Fonts Similar to Helvetica

Character differences

Microsoft Sans Serif is a sans-serif typeface introduced with early Microsoft Windows versions. It is the successor of MS Sans Serif, formerly Helv, a proportional bitmap font introduced in Windows 1.0.

Very close to Helvetica: the R, G and a are drawn the same way. It is a little lighter, with slightly more space between letters.

FreeMicrosoft font list

Character differences

Nimbus Sans is a sans-serif typeface created by URW++, based on Helvetica.

Nearly the same drawing as Helvetica; the text runs a little narrower.

FreeGitHub, ArtifexSoftware/urw-base35-fonts

Character differences

Arial is a sans-serif typeface in the neo-grotesque style. Fonts from the Arial family are included with all versions of Microsoft Windows after Windows 3.1, as well as in other Microsoft programs, Apple's macOS, and many PostScript 3 printers. In Office 2007, Arial was replaced by Calibri as the default typeface in PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook.

Same width and weight as Helvetica. Close at a glance; the detail differs in the terminals and in R, G and a. Compare at large size.

FreeApple macOS font list · Free clone: Liberation Sans, Arimo

Character differences

A free Helvetica replacement built on the Nimbus Sans drawing: nearly the same letters as Helvetica, a little lighter.

FreeGUST e-foundry, TeX Gyre Heros

Character differences

Helvetica, originally named Neue Haas Grotesk, is a widely used sans-serif typeface designed in 1956–1957 by the Swiss typeface designer Max Miedinger under the direction of Eduard Hoffmann, head of the Haas Type Foundry in Münchenstein, near Basel, Switzerland.

The 2010 restoration of the 1957 original that became Helvetica: near-identical letters. Differences seen: the & and small details; the original also had a straight-legged R as an alternate.

PaidCommercial Type $850 full collection, styles from $70, one-time fee for perpetual use · Free clone: Nimbus Sans

Character differences

The Neue Helvetica Font Family was designed by Max Miedinger, Linotype Design Studio and published by Linotype.

The refined sibling of Helvetica, not a lookalike: same skeleton, slightly tighter letters and flatter curves.

FreeApple macOS font list

Character differences

Istok Web is an original typeface, in development since 2008. At first some basic letters were based on specially modified METAFONT sources from the CM Bright font family from the TeX community.

The same plain build, but rounder and a touch narrower. The a and the 1 are more open and friendly.

FreeGoogle Fonts

Character differences

San Francisco is a neo-grotesque sans-serif typeface made by Apple Inc. It was first released to developers on November 18, 2014. It is the first new typeface designed at Apple in nearly twenty years, and was inspired by Helvetica and FF DIN.

Capitals look like Helvetica. The fit is tighter, the curves are flatter, and the lowercase is a little taller.

FreeApple macOS font list

Character differences

A grotesque in Helvetica's family, but wider and more open, with flatter curves; reads as a cleaner, more modern cousin.

PaidDalton Maag single styles from GBP 31.50 (Hairline); licence tiers from GBP 95.00

Character differences

The Helvetica Now Font Family was designed by Max Miedinger, Charles Nix, Monotype Design Studio, Friedrich Althausen, Malou Verlomme, Jan Hendrik Weber, Emilios Theofanous and published by Monotype.

A redrawn Helvetica from the same family. The capitals are wider and the spacing is looser; the letter shapes match.

PaidMyFonts from $42.99 USD; family of 96 fonts $548.99 USD · Free clone: Helvetica

Character differences

Designed in 1904 by Morris Fuller Benton for the American Type Founders company, Franklin Gothic was originally conceived as only one weight. Over the next several years, the ATF family was expanded to include italic, condensed, condensed shaded, extra condensed and wide variants.

An older American gothic: narrower capitals and a tighter fit. The G and R differ from Helvetica.

FreeMicrosoft font list

Character differences

Rounder than Helvetica: the O and Q are nearly circles and the G is simpler. The letters sit closer together.

PaidHouse Industries sold; price not read

Character differences

Inter is a variable font family carefully crafted & designed for computer screens. Inter features a tall x-height to aid in readability of mixed-case and lower-case text.

Same family of shapes, but a taller x-height and wider, more open letters; reads as Helvetica adjusted for screens.

FreeGoogle Fonts

Character differences

Atkinson Hyperlegible, named after the founder of the Braille Institute, has been developed specifically to increase legibility for readers with low vision, and to improve comprehension.

Plain like Helvetica, but built for easy reading: the q has a curled tail and the zero is slashed.

FreeGoogle Fonts

Character differences

Roboto is a typeface family developed by Google. The first typeface was created as the system font for its Android operating system, and released in 2011 for Android Ice Cream Sandwich.

Narrower and rounder than Helvetica; the R and the g differ.

FreeGoogle Fonts

Character differences

Heebo is a Hebrew and Latin typeface family, which extends Christian Roberton's Roboto Latin to Hebrew. The Hebrew was drawn by Oded Ezer and the font files were mastered by Meir Sadan.

Roboto-based: squarer curves and a narrower fit than Helvetica. The R and G are close to Helvetica.

FreeGoogle Fonts

Character differences

Based on Libre Franklin, Public Sans is a strong, neutral typeface for interfaces, text, and headings. It was Developed by the United States Web Design System. The family was upgraded to a variable font in May 2022.

Built on Libre Franklin, so it shares that heavier, larger-x-height look; close to Helvetica in spirit, not in shape.

FreeGoogle Fonts

Character differences

Yantramanav (यंत्रमानव) is a Devanagari typeface family designed by Erin McLaughlin. The style and weights of Yantramanav's Devanagari were designed as a compliment to Roboto, a Latin family designed by Christian Robertson.

Roboto-like: squarer curves, a narrower fit and flat-cut ends. It looks lighter than Helvetica at the same size.

FreeGoogle Fonts

Character differences

Libre Franklin is an interpretation and expansion of the 1912 Morris Fuller Benton classic. The Libre Franklin project is led by Impallari Type, a type design foundry based in Rosario, Argentina.

A Franklin Gothic style: same grotesque feel, but heavier strokes and a larger x-height.

FreeGoogle Fonts

Character differences

IBM Plex™ is an international typeface family designed by Mike Abbink, IBM BX&D, in collaboration with Bold Monday, an independent Dutch type foundry.

Squarer curves and distinct details in a, g and r; a technical look, not Helvetica's smooth curves.

FreeGoogle Fonts