Montserrat, designed by Julieta Ulanovsky in 2011, is a geometric sans-serif inspired by the signage and lettering of Buenos Aires. With its clean lines, generous spacing, and wide stylistic range, Montserrat has become one of the most popular free web fonts for branding, editorial design, and UI projects.
However, Montserrat’s popularity means it’s everywhere, and you may want a similar geometric sans-serif that keeps the modern appeal but offers a fresher look, more personality, or alternative licensing.
Here’s our curated list of 7 typefaces similar to Montserrat, including both premium and free alternatives.
Visual Comparison
Sample Text: The Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over The Lazy Dog
| Font | Preview |
|---|---|
| Montserrat | Image preview here |
| Gotham | Image preview here |
| Proxima Nova | Image preview here |
| Avenir Next | Image preview here |
| Futura PT | Image preview here |
| Poppins | Image preview here |
| Raleway | Image preview here |
| Nunito Sans | Image preview here |
Premium Alternatives
1. Gotham (Tobias Frere-Jones, 2000)
- Style: Sans-serif, Geometric/Humanist
- Why It’s Similar: Shares Montserrat’s urban-inspired geometry and balanced proportions.
- Key Difference: More uniform stroke widths and a slightly friendlier tone.
- Price & Availability: Paid — Hoefler & Co.
2. Proxima Nova (Mark Simonson, 2005)
- Style: Sans-serif, Geometric
- Why It’s Similar: Similar modern proportions and clean design.
- Key Difference: Slightly larger x-height for better readability on screens.
- Price & Availability: Paid — Mark Simonson Studio.
3. Avenir Next (Adrian Frutiger & Akira Kobayashi, 2004)
- Style: Sans-serif, Geometric/Humanist blend
- Why It’s Similar: Matches Montserrat’s clarity with a touch of humanist warmth.
- Key Difference: Softer curves and refined kerning.
- Price & Availability: Paid — Linotype, Monotype.
4. Futura PT (Paul Renner, 1927; ParaType revival)
- Style: Sans-serif, Geometric
- Why It’s Similar: Shares Montserrat’s precise geometric structure.
- Key Difference: Stricter Bauhaus-inspired geometry.
- Price & Availability: Paid — ParaType, Monotype.
Free Alternatives
5. Poppins (Indian Type Foundry, 2014)
- Style: Sans-serif, Geometric
- Why It’s Similar: Perfect circles and straight lines like Montserrat.
- Key Difference: Slightly rounder forms and more open spacing.
- Price & Availability: Free — Google Fonts.
6. Raleway (Matt McInerney, 2010)
- Style: Sans-serif, Geometric
- Why It’s Similar: Modern, elegant geometry akin to Montserrat.
- Key Difference: Higher stroke contrast and distinctive numerals.
- Price & Availability: Free — Google Fonts.
7. Nunito Sans (Vernon Adams, Jacques Le Bailly, 2016)
- Style: Sans-serif, Geometric/Humanist
- Why It’s Similar: Matches Montserrat’s approachable tone.
- Key Difference: Rounded terminals for a softer, more friendly feel.
- Price & Availability: Free — Google Fonts.
Recommendation Summary Table
| Font Name | Similarity Score (1–5) | Free/Paid | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gotham | ★★★★★ | Paid | Corporate and editorial branding |
| Proxima Nova | ★★★★☆ | Paid | Web & digital design |
| Avenir Next | ★★★★☆ | Paid | Elegant, versatile branding |
| Futura PT | ★★★★☆ | Paid | Strict geometric layouts |
| Poppins | ★★★★☆ | Free | Digital & mobile-first design |
| Raleway | ★★★★☆ | Free | Elegant headings |
| Nunito Sans | ★★★★☆ | Free | Friendly UI/UX projects |
Conclusion
For a premium Montserrat alternative, Gotham and Proxima Nova are the closest stylistic matches. For free web-safe choices, Poppins and Raleway offer similar geometry, while Nunito Sans softens the look for approachable branding.
Typeface Similar to Font 