Between the , , , and , iPad users have plenty of stylus options to choose from when it comes to digital note-taking and drawing. These models offer premium features like tilt sensitivity, wireless pairing, barrel roll, and even Find My, which allows you to find your Apple Pencil if it’s been misplaced. While they’re excellent tools for iPad users, not everyone wants to pay a premium price just to mark up PDFs. Fortunately, there are several alternatives that cater to different needs and budgets.
From the Logitech Crayon, to the Zagg Pro Stylus 2, and Ugreen’s affordable Smart Stylus, these accessories deliver many of the basic features iPad users need. These alternatives often include palm rejection, pressure sensitivity, and tilt support, making them perfect replacements for most people. Some even offer unique features not found in Apple’s offerings, such as multiple charging methods and wide compatibility across different devices, including smartphones. Whether you’re a student or professional looking for a more budget-friendly option or simply prefer different design features, there’s likely a third-party stylus that fits your requirements without compromising too much on performance.
The Best Overall Apple Pencil Alternative
Logitech Crayon
- Equipped with Apple Pencil tech
- Instantly connects to iPad
- Whole-day battery life
- No pressure sensitivity
- No magnetic attachment
| Specification: | |
| Weight | 0.7 ounces |
| Length | 6.26 inches |
| Battery life | Up to 7 hours |
The Logitech Crayon series is one of the oldest alternatives to the Apple Pencil, with the first iteration releasing back in 2018. The latest model has been updated with a more refined design and USB-C charging port, making it compatible with what is now the standard port in the iPad line. I actually used the original when it first launched way back when, and have been using the newest version for the past few weeks. As you may have guessed by its placement on this list, it’s the best overall alternative for iPad and iPad Pro owners.
There are a lot of similarities between the Logitech Crayon and Apple Pencil, including tilt sensitivity, palm rejection technology, instant pairing, and minimal lag for a more immediate writing experience. The most notable difference is the Crayon’s flatter, more blocky design. It feels comfortable to hold, though it took some getting used to compared to a traditional pencil design. Otherwise, the Crayon is intuitive and fits in perfectly as a writing replacement for the Apple Pencil.
The Crayon’s tip offers satisfying resistance when gliding over the iPad’s screen, giving it a paper-like feel (or as paper-like as you can get on glass). While I primarily used the Crayon for writing, it felt just as comfortable for drawing. However, it does miss out on more advanced Apple Pencil features, such as pressure sensitivity. But as a tool for doodling, it more than got the job done.
Something the Crayon offers that the Apple Pencil doesn’t is a battery indicator, with three LED lights that show you how much charge remains. During my testing, it was helpful to have that visual feedback about the battery status. However, the Crayon lacks the magnetic attachment capability of the Apple Pencil, which I really missed — not just for charging, but also as a convenient way to store the stylus when it wasn’t in use.
There’s no true one-to-one Apple Pencil replacement, but in terms of features, build quality, and battery life, the Logitech Crayon comes close, especially if you’re able to pick it up on sale (it’s just $49 at Amazon as of this writing, down from its normal $69).
The Best Budget Apple Pencil Alternative
Meko Universal Stylus
- Premium construction
- Clear disc tip
- Works with any touchscreen
- No smart features
| Specification: | |
| Weight | 0.7 ounces |
| Length | 5.5 inches |
| Battery life | None |
If you don’t need advanced technology from your Apple Pencil alternative because you want to stick to a tight budget, then the Meko Universal Stylus is a great choice. It’s made of stainless steel and aluminum for a premium pen feel in your hands, and it has a clear disc tip at the end that lets you clearly see where you’re writing or drawing.
One of the advantages of the Meko Universal Stylus is its compatibility outside the Apple ecosystem; it will work with other tablets aside from the iPad. Its versatility is a significant advantage — you can seamlessly switch between an iPad, Android tablet, and even a smartphone’s touchscreen. The stylus comes with replacement tips and a fiber tip on the opposite end.
While it lacks premium features like palm rejection and pressure sensitivity, the Meko Universal Stylus offers reliable basic functionality at a fraction of the cost of the Apple Pencil, making it a compelling choice for casual users who primarily need a tool for basic navigation and note-taking.
The Most Versatile Charging
Ugreen Smart Stylus Pen
- Comfortable, lightweight design
- Supports two charging methods
- Magnetic charging doesn’t work with 2024 iPad Pro or iPad Air
| Specification: | |
| Weight | 0.52 ounces |
| Length | 6.5 inches |
| Battery life | Up to 12 hours |
During my testing, I found the Ugreen Smart Stylus Pen to look remarkably similar to the Apple Pencil — so much so that without its silver rear tip, you’d hardly tell them apart. It matches the Apple Pencil’s ergonomics with its flat edge, size, and shape. In fact, the Smart Stylus Pen outshines Apple’s offering in some ways — I appreciated its lighter weight during long note-taking sessions, and the flexibility to charge either wirelessly or via USB-C was hugely convenient.
The stylus delivered impressive performance in my daily use. Its tilt sensitivity accurately produced varying line thicknesses as I wrote and sketched, closely matching my experience with the Apple Pencil. I found the 1.5mm tip particularly precise when marking up documents and taking detailed notes.
There are some trade-offs, though. Unlike the Apple Pencil, it lacks pressure sensitivity and gesture controls for quick tool switching. The pairing process also requires a few extra steps — instead of the seamless magnetic connection of the Apple Pencil, you’ll need to manually pair through Bluetooth settings.
Battery life lived up to Ugreen’s 12-hour claim in my testing. As someone who primarily used it for note-taking and document annotation rather than extensive artwork, I easily got through a full day of use with charge to spare. For the price, I found the Ugreen Smart Stylus Pen to be a compelling Apple Pencil alternative, especially if you prioritize writing over artistic features.
Best for Precise Lines
Adonit Pro 4
- Fine point with precision disc
- Works with any touchscreen
- Premium construction
- No smart features
| Specification: | |
| Weight | 0.8 ounces |
| Length | 5.5 inches |
| Battery life | None |
The Adonit Pro 4 is similar to the affordable Meko Universal Stylus, offering a fine-point with a precision disc, premium construction, and compatibility with any touchscreen. Where it stands out is in its excellent build quality and attention to detail. The stylus features a one-piece fine point design that provides stability while writing or drawing, and its soft-touch precision disc protects your screen while maintaining accuracy.
Crafted from lightweight aluminum with elegant copper accents in the twist cap, the Pro 4 feels like a high-end writing instrument. A thoughtfully designed grooved hook allows for secure attachment to pockets and bags, making it highly portable. While it doesn’t offer smart features like palm rejection or pressure sensitivity, its versatility across all touchscreen devices is ideal for working with multiple devices — e.g. an iPad and iPhone. The Adonit Pro 4 is also very affordable, making it a great value for those who like to jot down digital notes.
Best Premium Alternative
Zagg Pro Stylus 2
- Dual tips for writing and scrolling
- Palm rejection technology
- Wireless charging support
- Relatively heavy
| Specification: | |
| Weight | 1.6 ounces |
| Length | 8.5 inches |
| Battery life | Up to 6 1/2 hours |
The Zagg Pro Stylus 2 features dual tips — an active tip for precise writing and drawing, and a back-end tip for scrolling on the touchscreen. The active tip recognizes tilt so you can change the width of your stroke, and palm rejection that will ignore your hand if it touches the display. It’s equipped with a battery that can last up to 6.5 hours from a single charge, and it magnetically attaches to its included wireless charging cradle. It can also magnetically attach to the iPad for easy storage.
The stylus’s aluminum body provides a premium feel with balanced weight distribution, making it comfortable for extended writing or drawing sessions. That said, it’s the heaviest option on this list, so your hand may fatigue a little faster than if were to use an Apple Pencil (or any other option on this list). Meanwhile, Zagg notes that the Pro Stylus 2 is not compatible with the M4 iPad Pro, though it’s unclear if the brand is referring to the magnetic attachment feature or if the stylus doesn’t work at all.
While it doesn’t offer pressure sensitivity like the Apple Pencil, its tilt recognition and palm rejection features make it a capable tool for note-taking and basic artwork. The included charging cradle gives you a dedicated spot to store and charge the stylus when not in use, with USB-C charging as an additional convenient option.
Best Find My Capability
ESR Geo Digital Pencil
- Find My support
- Wide iPad compatibility
- Shortcut button supports quick multitasking
- No pressure sensitivity
| Specification: | |
| Weight | N/A |
| Length | 7.09 inches |
| Battery life | Up to 12 hours |
The ESR Geo Digital Pencil is one of the newest models on this list, offering a lot of the same features as other alternatives on this list. However, what makes this option stand out is its Find My support. This integration allows you to locate the stylus anywhere through the Find My network, providing peace of mind and convenience that most third-party options can’t match.
Beyond its Find My support, the stylus offer fast charging via USB-C, reaching full battery in just 30 minutes. The Geo Digital Pencil includes smart features like shortcuts — you can tap to return to the home screen or double-tap to access multitasking view, while also displaying real-time battery levels. Its tilt sensitivity enables natural shading and varied line thickness, mimicking traditional writing and drawing tools.
The stylus magnetically attaches to compatible iPads for convenient storage and supports a wide range of iPad models, from the latest M4 iPad Pros to older generations of iPad, iPad Air, and iPad mini devices.
What to consider
The truth is no stylus can match the Apple Pencil’s features and software integration. Some get close, but Apple will forever have an edge if you plan to use a stylus with the brand’s newest iPads, particularly for drawing. That said, there are alternatives out there that match the Apple Pencil’s sleek design and long battery life, while offering fundamental features like palm rejection and tilt sensitivity. For many users who primarily take notes, mark up documents, or do casual sketching, these basic capabilities are more than sufficient — and they come at a significantly lower price point. Here’s what to look for in the best Apple Pencil alternatives.
What features should you look for?
Apple’s lineup of styluses offer advanced features, such as pressure sensitivity, haptic feedback, and hover, which is why they’re a top choice for pro users. When choosing an alternative, look for comparable features that match your needs, whether you plan to take a lot of notes or do graphic design work. Essential capabilities include palm rejection for natural writing and drawing, pressure sensitivity for varying line weights, and low latency so your strokes instantly appear on screen. These features ensure your stylus provides a smooth experience comparable to Apple’s own products.
Beyond these core features, consider practical aspects like battery life and charging methods — some alternatives have rechargeable batteries that you can replenish via wireless charging or a USB-C port. Additional features worth considering include magnetic attachment capabilities for easy storage and quick pairing, so you can start using your stylus without a complicated setup. While you might not find an alternative that matches every premium feature of Apple’s Pencils, many third-party options offer excellent functionality at a more budget-friendly price point.
What iPad models does the stylus work with?
Apple’s Pencils offer broad compatibility across the iPad lineup, which is a major reason why they’re such a popular choice. For example, the Apple Pencil with USB-C is compatible with ten different iPads across several generations, including the iPad mini (6th generation) and iPad Pro 13-inch (M4). That’s why it’s crucial to verify that the alternative you choose works with your specific iPad model. Not all third-party options offer the same wide-ranging compatibility, and some may only work with certain iPad generations or sacrifice advanced features when used with incompatible models. Take our budget pick, the Ugreen Smart Stylus Pen — while it supports wireless charging, the feature isn’t compatible with the M4 iPad Pro.
Reliability is a key factor
If you’re going with an Apple Pencil alternative, you should get a tool that’s going be as reliable — or even more — than the Apple Pencil itself. To make sure of this, we only selected instruments made by trusted brands — it’s a good idea to generally avoid products made by brands that you haven’t heard of, as you can’t be sure of the quality that you’ll receive. You also wouldn’t want an Apple Pencil alternative that will break after just a few weeks or even days of use, so let’s stick with the names that have proven themselves to be dependable ones.
Does size and ergonomics make a difference?
Apple’s styluses match the feeling of a traditional pencil, with a consistent size and form factor across its different models. Third-party options come in various shapes and sizes — you’ll find slimmer profiles and thicker barrels to accommodate different purposes and hand sizes. Think about your primary use — artists who draw for hours may prefer a weightier option with a larger grip, while note-takers might benefit from a lighter, slimmer design that prioritizes portability.
Meanwhile, design features can enhance the experience. The Apple Pencil 2 and newer models incorporate a flat edge that stops it from rolling and attaches magnetically to the iPad. Third-party manufacturers have followed suit, adding to their own anti-roll features through flat sides, clips, or hexagonal shapes. As you shop, pay attention to factors like button placement, charging port location, and whether you can replace the tips when they wear down.
How much value does the stylus offer?
Whether you’re looking at a cheap or expensive Apple Pencil alternative, the important thing to consider is the value that you’ll be getting in exchange for your hard-earned money. A cheap tool shouldn’t sacrifice the important features, while an expensive instrument shouldn’t command a high price if you can get a similar one with the same features for less. The Apple Pencil itself is pretty expensive, so we want you to save a few bucks while getting more out of these Apple Pencil alternatives.
How we selected
I’ve been using the same iPad Pro since 2018, and during that time I’ve tested a number of different styluses, including the original Logitech Crayon. While the Apple Pencil is my main stylus, my experience using popular alternatives has given me a clear understanding of which features matter most in a third-party option. When testing and researching the best Apple Pencil alternatives, I focused on essential features like palm rejection technology, tilt support, compatibility, and battery life. For the models I tested, I used each one for daily tasks like note-taking, sketching, and document markup to evaluate how well they could serve as replacements for the Apple Pencil. You can learn more about how we test products for these guides.
Why trust us
Digital Trends has been covering and testing iPads and their accessories since the original tablet launched in 2010, from cases to screen protectors, and, yes, styluses. Since the introduction of the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil, these devices have been essential tools in the daily workflow of Brandon Russell, who has been testing and reviewing tech for nearly 15 years. This experience has allowed Brandon to throughly evaluate new features, apps, and stylus alternatives.
While the Apple Pencil is the top stylus for the brand’s various tablets, our goal is to help readers find alternatives that offer similar functionality at different price points. We evaluate these alternatives through the lens of everyday usability, considering factors that matter most to users — from doodlers to note-takers. Our testing process draws from years of iPad expertise and hands-on experience, allowing us to provide recommendations that balance performance, features, and value.
