Free Alternatives to Red Hat Text

Red Hat Text font preview
Best match: Inter (85%) | Updated: Jan 2026

About Red Hat Text

Foundry
MCKL
Classification
sans-serif
Style
text

Red Hat Text is a versatile sans-serif typeface from MCKL. With its clean lines and modern geometric proportions, Red Hat Text 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 Red Hat Text

  • Licensing cost: Red Hat Text requires a paid license from MCKL
  • 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

Inter is the closest free match at 85% similarity.

Similar readable tech sans

Quick Comparison

FeatureRed Hat TextInter
LicensePaidOFL-1.1
WeightsMultipleVariable (100-900)
VariableNoYes
CyrillicNoYes
SourceMCKLGoogle Fonts

FAQ

Is Red Hat Text free?

No, Red Hat Text is a premium font from MCKL. The best free alternative is Inter.

What is the best free alternative to Red Hat Text?

Inter is the closest free alternative at 85% similarity. Similar readable tech sans

Can I use Inter commercially?

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

Is Inter on Google Fonts?

Yes, Inter is available for free on Google Fonts.

Does Red Hat Text support Cyrillic?

No, Red Hat Text does not include Cyrillic support. However, Inter does support Cyrillic.

Free Alternatives (2)

#1 Inter 85%
[Google Fonts] · OFL-1.1 · Variable

Similar readable tech sans

Get Font ↗
[Google Fonts] · Apache-2.0 · Variable

Comparable text style

Get Font ↗

How to Use Inter

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

CSS Import

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

Tailwind CSS

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

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

React / Next.js

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

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

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best free alternative to Red Hat Text?

Inter is the best free alternative to Red Hat Text 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 Red Hat Text?

There is no official free version of Red Hat Text. However, Inter 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 Red Hat Text?

The Google Fonts most similar to Red Hat Text are Inter, Open Sans. Among these alternatives, Inter offers the closest match at 85% similarity with variable weights for flexible typography options.

Can I use Inter commercially?

Yes, Inter 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 Inter similar enough to Red Hat Text?

Inter achieves 85% similarity to Red Hat Text. 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 Red Hat Text and its free alternatives?

Free alternatives to Red Hat Text 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 Red Hat Text?

Download Inter 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.