Free Alternatives to HK Grotesk
About HK Grotesk
- Foundry
- Hanken Design Co
- Classification
- sans-serif
- Style
- neo-grotesque
HK Grotesk is a versatile sans-serif typeface from Hanken Design Co. With its clean lines and modern geometric proportions, HK Grotesk works effectively across digital interfaces, print materials, and brand identities. The typeface balances neutral character shapes with subtle personality, making it adaptable to many design contexts. Its neo-grotesque design philosophy emphasizes uniformity and clarity, following the tradition established by Helvetica.
Why People Replace HK Grotesk
- Licensing cost: HK Grotesk requires a paid license from Hanken Design Co
- Per-seat pricing: Most premium fonts charge per user or device
- No variable font: Requires purchasing multiple weights separately
- Limited language support: May not cover all required scripts
- Web font licensing: Additional fees for web embedding
Best Free Alternative
Inter is the closest free match at 88% similarity.
Similar modern grotesque
Quick Comparison
| Feature | HK Grotesk | Inter |
|---|---|---|
| License | Paid | OFL-1.1 |
| Weights | Multiple | Variable (100-900) |
| Variable | No | Yes |
| Cyrillic | No | Yes |
| Source | Hanken Design Co | Google Fonts |
FAQ
Is HK Grotesk free?
No, HK Grotesk is a premium font from Hanken Design Co. The best free alternative is Inter.
What is the best free alternative to HK Grotesk?
Inter is the closest free alternative at 88% similarity. Similar modern grotesque
Can I use Inter commercially?
Yes, Inter is licensed under OFL-1.1, which permits commercial use without fees.
Is Inter on Google Fonts?
Yes, Inter is available for free on Google Fonts.
Does HK Grotesk support Cyrillic?
No, HK Grotesk does not include Cyrillic support. However, Inter does support Cyrillic.
Free Alternatives (2)
How to Use Inter
Copy these code snippets to quickly add Inter to your project.
CSS Import
@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Inter:wght@100..900&display=swap');HTML Link Tags
<link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com">
<link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.gstatic.com" crossorigin>
<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Inter:wght@100..900&display=swap" rel="stylesheet">Tailwind CSS
// tailwind.config.js
module.exports = {
theme: {
extend: {
fontFamily: {
'inter': ['Inter', 'sans-serif'],
},
},
},
}
// Usage in HTML:
// <p class="font-inter">Your text here</p>React / Next.js
// Using next/font (Next.js 13+)
import { Inter } from 'next/font/google';
const inter = Inter({
subsets: ['latin'],
weight: ['100', '200', '300', '400', '500', '600', '700', '800', '900'],
});
export default function Component() {
return (
<p className={inter.className}>
Your text here
</p>
);
}
// Or using inline styles with Google Fonts link:
// <p style={{ fontFamily: "'Inter'" }}>Your text</p>Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free alternative to HK Grotesk?
Inter is the best free alternative to HK Grotesk with 88% similarity. It shares similar proportions and characteristics while being available under the OFL-1.1 license for both personal and commercial use at no cost.
Is there a free version of HK Grotesk?
There is no official free version of HK Grotesk. However, Inter is available under the OFL-1.1 open-source license and offers 88% visual similarity. It includes variable weights and supports latin, latin-extended.
What Google Font looks like HK Grotesk?
The Google Fonts most similar to HK Grotesk are Inter, Work Sans. Among these alternatives, Inter offers the closest match at 88% similarity with variable weights for flexible typography options.
Can I use Inter commercially?
Yes, Inter can be used commercially. It is licensed under OFL-1.1, which allows free use in websites, applications, print materials, and commercial projects without purchasing a license or paying royalties.
Is Inter similar enough to HK Grotesk?
Inter achieves 88% similarity to HK Grotesk. While not identical, it offers comparable letterforms, proportions, and visual style. Most designers find it works excellently as a substitute in web and print projects.
What are the main differences between HK Grotesk and its free alternatives?
Free alternatives to HK Grotesk may differ in subtle details like letter spacing, curve refinements, and available weights. Premium fonts typically include more OpenType features, extended language support, and optimized screen rendering. However, for most projects, these differences are negligible.
Where can I download free alternatives to HK Grotesk?
Download Inter directly from Google Fonts. Click the "Get Font" button on any alternative listed above to visit the official download page. Google Fonts also provides convenient embed codes for seamless web integration.