The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
Best free alternatives to
National 2
National 2 is Kris Sowersby's 2017 overhaul of National, the workhorse sans he first released through Klim Type Foundry in 2007. It sits in the humanist-grotesque register — grotesque bones in the Akzidenz lineage warmed by humanist detailing — and is built for the long haul, with four widths and eight weights plus italics. Its plain, workmanlike tone has made it a common choice for editorial and identity work. These five free typefaces work in the same grotesque-with-warmth register.
The closest font to National 2The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
Display + body that work together
Letters that hold their nerve
The display sets the register; the body follows through. When both halves of a pair pull in the same direction, the design disappears and the words come forward.
Modern · Editorial IBM Plex Sans + EB Garamond
The shape of a working week
Crisp, even strokes give the display its punch. Quiet serifs underneath stay readable across thousands of words — used together by editors at the kind of paper that still prints corrections.
Editorial · Modern Bodoni Moda + IBM Plex Sans
Fonts like National 2
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Most-cited free fonts
Common questions about National 2 alternatives
- Is National 2 free?
- No — National 2 is a commercial typeface from Klim Type Foundry. It is licensed per style or per family. The closest free alternative is IBM Plex Sans, available on Google Fonts.
- What font is similar to National 2?
- IBM Plex Sans is the closest free match. A corporate workhorse grotesque with the same humanist detailing National 2 leans on — open apertures, a slightly warm tone under an otherwise neutral surface. The closest free match for the broad style range and text-first intent.
- Can I use IBM Plex Sans in commercial projects?
- Yes — IBM Plex Sans is published under a free license on Google Fonts and can be used in commercial work. Confirm the license text at the source before shipping.