Cheap Alternatives to Apple Pencil: Try These! [2023]

Judging from my inadequacy to not lose Apple Pencils under couches and the void between worlds, I wanted to get my hands on cheaper alternatives.

Apple Pencils are one of the best stylus pens out there for iPads, but it is not a daily requirement for me to utilize all the features of the Pencil.

So I put on my research cap in order to carefully curate the best cheap Apple pencil alternatives I could find on the internet.

Here are the best cheap alternatives to the Apple Pencil that you can buy right now:

Logitech Crayon	The best alternative to Apple Pencils from a reputable brand
Adonit Note+	The best alternative to Apple Pencils with pressure sensitivity support
Meko universal stylus (2nd Gen)	The best passive stylus pen alternative to Apple Pencils

Some great cheap Apple Pencil Alternatives available in the market right now are the Logitech Crayon, Adonit Note+, and the Meko Universal 2nd Gen Stylus Pens.

Logitech Crayon

Logitech is one of the most reputable brands on this list that have a proper alternative to Apple Pencils, at a much cheaper asking price.

The Logitech Crayon is a very popular option for a lot of folks who require an alternative stylus pen for utilizing their iPads on a daily.

Here is the compatibility list of the Logitech Crayon:

Compatible with	Not compatible
iPad 6th Gen	iPad 1st Gen
iPad 7th Gen	iPad 2nd Gen
iPad 8th Gen	iPad 3rd Gen
iPad 9th Gen	iPad 4th Gen
iPad 10th Gen	iPad 5th Gen
iPad Mini 5th Gen	iPad Mini 1st Gen
iPad Mini 6th Gen	iPad Mini 2nd Gen
iPad Air 3th Gen	iPad Mini 3rd Gen
iPad Air 4th Gen	iPad Mini 4th Gen
iPad Air 5th Gen	iPad Air 1st Gen
iPad Pro 3rd Gen	iPad Air 2nd Gen
iPad Pro 4th Gen	iPad Pro 1st Gen
iPad Pro 5th Gen	iPad Pro 2nd Gen
iPad Pro 6th Gen

Judging from the list, it is safe to say that almost all iPads that have been launched since 2018 are compatible with the Logitech crayon.

So if you are getting an iPad that is being currently sold officially by Apple, then the Logitech Crayon will be compatible with the device.

Coming to its features, the Crayon comes in two colors: a muted gray color, as well as a funky orange.

It has almost all the bells and whistles that the Apple Pencils boast, such as palm rejection, tilt functionality, and instant pairing.

It is also well-built and feels very natural in the hand.

The only feature it lacks is pressure sensitivity, which can be a major bummer for some, especially digital artists.

But that is quite a premium feature, something you cannot expect from cheap alternatives.

For the casual user, this might not even be a huge deal as you can technically perform all the functions that you can normally do without pressure sensitivity via software.

Coming to the battery life of the stylus pen, Logitech claims that you can get a good 7.5 hours of continuous use out of a single charge, which is plenty enough.

The charging is also fairly convenient, as the Logitech Crayon uses a lightning cable to charge.

All in all, for about $69, the Logitech Crayon is a fantastic cheap alternative to Apple Pencils.

Adonit Note+

If the Logitech Crayon's lack of pressure-sensitive input was a major turn-off, then the Adonit Note+ just might be an ideal option for you.

Adonit is, in fact, one of the only manufacturers who are actually including pressure sensitivity support for budget Apple Pencil alternatives.

The Note+ also supports all iPads that were released after 2018, making it a rather appealing choice for a lot of folks.

The Adonit Note+ is rated to support 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity, which is half of what the Apple Pencils are capable of, but they are serviceable enough.

Other than pressure sensitivity, all miscellaneous features such as tilt support, palm rejection, etc are all included.

There is also a dedicated arsenal of shortcut buttons (two to be exact) that can further enhance the utility of the stylus pen.

The Note+ also charges via a very convenient type-C port, offering 10 hours of continuous use with a charging time of just 1 hour.

For the same price of $69 as the Logitech Crayon, it is hard to find a better-competing product.

Meko universal stylus (2nd Gen)

Meko might be a brand that you might not have heard of before, but in the stylus space, it is one of the most popular and reputed brands.

They excel in providing quality stylus pens that are compatible across multiple devices and operating systems, at a fraction of the cost of traditional stylus options.

The Meko uses a clear disc stylus tip in order to get the best precision you can possibly obtain from a passive stylus pen.

Looking at its design, you might be wondering if it can damage your iPad's screen, but fret not as it is as safe as the tips of the official Apple Pencils.

In fact, plenty of casual artists are totally fine with the level of input control that the Meko 2nd Gen offers.

The other end of the Meko stylus houses a more traditional rounded capacitive touch design, in case you want a fatter area of control, similar to your fingertips.

Thanks to its passive design, you also need not worry about charging the Meko 2nd gen.

Meko also bundles in all that you might require, such as replacement fiber tips and discs, making it an ideal companion for long-term use.

For just shy of $14, you get two Meko stylus pens in the box making it a no-brainer buy.

Final Thoughts

If you have further queries regarding the stylus pens mentioned above, it is best to contact the support of the respective stylus pens for more info.

I hope my article on cheaper alternatives to Apple Pencils has been a worthwhile read and has aided you with the same.

Have a good day!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Does Samsung's S pens work as an alternative to Apple Pencils?

Samsung's S Pens, including S Pen Ultra, will not work on iPads and cannot be considered as an alternative to Apple Pencils.

Do USI stylus pens work on iPads?

USI stylus pens are primarily intended to work on Chromebooks and are not compatible with iPads.

You May Also Enjoy Reading

• Things to Do With Apple Pencil: Cool Tips and Tricks [2023]
• Surface Pen vs Apple Pencil: Which is Better? [2023]
• Zagg Pro Stylus vs Apple Pencil: Which is the Best [2023]
• Apple Pencil vs S Pen: Which is Better? [2023]
• Samsung S-Pen vs Stylus: Which Is The Best? [2023]
• Best Stylus For iPhone 13 Pro Max [2023]