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
The font 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 the font 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.
JUST Sans Geometric Typeface (OTF, WOFF)
Like Montserrat, JUST Sans is a modern, geometric typeface. If you love a sans serif with a bold presence and strong shapes but want something more refined and versatile, JUST Sans is the perfect fit.
With sharper details and open-airy characters, JUST Sans feels sleek, professional, and functional. This Monserrat alternative is great for everything from branding and UI to web and print.
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 Alternate Sans-Serif Typeface (OTF)
With its large x-height and clean sans serif style, Pulse is instantly recognisable as one of the best font Montserrat alternates. You get five weights and five italics for a total of ten fonts in OTF format.
Noirden Sans Montserrat Classic 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 Montserrat 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: Montserrat Alternate (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 font.
Stickler Modern Montserrat 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 Font Similar to Montserrat (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 Sans-Serif Font Like Montserrat (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.
Gallant: A Geometric Typeface (WOFF)
This is a classic, legible sans serif font. Even so, it has a touch of style and quirkiness. Like other fonts similar to Montserrat, Gallant is very flexible and works well at both large and small sizes. It includes all Latin characters, numbers, punctuation, and special characters in three weights and three italics.
Environment Sans Serif Fonts Like Montserrat (WOFF)
Environment shares the clean, geometric style of Montserrat, but it also has some interesting 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.
Radeil Geometric Sans Serif (WOFF)
Check out Radeil if you want to make a strong impact with your typography. It would work well for logos, magazine titles, website headers, and more.
Photogenic: Trendy Sans Serif Font (OTF, TTF, WOFF)
Finally, let's round off our list of fonts close to Montserrat with Photogenic, a high-impact display typeface that would make a strong impression on the cover of a magazine or in a corporate brochure.
Best Premium Montserrat Font Pairings From Envato Elements
If you're on the hunt for fonts that go with Montserrat, we've got your back. Below, you'll find premium Montserrat font pairings, all available on Envato Elements. You can use these for flyers, magazines, banners, or any other creative project you have going on.
And if you need even more fonts that go with Montserrat, know that you can download as many as you want if you subscribe to Envato Elements. Not only that, but you also get access to millions of premium digital assets for a low monthly fee!
Now, let's get into top Montserrat font pairings that are beautiful and eye-catching.
1. Gallant Geometric Typeface (WOFF) and Astrid Elegant Ligature Typeface (OTF, TTF, WOFF)
Gallant is versatile enough that it could work well with plenty of fonts. In this case, we paired it with Astrid, a stunning option for fonts that go with Montserrat. They complement each other as Astrid has a more classic look, while Gallant comes in with a slightly quirky feel.
2. Celesta Sans Serif Font: Montserrat Classic Font Alternative (OTF) and Cigatte Modern Ligature Font (OTF, TTF, WOFF)
This next Montserrat font pairing is natural and organic. If you were to strip the decorative elements from Cigatte, you would get something similar to Celesta. In that sense, you can pair these two fonts to produce cohesive and appealing text.
3. Albori Sans-Serif (WOFF) and Naori (OTF, TTF, WOFF)
Naori is a beautiful font. However, it's very ornamental and cares more about aesthetics than functionality. Conversely, Albori is a simple and elegant font that is like a Montserrat classic font. As such, it's more readable and straightforward. This is why this Montserrat font pairing works.
4. Einer Grotesk Modern Sans-Serif Typeface (OTF, TTF, WOFF) and Aminute Experimental Unique Sans Font (WOFF)
Aminute is one of the best fonts that go with Montserrat. Both of these have a sharp, bold, and avant garde look and feel to them. Together, could work well with any publication related to fashion, photography, and modern art. Take full advantage of this Montserrat font pairing and make your projects more stylish.
5. Bergen Sans (OTF) and Moon Walk | Futuristic Modern Fonts (OTF, TTF, WOFF)
Lastly, let's head to the future and explore the world that these two fonts create. They go hand in hand to captivate the audience. The bold aspect of Bergen and the out-of-this-world shapes of Moon Walk command attention, so use that in your favour.
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 download your favourite?
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