Quicksand, designed by Andrew Paglinawan, is a rounded sans serif beloved for its soft, friendly appearance and geometric precision. Originally created for display use, it has since been expanded into a full variable font family suitable for both headlines and readable body text. With its approachable curves and modern proportions, Quicksand fits perfectly in tech startups, lifestyle brands, and digital product interfaces.
You might look for alternatives if you need more stylistic versatility, optical size variations, or licensing options beyond Google Fonts.
Here’s our curated list of 7 typefaces similar to Quicksand, including both premium and free choices.
Visual Comparison
Sample Text: The Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over The Lazy Dog
| Font | Preview |
|---|---|
| Quicksand | Image preview here |
| Avenir Next Rounded | Image preview here |
| Sofia Pro Rounded | Image preview here |
| Museo Rounded | Image preview here |
| Nunito | Image preview here |
| Comfortaa | Image preview here |
| M PLUS Rounded 1c | Image preview here |
| Baloo 2 | Image preview here |
Premium Alternatives
1. Avenir Next Rounded (Adrian Frutiger, Akira Kobayashi)
- Style: Rounded Geometric Sans-serif
- Why It’s Similar: Shares Quicksand’s geometric core with softened, rounded terminals.
- Key Difference: Larger family, better optical balance for print.
- Price & Availability: Paid — Linotype.
2. Sofia Pro Rounded (Olivier Gourvat)
- Style: Rounded Geometric Sans-serif
- Why It’s Similar: Friendly, approachable shapes close to Quicksand’s feel.
- Key Difference: More weights and stylistic alternates.
- Price & Availability: Paid — Most major font marketplaces.
3. Museo Rounded (Jos Buivenga)
- Style: Rounded Sans-serif
- Why It’s Similar: Soft, rounded aesthetic with geometric influence.
- Key Difference: Distinctive letter details give it a slightly more decorative tone.
- Price & Availability: Paid — exljbris.
4. Nunito (Vernon Adams, Jacques Le Bailly)
- Style: Rounded Sans-serif
- Why It’s Similar: Shares the approachable rounded style and geometric build.
- Key Difference: Slightly wider proportions and fuller bowls.
- Price & Availability: Free — Google Fonts.
Free Alternatives
5. Comfortaa (Johan Aakerlund)
- Style: Rounded Geometric Sans-serif
- Why It’s Similar: Maintains Quicksand’s minimal, soft geometry.
- Key Difference: More circular letterforms and decorative feel.
- Price & Availability: Free — Google Fonts.
6. M PLUS Rounded 1c (M+ Fonts Project)
- Style: Rounded Sans-serif
- Why It’s Similar: Similar friendly curves and modern style.
- Key Difference: More distinct Japanese design influence.
- Price & Availability: Free — Google Fonts.
7. Baloo 2 (EK Type)
- Style: Rounded Display Sans-serif
- Why It’s Similar: Playful rounded strokes with a warm tone.
- Key Difference: More expressive and informal letter shapes.
- Price & Availability: Free — Google Fonts.
Recommendation Summary Table
| Font Name | Similarity Score (1–5) | Free/Paid | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avenir Next Rounded | ★★★★★ | Paid | Branding, print + digital |
| Sofia Pro Rounded | ★★★★★ | Paid | Stylish branding, editorial |
| Museo Rounded | ★★★★☆ | Paid | Display headings, packaging |
| Nunito | ★★★★☆ | Free | Web and app UI |
| Comfortaa | ★★★★☆ | Free | Playful digital designs |
| M PLUS Rounded 1c | ★★★☆☆ | Free | Friendly global branding |
| Baloo 2 | ★★★☆☆ | Free | Informal headings, creative use |
Conclusion
If you need a premium upgrade, Avenir Next Rounded and Sofia Pro Rounded bring professional polish to Quicksand’s soft geometry.
For free, high-quality web alternatives, Nunito and Comfortaa deliver a similarly friendly tone without licensing costs.
Typeface Similar to Font 