The best Apple Pencil alternatives

Especially if you’re on a budget, the best Apple Pencil alternatives offer fantastic styluses that allow you to use your iPad for drawing. Of course, nothing quite beats Apple Pencil 2, but many of the options we’ve reviewed are excellent for note-taking, sketching and some light detail work; though, with the newly announced Apple Pencil Pro on the horizon, you might be better off saving up and waiting. 

We’ve tried and tested all of the styluses below, considering how comfortable they are to hold, pressure levels, and any extra features to assess which is best for different uses. Naturally, we’ve also considered the price and value for money, using Apple’s own devices as a benchmark. 

Of course, there’s also the option to hunt for the best cheap Apple Pencil deals instead, which often see the newest Apple Pencil USB-C drop to very affordable prices. We’ve even caught Apple’s flagship Apple Pencils at very low prices before, so it’s well worth a try.

The best Apple Pencil alternatives available

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