Best Apple Pencil alternative in 2024: grab the non-Apple stylus that's right for you

The best Apple Pencil alternative for you isn’t just dependent on the type of iPad you have but your needs and your budget. With the 2024 iPad Pro and iPad Air 6 now out in the world, there’s a lot more you have to account for before you buy. For instance, the new line of iPads uses a different magnetic system, which means that Apple Pencil alternatives not specifically designed for them will no longer magnetically clip on the side. Though they will be just as good at drawing and taking notes, you may need an alternative charging source and perhaps somewhere to put it when you travel. 

The Apple Pencil is an excellent device, with some smart sketching features, decent battery life, and a great look. However, being one of the more expensive iPad styli on the market, and with others offering some unique features, you may want to shop outside of the Apple Store this time.

Though we think the Zagg Pro Stylus 2 is the best on offer, thanks to great compatibility, an excellent feel, and great battery life, there are so many choices out there that are worth paying attention to. 

Here are the best Apple Pencil alternatives out there right now. 

Quick list

Best overall

ZAGG Pro Stylus 2 lifestyle image

(Image credit: Karen S. Freeman / Future)
Best overall

Specifications

Weight: 67g
Compatibility: All iPads after 2018
Charging: Wireless charging
Battery life: 6 hours
Replaceable tips: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Capable of wireless charging
+
Two different tips for navigation
+
Great color range

Reasons to avoid

-
Missing pressure sensitivity 
-
No charge indicator

Zagg’s Pro Stylus 2 is the best Apple Alternative on the market right now for many reasons. As well as being compatible with all iPad models since 2018, it has a super responsive tip that is easy to get plenty of creative expression out of and even comes with its own wireless charger. Added to this, it can work with any wireless Qi charger, meaning you may be able to pop it on some of the best wireless charging pads for iPhone without having to bring a separate lead. 

What is perhaps the most interesting thing about Zagg’s offering is that the tip can be used to draw, and the back can be used to just scroll through your iPad. If you like using a stylus for casual scrolling without accidentally activating the pretty great Scribble feature, this is the choice for you. The tip of the stylus has tilt recognition, palm rejection, and a super fine nib for precise movements. It is missing pressure sensitivity but makes up for it with a great feel, and plenty of other features. 

What also helps set the Zagg Pro Stylus 2 apart from its competition is the wide range of colors you can get it in. From a plain White to a vibrant Yellow, it will look excellent on the side of your iPad, especially if you have one of the best iPad cases to go with it. 

Best for multiple devices

Neo Duo

(Image credit: Adonit)

2. Adonit Neo Duo Stylus

Best for multiple devices

Specifications

Weight: 15g
Compatibility: All iPads after 2018
Charging: USB-C charging
Battery life: 9 hours
Replaceable tips: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
You can charge while drawing
+
Works with iPhone
+
Great aesthetic

Reasons to avoid

-
Long charge time
-
No pressure sensitivity

The Adonit Neo Duo is an incredibly impressive Apple Pencil alternative. Firstly, it is magnetically attachable to the iPad Air 4 and 5, and the 2022 iPad Pro, meaning you can use it just as you would an Apple Pencil 2 on the go. Interestingly, it beats out all versions of the Apple Pencil in its ability to work with the best iPhones. If you think you would benefit from being able to draw on the comparably smaller screen of the iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 14, you can do this easily — making it an excellent choice for artists who don’t have the space to pull out an iPad. With two different modes, the green light mode works on all Apple and Android mobile phones whereas the blue light mode is specifically designed to take advantage of palm rejection on newer iPads. 

At just 15g, the Adonit Neo Duo is a very thin and light stylus, which makes it a particularly good choice for use on iPhone. It can be charged in a little under two hours and this will keep it powered for 9 hours of continual use. As it is plugged in via USB-C, you can use it while charging, which means you will never run out of charge, as long as you bring a spare cable with you. 

Available in a Graphite Black or Matte Silver color option, the Neo Duo has a rather understated look that looks great on the side of an iPad. 

Best for artists

EasyPencil Pro 3

(Image credit: SwitchEasy)
Best for artists

Specifications

Weight: 16.8g
Compatibility: All iPads after 2018
Charging: USB-C
Battery life: 10 hours
Replaceable tips: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Good battery life
+
Great price
+
Excellent feel

Reasons to avoid

-
Can accidentally turn it off
-
Missing some advanced features

SwitchEasy is a good name for this brand as it makes the swap from Apple Pencil…easy. With an MSRP half that of the Apple Pencil Pro, and regularly seeing sales as low as 50% off, the Pro 3 offers the best balance of features and price of this whole list. It can connect to iPads quickly, without pairing, offers both palm rejection and tilt sensitivity for better control, and is super light. 

Like the Apple Pencil, it is only available in white but it is perhaps the most Apple Pencil-like look on this entire list, and could even be mistaken for one at a distance. The ultra-fine POM tip is light and very responsive, making for a super accessible pencil feel, and it can even attach to the side of the iPad Air 4 and 5, and iPad Pro from 2018, 2020, and 2022. Though it won’t charge like this, it can ensure your pencil is kept safe when you’re out and about. Charging with a USB-C port, you can get 10 hours of use out of just a single hour of charge. As it powers off automatically after five minutes of idle use, you will end up getting the full 10 hours when you use it. 

As it turns on and pairs by touching the cap, you can accidentally turn it off and on from here, so you will have to be prepared to hold it just right, but this can be overcome with just a little time. It’s so nice to hold in the hands that you can get used to it very quickly. 

Best value

Stylus

(Image credit: MKQ)
Best value

Specifications

Weight: 11.5g
Compatibility: All iPads after 2018
Charging: USB-C
Battery life: 10 hours
Replaceable tips: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Can magnetically attach to some iPads
+
Very light
+
LEDs are a great battery indicator

Reasons to avoid

-
Missing pressure sensitivity

The MKQ Stylus pen is one of the best value styli on the market and it provides plenty of great features for that price point. It comes with replaceable pen tips, can be turned on and off with a handy switch at the top of the pen, and even has a magnet, allowing it to stick to the side of the iPad Air 4 and 5, as well as the 2022 iPad Pro. Unfortunately, it does not have wireless charging but it can be charged with a handy USB-C port at the top and an LED display gives you an idea of how much battery is left in the pencil. 

The MKQ Stylus has palm rejection meaning you won’t accidentally draw with your hand while holding it, and tilt sensitivity allows for different degrees of thickness as you draw. These come together to make a pencil that is expressive and easy to use. Unfortunately, that price does come with some downsides and the MKQ is missing pressure sensitivity, which means that you can’t fully take advantage of the best drawing apps for iPad. However, it is excellent value for the money. 

It helps that the MKQ Stylus is both light and looks great. The LED on the side indicates when it is on so you will never miss a clean brush stroke by forgetting to active your stylus ever again. This is a particularly good option if you live in a house with multiple artists. You can get a handful of MKQ styli for the same price as an Apple Pencil. 

Best for note-taking

Logitech Crayon

(Image credit: Logitech)
Best for note-taking

Specifications

Weight: 20g
Compatibility: All iPads after 2018
Charging: USB-C charging
Battery life: 6 hours
Replaceable tips: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Great connectivity
+
Very strong
+
Unique aesthetic

Reasons to avoid

-
Missing some features
-
Can't connect magnetically

Logitech’s Crayon is a very stylish choice and perfect for both artists and writer. It feels great in the hand, and has a handy switch at the very top to turn it off and on. You will want to use this switch as the comparably lower 7 hours of battery time makes this one of the shortest-lasting on our entire list.  However, it charges up quickly again and comes with LED lights to give battery life indications. It will also automatically shut off after five minutes of idling, which should help to extend that battery life further. 

With both palm rejection and tilt sensitivity, Logitech’s Crayon has all of the major functions you would want out of an iPad stylus and even comes with a free accessory case when you purchase it with the Logitech Combo Touch, one of the best iPad Air 5 keyboard cases right now. 

With a build designed to stay put on a desk and a very durable quality, this is perfect for taking notes. It also works on multiple tablets at once, which means you can collaborate with others without having to pair it to specific devices. It is specifically designed with the Apple Pencil in mind, so isn’t missing any of the features you can find in the Apple Pencil 2. 

Best without charging

Adonit Pro 4 Stylus

(Image credit: Future)
Best without charging

Specifications

Weight: 22g
Compatibility: All Apple Pencil-compatible iPads
Charging: None
Battery life: N/A
Replaceable tips: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Never need to charge
+
Very cheap

Reasons to avoid

-
No electronic features

Adonit’s Pro 4 stylus is the most unique choice on this entire list, and technically the cheapest too. It is simply a pen, with a clip on the top to fit onto a clipboard and a unique tip, with a round shape encasing the nib itself. All of this comes together to create a device that doesn’t even use power. You don’t need to worry about it running out of charge and it’s super low price point means you don’t need to be quite as cautious about losing it. 

Unfortunately, due to it not being electronic, you miss out on fancy features like palm rejection and it can sometimes be a little less precise than our other choices but it makes up for this in its sheer simplicity. If you are someone who forgets to put things on charge or are worried about your Pencil breaking in a backpack, this is an excellent choice thanks to its build quality and design. 

Available in Black, with gold trim, Silver, and all Gold, it has both a super luxurious look and feel. This is a niche Apple Pencil alternative but perfect if you want something easy and comfortable to use without all the fancy features of an Apple Pencil. 

Q&A

Why would I want an alternative to the Apple Pencil?

While each Apple Pencil model has its standout features, not everyone wants to pay the steep price for a stylus. Plus, Apple Pencils are not interchangeable; each model only works with certain iPad models. That's why there are so many third-party Apple Pencil alternatives out there with different features. Some are quite similar Apple's but for a fraction of the price.

One of the biggest selling features of the second-generation Apple Pencil is that it's capable of wireless charging on the iPad Pro, iPad Air, and iPad mini 6. Some of the third-party stylus pens do have that feature but most do not.

What are the best Apple Pencil alternatives?


My current favorite is the ZAGG Pro 2 Stylus if you are looking for a recommendation. The color lineup is great, and it feels premium and hefty. The precise tip means you'll be writing and drawing accurately, and there is tilt sensitivity and palm rejection. Plus, it actually charges right on the iPad just like the Apple Pencil 2.

For those who want something like the Apple Pencil 2 but are on a tight budget, the SwitchEasy EasyPencil is a great alternative. It has the same design as the Apple Pencil 2 with a precise tip, and it can attach magnetically to your iPad Pro, but at a fraction of the cost.

Once you've bought one, think about snapping up one of the best note-taking apps for iPad and Apple Pencil to reap the benefits.

The Apple Pencil: your official option

You can always trust iMore. Our team of Apple experts have years of experience testing all kinds of tech and gadgets, so you can be sure our recommendations and criticisms are accurate and helpful. Find out more about how we test.

Apple Pencil 1 and 2

(Image credit: iMore)

Still, I wouldn't entirely discount the idea of an Apple Pencil. It is, after all, specially designed for your iPad by Apple engineers, so no stylus is going to work better. If you can get a good deal on an Apple Pencil, it can be pretty close in price to the alternatives. 

The second-generation and USB-C Apple Pencil models do offer some exclusive features, such as Apple Pencil hover. This feature allows you preview your mark before you touch the screen. 

James Bentley

James is a staff writer and general Jack of all trades at iMore. With news, features, reviews, and guides under his belt, he has always liked Apple for its unique branding and distinctive style. Originally buying a Macbook for music and video production, he has since gone on to join the Apple ecosystem with as many devices as he can fit on his person. 

With a degree in Law and Media and being a little too young to move onto the next step of his law career, James started writing from his bedroom about games, movies, tech, and anything else he could think of. Within months, this turned into a fully-fledged career as a freelance journalist. Before joining iMore, he was a staff writer at Gfinity and saw himself published at sites like TechRadar, NME, and Eurogamer. 

As his extensive portfolio implies, James was predominantly a games journalist before joining iMore and brings with him a unique perspective on Apple itself. When not working, he is trying to catch up with the movies and albums of the year, as well as finally finishing the Yakuza series. If you like Midwest emo music or pretentious indie games that will make you cry, he’ll talk your ear off.

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