Free Alternatives to Kabel

Kabel font preview
Best match: Jost (80%) | Updated: Jan 2026

About Kabel

Foundry
ITC
Classification
sans-serif
Style
geometric

Kabel is a versatile sans-serif typeface from ITC. With its clean lines and modern geometric proportions, Kabel 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 geometric construction gives it a precise, engineered appearance that resonates with technology and innovation brands.

Why People Replace Kabel

  • Licensing cost: Kabel requires a paid license from ITC
  • 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

Jost is the closest free match at 80% similarity.

Similar geometric construction with art deco influences

Quick Comparison

FeatureKabelJost
LicensePaidOFL-1.1
WeightsMultipleVariable (100-900)
VariableNoYes
CyrillicNoYes
SourceITCGoogle Fonts

FAQ

Is Kabel free?

No, Kabel is a premium font from ITC. The best free alternative is Jost.

What is the best free alternative to Kabel?

Jost is the closest free alternative at 80% similarity. Similar geometric construction with art deco influences

Can I use Jost commercially?

Yes, Jost is licensed under OFL-1.1, which permits commercial use without fees.

Is Jost on Google Fonts?

Yes, Jost is available for free on Google Fonts.

Does Kabel support Cyrillic?

No, Kabel does not include Cyrillic support. However, Jost does support Cyrillic.

Free Alternatives (2)

#1 Jost 80%
[Google Fonts] · OFL-1.1 · Variable

Similar geometric construction with art deco influences

Get Font ↗
[Google Fonts] · OFL-1.1 · 1 weights

Clean geometric sans with comparable character

Get Font ↗

How to Use Jost

Copy these code snippets to quickly add Jost to your project.

CSS Import

@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Jost: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=Jost:wght@100..900&display=swap" rel="stylesheet">

Tailwind CSS

// tailwind.config.js
module.exports = {
  theme: {
    extend: {
      fontFamily: {
        'jost': ['Jost', 'sans-serif'],
      },
    },
  },
}

// Usage in HTML:
// <p class="font-jost">Your text here</p>

React / Next.js

// Using next/font (Next.js 13+)
import { Jost } from 'next/font/google';

const jost = Jost({
  subsets: ['latin'],
  weight: ['100', '200', '300', '400', '500', '600', '700', '800', '900'],
});

export default function Component() {
  return (
    <p className={jost.className}>
      Your text here
    </p>
  );
}

// Or using inline styles with Google Fonts link:
// <p style={{ fontFamily: "'Jost'" }}>Your text</p>

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best free alternative to Kabel?

Jost is the best free alternative to Kabel with 80% 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 Kabel?

There is no official free version of Kabel. However, Jost is available under the OFL-1.1 open-source license and offers 80% visual similarity. It includes variable weights and supports latin, latin-extended.

What Google Font looks like Kabel?

The Google Fonts most similar to Kabel are Jost, Questrial. Among these alternatives, Jost offers the closest match at 80% similarity with variable weights for flexible typography options.

Can I use Jost commercially?

Yes, Jost 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 Jost similar enough to Kabel?

Jost achieves 80% similarity to Kabel. 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 Kabel and its free alternatives?

Free alternatives to Kabel 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 Kabel?

Download Jost 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.