Best iPad pens and stylus options: is Apple Pencil the best? (2024)

The best iPads need the best iPad pens to get the most out of their potential. By adding one, you're able to take notes, draw, edit photos, and more, all on the move with the benefit of pressure-sensitive features. Such pens and styluses are often far superior than using your inaccurate fingers instead, plus you avoid fingerprints.

There are loads of options beyond just the Apple Pencil, even if that device in its various guises is our preferred option, with many alternatives sharing a lot of the Pencil's key features while being more affordable.

But how do you know where to start? Below, we've taken a look at which are the best iPad styluses you can buy, along with what options will suit you best. Each is the ideal addition if you're thinking about using best note-taking apps for iPad and Apple Pencil or one of the best drawing apps.

Quick List

Best iPad pens and stylus options: in depth

The best overall

We've come a long way since Steve Jobs' rather frank dismissal of the idea that you might want to use a stylus with an iPad. These days, the Apple Pencil is an incredibly popular tool with creatives, and the Pencil Pro is the most advanced version yet, introducing all-new gesture controls, haptic feedback and reassuring security features.

We really like the squeezable pressure sensor near the Pencil Pro's tip, which acts as a time-saving shortcut control that lets you access tool menus more quickly. Also great is 'Barrel Roll', which uses a new built-in gyroscopic sensor to detect when you rotate the pen in your hand. Doing so gives you more control of shaped digital pens and brushes, allowing for more realistic strokes in your art apps. Helpful haptics and Find My network support round off the suite of Pro features. And that's on top of all the great features carrying over from previous generations, like the excellent pressure sensitivity, instant pairing and magnetic charging.

Unfortunately, the Pencil Pro is only compatible with the M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air, which Apple says is due to a new magnetic charging and connection system required by the 2024 tablets, owing to the rearranged FaceTime cameras. That means that you'll need to upgrade at some expense if you want to benefit from the Pro features.

COMPATIBILITY:

• iPad Pro 13-inch (M4)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)
• iPad Air 13-inch (M2)
• iPad Air 11-inch (M2)

The best Apple Pencil Pro alternative

The Apple Pencil (2nd generation) is one of the pricier iPad styluses around but the cost is worth it, especially for artists. Also known as the Apple Pencil 2, the device offers fantastic pressure sensitivity, even if Apple doesn't officially reveal how many levels of pressure sensitivity it has. Such great sensitivity means it's perfect for demonstrating the different stroke pressure levels in all kinds of apps including the best iPad photo editing apps.

The stylus really helps artists have more control over their work, especially if they're using it on one of the best iPads for artists. It's also more likely to work properly with different software because apps are designed specifically to work with it. These include big-hitters like Adobe Photoshop for iPad and Procreate. The palm rejection technology isn't perfect but makes it so the display is less likely to show marks made by hands.

Besides the great stroke sensitivity, the Apple Pencil 2 also has the convenience of magnetic charging. There's no need to struggle with charging cables here, as the Apple Pencil 2 has a flat side that magnetically attaches to compatible iPads and charges (and pairs) that way. It's much easier to keep the two together which also cuts down on the risk of misplacing it. Make sure your iPad is compatible with it by checking the list below.

COMPATIBILITY:

• iPad mini (6th generation)
• iPad Air (4th generation and later)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later)

The best for older iPads

Owners of older iPad models or the new base-level iPad can't use the Apple Pencil 2. Instead, the best option is the Apple Pencil (1st generation). It's not as refined as the newer model as it lacks wireless charging and the magnetic attachment, but you still get exceptional pressure sensitivity. Again, Apple hasn't released figures so we can't directly compare, but anyone who uses it can confirm it's great for drawing, writing, or editing photos. It works consistently and feels the right kind of weighty in your hand.

It also costs less than the newer versions of the Apple Pencil. Sound perfect? Not quite. Its charging is truly awkward. There's a cap on the bottom of the stylus that reveals a male Lightning connection. You then need to plug it into your iPad or another female Lightning port to charge it. It's far less convenient than the magnetic method of the newer model, although you can purchase an adapter to change it to a port.

COMPATIBILITY:

• iPad mini (5th generation)
• iPad (6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th generation)
• iPad (10th generation, requires adapter for charging)
• iPad Air (3rd generation)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st and 2nd generation)
• iPad Pro 10.5-inch
• iPad Pro 9.7-inch

The best on a budget

If you're looking for a reliable iPad stylus and don't need pressure sensitivity then you'll want to go with the JamJake K10. It's one of the cheapest options on the market while still being very convenient to use. Just bear in mind that you can't change stroke width based on pressure and there's no tilt stroke function for changing to a different thickness.

The battery also doesn't last as long as the official Apple Pencil, although 10 hours is still very good. It's compatible with magnetic charging so you can charge it that way, or you can use the included USB-C to USB-A charging cable to charge via the port on the side.

Its palm rejection technology isn't perfect but it still mostly only picks up on strokes made from the stylus tip rather than from your hands. It's possible to turn it off too via a tap to the bottom, while the pen comes in three colors: white, black, or pink.

COMPATIBILITY:

• iPad Mini (5th and 6th generation)
• iPad (6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th generation)
• iPad Air (3rd, 4th, and 5th generation)
• iPad Pro 11-inch
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th generation)

The best for value

The standout feature for the Adonit Note+ is its 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity. It works very well with drawing apps so it's ideal for artists on a budget. It isn't the least expensive option out there, but it's a great price for what it offers. Besides the impressive pressure sensitivity, it also has tilt stroke functionality to replicate the side of the pencil within compatible software.

The side of the pencil also has two programmable buttons so you can set it up to quickly swap between different tools. It's particularly helpful in apps like Photoshop for iPad or Adobe Fresco. It'd be even more useful if it was fully supported by all apps but you'll need to check the software you use supports button shortcuts.

While there's no wireless charging, 10 hours of battery life on one charge is respectable. It can be replenished using the included USB-C to USB-A cable with the USB-C port on the bottom of the pen.

COMPATIBILITY:

• iPad Mini (5th and 6th generation)
• iPad (6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th generation)
• iPad Air (3rd and 4th generation)
• iPad Pro 11-inch
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2018-2021)

The best for school or business

The Logitech Crayon is marketed as somewhat of a child's accessory but it's a great stylus for people of any age. It's very responsive and pairs instantly to compatible iPads, so it's a highly reliable choice. It also comes in two colors with the option of a playful silver and orange or a more professional gray and silver.

There isn't pressure sensitivity but it does have tilt stroke capabilities for software that supports thicker strokes or an angular point of contact. Its palm rejection technology works well too so there's no need to worry about accidentally marking your document or selecting anything by accident with your hands.

There's no wireless charging but the bottom of the pen opens on a hinge to reveal the Lightning port for charging the stylus. Battery life is a little low compared to the competition at 7.5 hours, but if you charge between sessions, you'll be fine.

Users must remove the orange top of the stylus to replace the tip. It's not the easiest thing to do, which might make this a good choice for a children's school accessory since they won't be able to play around with the tips as easily and lose them.

COMPATIBILITY:

• iPad Mini (5th generation)
• iPad (6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th generation)
• iPad Air (3rd, 4th, and 5th generation)
• iPad Pro 11-inch
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th and 6th generation)

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Q & A

If you're an artist who wants the best control over your work, you need the official Apple Pencil. Which version you buy will depend on which of the best iPads you have, as the compatibility can be a bit of a minefield. The various Apple Pencils offer the best accuracy and pressure sensitivity of any of the styluses out there, so it's worth the investment. Also, iPad drawing apps are specifically designed with these tools in mind, so you get a better experience overall.

If you're an artist on a budget then you should look into the Adonit Note+. It lacks the convenient wireless, magnetic charging of the Apple Pencil 2, but it does have 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity to help give more depth and variance to your strokes. Plus, the programmable buttons allow you to switch tools more quickly within software that supports shortcuts.

If you just need something reliable for simple drawing, writing, or editing, the JamJake K10 Stylus Pen is a good alternative. It costs less than many of the others, while still being reliable. There's no pressure sensitivity or tilt stroke functions, but it does last up to 10 hours. It feels great to hold too.