Montserrat is a hugely popular typeface in web design and other fields. If you're looking for fonts like Montserrat, this article is for you.
We'll go through a quick Montserrat font history, look at its key characteristics, and then share 18 fonts similar to Montserrat.
Montserrat Font History
Montserrat was designed in 2010 by Julieta Ulanovsky, a type designer who lives and works in the Buenos Aires district of Montserrat. Inspired by the old posters and signs in this traditional neighbourhood of the city, she wanted to create a typeface that preserved some of the features of these old signs before they were lost.
To help develop the typeface further, Ulanovsky launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds. Montserrat was then launched, becoming part of the Google Web Fonts library. It was updated in 2017, with contributions from other designers such as Jacques Le Bailly to adjust the weights.
Ulanovsky decided to make her font open source, so it's free to use, which has contributed to its popularity in web design and other projects. After little more than a decade, it's already become widely used across the web, as well as in print design.
Montserrat Typeface Characteristics
Montserrat is a geometric sans serif typeface with a unique style. Its large x-height and highly legible design make it work well for body text, but it also has the high impact to be effective in large headlines.
Although the regular version of Montserrat is a clean, minimalist sans serif, there's also the Montserrat Alternates font, which features a rounded capital "A", a capital "Y" that looks more like the lower case letter, and more. These variations can give Montserrat a warmer, more casual feel than the regular version, which is more clean and professional.
Common Uses for the Montserrat Typeface
Because of its clean, contemporary style, its open-source availability, and its inclusion in both the Google Fonts and Adobe Fonts libraries, Montserrat has surged in popularity across the web.
It's commonly used by design agencies, creative agencies, and technology companies, as shown by this example of the design agency Leor.
This also shows Montserrat's flexibility: whereas the previous example used it for the headline, this one uses the light version of the font for smaller body text. It's also used in the body text throughout the site.
Visit Typ.io to see more examples of Montserrat in use across the web.
Fonts Similar to Montserrat
Now that we've gone through a quick Montserrat font history and looked at its characteristics, let's look at a selection of fonts like Montserrat. These Montserrat classic font alternatives are from Envato Elements and GraphicRiver.
Albori Sans-Serif (WOFF)
Let's start our list of fonts close to Montserrat with Albori Sans Serif, a contemporary OpenType font family with a contemporary look that's very similar to Montserrat. With its smooth curves and round corners, Albori is an excellent choice for both headlines and body text.
Focus Grotesk Sans-Serif Typeface (OTF, TTF, EOT, SVG, WOFF)
Focus Grotesk shares a lot of characteristics of the Montserrat typeface, but it also strikes out on its own. It comes with five weights, each with an italic version, and an outline version will also be provided on request. This gives you a lot of flexibility to create a varied design using a single typeface.
Pulse: A Modern Sans-Serif Typeface (OTF)
With its large x-height and clean sans serif style, Pulse is instantly recognisable as one of the best Montserrat alternates. You get five weights and five italics for a total of ten fonts in OTF format.
Noirden Sans Font (TTF, OTF, EOT, SVG, WOFF)
Looking for something heavier, to create more impact? Try Noirden, a bold sans serif that also makes a good Montserrat font similar option. It comes with 12 different weights and is perfect for upscale magazines, web designs, posters, and more.
Celesta Sans Serif Font: Montserrat Classic Font Alternative (OTF)
Like most Montserrat alternates, Celesta is a highly versatile font that can be used either for small text (the designer claims that even as small as 5pt is legible) or for large, high-impact titles. Give it a try and find out for yourself!
Groningen Modern Sans-Serif Typeface (OTF, TTF, WOFF)
Fonts close to Montserrat are often clean and minimalist, and Groningen is a great example of that. It's a classic sans serif inspired by German Grotesk typefaces. Try it on stylish headlines or body text.
HERZ Sans Serif Typeface (TTF, OTF, EOT, SVG, WOFF)
Herz is a Montserrat classic font alternative, with plenty of versatility for use in logos, headlines, and website designs, or as simple, highly legible body text. It comes in three weights and a range of formats, including web fonts.
Exensa Sans Serif Typeface (TTF, OTF, EOT, SVG, WOFF)
With its pared-back, minimalist style, it's easy to see the Swiss Design influence behind Exensa Grotesk, but it also makes a good alternative to the Montserrat typeface. Try all five weights to see which one you prefer.
Devina Rodent Sans Serif Font Family (OTF, WOFF)
Including the word "Rodent" in any font name is a brave choice, and Devina Rodent is a creative addition to this list. With its unique style and wide range of variations across nine weights, it would make a good match to the Montserrat Alternates font.
Stickler Modern Typeface (OTF, TTF, WOFF)
If you're a stickler for good design, then you can't go wrong with this classic, minimalist typeface. Stickler would enhance a wide range of designs, both in print and online.
Mriya Grotesk Premium Sans-Serif Typeface (WOFF)
Are you sensing a theme in this selection of Montserrat font similar options? They're often clean and minimalist, with just a touch of individuality to distinguish them from plain sans serifs. Mriya Grotesk is another good example. Download it and use it in your next print or web design project.
Bergen Sans (OTF)
Bergen Sans departs from Montserrat in some of the details—check out that slanted "e", for example—but it stays true to the Montserrat spirit. Try out the six fonts in this contemporary sans serif family, as well as the OpenType features and support for other alphabets like Greek and Cyrillic.
Einer Grotesk Modern Sans-Serif Typeface (OTF, TTF, WOFF)
At first glance, this looks like just another minimalist sans serif. But what gives Einer Grotesk its individuality is the wide selection of glyphs—293 of them, to be precise—that allow you to create varied designs across multiple languages. Use the all-caps version with extra letter spacing to create high-impact logos and headlines.
Fresh Start Geometric Sans Serif Font (OTF, TTF, WOFF)
Don't we all need a fresh start about now? Designer SunshineFonts said they were thinking of the future when designing this font, and it shows. Like other fonts similar to Montserrat, Fresh Start is very flexible and works well at both large and small sizes.
Articulat Modernist Sans-Serif Font Family (WOFF)
Still looking for more fonts like Montserrat? Try Articulat, a perfect blend of classic Mid-Century Modern design with a contemporary twist. It comes with ten weights, obliques, alternates, and multilingual support.
Ashdon Sans Serif Font (OTF)
Ashdon Sans shares the clean, geometric style of Montserrat, but it also has some individual characteristics to set it apart. That's what the best fonts like Montserrat do—incorporate the Montserrat influence but take it in a new direction.
Dado Neue Sans Font (OTF)
Check out Dado Neue if you want to make a strong impact with your typography. It would work well for logos, magazine titles, website headers, and more.
Maleo Nova Sans Serif Font (WOFF)
Finally, let's round off our list of fonts close to Montserrat with Maleo Nova, a high-impact display typeface that would make a strong impression on the cover of a magazine or in a corporate brochure.
Choose Your Favourite Montserrat Alternative
That's it for our roundup of fonts similar to Montserrat. Now that you know a bit about the Montserrat font history and have seen some great fonts like Montserrat, why not head over to Envato Elements and/or GraphicRiver and download your favourite.
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