Free Alternatives to Knockout
About Knockout
- Foundry
- Hoefler&Co
- Classification
- sans-serif
- Style
- condensed
Knockout is a versatile sans-serif typeface from Hoefler&Co, designed by Jonathan Hoefler in 1994. With its clean lines and modern geometric proportions, Knockout 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.
Why People Replace Knockout
- Licensing cost: Knockout requires a paid license from Hoefler&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
Oswald is the closest free match at 88% similarity.
Very similar condensed display character
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Knockout | Oswald |
|---|---|---|
| License | Paid | OFL-1.1 |
| Weights | Multiple | Variable (100-900) |
| Variable | No | Yes |
| Cyrillic | No | Yes |
| Source | Hoefler&Co | Google Fonts |
FAQ
Is Knockout free?
No, Knockout is a premium font from Hoefler&Co. The best free alternative is Oswald.
What is the best free alternative to Knockout?
Oswald is the closest free alternative at 88% similarity. Very similar condensed display character
Can I use Oswald commercially?
Yes, Oswald is licensed under OFL-1.1, which permits commercial use without fees.
Is Oswald on Google Fonts?
Yes, Oswald is available for free on Google Fonts.
Does Knockout support Cyrillic?
No, Knockout does not include Cyrillic support. However, Oswald does support Cyrillic.
Free Alternatives (2)
How to Use Oswald
Copy these code snippets to quickly add Oswald to your project.
CSS Import
@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Oswald: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=Oswald:wght@100..900&display=swap" rel="stylesheet">Tailwind CSS
// tailwind.config.js
module.exports = {
theme: {
extend: {
fontFamily: {
'oswald': ['Oswald', 'sans-serif'],
},
},
},
}
// Usage in HTML:
// <p class="font-oswald">Your text here</p>React / Next.js
// Using next/font (Next.js 13+)
import { Oswald } from 'next/font/google';
const oswald = Oswald({
subsets: ['latin'],
weight: ['100', '200', '300', '400', '500', '600', '700', '800', '900'],
});
export default function Component() {
return (
<p className={oswald.className}>
Your text here
</p>
);
}
// Or using inline styles with Google Fonts link:
// <p style={{ fontFamily: "'Oswald'" }}>Your text</p>Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free alternative to Knockout?
Oswald is the best free alternative to Knockout 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 Knockout?
There is no official free version of Knockout. However, Oswald 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 Knockout?
The Google Fonts most similar to Knockout are Oswald, Bebas Neue. Among these alternatives, Oswald offers the closest match at 88% similarity with variable weights for flexible typography options.
Can I use Oswald commercially?
Yes, Oswald 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 Oswald similar enough to Knockout?
Oswald achieves 88% similarity to Knockout. 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 Knockout and its free alternatives?
Free alternatives to Knockout 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 Knockout?
Download Oswald 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.