ipad air 2 drawing stylus

Best stylus for iPad, iPad Pro and iPad mini

The best iPad styluses for drawing, designing and note-taking

The iPad is a capable device for both art and productivity, but it becomes a stronger proposition in both areas if you have a good stylus to hand.

Whether you're sketching a new building design, taking notes during a work meeting or designing graphics, a stylus is a gamechanger. But with so many to choose from in just about every shape and size, which is the best for your needs? Everyone has heard of the Apple Pencil, but there are plenty of great alternatives that cost a fraction of the price.

Here are the best iPad styluses available right now.

Apple Pencil (2nd generation)

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If you have an iPad Pro or any other Pencil-supported iPad then the Apple Watch is the most obvious choice.

It's a solid chunk of white plastic that fits neatly in the hand and oozes quality. Apple built it, so it offers features other stylus makers can't match, such as a screen response rate that doubles when you bring the stylus close to the display (making the ink appear to flow from the nib).

Another unique feature is the nib, which you can use on its side to shade, like you would with a pencil.

It's also easier to set up than other styluses: plug the Lightning connector into your iPad and the wireless connection will be established automatically and instantly. It's not cheap, but this is an essential accessory for iPad Pro owners.

The Apple Pencil doesn't work with any other model of iPad (or iPhone), so if you own a pre-2018 iPad, iPad Air or iPad mini you'll need to read on for your stylus needs.

Pick it up directly from Apple for £119/US$129/AU$219.

Logitech Crayon

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The Logitech Crayon, while originally framed as an education tool, the cheap Apple Pencil alternative is now available to anybody that wants it.

In many ways, the Crayon functions in the same way as the Apple Pencil, complete with easy pairing, reliable palm rejection and tilt support, but there's one big omission: there's no pressure sensitivity available here. That's likely to be a dealbreaker for graphic designers, but if you're only looking to use a stylus for note-taking, you're unlikely to notice a difference in performance.

You've also got a seven-hour battery life on offer, which should be more than enough for the majority of consumers, and it's charged up via a hidden Lightning port. That's not quite as premium as the wireless charging from the second-gen Apple Pencil, but it's certainly better than the original.

Available directly from Logitech for £64.99/US$69.99/AUD$149.95 though you can find it for cheaper from retailers listed above.

Adonit Jot Pro

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The Apple Pencil can only be used with the iPad Pro, so if you have a different iPad, Adonit Jot Pro is a great alternative. The build quality is great, and it has a nice textured grip making it feel solid in the hand.

The cushioned tip is interesting, and it has a see-through plastic circle on the nib, which enables you to see exactly where you're drawing. It's great for graphic designers, although those looking for a handwriting tool may prefer something chunkier.

The fact you can use it on most iPads, as well as iPhone 4s and later with the free app makes it good value for money.

You can see Adonit's full suite of styli here or pick it up from Amazon for £25.75/US$23.99/AUD$36.54.

Wacom Bamboo Fineline 3

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If you're looking for a great iPad stylus for writing notes or general handwriting purposes, the Wacom Bamboo Stylus Fineline 3 is the one to get.

It connects via Bluetooth and is supported by a range of apps, but the key advantage of the Stylus Fineline is its superior palm rejection. While it's not as easy to set up as the Apple Pencil, it's a great alternative if you're looking to sketch, and take notes, on an iPad Air or iPad mini.

The best price now is on Amazon where it's £51.99 (availability is limited in the US).

Ciscle Disc Stylus

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The Ciscle Disc Stylus is similar to the Adonit Jot Pro, but at a fraction of the cost. Like the Adonit, the Ciscle Disc has a clear, circular nib which is also replaceable.

The body of the stylus is made of anodised aluminum, making it corrosion-resistant and strong, but not weighty. A useful feature of the pivoting tip is that the nib's barrel slides well into and locks within the pen, protecting the nib from falling out.

This stylus is compatible with any touchscreen device, and even comes with a storage bag.

Pick it up on Amazon for £7.99

B&D Stylus Pen 2-in-1

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The B&D stylus is a bargain at under £10/$10. It's made fully of aluminum and comes with twenty extra rubber tips at different sizes so you can adjust the accuracy of lines. It's dual tipped too, so you can use a different size on either end.

The B&D Stylus is compatible with the iPad (1st and 2nd gen), iPhone, iPad mini and iPad Air 1 to 4.

It's available for £7.99/US$6.98 on Amazon.

Meko Universal Stylus

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The Meko stylus can be used for note-taking, drawing, writing and, of course, basic selection and navigation – and like the B&D option, it is also made of aluminum without any plastic parts. It uses a disc tip like a few other options in this list.

For £14.99/$13.95 you get two Meko styli, two fibre tips and four replacement disc tips.

Hahakee iPad Stylus

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Hahakee's rechargeable iPad stylus promises precision, smoothness, and 40 hours of use with a 4 hour charge. A removable cap at the back of the pen neatly covers the USB port and keeps it free from dust and grime. Conveniently, the stylus turns off on its own within 2 minutes when not in use, saving battery life.

With an aluminum body and pointed tip, we like that this stylus looks like a real pen (though perhaps more like a pencil), which only adds to the impression you're using a traditional pen. It even has the clip!

Pick it up from Amazon for £28.80 (currently unavailable in the US), or for AUD$61.55 on Amazon Australia.

Author: Martyn Casserly, Contributor

Martyn Casserly

Martyn has been involved with tech ever since the arrival of his ZX Spectrum back in the early 80s. He covers iOS, Android, Windows, macOS and ChromeOS, writing tutorials, buying guides and reviews.