Free alternatives to Calibri

The closest free alternative to Calibri is Carlito. It has the same letter widths, so Word and PowerPoint files keep their layout when opened without Calibri. For more weights, use Lato, the family Carlito is built from.

  • 5 free alternatives
  • Free for commercial use
  • Updated November 2026

At a glance

FontMatchWeightsItalicsBest for
CarlitoSame widths400 to 700YesWord and PowerPoint files
LatoClose match100 to 900YesWarm body text
Source Sans 3Close match200 to 900YesInterfaces and long text
Open SansSimilar feel300 to 800YesReadable body text
Noto SansSimilar feel100 to 900YesMany languages

The 5 best free alternatives

Same widths: drawn to the same letter widths, so nothing reflows. Close match: nearest look. Similar feel: same mood, different details.

  1. Carlito

    Same widths

    Best alternative

    Same letter widths as Calibri, so documents keep their layout. Regular and bold with italics.

  2. Lato

    Close match

    The family Carlito is built from, with weights from 100 to 900. Warm and very readable.

  3. Source Sans 3

    Close match

    A clear, slightly narrow sans for long text, with weights from 200 to 900.

  4. Open Sans

    Similar feel

    Open, friendly letters that stay readable at small sizes.

  5. Noto Sans

    Similar feel

    A neutral sans that covers almost every language, if your documents need more than Latin.

Pair it with

Curated pairings that use these alternatives.

About Calibri

Calibri was designed by Lucas de Groot and became the default font in Microsoft Office in 2007. Microsoft replaced it with Aptos as the default in 2023.

Designed by
Lucas de Groot
License
Ships with Microsoft Office. Webfont use needs a license.
Same widths
Carlito

Questions about Calibri

Is Calibri free?

It comes with Microsoft Office, so you can use it in your own documents. Serving it as a webfont or embedding it in an app needs a license.

What is the closest free font to Calibri?

Carlito. It has the same letter widths, so documents keep their layout.

Is Calibri on Google Fonts?

No. Carlito is the Calibri match on Google Fonts, and Lato is close in style.

What font pairs well with Lato?

Lato pairs well with a sturdy serif for headings, like PT Serif.

More font alternatives

See all