The Best Drawing Stylus for the iPad: Our Top 12 Picks

Online shops are full of cheap, clunky Apple Pencil knockoffs. To save you time, we put together a list of the top iPad styluses on the market — including both official and third-party models. With these, you can say goodbye to skips, lagging, and scratches. Here are all of our contenders for the best drawing stylus for iPad.

1. Zagg Pro Stylus 2

This model is one of the latest iPad stylus styles from Zagg. Look no further if you want a high-end Apple Pencil alternative with palm rejection and tilt recognition. This model can also wirelessly charge and pair automatically without Bluetooth — there’s a reason it’s in the running for the best drawing stylus for iPad. 

This model is the only iPad stylus on this list with a dual tip, meaning you can use the “eraser” end to interact with your screen. It’s useful if you’re still getting used to digital art. Also, the entire bottom tip is replaceable. 

The Zagg Pro Stylus 2 comes in fun colors like pink, yellow, and teal — a fun change of pace if you’ve only ever used the bland brand-name version. Best of all, it’s much more affordable than a standard Apple Pencil, yet has most of the same features.

2. Apple Pencil 2

The second-generation Apple Pencil is the latest official iPad stylus. Arguably, it’s the best drawing stylus for iPad because it’s the official model — everything else just mimics its features. It offers pixel-perfect precision, tilt recognition, and magnetic attachment.

Its lightning cable is no joke — you get a whopping 12 hours of continuous use with only 30 minutes of charging. Plus, it’s one of the only options on this list with both tilt recognition and pressure sensitivity. Best of all, you can engrave words or Apple emojis into the side of your stylus for free. 

Frankly, the second-generation Apple Pencil is much more expensive than most other options. Still, it’s a good investment if you’re a fan of Apple products. Besides, every third-party iPad stylus is essentially just a copy of the official model, anyway.

3. SwitchEasy EasyPencil Pro

SwitchEasy’s EasyPencil Pro is one of the higher-end Apple Pencil alternatives. It comes with tilt recognition, palm rejection, magnetic attachment, and automatic pairing. Since it uses USB-C charging, it only needs 30 minutes to get a full 10 hours of continuous use. Its battery life alone makes it a top contender for the best drawing stylus for iPad.

4. Adonit Neo Pro

The Adonit Neo Pro has just about every feature you’d find in a top-of-the-line iPad stylus. Its convenient features include automatic pairing, magnetic attachment, and wireless charging. When you’re drawing with it, you can take full advantage of its tilt recognition and palm rejection for a precise, smudge-free experience.

This Apple Pencil alternative is one of the more popular models from Adonit. At a slightly higher price than the standard Neo version, it offers a whole range of improvements. Its upgrades and quality might make it the best drawing stylus for iPad.

5. JamJake Stylus

The JamJake stylus is a fantastic Apple Pencil alternative, offering every feature the second-generation version does except for pressure sensitivity. As a bonus, it comes in fun colors like pink, white, green, purple, and black.

Since this model uses USB-C charging, you can get a full 10 hours of continuous use with only 15 minutes of charging. If you lose track of the hours you should have, you can check the LED indicator to see how much battery life you have left.

6. Apple Pencil USB-C

Most artists and designers use Apple accessories because they work the best with Adobe products like Illustrator and Photoshop. Honestly, the Apple Pencil USB-C should be the latest addition to their collection.

This stylus is one of the latest iPad accessories from Apple. It’s much more convenient than the first-generation version because it uses Type-C charging instead of a lightning cable. It even pairs through the cord, so there’s no need for Bluetooth. Best of all, it provides pixel-perfect precision.

If you want a second-generation Apple Pencil alternative, this is one of the top choices. After all, it’s the best drawing stylus for iPad. It made many improvements to the first generation — it solves common pain points like battery draining issues and charging accessibility. Needless to say, it’s nearly impossible to live without tilt recognition and magnetic attachment features.

7. Adonit Dash 4

Adonit’s Dash 4 stylus is a top-tier Apple Pencil alternative. It offers 15 continuous hours of use — more than Apple’s official model — and even has an LED battery indicator showing your battery level in real time. The other features include magnetic attachment, palm rejection, and automatic pairing.

Best of all, it comes with a dual-use mode that works on almost every touchscreen. Usually, modern styluses only work on iPads made after 2018. However, this Adonit model can switch seamlessly between pre and post-2018 technology.

Admittedly, we think the Adonit Dash 4 might be the best drawing stylus for iPad, rivaled only by the official Apple Pencil itself. Even then, it has a superior battery life, most of the same features, and a real-time LED indicator — the only thing it’s missing is pressure sensitivity.

8. Penoval Stylus

The Penoval Stylus is a strong contender for the best drawing stylus for iPad — and the hundreds of happy reviews prove it. It has palm rejection, magnetic attachment, automatic pairing, and tilt recognition. As a bonus, you get multiple replacement tips with your order.

This model relies on USB-C charging, meaning you can get six hours of continuous use after leaving it plugged in for only half an hour. If you lose track of how much battery life you have left, the multi-level LED indicator will tell you your percentage. 

9. Logitech Crayon

The Logitech Crayon looks much different than most other Apple Pencil alternatives — it’s flat and thick. Admittedly, though, it’s still pretty similar to the official model. It charges via lightning cable, has tilt recognition, doesn’t need Bluetooth to pair, and has pixel-perfect precision.

One of the best features of the Logitech Crayon is its remarkable fast charging time. You only need to plug it in for 30 minutes to get a full seven hours of continuous use. If you’re in a rush, you can get 30 minutes of use out of a two-minute charge. This model’s convenience and functionality make it a strong contender for the best drawing stylus for iPad.

10. Elecom Stylus 

Elecom’s hexagonal iPad stylus offers a fun twist on the usual copycat approach most brands take. Instead of mimicking the Apple Pencil’s style, it comes in multiple designs that look like regular and mechanical pencils. 

The Elecom stylus charges with USB-C, so you won’t have to deal with lightning cables. Funnily enough, the “eraser” is actually a tiny protective cover that keeps dust and debris out of the charging port.

Its features make it an impressive Apple Pencil alternative — it comes with automatic pairing, palm rejection, and magnetic attachment. Also, it has a 10-hour battery life that rivals the official Apple pencil. As a bonus, it’s made of lightweight aluminum that feels comfortable to hold for extended periods.

11. Adonit Pixel

The Adonit Pixel is the go-to Apple Pencil alternative for most artists. After all, the classic design and pixel-perfect precision are unparalleled. Its lightweight aluminum body and rubber grips make it easy to handle. What’s more, its 1.9 mm chrome-plated stainless steel tip offers maximum durability.

This stylus is the most advanced model from Adonit — it comes with pressure sensitivity, palm rejection, and automatic pairing. It also has an impressive battery life, boasting 11 hours of continuous use with only one and a half hours of charging time. All of these fantastic specs and features arguably make it the best drawing stylus for iPad.

12. Adonit Note 2

The Adonit Note 2 has features no other Apple Pencil Alternative has — an IP65 dustproof and waterproof rating. Basically, it’s dust-tight and can withstand low-pressure running water and condensation. It also has a whopping 24 hours of battery life, so feel free to lug your iPad and this stylus outdoors or on long trips.

This iPad stylus boasts an ultra-fine 1 mm tip, one of the thinnest on this list. Also, it can automatically pair, has palm rejection, and an easily replaceable spiral tip. In all honesty, we saved one of the best models for last.

What to Do Before You Buy

Which of these do you think is the best drawing stylus for iPad? It might be challenging to choose. After all, there are plenty of fantastic Apple Pencil alternatives. On the other hand, the official version is still the original. 

Before you settle on one, take a second to compare features, colors, battery life, and weight. Then, check to make sure the ones you prefer are compatible with your iPad model. While the Adonit Dash 4 is compatible with almost every kind of touchscreen, most have limitations.