Free Alternatives to MonoLisa
About MonoLisa
- Foundry
- Marcus Sterz
- Classification
- mono
- Style
- monospace
MonoLisa is a professional monospaced typeface from Marcus Sterz. Built specifically for code editors and terminal applications, MonoLisa 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 MonoLisa
- Licensing cost: MonoLisa requires a paid license from Marcus Sterz
- 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 88% similarity.
Very similar programming mono
Quick Comparison
| Feature | MonoLisa | JetBrains Mono |
|---|---|---|
| License | Paid | OFL-1.1 |
| Weights | Multiple | Variable (100-900) |
| Variable | No | Yes |
| Cyrillic | No | Yes |
| Source | Marcus Sterz | Google Fonts |
FAQ
Is MonoLisa free?
No, MonoLisa is a premium font from Marcus Sterz. The best free alternative is JetBrains Mono.
What is the best free alternative to MonoLisa?
JetBrains Mono is the closest free alternative at 88% similarity. Very similar 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 MonoLisa support Cyrillic?
No, MonoLisa 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 MonoLisa?
JetBrains Mono is the best free alternative to MonoLisa 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 MonoLisa?
There is no official free version of MonoLisa. However, JetBrains Mono 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 MonoLisa?
The Google Fonts most similar to MonoLisa are JetBrains Mono, Fira Code. Among these alternatives, JetBrains Mono offers the closest match at 88% 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 MonoLisa?
JetBrains Mono achieves 88% similarity to MonoLisa. 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 MonoLisa and its free alternatives?
Free alternatives to MonoLisa 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 MonoLisa?
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.