Free Alternatives to Monaspace
About Monaspace
- Foundry
- GitHub
- Classification
- mono
- Style
- variable
Monaspace is a professional monospaced typeface from GitHub. Built specifically for code editors and terminal applications, Monaspace 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 Monaspace
- Licensing cost: Monaspace requires a paid license from GitHub
- 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
JetBrains Mono is the closest free match at 85% similarity.
Similar modern programming mono
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Monaspace | JetBrains Mono |
|---|---|---|
| License | Paid | OFL-1.1 |
| Weights | Multiple | Variable (100-900) |
| Variable | No | Yes |
| Cyrillic | No | Yes |
| Source | GitHub | Google Fonts |
FAQ
Is Monaspace free?
No, Monaspace is a premium font from GitHub. The best free alternative is JetBrains Mono.
What is the best free alternative to Monaspace?
JetBrains Mono is the closest free alternative at 85% similarity. Similar modern programming mono
Can I use JetBrains Mono commercially?
Yes, JetBrains Mono is licensed under OFL-1.1, which permits commercial use without fees.
Is JetBrains Mono on Google Fonts?
Yes, JetBrains Mono is available for free on Google Fonts.
Does Monaspace support Cyrillic?
No, Monaspace does not include Cyrillic support. However, JetBrains Mono does support Cyrillic.
Free Alternatives (2)
How to Use JetBrains Mono
Copy these code snippets to quickly add JetBrains Mono to your project.
CSS Import
@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=JetBrains+Mono: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=JetBrains+Mono:wght@100..900&display=swap" rel="stylesheet">Tailwind CSS
// tailwind.config.js
module.exports = {
theme: {
extend: {
fontFamily: {
'jetbrains-mono': ['"JetBrains Mono"', 'sans-serif'],
},
},
},
}
// Usage in HTML:
// <p class="font-jetbrains-mono">Your text here</p>React / Next.js
// Using next/font (Next.js 13+)
import { JetBrains_Mono } from 'next/font/google';
const jetbrains_mono = JetBrains_Mono({
subsets: ['latin'],
weight: ['100', '200', '300', '400', '500', '600', '700', '800', '900'],
});
export default function Component() {
return (
<p className={jetbrains_mono.className}>
Your text here
</p>
);
}
// Or using inline styles with Google Fonts link:
// <p style={{ fontFamily: '"JetBrains Mono"' }}>Your text</p>Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free alternative to Monaspace?
JetBrains Mono is the best free alternative to Monaspace with 85% 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 Monaspace?
There is no official free version of Monaspace. However, JetBrains Mono is available under the OFL-1.1 open-source license and offers 85% visual similarity. It includes variable weights and supports latin, latin-extended.
What Google Font looks like Monaspace?
The Google Fonts most similar to Monaspace are JetBrains Mono, Fira Code. Among these alternatives, JetBrains Mono offers the closest match at 85% similarity with variable weights for flexible typography options.
Can I use JetBrains Mono commercially?
Yes, JetBrains 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 JetBrains Mono similar enough to Monaspace?
JetBrains Mono achieves 85% similarity to Monaspace. 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 Monaspace and its free alternatives?
Free alternatives to Monaspace 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 Monaspace?
Download JetBrains 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.