No. Interstate is a commercial typeface from Font Bureau / Type Network (Tobias Frere-Jones). Commercial; licensed from Type Network. The fonts listed here are free, open-licensed alternatives you can download, self-host and use commercially.

What is the closest free alternative to Interstate?

Overpass scores 84% against Interstate on our published formula. Also based on Highway Gothic — Interstate's signage roots with the same squared forms. It is licensed OFL-1.1, so it is free to self-host.

How are these alternatives ranked?

By a fixed, published score — 0.35 classification, 0.25 measured proportions (x-height, cap height, width, stroke contrast), 0.20 traits, 0.10 role, 0.05 language coverage, 0.05 variable support — after a family gate: specialist families (blackletter, script, glyphic, stencil, monospace) only list same-family fonts, and any cross-family match is capped at 0.2. No model or vote; the same inputs always give the same ranking. Hand-curated picks are labelled and listed first.

Free font alternatives

Free alternatives to Interstate

Interstate is a commercial industrial sans from Font Bureau / Type Network (Tobias Frere-Jones). Commercial; licensed from Type Network. Below are the 8 closest free, open-licensed families in the BrandSweets library, ranked by our published, deterministic score — classification, measured proportions, traits, role, language and variable support. Each one is shown in its own face and is free to self-host.

Interstate is a trademark of its owner, named here only to identify the typeface. We do not host, embed or distribute it; “similar” means similar classification and proportions, nothing more.

#184% matchcurated picksansOFL-1.1 · Delve Withrington, Dave Bailey, Thomas Jockin
Overpass
Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow
Also based on Highway Gothic — Interstate's signage roots with the same squared forms.
Show score breakdownScore breakdown
Classification×0.35
100%
Same class: industrial, grotesque.
Metrics×0.25
89%
x-height 0.51 vs 0.55 for Interstate (close); cap height 0.70 vs 0.71 for Interstate (near-identical); both normal width; both low stroke contrast.
Traits×0.20
60%
Shares industrial, monoline, technical (3 of 5 traits).
Role×0.10
50%
Both suit heading, ui; Overpass is not tagged for display.
Language×0.05
100%
Covers all of Interstate's subsets (latin, latin-ext).
Variable×0.05
100%
Static instances, like Interstate.
Family gate
Same family: sans.
View Overpass specimen →Pairings →100 · 200 · 300 · 400 · 500 · 600 · 700 · 800 · 900
#285% matchcurated picksansOFL-1.1 · Jeremy Tribby
Barlow
Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow
Low-contrast grotesque with Interstate's slightly rounded, engineering feel.
Show score breakdownScore breakdown
Classification×0.35
100%
Same class: industrial, grotesque.
Metrics×0.25
88%
x-height 0.51 vs 0.55 for Interstate (close); cap height 0.70 vs 0.71 for Interstate (near-identical); both normal width; both low stroke contrast.
Traits×0.20
67%
Shares industrial, modern, monoline, technical (4 of 6 traits).
Role×0.10
50%
Both suit heading, ui; Barlow is not tagged for display.
Language×0.05
100%
Covers all of Interstate's subsets (latin, latin-ext).
Variable×0.05
100%
Static instances, like Interstate.
Family gate
Same family: sans.
View Barlow specimen →Pairings →100 · 200 · 300 · 400 · 500 · 600 · 700 · 800 · 900
#390% matchsansOFL-1.1 · Omnibus-Type
Archivo
Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow
Show score breakdownScore breakdown
Classification×0.35
100%
Same class: grotesque.
Metrics×0.25
89%
x-height 0.53 vs 0.55 for Interstate (close); cap height 0.69 vs 0.71 for Interstate (close); both normal width; both low stroke contrast.
Traits×0.20
80%
Shares bold, industrial, modern, monoline (4 of 5 traits).
Role×0.10
67%
Both suit heading, ui; Archivo is not tagged for display.
Language×0.05
100%
Covers all of Interstate's subsets (latin, latin-ext).
Variable×0.05
100%
Static instances, like Interstate.
Family gate
Same family: sans.
View Archivo specimen →Pairings →100 · 200 · 300 · 400 · 500 · 600 · 700 · 800 · 900
#486% matchsansOFL-1.1 · Mike Abbink, Bold Monday
IBM Plex Sans
Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow
Show score breakdownScore breakdown
Classification×0.35
100%
Same class: grotesque.
Metrics×0.25
90%
x-height 0.52 vs 0.55 for Interstate (close); cap height 0.70 vs 0.71 for Interstate (near-identical); both normal width; both low stroke contrast.
Traits×0.20
67%
Shares industrial, modern, monoline, technical (4 of 6 traits).
Role×0.10
50%
Both suit heading, ui; IBM Plex Sans is not tagged for display.
Language×0.05
100%
Covers all of Interstate's subsets (latin, latin-ext).
Variable×0.05
100%
Static instances, like Interstate.
Family gate
Same family: sans.
View IBM Plex Sans specimen →Pairings →100 · 200 · 300 · 400 · 500 · 600 · 700
#584% matchsansOFL-1.1 · Omnibus-Type
Saira
Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow
Show score breakdownScore breakdown
Classification×0.35
100%
Same class: industrial, grotesque.
Metrics×0.25
86%
x-height 0.51 vs 0.55 for Interstate (close); cap height 0.69 vs 0.71 for Interstate (close); both normal width; both low stroke contrast.
Traits×0.20
60%
Shares industrial, monoline, technical (3 of 5 traits).
Role×0.10
50%
Both suit heading, ui; Saira is not tagged for display.
Language×0.05
100%
Covers all of Interstate's subsets (latin, latin-ext).
Variable×0.05
100%
Static instances, like Interstate.
Family gate
Same family: sans.
View Saira specimen →Pairings →100 · 200 · 300 · 400 · 500 · 600 · 700 · 800 · 900
#682% matchsansOFL-1.1 · Fontstage
Viga
Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow
Show score breakdownScore breakdown
Classification×0.35
100%
Same class: grotesque.
Metrics×0.25
95%
x-height 0.57 vs 0.55 for Interstate (near-identical); cap height 0.71 vs 0.71 for Interstate (near-identical); both normal width; both low stroke contrast.
Traits×0.20
40%
Shares industrial, monoline (2 of 5 traits).
Role×0.10
50%
Both suit heading, ui; Viga is not tagged for display.
Language×0.05
100%
Covers all of Interstate's subsets (latin, latin-ext).
Variable×0.05
100%
Static instances, like Interstate.
Family gate
Same family: sans.
View Viga specimen →Pairings →400
#782% matchsansOFL-1.1
Bai Jamjuree
Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow
Show score breakdownScore breakdown
Classification×0.35
100%
Same class: industrial.
Metrics×0.25
87%
x-height 0.50 vs 0.55 for Interstate (close); cap height 0.70 vs 0.71 for Interstate (near-identical); both normal width; both low stroke contrast.
Traits×0.20
50%
Shares industrial, monoline, technical (3 of 6 traits).
Role×0.10
50%
Both suit heading, ui; Bai Jamjuree is not tagged for display.
Language×0.05
100%
Covers all of Interstate's subsets (latin, latin-ext).
Variable×0.05
100%
Static instances, like Interstate.
Family gate
Same family: sans.
View Bai Jamjuree specimen →Pairings →200 · 300 · 400 · 500 · 600 · 700
#881% matchsansOFL-1.1 · Bakken & Bæck, Henrik Kongsvoll
Schibsted Grotesk
Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow
Show score breakdownScore breakdown
Classification×0.35
100%
Same class: grotesque.
Metrics×0.25
93%
x-height 0.53 vs 0.55 for Interstate (near-identical); cap height 0.70 vs 0.71 for Interstate (near-identical); both normal width; both low stroke contrast.
Traits×0.20
40%
Shares industrial, monoline (2 of 5 traits).
Role×0.10
50%
Both suit heading, ui; Schibsted Grotesk is not tagged for display.
Language×0.05
100%
Covers all of Interstate's subsets (latin, latin-ext).
Variable×0.05
100%
Static instances, like Interstate.
Family gate
Same family: sans.
View Schibsted Grotesk specimen →Pairings →400 · 500 · 600 · 700 · 800 · 900

mcpConnect your agent — find Interstate alternatives live

live endpoint

Point any MCP client at the shared fonts endpoint and your agent gets the same ranked list with every axis score — find_alternatives, list_commercial_fonts, list_fonts and suggest_fonts, read-only, no key.

endpointhttps://mcp.brandsweets.com/fonts/mcp

claude mcp add --transport http brandsweets-fonts https://mcp.brandsweets.com/fonts/mcp

try this prompt

›find a free alternative to Interstate for a technical brand

Want the agent to remember your picks and write them into a living brand? Create a free BrandSweets workspace.

Use Overpass instead

Overpass is the top-ranked alternative to Interstate (84%) and is free to self-host under OFL-1.1. Drop these @font-face rules into your CSS — the .woff2 files are served straight from BrandSweets.

css

@font-face {
  font-family: "Overpass";
  font-style: normal;
  font-weight: 100;
  font-display: swap;
  src: url("https://fonts.brandsweets.com/overpass/overpass-100.woff2") format("woff2");
}
@font-face {
  font-family: "Overpass";
  font-style: normal;
  font-weight: 200;
  font-display: swap;
  src: url("https://fonts.brandsweets.com/overpass/overpass-200.woff2") format("woff2");
}
@font-face {
  font-family: "Overpass";
  font-style: normal;
  font-weight: 300;
  font-display: swap;
  src: url("https://fonts.brandsweets.com/overpass/overpass-300.woff2") format("woff2");
}
@font-face {
  font-family: "Overpass";
  font-style: normal;
  font-weight: 400;
  font-display: swap;
  src: url("https://fonts.brandsweets.com/overpass/overpass-400.woff2") format("woff2");
}
@font-face {
  font-family: "Overpass";
  font-style: normal;
  font-weight: 500;
  font-display: swap;
  src: url("https://fonts.brandsweets.com/overpass/overpass-500.woff2") format("woff2");
}
@font-face {
  font-family: "Overpass";
  font-style: normal;
  font-weight: 600;
  font-display: swap;
  src: url("https://fonts.brandsweets.com/overpass/overpass-600.woff2") format("woff2");
}
@font-face {
  font-family: "Overpass";
  font-style: normal;
  font-weight: 700;
  font-display: swap;
  src: url("https://fonts.brandsweets.com/overpass/overpass-700.woff2") format("woff2");
}
@font-face {
  font-family: "Overpass";
  font-style: normal;
  font-weight: 800;
  font-display: swap;
  src: url("https://fonts.brandsweets.com/overpass/overpass-800.woff2") format("woff2");
}
@font-face {
  font-family: "Overpass";
  font-style: normal;
  font-weight: 900;
  font-display: swap;
  src: url("https://fonts.brandsweets.com/overpass/overpass-900.woff2") format("woff2");
}
@font-face {
  font-family: "Overpass";
  font-style: italic;
  font-weight: 100;
  font-display: swap;
  src: url("https://fonts.brandsweets.com/overpass/overpass-100i.woff2") format("woff2");
}
@font-face {
  font-family: "Overpass";
  font-style: italic;
  font-weight: 200;
  font-display: swap;
  src: url("https://fonts.brandsweets.com/overpass/overpass-200i.woff2") format("woff2");
}
@font-face {
  font-family: "Overpass";
  font-style: italic;
  font-weight: 300;
  font-display: swap;
  src: url("https://fonts.brandsweets.com/overpass/overpass-300i.woff2") format("woff2");
}
@font-face {
  font-family: "Overpass";
  font-style: italic;
  font-weight: 400;
  font-display: swap;
  src: url("https://fonts.brandsweets.com/overpass/overpass-400i.woff2") format("woff2");
}
@font-face {
  font-family: "Overpass";
  font-style: italic;
  font-weight: 500;
  font-display: swap;
  src: url("https://fonts.brandsweets.com/overpass/overpass-500i.woff2") format("woff2");
}
@font-face {
  font-family: "Overpass";
  font-style: italic;
  font-weight: 600;
  font-display: swap;
  src: url("https://fonts.brandsweets.com/overpass/overpass-600i.woff2") format("woff2");
}
@font-face {
  font-family: "Overpass";
  font-style: italic;
  font-weight: 700;
  font-display: swap;
  src: url("https://fonts.brandsweets.com/overpass/overpass-700i.woff2") format("woff2");
}
@font-face {
  font-family: "Overpass";
  font-style: italic;
  font-weight: 800;
  font-display: swap;
  src: url("https://fonts.brandsweets.com/overpass/overpass-800i.woff2") format("woff2");
}
@font-face {
  font-family: "Overpass";
  font-style: italic;
  font-weight: 900;
  font-display: swap;
  src: url("https://fonts.brandsweets.com/overpass/overpass-900i.woff2") format("woff2");
}

/* Usage */
.heading { font-family: "Overpass", sans-serif; }

What we compare Interstate on

Class: industrial, grotesque
x-height: 0.55 ≈
Cap height: 0.71 ≈
Width · contrast: normal · low
Traits: industrial, technical, bold, modern, monoline
Roles: heading, display, ui
Languages · variable: latin, latin-ext · no

≈ proportions are publicly documented approximations of the regular cut, not measured by us. Open-font metrics are measured from the files. Full formula and thresholds: methodology. Machine-readable: alternatives.md

Questions

Is Interstate free?: No. Interstate is a commercial typeface from Font Bureau / Type Network (Tobias Frere-Jones). Commercial; licensed from Type Network. The fonts listed here are free, open-licensed alternatives you can download, self-host and use commercially.
What is the closest free alternative to Interstate?: Overpass scores 84% against Interstate on our published formula. Also based on Highway Gothic — Interstate's signage roots with the same squared forms. It is licensed OFL-1.1, so it is free to self-host.
How are these alternatives ranked?: By a fixed, published score — 0.35 classification, 0.25 measured proportions (x-height, cap height, width, stroke contrast), 0.20 traits, 0.10 role, 0.05 language coverage, 0.05 variable support — after a family gate: specialist families (blackletter, script, glyphic, stencil, monospace) only list same-family fonts, and any cross-family match is capped at 0.2. No model or vote; the same inputs always give the same ranking. Hand-curated picks are labelled and listed first.

Build a brand around Overpass

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