Pacifico, created by Vernon Adams in 2011, is a playful, brush-script typeface inspired by 1950s American surf culture. With its flowing, connected letters and friendly personality, it’s a go-to choice for casual branding, invitations, and retro-inspired designs.
You might look for alternatives if you need different stylistic flavors, expanded language support, or a font with similar charm but a lighter licensing requirement.
Here’s our curated list of 7 typefaces similar to Pacifico, including both premium and free options.
Visual Comparison
Sample Text: The Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over The Lazy Dog
| Font | Preview |
|---|---|
| Pacifico | Image preview here |
| Lobster | Image preview here |
| Balqis | Image preview here |
| Allura | Image preview here |
| Grand Hotel | Image preview here |
| Sacramento | Image preview here |
| Dancing Script | Image preview here |
| Kaushan Script | Image preview here |
Premium Alternatives
1. Balqis (Artimasa Studio)
- Style: Handwritten Script
- Why It’s Similar: Loose, casual brush lettering with organic strokes.
- Key Difference: Slightly more elegant and refined than Pacifico.
- Price & Availability: Paid — Creative Market.
2. Allura (Rob Leuschke)
- Style: Script, Calligraphic
- Why It’s Similar: Flowing cursive with smooth connections, similar casual feel.
- Key Difference: More formal elegance, slimmer strokes.
- Price & Availability: Paid — MyFonts.
3. Grand Hotel (Brian J. Bonislawsky & Jim Lyles)
- Style: Script, Vintage
- Why It’s Similar: Shares a retro café signage vibe.
- Key Difference: Narrower forms, more upright posture.
- Price & Availability: Paid — Astigmatic.
4. Kaushan Script (Pablo Impallari)
- Style: Script, Brush
- Why It’s Similar: Hand-lettered look with casual bounce.
- Key Difference: Rougher brush texture, less uniform stroke.
- Price & Availability: Paid — Fontspring.
Free Alternatives
5. Lobster (Pablo Impallari)
- Style: Script, Bold
- Why It’s Similar: Bold, connected letterforms with retro energy.
- Key Difference: More condensed letter shapes.
- Price & Availability: Free — Google Fonts.
6. Sacramento (Astigmatic)
- Style: Monoline Script
- Why It’s Similar: Shares casual, flowing script appeal.
- Key Difference: Slimmer lines and more spacing.
- Price & Availability: Free — Google Fonts.
7. Dancing Script (Pablo Impallari)
- Style: Casual Script
- Why It’s Similar: Playful curves and informal letter connections.
- Key Difference: More variation in letter heights, lighter weight.
- Price & Availability: Free — Google Fonts.
Recommendation Summary Table
| Font Name | Similarity Score (1–5) | Free/Paid | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balqis | ★★★★★ | Paid | Elegant brush script branding |
| Allura | ★★★★☆ | Paid | Invitations, semi-formal designs |
| Grand Hotel | ★★★★☆ | Paid | Vintage-themed projects |
| Kaushan Script | ★★★★☆ | Paid | Handcrafted, energetic branding |
| Lobster | ★★★★☆ | Free | Bold retro display |
| Sacramento | ★★★☆☆ | Free | Elegant lightweight headings |
| Dancing Script | ★★★☆☆ | Free | Playful casual titles |
Conclusion
For a premium brush script close to Pacifico, Balqis and Allura bring sophistication while maintaining casual charm.
If you prefer free alternatives, Lobster delivers bold retro personality, while Sacramento offers a lighter, more graceful touch.
