Best Apple Pencil Alternatives

After the launch of Apple Pencil, users have separated into two teams – some considering it a revolutionary and handy device, and others believing it to be no different from a regular stylus. Those who’ve used it generally agree with the former. However, the price of Apple Pencil is quite high, which leads many users to look for alternatives. For this reason, we’ve created this guide.

In this article, you’ll find a selection of the best Apple Pencil alternatives on the market. We’ve gathered styluses with varying functionality and price to fit any needs and preferences. Below, you’ll find a detailed description and pros and cons of each one. Read on to find the perfect stylus for your iPad.

Adonit Pixel features a sleek design available in two colors – slate grey and bronze, with a  black tip in both versions. The stylus is made of high-quality aluminum. The pencil’s size is slightly smaller compared to that of the Apple Pencil – 5.91 * 0.41 inches.

A green indicator shows the battery level – green means the pencil is charged, orange that a recharge is needed, and red that the stylus is about to shut down. The average battery life is about 15 hours, which is quite impressive and sufficient for a whole day of working. The charging time is one hour. One lithium polymer battery and a USB charger are included. As for the functionality, Adonit Pixel features pressure sensitivity and palm rejection that help you create artworks that look as if they were drawn using a regular pencil. Increased accuracy and paper-like experience are also achieved by the 1.9mm thin tip.

Shortcut buttons can be programmed to certain functions, such as undo, redo, or erase. That’s an upgrade compared to the original Apple Pencil 1^st generation that doesn’t feature any keys. A grip sensor turns the stylus on as soon as you hold it. The best thing about Adonit Pixel is its compatibility with devices and apps. It’s suitable for iPad after 4^th generation and all iPads Mini, Pro, and Air. It’s also supported by all iPhones after the 5^th generation, so you can use it on the go if needed. The list of apps the stylus can be used in includes Goodnotes

Pros

• 15 hours’ battery life
• Shortcut buttons
• Pressure sensitivity and palm rejection features
• Grip sensor for instant power on

Cons

• Can’t be used with non-Apple devices
• Can’t charge from iPad

Specification

• Price $68.03
• Material Aluminum
• Number of Batteries 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included)
• Item Weight 0.04 Pounds

The next Apple Pencil alternative in our selection is from a trusted brand, Logitech, specializing in all sorts of tech equipment. Logitech Crayon features a flat shape for a stable grip and comes in one color – steel and orange. The stylus is 6.4 inches long – almost the same length as the original Apple Pencil. A durable aluminum body ensures 4ft drop protection, while the cap is made of silicon rubber. The design is rather minimalistic, with a single power button on the end. Logitech Crayon switches on in a second and automatically powers off when not used for 30 minutes.

No pairing is needed – the stylus connects to the iPad instantly. Battery life isn’t as impressive as that of Adonit Pixel at only 7.5 hours, though it’s still enough for most users. A tiny LED indicated the battery level – green when charged, orange when the level falls below 10%, and red when the stylus is about to turn off. Charging is done using an iPad lightning cable, so you won’t have to carry two different chargers around. A cable and one lithium polymer battery are included.

This stylus is a worthy opponent to Apple Pencil in terms of line precision due to the palm-rejection technology and tilt tip. If a thinner line is required, place the tip straight; if you need a thicker line, tilt it. The user experience is extremely similar to that of a regular pencil. Logitech Crayon is compatible with all iPads Pro, 5^th generation iPad Mini, iPad Air starting with 3^rd generation, and regular iPads starting with 6^th generation. All devices must be updated to iPad OS 12.2 or above.

Pros

• Stylish design
• Tilt tip and palm-rejection technology
• Fall protection
• Charges from lightning cable
• Automatically turns off when not used

Cons

• Battery life lower than that of original Apple Pencil
• Power button to turn on

Specification

• Price $43.99
• Material Paper
• Number of Batteries 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included)
• Item Weight 20 Grams
• Item Dimensions LxWxH 0.3 x 0.4 x 6.4 inches

Dogain Active stylus can be easily confused with the original Apple Pencil due to its minimalistic design. It features a glossy white finish with silver bands next to the cap and tip. The stylus is slightly longer than Apple Pencil – over 7 inches, though is lightweight at 16.8g. A power button with a LED indicator takes less than a minute to turn the device on.

Dogain stylus can work for up to 12 hours and automatically turn off when not used for 30 minutes. The stylus takes 60 minutes to fully charge with a micro USB cable. Dogain Active stylus is one of the most affordable alternatives to Apple Pencil. Thus, the functionality isn’t as advanced as that offered by some competitors but reasonable for the price. The stylus doesn’t feature pressure sensitivity, Bluetooth, or palm rejection. It may take you some time to get used to drawing without placing your hand down. The lack of Bluetooth isn’t an issue, though.

The stylus is ready to use right away, without any wireless connection. A 1.5mm fine tip allows you to vary line thickness. The best thing about Dogain Active stylus is its compatibility with nearly any touchscreen device. It can be used with iPads starting with the second generation, Android, and Windows tablets and phones. One stylus for all your devices is undoubtedly more convenient than one that only works with an iPad.

Pros

• Affordable – about ten times cheaper than the original Apple Pencil
• Up to 12 hours’ battery life
• Sleek design
• Fine tip allows varying line thickness
• Compatible with devices on different operating systems

Cons

• No palm rejection feature
• No pressure sensitivity

Specification

• Price $12.99
• Material 7.01 x 0.35 x 7.01 inches
• Number of Batteries 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included)
• Item Weight 16.8 Grams

Meko stylus comes in two color options – white and champagne. Both variations look elegant and are free of unnecessary details. There are no buttons are present. Meko stylus is lightweight at only 14 grams, and slightly shorter than the original Apple Pencil. The set comes in a stylish box and includes three spare disc caps and two fiber tips that don’t scratch touch screens.

The fine tip is suitable for drawing and writing, while the thick tip imitates a finger and can be used for regular actions such as scrolling web pages. Changing caps is extremely simple thanks to magnet clips. Meko stylus is a very affordable option that costs considerably less than Apple Pencil. Naturally, it isn’t as functional. It lacks palm rejection and pressure sensitivity features. It takes some time to get used to drawing without resting your palm on the screen.

However, the line thickness can be regulated by tilting the 1.2mm fine tip. Here’s the good thing – Meko stylus is capable of working for up to 20 hours and charges in an hour. It automatically powers off when not used for five minutes, ensuring that battery life isn’t wasted. A micro USB cable is required for charging. No Bluetooth is required to use the stylus.

To connect it to your iPad, navigate to Settings, then tap “Apple Pencil.” Turn off the Apple Pencil, then navigate back to General Settings. Tap “Notes” and turn off the “Only Draw with Apple Pencil” option and you’re ready to go. The stylus is only compatible with Apple devices – iPad Pro starting with the second generation, iPad Air from 3^rd generation, iPad from 6^th generation, and iPad mini 5.

Pros

• Affordable
• Great design of both pencil and the packaging
• Lightweight
• Spare tips and caps included in the set
• No Bluetooth required

Cons

• Only compatible with iPads
• No palm rejection

Specification

• Price $9.99
• Material No2.39 ounces
• Number of Batteries No
• Item Weight 6.38 x 2.64 x 0.67 inches

This Jamjake stylus is almost indistinguishable from the original Apple Pencil. The only difference in design is the LED power indicator and small power button and slightly longer body at 8.4 inches. The faceted shape ensures a better grip. The stylus comes in a set with two screw-type nibs and a USB-C charging cable; the same charging requirement as the recent iPad Pros.

An anti-scratch, 1.5mm fine tip ensures smooth lines without delays. The line thickness can be regulated by tilting the stylus. Despite its affordable price, the Jamjake pen features a palm rejection functionality, so you can safely rest your hand on the screen while drawing or writing. The manufacturer recommends using the pen on a screen with tempered glass protection for even better results. No pressure sensitivity feature is present. Apple Pencil can’t compete with the Jamjake stylus in terms of battery life. Jamjake allows you to work for 20 hours as opposed to 12 hours provided by the original Apple Pencil.

The charging time is longer than that of competitors, though, at 90 minutes. The stylus automatically goes into Sleep Mode after five idle minutes to save power. Jamjake pen is compatible solely with Apple devices. It works with iPad and iPad Pro/Air/Mini models starting with 2018 and doesn’t support older generations. It also can’t be used with Android or Windows devices or with phones.

Pros

• Design very similar to Apple Pencil
• Long battery life – up to 20 hours
• Palm rejection feature
• Fine tip, lines controlled by tilt
• Affordable

Cons

• 90-minute charging time
• Only compatible with iPad models after 2018
• No pressure sensitivity

Specification

• Price $31.99
• Material 8.4 x 2.4 x 0.6 inches
• Number of Batteries 1 Lithium Metal batteries required.
• Item Weight 0.64 Grams

This stylus from Adonit looks completely different from the original Apple Pencil, though is just as sleek and goes perfectly with iPads. Three color options are available – bronze, black, and silver. The stylus body features an Adonit logo, a clip, and a tiny LED battery life indicator.

The power button is located right at the top of the cap, increasing the resemblance to a real pen. It’s a small feature that adds up a lot to the user experience; clicking the power button is quite satisfying. Despite a durable aluminum body, Dash 3 is very light – it weighs only 12 grams. Adonit Dash 3 offers the shortest charging time out of all Apple Pencil alternatives in our selection at 45 minutes. It works for up to 14 hours and s powered by a lithium polymer battery.

No wireless connection is required to use the stylus. For this reason, there are no limitations in terms of app compatibility. A 1.9mm tip creates a paper-like experience. Line thickness can be regulated by changing the tilt. You can safely rest your palm on the screen due to the palm rejection feature. Adonit Dash 3 doesn’t support pressure sensitivity. One of the things we like the most about Adonit Dash 3 is its compatibility with various devices. It can be with most iPads, iPhones, iPods, Android, and Windows devices, and even Kindle and other sketching tablets. Clip the pen to your pocket and carry it anywhere to use on any device, at any time.

Pros

• Compatible with almost any device
• Palm rejection feature
• No Bluetooth required, thus no limits in terms of app compatibility
• 45-minute charging time and 14-hour battery life
• Convenient clip

Cons

• No pressure sensitivity feature

Specification

• Price $40.30
• Material Aluminum
• Number of Batteries 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required.
• Item Weight 0.02 Pounds
• Compatible Devices Iphone 5, iphone 5c, iphone 5s, iphone 6, iphone 6 plus, iphone 6s, iphone 6s plus, iphone 7, iphone 7 plus, iphone 8. iphone 8 plus, iphone x, iphone xr, iphone 11, iphone 12, Android, Android LG G5, HTC 10, HTC Bolt, LG V20, Pixel, Samsung Galaxy s7 Edge, Pixel C, Nvidia Shield Tablet K1, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Sony Xperia z4, iPad 4th gen, iPad 5th gen, iPad Pro 11 & 12.9 (2018-2020), iPad Air, iPad Air 2, iPad, iPad 2017, iPad Mini 4 or newer

Just like its brother-model Dash 3, Adonit Note resembles a real pen. It features a sleek design with a clip for carrying it around, though the power button is placed on the body rather than on the cap. The placement is ergonomically correct – the finger reaches the button naturally, so there is no need to change the palm’s position. Adonit Note is available in two colors – black and white, both with rose gold details.

Both versions look great with iPads in black, rose gold, and white. What we like the most about Adonit Note is the ability to draw and charge it simultaneously. The stylus charges from USB type C, which is convenient if you own an iPad Pro. A 4-minute quick-charge function extends battery life for an hour, while the full charge requires 45 minutes and lasts for 12 hours.

No Bluetooth connection is required to use the pen. The tilt-shift function allows to regulate the line thickness, but no pressure sensitivity feature is present. The palm rejection functionality ensures a natural hand position. Last but not least, the tip is only 1mm thick – that’s the finest option out of our entire selection. This makes Adonit Note ideal for writing or drawing small details. Adonit Note is made solely for Apple devices. It works with iPad Air starting with 3^rd generation, iPad mini 5, iPad starting with 6^th generation, and iPad Pro 3^rd generation or later. All devices must be updated to iOS 13.3 or above.

Pros

• Elegant design
• Can be used while charging
• Quick 4-minute charge
• Palm rejection
• 1mm fine tip

Cons

• Solely for iPads
• No pressure sensitivity feature

Specification

• Price $49.99
• Material Aluminum
• Number of Batteries 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included)
• Item Weight 3 Grams
• Compatible Devices IPad Air (3rd / 4th Generation) iPad mini (5th Generation) iPad (6th / 7th / 8th Generation) iPad Pro (3rd/ 4th Generation, 11" & 12.9")