Apple Pencil Alternatives (2022): Non-Apple Styluses For Every Budget

The Apple iPad is arguably the best standalone tablet on the market. Together with the Apple Pencil, its a versatile workhorse for creatives — or for simply taking down notes. But while Apple’s stylus is top-notch, it doesn’t come cheap. Fortunately, there are non-Apple options out there. Below, we narrow down the best Apple Pencil alternatives you can buy today.

Apple Pencil Alternatives Comparison Chart

Model	Product Image	Price
Logitech Crayon
Adonit Note+
SwitchEasy EasyPencil Pro 3
Ankace Stylus Pen
Zagg Pro Stylus

Logitech Crayon Digital

Best Apple Pencil alternative overall and for kids

Originally marketed for students, the Logitech Crayon has built a following for its ease of use and performance. Some customers even prefer it over the Apple Pencil. Designed for 2018 and later iPad models, the Logitech Crayon is almost as functional as Apple’s stylus. It also comes with approval from the Cupertino-based tech giant.

Logitech’s digital pencil owes its success to its use of Apple Pencil technology. It boasts reliable palm rejection and offers precision writing and drawing down to a pixel. Moreover, the Logitech Crayon features tilt technology, allowing you to instantly adjust line thickness by angling the tip of the stylus.

Professionals also stand to benefit from the Logitech Crayon. The stylus works with several Pencil-supported productivity apps and features — allowing you to sign documents and create markups. If you have kids with creative interests, the ergonomic form of the Crayon also ensures it doesn’t easily roll over the table. There’s no lying, the Crayon is as good or even better than the Pencil.

Dimensions: 6.42 x 0.47 x 0.31 in. | Weight: 20g | Battery Life: 7.5 hours | Palm Rejection: Yes

Adonit Note+

Best Apple Pencil alternative for artists

If you’re looking for Apple Pencil alternatives with pressure sensitivity, it’s hard to go wrong with the Adonit Note+. Unlike the Adonit Note, the Note+ model features 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity. This makes the stylus ideal for artists and illustrators who want variation in thickness, which is crucial in creating more natural-looking artwork.

Programmable shortcuts are another welcome feature of the Adonit Note+. Here, you can set up the two buttons on the stylus for program-specific commands, including frequently used functions like an eraser button. You also get natural palm rejection and tilt support from the unit.

While Adonit’s stylus isn’t Apple-approved, it works with several native and third-party iPad apps. You can also use it to directly make notes on PDF files. The Adonit Note+ is compatible with several iPad models, including the 3rd Gen iPad Air and the latest iterations of the iPad Pro. As for charging, the stylus uses a USB-C port.

Dimensions: 6.02 x 0.41 in. | Weight: 15g | Battery Life: 10 hours | Palm Rejection: Yes

SwitchEasy EasyPencil Pro 3

Best budget Apple Pencil lookalike

While the Logitech Crayon and Adonit Note+ have excellent performance, they look nothing like the Apple Pencil. If you want something that’s a dead-ringer for Apple’s stylus, consider the EasyPencil Pro 3 from SwitchEasy.

Unlike the Apple Pencil, the EasyPencil Pro 3 comes at a budget-friendly price. As a budget alternative, SwitchEasy’s made-for-iPad stylus does cut corners. For instance, you won’t get pressure sensitivity. But it has enough going for it to make the entry to the Apple Pencil ecosystem familiar. It also enjoys plug-and-play convenience and a solid 10 hours of battery life.

Similar to the pricier Apple stylus, the EasyPencil Pro 3 offers palm rejection and tilt sensitivity. In terms of design, you get a stylus crafted from premium aviation-grade aluminum. It also sports an almost-round body, except for a magnetic, flat side that attaches to an iPad Pro.

Dimensions: 6.57 x 0.37 in. | Weight: 16.8g | Battery Life: 10 hours | Palm Rejection: Yes

Ankace Stylus Pen

Best budget stylus for iPad

The 2nd generation Apple Pencil sells for over $120. If you’re not keen on shelling that much for an Apple Pencil, budget options abound. One of our cheap favorites is the Ankace Stylus Pen. While it costs less than $20 on average, this stylus is surprisingly capable. And like the EasyPencil Pro 3, it sports an Apple Pencil-esque design but in various color finishes.

Ankace’s stylus has built-in palm rejection, making it possible to rest your palm on an iPad screen while writing notes or producing artwork. You also get a tilt function, perfect if you like to use your tablets for drawing or highlighting. Plus, the Ankace Stylus Pen performs reasonably well, with zero lag and a natural pen-to-paper feel, a rare feature for a device at this price range.

Where the budget stylus falters is build quality. While it looks like the Apple Pencil, it doesn’t have that premium feel to its construction. It’s not compatible with pre-2018 iPad models, too.

Dimensions: 6.4 inches long | Weight: 19.8g | Battery Life: 20 hours | Palm Rejection: Yes

Zagg Pro Stylus

Best dual-tip Apple Pencil alternative

The biggest draw of Zagg’s Pro Stylus for iPads is its dual-tip feature. You get your usual active tip designed for drawing precise lines, making sketches, or writing notes. But you also benefit from a universal capacitive back end for scrolling through pages.

Like the other styluses in this list, the Pro Stylus enjoys native palm rejection and tilt sensitivity. Each purchase of the writing instrument also includes a spare tip. The pen also automatically pairs with 2018 or newer iPad models. Making it even more convenient to carry around, it features a magnetic attachment to iPad Pro units.

While the Zagg Pro Stylus offers precise and clean strokes, it does lack pressure sensitivity. For artists, this might make you think twice. But overall, the Pro Style is a joy to use. It’s one of the more lightweight units in this review and benefits from broad compatibility.

Dimensions: 6.65 x 0.35 in. | Weight: 15.87g | Battery Life: 8 hours | Palm Rejection: Yes

Verdict

The Logitech Crayon and Adonit Note+ are the best alternatives to the Apple Pencil.

Logitech Crayon

Adonit Note+

Finding the right stylus for your iPad can significantly improve your productivity and enhance your tablet experience. For many users, however, the Apple Pencil can go beyond your budget. In some instances, customers may want a slimmer and more lightweight stylus, too.

While not all alternatives to the Apple Pencil match its functions, the best ones deliver a close enough performance. In our list, the two standouts in this area are the Logitech Crayon and the Adonit Note+. And while they’re not the cheapest alternatives, both are far more affordable than the Apple Pencil itself.

Logitech’s Crayon is the overall best Apple Pencil alternative to buy. Since it uses Apple Pencil technology, you get a solid stylus experience — precise for writing, ergonomic to hold, and compatible with several iPad apps.

Meanwhile, the Adonit Note+ is a more niche purchase. Designed with pressure sensitivity and programmable shortcuts, it’s a stylus that should benefit digital artists and creative professionals the most.

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