Free fonts similar to Univers
Univers appeared in the same year as Helvetica and solved the same problem more systematically: 21 coordinated weights and widths, each identified by a number. It is cooler and more rational than Helvetica, and a long-time favorite for corporate identities, maps and signage.
Short answer: the closest free alternative to Univers is Roboto. Arimo is also worth a look. All are open source and free for commercial use.
Univers is not installed on this device, so it cannot be drawn here. The free alternatives below are live. On a device that has it, this row shows the original and unlocks the overlay.
/* Roboto is open source. Self-host it or load it from Google Fonts. */ font-family: "Roboto", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
The alternatives in detail
1. Roboto
Why it works. A rational, slightly squared grotesque with a full range of weights and a matching condensed family, which suits Univers’s systematic spirit.
What differs. A taller x-height and more open apertures. It reads as a screen interface font rather than mid-century print.
2. Arimo
Why it works. A plain neo-grotesque with conservative proportions, useful when you need a quiet stand-in for body text.
What differs. Follows Arial’s shapes, with angled stroke endings on t, r and a. Weights run only from regular to bold, and there are no condensed or extended widths.
How to recognize Univers
Adrian Frutiger, 1957, Deberny & Peignot in Paris. Now published by Linotype, part of Monotype.
- Two-digit numbers in the font names, such as 55 Roman, 65 Bold or 57 Condensed.
- The uppercase G has no spur, and the lowercase a has a straight stem with no tail.
- Slightly more contrast between thick and thin strokes than Helvetica, and a squarer feel in the curves.
In a site’s CSS it may appear as Univers LT Std, Univers Next, Univers Next Pro, Linotype Univers, univers-next-pro. Not sure what you are looking at? Identify the font on the live page first.
Is Univers free?
Commercial, from Linotype (Monotype). The reworked Univers Next is included with Adobe Fonts. It is not preinstalled on Windows or macOS.
The alternatives on this page are open source, so you can use them on commercial sites, self-host the files and ship them in products. Read more in font licensing in plain English.
Use Roboto in your CSS
Put the free font first and keep sensible fallbacks behind it. Self-hosting the files is the most private and usually the fastest option.
@font-face {
font-family: "Roboto";
src: url("/fonts/roboto-400.woff2") format("woff2");
font-weight: 400;
font-display: swap;
}
@font-face {
font-family: "Roboto";
src: url("/fonts/roboto-700.woff2") format("woff2");
font-weight: 700;
font-display: swap;
}
body {
font-family: "Roboto", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
}Saw a font you can’t place, or can’t afford?
Font Inspector names the font on any website in one click. For popular paid and system fonts it suggests free look-alikes right in the panel.
Questions & answers
What is the closest free font to Univers?+
Roboto is the closest free alternative to Univers. A rational, slightly squared grotesque with a full range of weights and a matching condensed family, which suits Univers’s systematic spirit. Arimo is also worth testing.
Is Univers free to use?+
Commercial, from Linotype (Monotype). The reworked Univers Next is included with Adobe Fonts. It is not preinstalled on Windows or macOS.
What Google Font looks like Univers?+
On Google Fonts, the nearest matches are Roboto and Arimo. All are open source and free for commercial use. None is an exact copy, so compare them with your own text first.
How can I tell whether a website uses Univers?+
Inspect the text. Browser DevTools show the rendered font in the Computed tab, and the Font Inspector extension shows the family, the rendered font and free look-alikes in one click.
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