Free font alternative
Helvetica font alternative
Helvetica is a paid Linotype / Monotype typeface. These 4 free, open-source Google Fonts are the closest commercial-use substitutes, matched by measured letter shapes.
Helvetica is a paid typeface by Linotype / Monotype. The free fonts below capture the same character — same silhouette, weight and spacing — and are fully licenced for commercial use.
Closest matches
Free fonts like Helvetica
Inter
100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900 · italic · Sans-serif
Roboto
100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900 · italic · Sans-serif
Arimo
400, 500, 600, 700 · italic · Sans-serif
Archivo
100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900 · italic · Sans-serif
Why these fonts work as Helvetica alternatives
Each stand-in was matched against Helvetica using the same four measurements the font finder uses: relative x-height, stem weight, stroke contrast and average letter width. A close score means a close silhouette at reading size, so switching a design from Helvetica to Inter barely changes the overall look.
Are the alternatives really free?
Yes. Every font on this page is a Google Font released under the SIL Open Font License, which allows use in websites, apps, print, marketing and products with no payment and no attribution required. For brand work where the exact face matters, buy the Helvetica licence; everywhere else, the free twin is practically indistinguishable.
Spot a font in a screenshot? Identify it first
Not sure the typeface you are looking at is Helvetica? Upload the image to the font identifier and it will match the letterforms against the free library, surfacing the closest matches (and their commercial lookalikes) in seconds — all processed locally in your browser.
More paid fonts