7 tried-and-tested Apple Pencil alternatives to boost your iPad creativity — from $9.97

If you own one of the best iPads (or even an older model), a compatible stylus is a must-have accessory, but you don’t need to spend silly money to unlock your Apple tablet’s creative potential. As slick and feature-packed as the official Apple Pencil appears (in both its USB-C and Pro forms), there are plenty of decent alternatives out there that can give you a comparable experience for a much lower price.

Below, we’ve rounded up the best Apple Pencil alternatives we’ve tested to date. Some, like the ESR Geo Digital iPad Pencil, offer Pro-level features including palm rejection, tilt sensitivity, and tap gestures, while others, like the Metapen Pencil Air8, are more basic in their functionality.

We encourage you to check the item description for each product to ensure it’s compatible with your specific iPad model, but for the most part, the options we’ve included will work with every iPad released since 2018. And the best part? Plenty of our favorite Apple Pencil alternatives are on sale now.

US: Apple Pencil alternatives

UK: Apple Pencil alternatives

Axel is TechRadar’s Phones Editor, reporting on everything from the latest Apple developments to newest AI breakthroughs as part of the site’s Mobile Computing vertical. Having previously written for publications including Esquire and FourFourTwo, Axel is well-versed in the applications of technology beyond the desktop, and his coverage extends from general reporting and analysis to in-depth interviews and opinion.

Axel studied for a degree in English Literature at the University of Warwick before joining TechRadar in 2020, where he earned an NCTJ qualification as part of the company’s inaugural digital training scheme.