The best Apple Pencil alternatives

Product shots of three Apple Pencil alternatives
(Image credit: Future)

It isn't only Apple that makes a top-notch stylus, there are plenty of other brands making pens to use on your iPad for drawing. While we think none of the below quite match up to the Apple Pencil 2, they are perfect for light note-taking, sketching, and rudimentary drawings. 

When putting this list together, we've considered the connectivity (of course we've only included alternatives to the Apple Pencil, which means they need to connect to an iPad), design, pressure levels, and any extra features as well as the price of each model, weighing up the options and using Apple's own devices as a benchmark. 

If you've considered these but still prefer Cupertino's stylus, see our list of cheap Apple Pencil deals – the newest Apple Pencil USB-C is at a really decent price (but doesn't have the feature set of the Apple Pencil 2). 

The best Apple Pencil alternatives available

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How to choose the best Apple Pencil alternative

Choosing the best Apple Pencil alternative requires careful consideration of various factors. The first and most obvious is that the stylus is compatible with your iPad model. And ensure that the stylus is compatible with the digital art apps you intend to use.

Beyond that, look for a stylus that offers a high level of pressure sensitivity, as it allows for a more natural and precise drawing or writing experience. You may also want to look for palm rejection technology, which prevents unintended touch inputs while using the stylus. Another feature that's a real plus for digital artists tilt support. This enables shading and angle-sensitive brush strokes, providing a more versatile and realistic drawing experience. 

If you plan to work on the move a lot, check the stylus's battery life and charging method. Finally, consider your budget and find the right balance between cost and features.

FAQs

What are Apple Pencil alternatives?

Apple Pencil alternatives are styluses designed for use with Apple devices, such as 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 if it lacks 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.

How we test the best Apple Pencil alternative

Our testing of the best Apple Pencil alternatives involves a thorough evaluation of key performance metrics and user experience factors. We assess the stylus's pressure sensitivity and accuracy by performing detailed drawing and writing tasks. During these 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.

Beren Neale
Ecom Editor

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.