Are you looking to buy? because there both great!

Guerrizmo+Design

I don't have the money for Gotham :(

Save

So I take it you don't know of a typeface similar to gotham then?

Proxima Nova

Rock! thank you sir

Avenir is not that expensive, buy it.

I'm a big fan of Nobel. I consider it to be a friendlier Gotham.

http://www.fontbureau.com/fonts/Nobel

I recommend Proxima Nova too for its friendly purchase options, I like the harmony of capitals and lowercase letters too:
http://www.myfonts.com/PurchaseOptions?familyid=72270

Also have a look at Effra from Dalton Maag:
http://www.fontshop.com/fonts/downloads/dalton_maag/effra_standard_ot/

To me Effra seems to be the sleeper font Gotham alternatives. Its reminds of Maag’s work for Tote which was based on PL Bernhardt and perhaps a dash of Avenir.

Mike Diaz

Effra is a good call, whereas Nobel is quite different due to the much lower x-height. Museo Sans might be another alternative for either Avenir or Gotham.

Museo Sans $16.50 it's a good deal, go for it.

Guerrizmo+Design

Jan, thank you for reminding me about Museo. At first when Museo was released I didn’t “get it”. Now I do.

Mikey :-)

PS...
Target, an “upscale discounter” in the States has been using Museo on their website—somewhere. I can’t seem to find it now, but a few days ago I did see it in use.

www.target.com

Mikey, thank you for thanking jan about Museo.............Nah Hombre Im just pulling your chain

Guerrizmo+Design

:-|

http://www.tenbytwenty.com/products/typefaces/nevis

http://www.ascenderfonts.com/info/mayberry-pro-free-font.aspx

Houschka Pro plus alternate character sets.

Nick Cooke

What do you all think of Pluto Sans as a substitute for Gotham?
http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/hvdfonts/pluto-sans/

Proxima Nova has a closer tone. Pluto is very close but the modifications make it a lot friendlier than Gotham.

Is it OK to search for or recommend clones?

hhp

@ hrant.. yes it is...see http://typophile.com/node/38526 for some Bitstream examples

and Proxima Nova can be licensed directly from Dalton Maag @ http://www.daltonmaag.com/buyonline/fonts/effra

Can't agree - sorry.

And do note that Bitstream has publicly apologized for that past transgression.

hhp

Not "absolutely closest" but nice alternatives to the Gotham Black extremes: Granby Hippo by Scangraphic or Granby Elephant BQ.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/n1ke/8671252289/in/photostream/

@ Hrant: apologized and still having the fonts for sale.... what's the excuse for that?

Aren't they a publicly-traded company? If so, you need to convince the shareholders...

When it comes to Capitalism, getting an apology -and more significantly a promise to desist from future unethical behavior- is already exceptional. :-/

And let's talk about the right-here right-now: is it ethical for you to watch unethical behavior on Typophile and not say anything? Charity begins at home.

hhp