Install FontSwap
SF Mono vs Not Courier Sans
Not Courier Sans is the anti-SF-Mono. At 45% similarity it shares none of the polish or neutrality, so it is not a like-for-like substitute, but for a code font with genuine personality it is a distinctive free option.
45% Similarity
Design DNA
Design overlap:25%
SF Mono
Structural
Monospace
Visual
Modern
Purpose
Tech
Not Courier Sans
Visual
Expressive
Purpose
Tech
Highlighted traits are shared between both fonts
Visual Comparison
SF Mono
Premium
Not Courier Sans
FreeAa Bb Cc 123
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
0123456789 !@#$%^&*()
Feature Comparison
| Feature | SF Mono | Not Courier Sans |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Premium | Free |
| Classification | mono | mono |
| Variable Font | No | No |
| Weights | Multiple | 400, 700 |
| Italics | Yes | No |
| License | Commercial License Required | GPL-2.0-with-font-exception |
| Language Support | latin, latin-extended, cyrillic, greek | latin, latin-extended, cyrillic |
| Source | Apple Inc. | Font Squirrel |
Best Use Cases
Code Editors
SF Not
Terminal
Typography for command-line interfaces, terminal emulators, and shell environmen...
SF Not
Developer Tools
SF Not
Documentation
Typography for technical documentation, user guides, and help content. Documenta...
SF Not
Developer Branding
SF Not
Presentations
Typography for slide decks, keynotes, and presentation materials. Presentation f...
SF Not
Legacy Systems
SF Not
Retro Interfaces
SF Not
Which Should You Choose?
Consider: SF Mono
- Shares SF Mono's tech character
- Particularly suited for creative coding and distinctive terminal setups
- Delivers a raw, experimental, technical aesthetic
- Popular in enterprise-corporate design
- Rated as an easy replacement
Recommended: Not Courier Sans
- Original design with refined typographic details
- Designed specifically for code-editors and terminal
- Commercial license with professional support
Browse by Context
Free Alternatives to Consider
Other free alternatives to SF Mono