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Barlow vs Helvetica Compressed
Barlow is a popular open-source alternative to Helvetica Compressed's condensed design. At 78% similarity, Barlow delivers a clean, modern aesthetic. Compare which works better for headlines and editorial projects.
78% Similarity
Visual Comparison
Barlow
FreeAa Bb Cc 123
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
0123456789 !@#$%^&*()
Helvetica Compressed
PremiumPremium font preview not available
Visit the foundry website to see samples
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Barlow | Helvetica Compressed |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Free | Premium |
| Classification | sans-serif | sans-serif |
| Variable Font | No | No |
| Weights | 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900 | Multiple |
| Italics | Yes | Yes |
| License | OFL-1.1 | Commercial License Required |
| Language Support | latin, latin-extended, vietnamese | latin, latin-extended, cyrillic |
| Source | Google Fonts | Linotype |
Performance Comparison
| Metric | Barlow | Helvetica Compressed |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 63/100 | N/A |
| File Size | 133.8 KB | N/A |
| Weights | 9 | N/A |
| Italics | Yes | N/A |
| Variable Font | No | N/A |
| Language Groups | 3 | N/A |
| CDN Delivery | Yes | N/A |
| x-Height Ratio | 0.506 | N/A |
| Cap Height Ratio | 0.7 | N/A |
Which Should You Choose?
Recommended: Barlow
- Shares Helvetica Compressed's minimal character
- 9 weight options for flexible typography
- Delivers a clean, modern, simple aesthetic
- Popular in healthcare-medical and enterprise-corporate design
- Versatile enough to replace 11+ premium fonts
Consider: Helvetica Compressed
- Original design with refined typographic details
- Designed specifically for headlines and editorial
- Commercial license with professional support
Free Alternatives to Consider
Other free alternatives to Helvetica Compressed