Compare / Arial vs Helvetica

Arial vs Helvetica

Arial and Helvetica compared on classification, designer, release year, licensing and web use. Both are sans-serif typefaces, so the choice usually comes down to licensing, availability and the feel of the letterforms rather than category.

Arial ▸

Hamburgefonstiv

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. 0123456789

Helvetica ▸

Hamburgefonstiv

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. 0123456789

Side by side

	Arial	Helvetica
Classification	Sans-serif	Sans-serif
Designer	Robin Nicholas and Patricia Saunders	Max Miedinger and Eduard Hoffmann
Released	1982	1957
License	Bundled with the operating system	Commercial license required
On a website	Only renders if installed on the visitor's device; embedding it needs its own web license	Needs a web license (@font-face) before self-hosting

What to know

Both are sans-serif typefaces, so the choice usually comes down to licensing, availability and the feel of the letterforms rather than category.
Licensing differs: Arial is "bundled with the operating system", while Helvetica is "commercial license required". That matters before either one ships on a website or in a product.
Helvetica (1957) is 25 years older than Arial (1982).

Which of these does your site use?

Paste your URL for a free scan: every font the page loads, where it is served from and whether it needs a license.

Questions

Can I use Arial and Helvetica on my website?

Arial: Only renders if installed on the visitor's device; embedding it needs its own web license. Helvetica: Needs a web license (@font-face) before self-hosting.

Is Arial better than Helvetica?

Neither is better in every case. The right choice depends on where the text appears, your licensing situation and how each typeface looks in your layout; the specimen above shows both side by side.

How do I check which of these fonts my site uses?

Run the free Font Checker Pro scan on your URL: it lists every font the page loads, where each one is served from and whether it needs a license.

Try them with your own text →Arial details Helvetica details