Compare / Open Sans vs Source Sans Pro

Open Sans vs Source Sans Pro

Open Sans and Source Sans Pro 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.

Open Sans ▸

Hamburgefonstiv

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. 0123456789

Source Sans Pro ▸

Hamburgefonstiv

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. 0123456789

Side by side

	Open Sans	Source Sans Pro
Classification	Sans-serif	Sans-serif
Designer	Steve Matteson	Paul D. Hunt
Released	2011	2012
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	6	6
Languages	10	-

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: Open Sans is "open source, free via google fonts", while Source Sans Pro is "adobe fonts subscription or commercial license". That matters before either one ships on a website or in a product.
Open Sans (2011) is 1 years older than Source Sans Pro (2012).

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 Open Sans and Source Sans Pro on my website?

Open Sans: Can be self-hosted or loaded from Google Fonts. Source Sans Pro: Through an Adobe Fonts web project or a purchased web license.

Is Open Sans better than Source Sans Pro?

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 →Open Sans details Source Sans Pro details