Since the letterforms are slightly thinner and therefore more compact, I feel it works best for busy, important UI where space is of the essence and cannot be wasted. It may feel a bit too familiar to users if used in an Android app, but highly recommended for other uses 👍. As a look-alike, it’s not perfect, but Roboto is optimized for screens. Roboto’s lowercase letterforms are slightly thinner-feeling than Helvetica’s. The popular default Android font, Roboto, is open-source and free to use. What it’s got: 9 weights + italics also available as a variable font On the other hand? Helvetica’s less legible. This gives it a very crisp, clean appearance – which isn’t quite as present in Inter. Perhaps the biggest difference between Inter and Helvetica is that the ends of Helvetica’s letterforms (it’s terminals) are almost strictly horizontal or vertical. It naturally has more generous spacing than other neo-grotesques like Helvetica, meaning you can add negative letter-spacing at large sizes (which will incidentally make it feel even more like Helvetica). Inter is optimized for viewing on screens, making it – honestly – better than Helvetica for UI design. Quickly navigate to other fonts: Intro ĭesigner Rasmus Andersson’s Inter is a fantastic open source alternative to Helvetica. You’re reading Free Font Alternatives: The Ultimate Guide. IBM Plex Sans (more squared-off and technical feeling)įor each, I’ll mention the advantages, disadvantages, and why you might choose it.If you’re looking for free alternatives to Helvetica, here are 7 of the highest-quality look-alikes and similar fonts.

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