Lato, designed by Łukasz Dziedzic in 2010, is a humanist sans-serif typeface that blends warmth with professionalism. With its semi-rounded details and strong structure, Lato has become one of the most popular free web fonts, widely used for branding, UI design, and editorial work.
However, its ubiquity means you might want a similar typeface that keeps Lato’s approachable tone but offers a fresh look, more stylistic variety, or a premium feel.
Here’s our curated list of 7 typefaces similar to Lato, including both premium and free alternatives.
Visual Comparison
Sample Text: The Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over The Lazy Dog
| Font | Preview |
|---|---|
| Lato | Image preview here |
| Myriad Pro | Image preview here |
| FF Meta | Image preview here |
| Avenir | Image preview here |
| Open Sans | Image preview here |
| Source Sans Pro | Image preview here |
| Nunito Sans | Image preview here |
| Work Sans | Image preview here |
Premium Alternatives
1. Myriad Pro (Robert Slimbach & Carol Twombly, 1992)
- Style: Sans-serif, Humanist
- Why It’s Similar: Shares Lato’s open forms and versatile personality.
- Key Difference: Slightly softer curves and a more corporate polish.
- Price & Availability: Paid — Adobe Fonts.
2. FF Meta (Erik Spiekermann, 1991)
- Style: Sans-serif, Humanist
- Why It’s Similar: Similar warmth and legibility for text and signage.
- Key Difference: More pronounced stroke modulation and unique character shapes.
- Price & Availability: Paid — FontFont/Monotype.
3. Avenir (Adrian Frutiger, 1988)
- Style: Sans-serif, Geometric/Humanist blend
- Why It’s Similar: Matches Lato’s balance of friendliness and professionalism.
- Key Difference: Slightly more geometric proportions for a cleaner feel.
- Price & Availability: Paid — Linotype, Monotype.
4. Open Sans (Steve Matteson, 2011)
- Style: Sans-serif, Humanist
- Why It’s Similar: Shares Lato’s open counters and high legibility.
- Key Difference: Slightly wider shapes, optimized for digital text.
- Price & Availability: Paid for desktop via Monotype; free for web via Google Fonts.
Free Alternatives
5. Source Sans Pro (Paul D. Hunt, 2012)
- Style: Sans-serif, Humanist
- Why It’s Similar: Matches Lato’s clarity and versatility for web and print.
- Key Difference: Slightly taller x-height for digital readability.
- Price & Availability: Free — Google Fonts.
6. Nunito Sans (Vernon Adams, Jacques Le Bailly, 2016)
- Style: Sans-serif, Humanist
- Why It’s Similar: Similar approachable tone and balanced structure.
- Key Difference: Rounded terminals create a softer, more casual look.
- Price & Availability: Free — Google Fonts.
7. Work Sans (Wei Huang, 2015)
- Style: Sans-serif, Humanist/Geometric blend
- Why It’s Similar: Modern proportions and openness echo Lato’s usability.
- Key Difference: Slightly more geometric and minimalist in lighter weights.
- Price & Availability: Free — Google Fonts.
Recommendation Summary Table
| Font Name | Similarity Score (1–5) | Free/Paid | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Myriad Pro | ★★★★★ | Paid | Corporate branding & editorial |
| FF Meta | ★★★★☆ | Paid | Signage & professional design |
| Avenir | ★★★★☆ | Paid | Elegant brand identities |
| Open Sans | ★★★★☆ | Paid/Free | Digital-first text design |
| Source Sans Pro | ★★★★☆ | Free | UI & responsive web design |
| Nunito Sans | ★★★★☆ | Free | Friendly UI/UX projects |
| Work Sans | ★★★★☆ | Free | Minimalist branding |
Conclusion
For a premium Lato alternative, Myriad Pro and FF Meta offer professional polish with similar warmth. For free web-safe choices, Source Sans Pro and Nunito Sans are excellent options, while Work Sans brings a minimalist twist.
Excerpt:
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