IBM Plex Mono
Designed by Mike Abbink in collaboration with Bold Monday, IBM Plex Mono is the monospaced member of IBM's open-source corporate typeface superfamily. Its italic draws direct inspiration from the IBM Selectric typewriter, lending it a distinctive heritage feel with sharp outstrokes and engineered precision. Ideal for developer tools, technical documentation, and brands that want to project reliability and technological sophistication.
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
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About IBM Plex Mono
- Designer
- Mike Abbink
- Foundry
- IBM / Bold Monday
- Released
- 2017
- License
- SIL Open Font License 1.1
- Category
- Monospace
- Recommended Weight
- 700
- Variable Axes
- weight
- Script Support
- Latin, Cyrillic, Greek, Vietnamese
- Available Weights
- 100200300400500600700
Pairs Well With
Inter
Inter’s modern proportional clarity pairs well with IBM Plex Mono’s corporate precision for developer-facing interfaces and documentation.
Compare side by sideOpen Sans
Open Sans’ friendly neutrality balances IBM Plex Mono’s corporate heritage for approachable yet professional technical content.
Compare side by sideMontserrat
Montserrat’s confident geometric headlines create a strong visual hierarchy above IBM Plex Mono code blocks in enterprise documentation.
Compare side by sideSimilar Fonts
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the IBM Selectric typewriter influence IBM Plex Mono’s design?
The italic styles of IBM Plex Mono draw direct inspiration from the IBM Selectric typewriter, featuring sharp outstrokes and a distinctive mechanical rhythm. This heritage connection gives the italic a unique personality that references IBM’s typographic history while remaining thoroughly modern.
What other fonts are in the IBM Plex superfamily?
IBM Plex includes four members: Plex Sans (the proportional sans-serif), Plex Serif, Plex Mono, and Plex Sans Condensed. All share consistent design principles and were created together as IBM’s unified corporate typeface system, replacing Helvetica Neue in 2018.
Why would a brand choose IBM Plex Mono over JetBrains Mono?
IBM Plex Mono excels in contexts that benefit from corporate gravitas and heritage. Its Selectric-inspired italics and membership in a complete corporate superfamily make it ideal for enterprise brands, while JetBrains Mono’s taller x-height and ligatures are more developer-tool-focused.