Fonts Similar to Proxima Nova: Our Favorite Picks

It’s always nice to hear that Proxima Nova has become a go-to for so many people. I designed it to bridge the gap between geometric sans serifs like Futura and workhorse grotesques like Helvetica—something versatile, readable, and a bit more human. Apparently, that combination struck a chord.

From time to time, I get asked if there are fonts similar to Proxima Nova. It might seem a little odd to recommend alternatives to my own work, but over the years, type and graphic designers have been very generous to me — so I’m happy to highlight some of the great work happening in that same space. Every designer benefits from having a diverse library of well-made typefaces to choose from.

I asked my colleagues at The Type Founders to pull together a list of fonts that share some of the same qualities people often look for in Proxima Nova: a balance of geometric and grotesque structure, wide family versatility, and clean everyday usability. I’ll hand it off to them from here.

Thanks to Mark for inviting us to share this list. At The Type Founders, we spend a lot of time immersed in type, and we regularly get to see which fonts designers reach for as alternatives to Proxima Nova. The following recommendations reflect some of our favorites—versatile, well-crafted typefaces that live in a similar space.

Fonts Similar to Proxima Nova

Franklin Gothic by American Type Founders

Sometimes the classics are classics for a reason. Franklin Gothic was one of Mark’s original references when designing Proxima Nova. Mark van Bronkhorst’s re-digitization brings it into the present day while preserving the warmth and utility that made it so influential.

Forma DJR by David Jonathan Ross

A contemporary revival of a mid-century neo-grotesque, Forma is crisp, rational, and elegantly structured. Where Proxima Nova leans warm and humanist, Forma is cooler and more deliberate. It’s a strong choice for clean editorial work or minimal branding systems.

IvyEpic & IvyGothic by Ivy Foundry

These companion families from Jan Maack each offer a unique spin: IvyEpic is cinematic and modern, while IvyGothic blends historical grotesque flavor with contemporary polish. Both work well for designers who want to add style while staying in the Proxima Nova wheelhouse.

Sundry by J Foundry

Sundry veers more humanist than Proxima Nova, with open counters and relaxed curves. It feels casual but refined, and retains a similar sense of everyday usability.

Datei Grotesk by Kontour

Datei Grotesk is stripped-down and precise, with a mechanical tone and tight spacing. Its minimalism and strength make it ideal for publication or information design, especially where typographic structure carries the weight.

Bruta by &Discover

Bolder and more architectural than Proxima Nova, Bruta channels a squarer, industrial tone. It offers a similar versatility but with more bite—great for impactful layouts that still need balance.

New Hero by Newlyn

Designed for signage and wayfinding, New Hero is clean, sharp, and purposeful. Compared to Proxima Nova, it’s a touch more angular and assertive—ideal for digital interfaces or any application where clarity is key.

Shapiro by OGJ Type

Shapiro blends a neo-grotesque foundation with refined styling and subtle quirks. It feels tailored and polished, especially in display sizes. If Proxima Nova is your body text standby, Shapiro could be your next headline font.

Gibbs by Typetanic

Gibbs is a smart, editorial take on the workhorse sans. It’s ideal for print—book covers, magazines, and longer-form reading—with a tone that feels both contemporary and rooted. It also shares Proxima Nova’s structural clarity and balance.

Draft by Yellow Design Studio

Draft walks a similar line between geometric and grotesque, with slightly narrower proportions and sharp, thoughtful terminals. It’s crisp, modern, and highly usable across UI and editorial contexts alike.

Choosing the Right Alternative

When evaluating a Proxima Nova alternative, consider which aspects matter most to your project:

• Do you need an extensive family with multiple weights and widths?
• Is it the geometric-meets-grotesque balance that stands out?
• Do you want something with similar proportions but a different personality?

It’s worth noting that Proxima Nova includes alternate characters and stylistic sets that can subtly shift its tone. Designers might find what they need within those features before switching typefaces entirely.

Some of the fonts above shine at display sizes, while others are optimized for body text. Each brings its own perspective on utility and tone—just like Proxima Nova.

FAQs: Fonts Like Proxima Nova

What Google font is similar to Proxima Nova? Fonts like Montserrat and Nunito Sans share some qualities with Proxima Nova and might work well when budget is a concern. They lack the breadth and refinement of premium families, but are often solid choices for web projects.

What about Adobe Fonts? Adobe Fonts includes strong options like Franklin Gothic and Forma DJR. Both share structural traits with Proxima Nova and offer wide utility within the Adobe platform.

What’s the closest font to Proxima Nova? Draft by Yellow Design Studio and Gibbs by Typetanic come closest in feel and versatility.

Is Proxima Nova a free font? No. Proxima Nova is a premium font family, though it is included with Adobe Fonts for Creative Cloud users.

What makes Proxima Nova so popular? Its balance of friendliness and professionalism, extensive family range, and versatility in both display and text make it a modern classic.

Can I use Proxima Nova as a web font? Yes. It’s available via Adobe Fonts and direct license from Mark Simonson’s site.

What is the best font pairing with Proxima Nova? Serif companions like Chaparral, Mercury Text, Minion, Georgia, or Miller complement Proxima Nova’s rhythm and modern tone beautifully.

Closing Thoughts

Thanks for reading—I hope this list gave you some new directions to explore.

Before we wrap up, I’ll offer one personal recommendation of my own: Synergy, a typeface I designed that shares some of Proxima Nova’s practical versatility but with a very different sensibility. Synergy draws more from the Swiss modernist tradition and has slightly more condensed proportions, giving it a more formal, constructed tone.

It’s not meant to be a direct replacement, but if you’re looking for something clean and professional with a little more edge, it might be a good fit.

Typography today offers a wealth of options, and it’s a pleasure to see how designers use and interpret them. Whether you stick with Proxima Nova or branch out to something new, I appreciate you including my work in your process.

Looking for more insights about typography and font selection? Check out my other articles on geometric sans serifs and font pairing strategies.