The Ultimate Pen Showdown: Unveiling the Superior Apple Pencil Alternatives of 2023

Consider the Logitech Crayon Digital Pencil as an alternative to the Apple Pencil for creating neat handwritten notes or intricate artwork on your iPad. While the Apple Pencil is widely considered the top choice for iPad owners, the Logitech Crayon offers a compelling alternative.

Best Apple Pencil Replacement Overall $70 at Amazon

Adonit Note+

Best Apple Pencil Replacement for Artists $70 at Amazon

Zagg Pro Stylus

Best Dual-Tip Stylus $25 at Amazon

Adonit Neo Pro

Best Apple Pencil Alternative for Note-Taking $45 at Amazon

MEKO Active iPad Stylus

MEKO Active iPad Stylus $14 at Amazon

See More

Apple Pencil 2

A Great iPad Stylus $121 at Amazon

What Makes a Great iPad Stylus?

Before purchasing a stylus, it is crucial to check its compatibility. Styluses have drastically evolved from being simple finger extensions. They now offer various features, require recharging, and enable precise control over on-screen actions. Ensuring that your iPad is compatible assures that you won't miss out on any features and avoid wasting your hard-earned money.

The top stylus models offer seamless usage, eliminating the hassle of Bluetooth pairing. Additionally, certain models securely attach to compatible devices, enabling wireless recharging and ensuring their availability (while also preventing them from rolling off surfaces).

Moreover, these stylus models incorporate tilt detection, recognizing the angle at which you hold the stylus and automatically adjusting the line thickness. This feature simulates shading with a pencil, where more acute angles result in broader strokes. Additionally, some models provide pressure sensitivity, allowing thicker lines to be drawn when applying more pressure—a feature somewhat comparable to tilt detection.

Additionally, using a stylus offers quality-of-life enhancements such as palm rejection, enabling you to comfortably rest your hand on the iPad screen while drawing or writing. Another crucial factor is low latency, as a faster response from the iPad enhances the natural feeling of writing and drawing.

Moreover, it is essential for the stylus to be reasonably priced. If your requirements are limited to note-taking or document markup, there is no need for premium features designed for artists. Considering this, it is logical to avoid the official stylus, which is the second-generation Apple Pencil priced at $129. Instead, these alternative styluses provide the necessary features at a more affordable cost.

Best Apple Pencil Alternative Overall: Logitech Crayon

Logitech

Pros	Cons
Apple-approved using Apple Pencil technology, no pairing required	No pressure sensitivity or double-tap feature
Tilt sensitivity	No wireless charging or magnetic attachment
Flat shape means it won’t roll off the table

The Logitech Crayon is an Apple Pencil alternative that has received Apple's approval. It provides similar features to the Apple Pencil but at a significantly lower price point, making it a cost-effective option. However, to reduce costs, the Crayon does not include some of the features present in Apple's official version.

The stylus utilizes Apple's official technology found in the Apple Pencil, which is now supported in iOS 12.2 and iPadOS. It incorporates palm rejection due to being integrated into the operating system. While it does not offer pressure sensitivity, it does provide tilt sensitivity. Unlike the second-generation Apple Pencil, the Crayon does not allow double-tapping to switch tools in supported apps. Its flat shape prevents it from rolling off the table, but it lacks wireless charging and the ability to magnetically attach to the side of the iPad.

Instead, the Logitech Crayon Digital Pencil charges effortlessly via USB-C through the port located on the top of the device, providing up to seven hours of uninterrupted usage on a single charge. Alternatively, you have the option to purchase the original 2018 Logitech Crayon that utilizes a Lightning cable for charging instead.

Logitech Crayon Digital Pencil

Top Apple Pencil Replacement: The Logitech Crayon, the sole stylus officially approved by Apple, offers a comparable experience to the Apple Pencil at a more affordable price. Although it lacks certain features, it presents a significant cost-saving advantage.

Available for $70 on Amazon and also found at bestbuy.

Best Apple Pencil Replacement for Artists: Adonit Note+

Adonit

Pros	Cons
Tilt and pressure sensitive with palm rejection	Some features require app compatibility too
Shortcut buttons could be useful	Perfectly round shape may cause the stylus to roll
Decent battery life with USB-C charging

Ideal for artists and note takers alike, the Adonit Note+ stands as a reliable substitute for the Apple Pencil. This remarkable stylus empowers users to express their creativity through drawing, shading, and painting, transcending the mere act of jotting down thoughts. With an impressive 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity, tilt support, and effective palm rejection, the Note+ effortlessly mimics the natural experience of writing and drawing.

Although it lacks the double tap functionality of Apple's official stylus, the Adonit Note+ offers two programmable shortcut buttons that allow for quick navigation between features in supported apps. This enables easy switching to tools like the eraser or undoing mistakes. Before purchasing the Adonit Note+, it is recommended to check the compatibility of the apps you use for writing or drawing. The Adonit website provides a list of compatible apps, including popular ones like Photoshop Sketch, Procreate, and Zen Brush 2. The stylus is compatible with iPad models running iOS 12.2 and newer, and can be charged using the included USB-A to USB-C adapter.

Adonit Note+ is rated for ten hours of uninterrupted use. Keep in mind that the stylus is completely round, apart from the shortcut buttons, which means it may easily roll off surfaces when placed down.

Adonit Note+

Best Apple Pencil Replacement for ArtistsAdonit's Note+ stylus offers palm rejection, pressure detection, and anything else a digital artist needs to work on their iPad.

$70 at Amazon

Best Dual-Tip Stylus: ZAGG Pro Stylus

ZAGG

Pros	Cons
Dual-nib design fuses active nib with capacitive “springy” tip	No pressure sensitivity
Palm rejection and tilt sensitivity, instant pairing	Perfectly round design may roll on some surfaces
USB-C charging

The ZAGG Pro Stylus presents an affordable alternative to the Apple Pencil, showcasing a distinctive dual-tip design. On one end, the stylus features an active pen-like nib, enabling the utilization of functionalities such as palm rejection and tilt sensitivity. However, it lacks pressure sensitivity. The active stylus establishes an instant connection through proximity.

The opposite end of the stylus is equipped with a simple capacitive tip, serving as an extension of your finger. It functions similarly to traditional styluses, enabling you to navigate through the operating system, browse the internet, interact with UI elements, and more. It provides a unique "bouncy" sensation that is not present when using a pen.

To charge the active components, simply connect the stylus to a USB-C port located at the top of the device. A single charge provides approximately eight hours of continuous usage. Additionally, the stylus can be conveniently magnetically attached to compatible models, which is particularly useful as its round shape may cause it to roll away on certain surfaces.

The value provided by the Zagg Pro Stylus is impressive, especially when considering its features. It is available at a price point that is less than half of the cost of an Apple Pencil, as well as being cheaper compared to other alternatives such as the Crayon or Note+.

Best Dual-Tip Stylus$25 $70 Save $45 The Zagg Pro Stylus is a dual-nib stylus that combines an active fine point for drawing and writing and a passive pointer for simple navigation.

$25 at Amazon

Best Apple Pencil Alternative for Note-Taking: Adonit Neo Pro

Adonit

Pros	Cons
Magnetically attaches to most compatible models, complete with wireless charging	No pressure sensitivity or shortcut buttons
Palm rejection and tilt sensitivity
Round like a traditional pen for a natural feel

For convenient note-taking on your iPad, having your stylus readily available is essential. With the Adonit Neo Pro, you can easily attach this magnetic iPad stylus to compatible models of iPad Pro, iPad Mini, and iPad Air. Plus, it offers wireless charging functionality, eliminating the need for bothersome plug-ins. With its built-in battery, you can enjoy up to nine hours of uninterrupted use.

Palm rejection allows for comfortable writing while fully leaning on the screen, and tilt support is an added bonus. Pressure sensitivity and shortcut buttons are not available, which may not be a problem if you do not require drawing or switching between tools in creative applications. With its round shape, the stylus provides a more traditional pen-like experience and its magnetic feature prevents it from rolling off the table when not in use. Additionally, the Neo Pro is significantly cheaper than an Apple pencil, priced at about a third of the cost. For those who only need to jot down notes, sign PDFs, or annotate email attachments, the Neo Pro is an excellent option for saving money.

The Adonit Neo Pro is the ultimate alternative to the Apple Pencil when it comes to note-taking on your iPad. If you're seeking a budget-friendly stylus that allows for natural note-writing, look no further. This highly affordable option not only supports palm rejection, but its pen-like shape ensures a familiar and comfortable writing experience.

$45 at Amazon

Best Budget Active Stylus for iPad: MEKO Active iPad Stylus

MEKO

Pros	Cons
A budget-friendly stylus with a decent set of features	Lacks pressure sensitivity
Palm rejection, tilt-sensitivity	Budget price usually means budget build quality
Connects magnetically to compatible models
Looks just like an Apple Pencil

If you are on a tight budget or tend to often misplace or damage your stylus, consider the MEKO Active iPad Stylus. One major advantage is its significantly lower price compared to even the first-generation Apple Pencil.

This stylus offers palm rejection and tilt sensitivity, making it compatible with iPad models released in 2018 or later. It also supports quick charging, providing nine hours of continuous usage after only 10-13 minutes of charging. Additionally, it boasts a thin and precise fine point, typically found only in more expensive models.

The MEKO conveniently attaches magnetically to compatible iPads and shares a striking resemblance to the second-generation Apple Pencil. However, it does not offer wireless charging; instead, the included USB-A to USB-C adapter must be used.

Customer reviews are overwhelmingly positive. However, considering the price point, it is important to note that the build quality may not be the highest. If you do not plan on using a stylus frequently or simply wish to experiment with its functionality on your iPad, this stylus might be an ideal choice for you.

The MEKO Active iPad Stylus is remarkably impressive for its price. It delivers numerous sought-after functionalities, all at a mere fraction of the cost of an Apple Pencil.

$14 at Amazon

Consider the Apple Pencil

If you are willing to expand your budget and desire unparalleled features, the Apple Pencil remains a valuable choice. The second-generation stylus offers perks such as wireless charging and pairing, as well as the ability to conveniently clip onto compatible iPad models when not in use.

Aside from its tilt and pressure sensitivity, it boasts remarkably minimal input delay and precise accuracy down to the pixel. It is arguably the most comparable experience to drawing or writing on paper for iPad owners. Additionally, the inclusion of a feature allowing you to easily switch tools while drawing by double-tapping the screen can significantly enhance your workflow.

The case for the first-generation Apple Pencil is harder to make. Although it shares the traits of being a low latency and highly accurate stylus with tilt and pressure sensitivity, it does have its flaws. The round shape can be quite frustrating as it tends to roll off most surfaces. Additionally, the awkwardness of charging it using the Lightning connector hidden on the top, coupled with the ease of losing the cap, further complicates matters.

Apple Pencil 2

Get the Apple Pencil 2 now for just $121, saving $8 from its original price of $129. This amazing iPad stylus brings enhanced improvements compared to its predecessor, the Apple Pencil 1. With reduced latency and a sleeker flatter side, it provides an even better grip for seamless usage.

Grab yours at Amazon for $121 or check out bestbuy and Target for more options.