The best Apple Pencil alternatives: top features, excellent value

Apple's own styluses are excellent, but they've been creeping up in price again this year. The Apple Pencil Pro now sits at $129, and even the "budget" USB-C model costs $89. So it's worth shopping around.

For note-takers, doodlers and art hobbyists, these five Apple Pencil rivals offer a near-identical experience without the "Apple Tax". The Logitech Crayon sits at the top of our list for one simple reason: it's the only stylus built on licensed Apple Pencil technology. That buys it a level of reliability and native palm rejection that reverse-engineered styluses struggle to match.

Best Apple Pencil alternative overall

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30-second review: The Logitech Crayon is an excellent stylus built using Apple's own Pencil technology under licence. That means genuinely instant pairing, reliable native palm rejection, and the kind of consistency that reverse-engineered third-party styluses still can't quite nail. It won't win on gimmicks, but for sheer dependability, it's the one we'd reach for without a second thought.

Pricing: The Crayon retails at $69.99 in the US, sitting comfortably below Apple's own USB-C Pencil while offering a noticeably more trustworthy experience than cheaper unlicensed alternatives.

Design and performance: At 20g, the Crayon has a distinctive flat, roll-proof barrel that won't disappear off a desk, and Logitech's 4ft drop-protection rating gives it genuine durability credentials, useful for students and anyone prone to a fumble. There's no Bluetooth pairing to fuss with: slide the switch and it connects instantly, using the same underlying Apple Pencil technology that powers palm rejection and pixel-accurate tracking on the iPad itself. An adaptive tip adjusts line thickness as you tilt, giving you real shading control despite the lack of pressure sensitivity. Battery life comfortably covers a working day, and a two-minute emergency top-up buys around 30 minutes of writing time. The trade-off for all this reliability is a relatively simple feature set: there's no magnetic device-switching, no programmable gesture controls, just a stylus that does the fundamentals better than almost anything else.

Best budget Apple Pencil alternative

30-second review: The ESR Geo Digital Pencil is as affordable as quality styluses get, and it comes with a useful trick up its sleeve: native Apple Find My integration. That makes it the first budget stylus to let you track it on a map if it goes missing; a feature that, frankly, puts several pricier competitors to shame. It won't satisfy professional artists (there's no pressure sensitivity), but for note-takers and casual users who want security features without Apple's price tag, this is the easy recommendation.

Pricing: The ESR Geo Digital Pencil retails at a cheap and cheerful $29.99 / £26.64 on Amazon and other online retailers, at time of writing.

Design and performance: The Find My integration is the headline feature, but the ESR Geo holds its own on fundamentals too. Palm rejection is excellent, and the tilt sensitivity is reliable for basic shading tasks. The main practical trade-off is charging. There's no magnetic snap-to-iPad convenience here; you'll need to dig out a USB-C cable. This stylus also uses a beacon rather than a full "Nearby" chip, so precision tracking in close range is more limited than with Apple's own devices. Still, at this price, it's hard to fault.

Best Apple Pencil alternative for artists

30-second review: The Metapen A14 Pro is our artists' pick among third-party styluses. Not because it matches the Apple Pencil on pressure sensitivity (no third-party stylus does), but because it gets closer than anything else at this price. The re-engineered 0.1mm pixel-precise tip noticeably reduces the line jitter that has plagued older third-party models, and the wireless magnetic charging keeps your workflow tidy. The moisture-proof coating is a thoughtful addition for artists who draw for hours at a stretch.

Pricing: The Metapen A14 Pro retails at $35.99 / £25.49, making it excellent value for an artist-focused stylus.

Design and performance: The headline feature here is the tip precision. The reduced jitter makes a real difference in detailed linework; small curves and tight strokes feel considerably cleaner than on comparable styluses. The Bluetooth battery display is a practical addition, too; letting you keep an eye on charge without interrupting your session. And wireless magnetic charging (snapping directly to compatible iPads) is a luxury at this price point. On the downside, the absence of pressure sensitivity is the obvious limitation: line variation comes from tilt alone, which takes some adjustment if you're used to the Apple Pencil.

Best premium Apple Pencil alternative

30-second review: The Zagg Pro Stylus 2 remains the premium pick for users who want the most versatile hardware available from a third-party stylus. Its Dual-Tip design is the key differentiator: the active front tip handles precision work on iPad, while the capacitive backend works for scrolling and gestures – even on older iPhones or screens that don't support active styluses. Add Qi wireless charging compatibility (use any standard charging cradle you already own) and you have a well-rounded, thoughtfully engineered stylus.

Pricing: The Zagg Pro Stylus 2 has an RRP of $79.99 in the US and £65-£80 in the UK, making it the most expensive on our list. It's often discounted, though, at retailers like Best Buy and Amazon.

Design and performance: At 20g, the Zagg Pro Stylus 2 is the heaviest option on this list. This becomes noticeable during long sessions, though its well-balanced build helps. The Dual-Tip is a genuinely useful feature rather than a gimmick: being able to flip the pen and use the capacitive backend to scroll a web page or swipe between apps without switching tools is a smooth addition to any workflow. Tilt support and palm rejection are both solid, and the Qi charging compatibility means you're not tied to any proprietary stand. The lack of Bluetooth shortcut buttons is the one notable omission at this price.

Best multi-device Apple Pencil alternative

30-second review: If you need a stylus that works reliably across multiple devices, the Adonit Dash 4 remains the gold standard. The physical toggle on the cap is the key feature: Universal Mode works on essentially any touchscreen (older iPads, Android tablets, you name it), while iPad Mode brings dedicated palm rejection for modern iPads. None of this requires Bluetooth pairing; just pick it up and go. The July 2024 firmware refresh has further improved its consistency across devices.

Pricing: At time of writing, the Adonit Dash 4 retails at $59.99 in the US and £60–£70 in the UK. In the past, though, we've seen it discounted at B&H Photo Video and other online retailers.

Design and performance: The no-pairing approach is refreshing in a market crowded with Bluetooth dependency. Switching between modes via the physical cap toggle feels instant and reliable in use. Palm rejection in iPad Mode is effective, and the slim 150mm form factor makes it the most portable option on this list. The main practical concern is the proprietary charging stand: it works well, but it's the kind of accessory that's easy to misplace, and replacements aren't always simple to source. For iPad-only users, the price may feel steep given the absence of pressure sensitivity; but for genuine multi-device households, it's worth every cent.

Best Apple Pencil alternative: how to choose

• 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 on the best iPads for Procreate. 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: FAQs