Can you use any pencil on ipad

The Apple Pencil is a fantastic stylus, no doubt. However, it's not inexpensive. Fortunately, there are plenty of less expensive options out there for your drawing, sketching, and note-taking needs. Here are some of our favorite iPad stylus pens that cost less than the Apple Pencil.

The best iPad stylus pens that cost less than the Apple Pencil

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Stylus and mouse in one

Adonit may just change the way you think about a stylus with the Note-M. The Note-M has integrated mouse functionality such as left and right click buttons. This stylus has a touch panel which is a touch-sensitive scrolling wheel. Plus it's an agile stylus, all for less than the price of an Apple Pencil.

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StylusHome Magnetic Disc Universal Stylus Pens

Bargain disc style

A clear disc at the tip lets you see what you're doing while still getting the fine tip experience for a bargain price. Get two stylus pens in various color options along with extra tips. It's compatible with any iPad or other touchscreen, no charging or pairing needed.

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Digiroot Stylus for Touch Screens (4-pack)

Super basic 

This is what you get when your kids are all clamoring for a stylus of their own. Scoop up this four-pack and pass them around. You won't have to worry about charging, pairing, or even if one gets lost between the sofa cushions. The Digiroot Stylus won't break the bank. They even come with replacement tips in case of wear and tear.

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Not a pencil

The Logitech Crayon is built on Apple Pencil technology and was developed in conjunction with Apple. It works with any iPad built-in 2018 or later. As noted in our review, there is no pairing procedure, just turn it on and start your creativity. The Logitech Crayon charges via a Lightning cable after you exhaust the 7.5 hours of battery time, enough to last an entire day.

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Universal compatability

You can use the Adonit Dash 3 with any iPad or virtually any touch screen device. You get 14 hours of battery life, and it only needs 45 minutes to fully charge. There is no need for any Bluetooth pairing, just turn the power on, and it's ready to go. It also has a carrying clip for your shirt pocket.

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Dupe with color options

This Apple Pencil-like dupe comes in several color choices and includes three spare nibs. It's compatible with many different iPad models and has palm rejection. Use it for 20 hours on a single 90 minute charge via USB-C port, plus you get nearly three months of standby time.

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Pencil like

If you are looking for a very similar stylus to the Apple Pencil, check out the Adonit Note+. As noted in our review, it features pressure sensitivity, palm rejection, and a 1mm tip. It can be used with any iPad that is compatible with the Apple Pencil. The 10 hours of battery life will get you through the day, and if you need to quick charge, a 5-minute charge will get you an hour of battery life.

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ZAGG - Pro Stylus - Universal capacitive Back end tip

Zig ZAGG

The ZAGG - Pro Stylus is a great alternative to the Apple Pencil. It pairs quickly with any iPad that is Apple Pencil compatible. With features like tilt sensitivity, palm rejection, and 10 hours of battery life, we certainly enjoyed reviewing the ZAGG Pro and think that you'll enjoy using it.

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Jammed with features

This JamJake pen has many of the features of the Apple Pencil for much less. No need to connect via Bluetooth; just turn it on, and it's ready to go. You can use it with any iPad compatible with the Apple Pencil. It charges with a USB-C cable, and you get 20 hours of battery life.

Pencil alternatives for less

The Apple Pencil and later the Apple Pencil 2 completely changed iPad users' workflow. Artists can sketch, draw, or paint, students can take multi-media notes in class, and anyone can sign documents, all right on your iPad. However, the Apple Pencil is expensive, and there are excellent alternatives that cost less.

Our top pick is the Adonit Note-M because it has so many cool features. It manages to be both a fully functional stylus and a mouse in one slender device. Left click, right click, and scroll, just like a mouse. You can even adjust the functions to suit you best in the stylus' settings. The Note-M has palm rejection, so you can rest your working hand on the iPad while you write or create and not worry about your hand creating stray marks. Get 10 hours of drawing or five hours of mouse function on a single charge.

Since it was developed in conjunction with Apple, the Logitech Crayon is one of our favorites. It has many of the same features as the Apple Pencil for less money. This is the only alternate stylus built on Apple Pencil technology, so you know that it will be a seamless experience with your compatible iPad. Just be sure to check that your model is included in the Logitech Crayon's list of compatible iPad models.

Karen is a contributor to iMore.com as a writer, social media manager, and co-host of the iMore Show. She’s been writing about Apple since 2010 with a year-long break to work at an Apple Store as a product specialist. Before joining iMore in 2018, Karen wrote for AppAdvice and WatchAware. She’s an early adopter who used to wait in long lines on release days before pre-ordering made things much easier. Karen is a wife and mom (and dog mom) who is also a part-time teacher and occasional movie extra. She loves to travel the world and is always looking for portable tech and accessories so she can work from anywhere.