We love Apple's styluses, but the best Apple Pencil alternatives are a lot more budget-friendly, with many of the same features and functionality if you use your iPad for drawing.
Of course, nothing quite beats Apple Pencil 2, but many of the options we've reviewed are excellent alternatives - especially our top pick, the Logitech Crayon. We've sketched, doodled and taken notes to test all of the styluses below, considering ergonomics, pressure levels, and any extra features for a variety of different use cases. We've also factored in the price and value for money, using Apple's own devices as a benchmark.
If you still want Apple's stylus after all that, make sure to check out our list of the best cheap Apple Pencil deals instead, which we update regularly with all the latest deals.
Black Friday
Black Friday is as good as here, with some actually-quite-good deals appearing across the main retailers. Though Black Friday officially isn't until November 29, a lot of sales have started already – and this year is surprisingly lucrative even this early on.
Our top pick is currently at its lowest ever price in the Black Friday sale. With 29% off this has only been seen twice before and is $9 below the previous low. Scroll down to read more about this brilliant stylus.
Zagg Pro Stylus 2:
A decent deal on our number 4 pick. It's not the lowest price we've seen but it's $8 off. This may fall further so may be worth holding out for if you're interested in getting the absolute lowest price – but this is still a nice saving.
The best Apple Pencil alternatives available
Best overall
01. Logitech Crayon (2023)
+ Battery life + Tilt support - No pressure levels
This is the only Apple-approved stylus on my list. With lightning-quick recharge and 7.5 hours of battery, this stylus is comfortable to draw with and has Apple Pencil 2 comparable features. The only downside to this stylus is a lack of pressure sensitivity. Read our review for more.
Best value
02. ESR Stylus Pen
+ Palm rejection + Tilt support - No pressure levels
While there are cheaper styluses (albeit few), the ESR Stylus Pen balances value for money best, offering both palm rejection and tilt support. It does lack pressure levels, but its ability to magnetically attach and 13-hour battery life make it pretty convenient, and especially at its list price.
Best for art
03. Adonit Note+
+ Battery life + Pressure sensitivity - No recording
With palm rejection, 2,048 pressure sensitivity levels, tilt support, and fully programmable shortcuts, this Adonit is perfect for digital art. It supports most iPads, has USB-C charging, and our tests proved it has 10 hours of continuous use. Apple Pencil alternatives with pressure levels is hard, this one is a great option. Read our Adonit Note+ review for more.
Best premium
04. Zagg Pro 2
+ Capacitative backend + Magnetic attachment - No pressure sensitivity
While lacking pressure sensitivity, this cheap has a unique boon - its capacitative backend tip, which is great if you often find yourself flitting through documents, scrolling the web or reading e-books. With tilt recognition and palm rejection as well as magnetic attachment, it's a great but pricey choice.
Best pen-like
05. Adonit Star
+ High-end design + Comfortable to use - Lacks features
I love how this pen looks just like a fountain pen with its sleek metal body and removable cap to protect the lid. Our tests found it's best for note-taking, it's comfortable to hold and can be easily clipped onto clothes if you want to safely store it (but it lacks magnetism for iPad storage). Read our review for further details.
Best for older iPads
06. Adonit Pixel
+ Pressure sensitivity + App compatibility - No palm rejection
Offering 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity, this is great for note-taking and doodling. It connects via. Bluetooth, has customisable buttons and is widely compatible with creative apps. Its respectable 15-hour battery life is a boon, and its design feels premium.
Best budget
07. Meko Universal Stylus
+ Very cheap + Replaceable nibs - Very basic
The cheapest stylus listed here lacks advanced features like pressure sensitivity and tilt but offers a pleasant nib, a clear disc for precise drawing, and replaceable tips. It's not suitable for digital art, but fine for note-taking and and web browsing.
Similarly designed to the Apple Pencil 2, the Adonit Neo Pro also offers magnetic charging, native palm rejection and is fully compatible with the Notes app. It's more affordable than Apple Pencil 2, but the lack of pressure sensitivity makes it better for note-taking and doodling than art. Read our review.
Best for multiple devices
09. MoKo Stylus Pens for Touch Screens
+ Varied compatibility + Very affordable - No pressure levels
This one is useful if you've got multiple devices. It lacks pressure sensitivity, tilt support and palm rejection, but offers fast USB-C charging, and 10 hours of battery life. This is compatible with Apple as well as Android touchscreens, and it's super affordable.
Best Apple Pencil alternative: how to choose
Choosing the best Apple Pencil alternative requires careful consideration of various factors. It needs to be compatible with your iPad model as well as the art and note-taking apps you use regularly. The advantage of choosing a non-Apple stylus is they're cheaper than Apple Pencil 2, but the disadvantage is most (Logitech Crayon and some Adonits aside) can't match Apple's tech. Below I highlight the key features and factors to look for in a non-Apple stylus.
Precision Whether you're using the stylus for digital art or notes you'll want accuracy. When we test a stylus we draw the same line across the iPad screen over and over, judging if it repeats in the same place. Another good test is how well the stylus can draw small circles and dots, I'm looking for consistent and regular marks without breaks. This is a test I do when reviewing drawing tablets and is ideal for stylus too. Try it for yourself.
Pressure sensitivity If you're using a stylus for digital art then you'll need pressure sensitivity, and sadly none on my list can match Apple Pencil 2. But some Apple Pencil alternatives do offer limited pressure levels up to 2,048, which is comparable to older Wacom stylus and good for iPad drawing. Apple has never revealed the pressure sensitivity of Apple Pencil but its said to be either 4,096 or 8,192.
Palm rejection You'll need this if you're serious about using your stylus with iPad for notes and drawing. It means the iPad will only recognise the tip of the stylus and not your hand, making for easier use, fewer mistakes and more accuracy.
Tilt sensitivity With lower or no pressure sensitivity tilt becomes more important. This reads and measures the angle of your stylus and adjusts the thickness of the line accordingly, which means you can create more visual nuance in your lines.
Comfort and handling Everyone has different needs when it comes to handling a stylus, whether its weight, size or finish. I personally like a stylus that's a little heavier in the hand but also love the slim design of Apple Pencil 2. You may find you need multiple stylus, for note-taking and art.
Resistance The iPad's display is slippy and so the grip or 'tooth' of a good stylus can be something you look for, especially if you use iPad for digital art. Some stylus have flexible nibs, some have hard plastic or even metal nibs and some softer nylon nibs (these are ideal). Check if nibs can be replaced, and see if nibs are compatible with Apple Pencil. I'd also recommend a screen cover like Paperlike for a 'toothy' feel.
Connectivity The joy of using an iPad is everything is simple and easy, a good stylus needn't use cables or drivers - just turn it on or pick it up and start doodling. You ideally need a stylus with Bluetooth for better accuracy, charging and compatibility with the latest iPads, but basic capacitive stylus will work too (and are usually cheaper).
Best Apple Pencil alternative: how we test
Our testing of the best Apple Pencil alternatives involves a thorough evaluation of key performance metrics and user experience factors. We assess the stylus' pressure sensitivity and accuracy by performing detailed drawing and writing tasks.
During out testing tasks, we pay close attention to how well the stylus captures subtle variations in pressure, ensuring a realistic and responsive experience. We also assess the comfort of holding the stylus over extended periods and battery life under various usage scenarios.
We test Apple Pencil alternatives using the core apps many will need them for, including Notes, Procreate, Sketchbook and Art Set. I like to use some of the standard tests I try when reviewing drawing tablets, such as making small circular marks and judging delays, jitter and lag. Line tests, where I draw over the same line again and again, are used in order to judge reliability and accuracy.
Best Apple Pencil alternative: why trust us?
Creative Bloq has been going for over a decade, covering digital art and deign and the creative tools you need - including stylus. We grew out of magazines like Computer Arts, ImagineFX and 3D World and many of our staff worked on those titles.
I edited digital art magazine ImagineFX and 3D art magazine 3D World, using stylus, tablets and art apps. I've been using drawing tablets and stylus on and off for ten years, and first got into digital art as far back as my Amiga and a copy of Deluxe Paint.
Best Apple Pencil alternative: frequent questions
What are Apple Pencil alternatives?
Apple Pencil alternatives are styluses designed for use with Apple tablets, by which we mean iPads. These styluses offer similar functionality to the Apple Pencil, Apple Pencil 2 or Apple Pencil USB-C, but come from other manufacturers. They tend to be cheaper than the official Apple Pencils.
Why are the benefits of using an Apple Pencil alternative?
It's a fair question: given that the Apple Pencil 2 is the best stylus on the market right now, why would you want anything different? The most common answers is cost: most Apple Pencil alternatives are going to be pricier than the Apple Pencil 2. Also, if you have more than one iPad, you may find either the Apple Pencil 1, 2 or 3 may not work on both of them, but a third-party stylus may do just that.
Why are the downsides of using an Apple Pencil alternative?
One of the main downsides of using an Apple Pencil alternative is that they invariably lack some of the advanced features of the Apple Pencil, such as pressure sensitivity or tilt detection. Even if that's not the case, it probably won't have quite the same seamless integration with the iPads as an official Apple stylus. More broadly, the build quality and user experience may not be as good as with the Apple Pencil.
Can any stylus work with an iPad?
No, you need to check the stylus is compatible before buying. This is particularly important if you have an iPad older that 2018. The Apple Pencil 2 alternatives on our list all work with iPads released in 2018 and onwards.
What makes Apple Pencil so special?
The Apple Pencil has bespoke technology patented by Apple that works perfectly with iPad, and only the new 2023 Logitech Crayon has the same licensed tech. This tech offers better precision and accuracy and makes use of gesture control and fast charging. Newer Apple Pencils leverage even more advanced technology, all the while Apple Pencil alternatives have barely caught up with features offered in the original stylus; but that's why you get what you pay for with Apple.
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Beren has worked on creative titles at Future Publishing for over 13 years. Cutting his teeth as Staff Writer on the digital art magazine ImagineFX, he moved on to edit several creative titles, and is currently the Ecommerce Editor on the most effective creative website in the world. When he's not testing and reviewing the best ergonomic office chairs, phones, laptops, TVs, monitors and various types of storage, he can be found finding and comparing the best deals on the tech that creatives value the most.
