Compare / Montserrat vs Proxima Nova

Montserrat vs Proxima Nova

Montserrat and Proxima Nova 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.

Montserrat ▸

Hamburgefonstiv

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. 0123456789

Proxima Nova ▸

Hamburgefonstiv

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. 0123456789

Side by side

	Montserrat	Proxima Nova
Classification	Sans-serif	Sans-serif
Designer	Julieta Ulanovsky	Mark Simonson
Released	2011	2005
License	Open source, free via Google Fonts	Adobe Fonts subscription or commercial license
On a website	Can be self-hosted or loaded from Google Fonts	Through an Adobe Fonts web project or a purchased web license
Weights	9	8
Languages	5	-

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: Montserrat is "open source, free via google fonts", while Proxima Nova is "adobe fonts subscription or commercial license". That matters before either one ships on a website or in a product.
Proxima Nova (2005) is 6 years older than Montserrat (2011).
Montserrat offers 9 weights against 8 for Proxima Nova.

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 Montserrat and Proxima Nova on my website?

Montserrat: Can be self-hosted or loaded from Google Fonts. Proxima Nova: Through an Adobe Fonts web project or a purchased web license.

Is Montserrat better than Proxima Nova?

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 →Montserrat details Proxima Nova details

Side by side

	Montserrat	Proxima Nova
Classification	Sans-serif	Sans-serif
Designer	Julieta Ulanovsky	Mark Simonson
Released	2011	2005
License	Open source, free via Google Fonts	Adobe Fonts subscription or commercial license
On a website	Can be self-hosted or loaded from Google Fonts	Through an Adobe Fonts web project or a purchased web license
Weights	9	8
Languages	5	-

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: Montserrat is "open source, free via google fonts", while Proxima Nova is "adobe fonts subscription or commercial license". That matters before either one ships on a website or in a product.

Proxima Nova (2005) is 6 years older than Montserrat (2011).

Montserrat offers 9 weights against 8 for Proxima Nova.