Free Alternatives to Menlo
About Menlo
- Foundry
- Apple
- Classification
- mono
- Style
- monospace
Menlo is a professional monospaced typeface from Apple. Built specifically for code editors and terminal applications, Menlo offers excellent legibility at small sizes with distinctive character differentiation. Features like slashed zeros and clear distinctions between similar characters (1, l, I) make it a favorite among developers.
Why People Replace Menlo
- Licensing cost: Menlo requires a paid license from Apple
- 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
Fira Mono is the closest free match at 88% similarity.
Very similar monospace character
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Menlo | Fira Mono |
|---|---|---|
| License | Paid | OFL-1.1 |
| Weights | Multiple | 3 weights |
| Variable | No | No |
| Cyrillic | No | Yes |
| Source | Apple | Google Fonts |
FAQ
Is Menlo free?
No, Menlo is a premium font from Apple. The best free alternative is Fira Mono.
What is the best free alternative to Menlo?
Fira Mono is the closest free alternative at 88% similarity. Very similar monospace character
Can I use Fira Mono commercially?
Yes, Fira Mono is licensed under OFL-1.1, which permits commercial use without fees.
Is Fira Mono on Google Fonts?
Yes, Fira Mono is available for free on Google Fonts.
Does Menlo support Cyrillic?
No, Menlo does not include Cyrillic support. However, Fira Mono does support Cyrillic.
Free Alternatives (2)
Comparable code font with similar proportions
How to Use Fira Mono
Copy these code snippets to quickly add Fira Mono to your project.
CSS Import
@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Fira+Mono:wght@400;500;700&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=Fira+Mono:wght@400;500;700&display=swap" rel="stylesheet">Tailwind CSS
// tailwind.config.js
module.exports = {
theme: {
extend: {
fontFamily: {
'fira-mono': ['"Fira Mono"', 'sans-serif'],
},
},
},
}
// Usage in HTML:
// <p class="font-fira-mono">Your text here</p>React / Next.js
// Using next/font (Next.js 13+)
import { Fira_Mono } from 'next/font/google';
const fira_mono = Fira_Mono({
subsets: ['latin'],
weight: ['400', '500', '700'],
});
export default function Component() {
return (
<p className={fira_mono.className}>
Your text here
</p>
);
}
// Or using inline styles with Google Fonts link:
// <p style={{ fontFamily: '"Fira Mono"' }}>Your text</p>Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free alternative to Menlo?
Fira Mono is the best free alternative to Menlo 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 Menlo?
There is no official free version of Menlo. However, Fira Mono is available under the OFL-1.1 open-source license and offers 88% visual similarity. It includes 3 weights and supports latin, latin-extended.
What Google Font looks like Menlo?
The Google Fonts most similar to Menlo are Fira Mono, Source Code Pro. Among these alternatives, Fira Mono offers the closest match at 88% similarity with 3 weights for design flexibility.
Can I use Fira Mono commercially?
Yes, Fira Mono 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 Fira Mono similar enough to Menlo?
Fira Mono achieves 88% similarity to Menlo. 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 Menlo and its free alternatives?
Free alternatives to Menlo 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 Menlo?
Download Fira Mono 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.