It’s Similar: Shares proportional geometry and clean, bold aesthetics.
- Key Difference: No ligatures, more modern American signage influence.
- Price & Availability: Paid — Hoefler & Co.
5. Geom Graphic (Free Alternative)
- Style: Geometric sans-serif
- Why It’s Similar: Similar width and proportion to Avant Garde Gothic Pro.
- Key Difference: Minimal stylistic variation, lacks alternate glyphs.
- Price & Availability: Free — Various font libraries.
6. Montserrat (Julieta Ulanovsky, 2011)
- Style: Geometric sans-serif
- Why It’s Similar: Tall x-height and clean geometry reminiscent of Avant Garde Gothic Pro.
- Key Difference: Inspired by Buenos Aires signage; more open forms.
- Price & Availability: Free — Google Fonts.
7. Poppins (Indian Type Foundry, 2014)
- Style: Geometric sans-serif
- Why It’s Similar: Pure geometric form and even stroke width.
- Key Difference: Lacks Avant Garde’s tight spacing and distinctive ligatures.
- Price & Availability: Free — Google Fonts.
Recommendation Summary Table
| Font Name | Similarity Score (1–5) | Free/Paid | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avant Garde Gothic | ★★★★★ | Paid | Exact original inspiration |
| Futura | ★★★★☆ | Paid | Modernist branding |
| Avenir Next | ★★★★☆ | Paid | Corporate & editorial use |
| Gotham | ★★★★☆ | Paid | Bold, contemporary branding |
| Geom Graphic | ★★★☆☆ | Free | Simple, free geometric look |
| Montserrat | ★★★☆☆ | Free | Web and digital layouts |
| Poppins | ★★★☆☆ | Free | Minimalist, multilingual projects |
Conclusion
If you want the closest match to ITC Avant Garde Gothic Pro without compromises, Avant Garde Gothic itself is the best choice. For a cost-free solution, Montserrat and Poppins capture much of the geometry while offering excellent web performance. Geom Graphic is a solid no-cost match for desktop design projects.
Typeface Similar to Font 