Are you in the process of designing a new website and feeling tired of seeing the ubiquitous Inter font everywhere? You're not alone! We’ve been there, too. Script fonts, modern fonts, variable fonts, display fonts… Google fonts, Adobe fonts… old-style, open-source… from cursive to minimalist… there’s a whole world.
However, it seems like no matter where you look on the internet, Inter is there, with its sleek lines and modern vibes. Heading after heading. But fear not! Today, we're breaking free from the Inter spell and venturing into a world of diverse typography. Popular fonts and free fonts are great, but there is more!
At Ycode.com, we believe in keeping design work fresh by exploring new fonts. Your brand identity matters. Choosing the right fonts is a crucial aspect of web design, brand identity, and graphic design.
Whether you prefer traditional serifs or creative scripts, selecting the perfect font pairings is essential for every project. The ultimate challenge is choosing the right font that will truly make a visual impact and the countless options available. The types of fonts out there are endless.
To help you discover the best fonts and typefaces for web design and other creative projects, we delved into the font choices of Ycode users over the past year, recent work analysis, industry favorites, and emerging design trends and type designers. Through this analysis, we identified 20 fonts that consistently ranked at the top of the charts. These fonts have proven their versatility and popularity. TL:DR, excellent choices for your web design endeavors.
So, if you're ready to break free from the Inter monotony and explore eye-catching typography, web aficionados and creatives, let's find the perfect fonts for your website design. But, let’s talk about a few things first…
But, What is a Font?
First off, let's talk about what a font even is. Simply put, it's the style of text you see on a website, logo design, and more. Fonts come in all shapes and sizes, lengths and widths, from bold and attention-grabbing to subtle and elegant.
Choosing the right font can make or break a website's design, influencing how users perceive and interact with your products, brand, and content on your website, in your app, and beyond. What context do you want to be seen in? The right font can help..
How to Choose the Right Font
Choosing the right font is important, but how do you do that? Here are some things to consider.
Legibility: The font should be easy to read, both at small sizes and when used in large blocks of text, as well as in lowercase and uppercase. Avoid overly decorative or intricate fonts that can impede readability.
Functionality: The font should match the tone and purpose of the text or design. Does it fit in your project’s layout? For example, a formal document might require a plainer font, while a modern website might benefit from a clean, sans-serif font.
Consistency: Consistency in font usage helps maintain brand identity and a cohesive appearance that just looks neat. Choose a font (or typeface) that offers different weights and styles (such as bold, italic, and regular) to maintain consistency while adding variety.
Brand Identity: If the font is being used for branding purposes, it should reflect the brand's personality and values. Is your brand retro or more minimalist? Your chosen font should align with the overall brand identity and be recognizable.
Readability Across Devices: Your chosen font remains legible across different devices and screen sizes. Some fonts may not read well on certain devices or at smaller sizes, which can negatively impact the user experience.
Accessibility: Consider the accessibility of the font for all users, including those with visual impairments. Choose fonts with clear distinctions between characters and avoid excessively thin or condensed fonts that may be difficult to read for some individuals.
Scalability: Your chosen font should scale well across different sizes without losing clarity or readability. Test the font at various sizes across various devices to make sure this is true!
Licensing: Check your chosen font's licensing terms to ensure it can be used legally for your intended purpose, especially for commercial projects.
What is the Difference Between Font, Typeface, and Typography?
The terms font, typeface, and typography are often used interchangeably, but they refer to distinct elements in the realm of web design.
Typeface
A typeface refers to the overall design or style of a set of characters, including letters, numbers, and symbols. It is the consistent visual appearance of these characters, such as their shape, weight, and style (e.g., serif, sans-serif, script). Examples of typefaces include Times New Roman, Helvetica, and Garamond. Essentially, a typeface is the creative concept or design idea behind the characters.
Font
A font, on the other hand, refers to a specific variation or implementation of a typeface. It includes the specific size, weight, and style of the characters within a typeface. For example, within the Helvetica typeface, there may be various fonts such as Helvetica Regular, Helvetica Bold, or Helvetica Italic. Each font represents a different variation of the typeface, with unique characteristics like thickness, slant, or spacing.
Typography
Typography is the art and technique of arranging typefaces (fonts) to make written language readable, legible, and visually appealing. It involves not only the selection of typefaces and fonts but also considerations such as layout, spacing, alignment, hierarchy, and color. Typography is crucial in design, publishing, and communication to convey meaning effectively through text.
In summary, a typeface is the design concept or style of characters. A font is a specific variation or implementation of that typeface. Finally, typography is the practice of arranging fonts and typefaces to create visually pleasing and effective communication.
20 Best Fonts Web Designers Should Have in Their Fontkit
1. Geist
One of our recent favorites is Geist. Tailored specifically for developers and designers, Geist aligns perfectly with Vercel's design ethos of simplicity, minimalism, speed, and building consistent web experiences across Vercel products, while taking cues from the iconic Swiss design movement.
Vercel is a frontend-as-a-service product. Vercel’s mission is to make it easy for engineers to deploy and run the user-facing parts of their applications. No wonder fonts are important, so important that they created their own and a design system!
2. Satoshi
The Satoshi font was created with the principles of Swiss modernist design in mind. Featuring a blend of graceful rounded forms and crisp angular details. Designed by Indian Type Foundry, Satoshi offers a range of weights, from Light to Black.
This provides flexibility in design choices. It’s truly a versatile font that can cater to your project needs. So if flexibility is a requirement, Satoshi is a good choice. It’s quite the chameleon!
3. Suisse
Suisse is a sans-serif typeface designed by Swiss Typefaces. Renowned for its clean lines, geometric shapes, and modern aesthetic, Suisse designs fonts with the principles of Swiss typography while infusing a sense of versatility and sophistication. Inspired by classic
Swiss typefaces such as Helvetica and Univers, Suisse strikes a balance between timeless elegance and contemporary relevance, making it suitable for a wide range of design applications.
With a comprehensive range of weights, styles, and optical sizes, Suisse also offers designers flexibility in crafting cohesive web designs. Suisse particularly excels in conveying clarity, professionalism, and a sense of refined simplicity.
4. Helvetica Now
Helvetica Now is a contemporary reinterpretation of the iconic Helvetica typeface, designed by type foundry Monotype. Retaining the timeless appeal and versatility of the original Helvetica, Helvetica Now introduces subtle refinements and enhancements to meet the demands of modern design practices.
With over 48,000 meticulously crafted glyphs across three optical sizes—Micro, Text, and Display—Helvetica Now offers unprecedented flexibility and legibility across various contexts and screen resolutions.
From improved legibility at small sizes to enhanced clarity in print and digital mediums, Helvetica Now meets the diverse needs of contemporary typography.
5. Neue Montreal
Neue Montreal is a modern typeface created by Pangram Pangram Foundry, drawing inspiration from the vibrant and dynamic city of Montreal. With its sleek lines, geometric shapes, and subtle nods to the city's eclectic culture, Neue Montreal captures the essence of urban sophistication and creativity.
Featuring a balanced blend of classic elegance and contemporary flair and clean lines, this font is well-suited for a wide range of design applications, from branding and advertising to editorial and digital design projects. Designed with versatility in mind, Neue Montreal also offers a diverse range of weights and styles.
Whether used for headlines, body text, or signage, Neue Montreal offers a sense of distinct character and personality, adding depth and visual interest to any project.
6. Aeonik
Aeonik is by London-based type foundry, Studio Rene Bieder. This versatile sans-serif typeface blends modern geometric shapes with elegant details. Aeonik's clean lines and balanced proportions make it ideal for a wide range of design applications, from branding and editorial design to web and interface design.
With its extensive range of weights, styles, and optical sizes, Aeonik offers designers flexibility and versatility, allowing for seamless integration into various typographic compositions. Aeonik's meticulous attention to detail extends to its extensive character set and comprehensive language support, making it suitable for multilingual projects and global audiences.
7. Neue Haas Grotesk Display
Swiss type foundry, Lineto, crafted Neue Haas Grotesk Display. Building upon the legacy of the original Haas Grotesk, which later became Helvetica, Neue Haas Grotesk Display infuses a sense of contemporary sophistication with its subtle adjustments and fine-tuned details..
With its clean lines, even spacing, and balanced proportions, Neue Haas Grotesk Display strikes a perfect harmony between tradition and modernity. Its versatility makes it suitable for a wide range of design applications, including branding, advertising, packaging, and editorial design.
Whether used for headlines, signage, or high-impact graphics, Neue Haas Grotesk Display exudes a timeless elegance.
8. Diatype
Fred Smeijers, a Dutch type designer and typographer, designed Diatype. Known for his expertise in reviving historical type designs, Smeijers created Diatype with a keen eye for merging traditional elements with modern sensibilities.
This versatile serif typeface strikes a balance between elegance and functionality, making it suitable for a variety of design applications, from editorial layouts to branding and packaging.
Its balanced proportions, generous spacing, and graceful curves also result in a harmonious and cohesive typographic texture, ensuring readability across different sizes and mediums.
9. Ranade
Ranade is an elegant and versatile typeface designed by Indian type foundry, Ek Type. Inspired by the Devanagari script, Ranade combines traditional calligraphic elements with contemporary design principles.
Its fluid letterforms, graceful curves, and balanced proportions make it well-suited for a wide range of design applications, including branding, editorial design, and signage.
With its extensive character set and meticulous attention to detail, Ranade offers excellent legibility and readability in both print and digital formats. Ranade is particularly perfect for web design and creative projects that require a touch of Indian heritage and modern refinement.
10. Switzer
Switzer is another contemporary sans-serif typeface designed by Swiss type foundry, Swiss Typefaces. Drawing inspiration from the timeless Swiss typographic tradition, Switzer embodies a sense of clarity, precision, and functionality.
Its clean lines, balanced proportions, and geometric shapes make it an ideal choice for a wide range of design applications, from branding and editorial design to web and interface design.
With its extensive range of weights, styles, and optical sizes, Switzer offers designers flexibility and versatility in crafting visually appealing and cohesive typographic compositions. Whether used for headlines, body text, or user interface elements, Switzer maintains excellent legibility and readability across various mediums and screen resolutions.
11. Work Sans
Work Sans is a contemporary sans-serif typeface designed by Australian type designer Wei Huang. Renowned for its clean lines, geometric shapes, and optimal legibility, Work Sans strikes a delicate balance between functionality and aesthetic appeal.
Its versatile design makes it suitable for a wide range of design applications, from branding and editorial design to web and interface design. Whether used for body text, headlines, or user interface elements, Work Sans maintains excellent readability across various screen resolutions and sizes.
Its neutral yet friendly appearance, coupled with its thoughtful design features, makes Work Sans a popular choice for designers seeking a modern and versatile sans-serif typeface for their projects.
12. Roboto
With its clean lines and modern aesthetic, Roboto is always the perfect choice for websites that demand clarity. Roboto is a popular sans-serif typeface designed by Christian Robertson, a typeface designer at Google.
Introduced in 2011, Roboto rapidly became widely used thanks to its sleek and contemporary appearance, establishing itself as a popular option for digital designs, print materials, and branding ventures.
Noted for its geometric elements, well-proportioned structure, and spacious letterforms, Roboto showcases a diverse selection of weights and styles, ranging from standard to bold, italic, and condensed versions. This variety allows designers plenty of room for creativity. Additionally, its extensive range of characters and compatibility with various languages makes it accessible and inclusive. Roboto is a popular and dependable choice of typeface in the design community.
13. Montserrat
Bold and attention-grabbing, Montserrat's geometric shapes add a touch of flair and professionalism to any web design project. Montserrat is a contemporary sans-serif typeface designed by Argentinian designer Julieta Ulanovsky.
Inspired by the signage and lettering found in the Montserrat neighborhood of Buenos Aires, the typeface combines geometric shapes with subtle humanist influences, resulting in a harmonious and versatile design. Since its release in 2010, Montserrat has become immensely popular, known for its clean lines, balanced proportions, and modern aesthetic.
Montserrat stands out for its wide selection of weights and styles, providing a diverse range of choices for designers to cater to various design requirements. Whether a light and refined look or a strong and striking one is needed, Montserrat is effective in a multitude of typographic uses, such as branding, editorial design, and digital interfaces.
14. General Sans
General Sans is an excellent option whether you're designing for display purposes or crafting long blocks of text for extended reading. Its versatile vibe makes it a standout choice for projects seeking charm.
General Sans is a contemporary typeface designed by the talented team at Latinotype. Released in 2018, this sans-serif typeface exudes a sense of modernity and versatility while maintaining a classic elegance.
General Sans is characterized by its clean lines, geometric shapes, and balanced proportions, making it suitable for a wide range of design applications, from editorial layouts to branding and signage. Its thoughtful design features, such as optimized spacing and legible letterforms, ensure excellent readability all around.
15. Open Sans
Open Sans welcomes users with its friendly and approachable appearance, ensuring easy readability across all devices and screen sizes. Open Sans is a versatile and widely-used sans-serif typeface designed by Steve Matteson.
Developed in 2010, Open Sans quickly gained popularity for its clean and legible design, making it a popular choice for both digital and print projects. Characterized by its friendly appearance, even spacing, and balanced proportions, Open Sans offers a modern yet approachable aesthetic that suits a variety of design contexts.
One of the key strengths of Open Sans is its extensive range of weights and styles, including regular, italic, bold, and light variants, as well as condensed and extra-bold options. This diversity allows designers to create a consistent visual identity across different platforms and mediums.
16. Clash Grotesk
Clash Grotesk is a contemporary typeface designed by Indian type foundry, Indian Type Foundry (ITF). Clash Grotesk offers a modern twist on the neo-grotesk style, featuring six styles distinguished by their sleek design. What sets it apart is the remarkably small 'apertures' within its letterforms, adding a unique touch to any design project.
Its unique design features include sharp, angular terminals and distinctive letterforms, giving the typeface a bold and dynamic appearance. Clash Grotesk is well-suited for a variety of design applications, from branding and advertising to editorial and web design projects.
Its attention to detail and meticulous craftsmanship ensure excellent legibility and readability across different sizes and mediums.
17. Nunito
Soft and inviting, Nunito brings warmth and personality to web designs, creating a welcoming atmosphere for visitors. Nunito is a modern sans-serif typeface designed by Vernon Adams. Originally created as a rounded terminal sans-serif for display typography, Nunito has evolved into a versatile and widely-used typeface with excellent readability across various mediums.
Released in 2010, Nunito quickly gained popularity for its friendly appearance, balanced proportions, and subtle geometric influences, making it suitable for a wide range of design applications, from web design to branding and print projects.
One of Nunito's key strengths lies in its extensive character set and support for multiple languages, ensuring accessibility and usability for diverse audiences worldwide. With a variety of weights and styles available, including regular, italic, bold, and light variants, Nunito offers designers flexibility and creative freedom, too.
18. Poppins
Vibrant and full of energy, Poppins commands attention with its bold letterforms and dynamic presence, perfect for websites that want to stand out. Poppins is a contemporary sans-serif typeface designed by Indian type designer Ninad Kale.
Poppins, which came out in 2014, became a fast favorite due to its sleek and precise design, making it suitable for a variety of design purposes. With its curved edges, spacious letters, and consistent spacing, Poppins exudes a contemporary and welcoming feel, while also remaining highly legible on different platforms and screen sizes.
Whether used for body text, headlines, or user interface elements, Poppins offers versatility and flexibility, making it a popular choice for designers seeking a contemporary and accessible sans-serif typeface for their projects.
19. DM Sans
DM Sans is a versatile sans-serif option suitable for a wide range of design projects. With its clean and legible letterforms, "DM Sans" offers readability and modernity, making it an excellent choice for display and body text.
Designed by Colophon Foundry for Google's new brand identity. DM Sans is characterized by its clean lines, balanced proportions, and geometric shapes, making it suitable for a wide range of design applications, from digital interfaces to print media. With its modern yet approachable design, DM Sans offers excellent readability and delivers a contemporary and functional typographic solution that adds a touch of sophistication to any design project.
20. Manrope
Manrope is a modern sans-serif typeface designed by Michael Sharanda. Released in 2018, Manrope quickly gained popularity for its sleek and minimalist design, making it suitable for a variety of design applications. Its clean lines, balanced proportions, and geometric shapes give it a contemporary and versatile appearance, ideal for both digital and print projects.
Its extensive range of weights and styles offers designers a wide variety of options to suit different design needs. Manrope a reliable choice for designers seeking a modern and functional sans-serif typeface for their projects.
Choose Your Font & Design with Ycode
So there you have 20 alternatives to Inter in 2024! We’ll give this list a refresh next year. After all, trends are always changing.
Whether crafting a sleek portfolio, launching a stylish blog, or designing an e-commerce site, remember to choose a font that looks great and enhances the overall user experience. You can also do it all with Ycode.
Explore our font library and all of Ycode features first-hand. We’re here to help you pick the right font, too. Create a free account now. Happy designing!