


The next time you’re looking for a unique font that doesn’t stray too far from Helvetica, check out some of the fonts listed above. The font ties in classic sans-serif typefaces that were around before Akzidenz Grotesk made its debut. National is humble, but it manages to demand attention thanks to its wide range of accents, numerals and small caps across all styles.

It combines modern proportions with a geometric edge, and effortlessly ties in rational curves on letters like lowercase “e” or uppercase “G”. Proxima Nova was created to fill the gap between Futura and Akzidenz Grotesk, which it did impressively well. In 2010, the basic five-weight family was expanded to include true italics and a wider support of language. ARS MaquetteĪRS Maquette is clean and simplified, adding a modern edge to the traditional Helvetica. Though there’s just 12 fonts, there’s enough to choose from to bring balance and consistency to your designs. Brandon Grotesqueīrandon Grotesque gives off a sophisticated side because of its thinner weights and rounded stems. The font shares similarities with Akzidenz Grotesk. FF Bauĭesigned in 2002 by Christian Schwartz for FontShop International, FF Bau is distinct thanks to its double-storey “g” and lowercase “a” that’s available in all different weights. With its pleasing nature, Slate has become a top pick for simple, tasteful designs. It’s a clear, legible font that happens to be beautiful and natural. SlateĪnother one of our favorites, Slate comes to us from award-winning type designer Rod McDonald. You’ll find a number of weights and variations to choose from within the family of fonts, which are all defined by a number suffix. UniversĬompared to Helvetica, Univers is smaller and has bigger spaces between the letters. With its new roots, Aktiv Grotesk has a taller x-height and squarer edges. Designer Bruno Maag stated that Helvetica was the “vanilla ice cream” of a designer’s typeface library. The cool thing about Aktiv Grotesk is that it was created as an alternative to Helvetica. The family has 44 different fonts to enjoy, making it easy to find the perfect pick for your project. It’s very similar to Helvetica, but has softer curves and more natural italics. Neue Haas Grotesk was released after Akzidenz Grotesk, but before Helvetica. The difference is that this font is smaller, rounder, and friendlier than its grandchild. You can think of it as a grandparent to Helvetica, so you’ll notice a lot of the same traits, such as being clean and natural. Akzidenz Groteskīefore Helvetica was created, there was Akzidenz Grotesk. Thousands of fonts fall into this category and can add the extra personality you’re looking for. But if you want to give your designs a little something extra – something like Helvetica, but not quite Helvetica – you’ve come to the right place. It’s clear, legible, and safe, which makes it a great choice for designers and readers alike. Helvetica is no stranger to the design world.
