If you’re a digital artist working on an iPad, you’ve probably already felt the lure of the Apple Pencil. With its pixel-perfect precision, tilt-sensitivity and low latency, Apple’s stylus sets the benchmark.
But that benchmark comes with a premium price tag — and for many creatives, there’s real value in exploring alternative styluses (“dupes”) that deliver excellent drawing performance without the luxury cost.
These days, several such alternatives stand out. Whether you’re a hobbyist sketching in Procreate, a student annotating notes, or a professional illustrator working in layers on an iPad Pro, you don’t always need to spend the full Apple Pencil budget to get strong results. Below, we explore some of the best iPad pencil dupes worth considering — each described in detail, with strengths, limitations and suitability for digital artists.
What to Look For in a Drawing-Stylus Dupe
Before diving into picks, it’s helpful to know what features really matter for digital art. It’s not just about having a tip that touches the screen — the feel, responsiveness and workflow all contribute. Experts emphasise the importance of low latency, pressure sensitivity, tilt support, and good palm-rejection. For example, one review of stylus alternatives noted: “While no other stylus can quite match Apple Pencil’s lifelike feel and sensitivity, some third-party options now offer 2,048 levels of pressure and tilt support, making them very usable for creative work.”
Key factors to judge when choosing a dupe:
- Does it support tilt/angle shading and pressure levels?
- How does it feel in the hand, and how much lag is there when drawing?
- Is the tip replaceable, and is the build durable?
- Does it support palm rejection so you can rest your hand on the screen?
- What is the compatibility with your iPad model and software (Procreate, Affinity, etc.)?
With those in mind, let’s look at some of the strongest stylus options for digital artists who want performance without paying top-tier.
Detailed Stylus Dupe Picks
Logitech Crayon
The Logitech Crayon is one of the first alternatives you’ll hear about when looking for a non-Apple stylus that still performs. It’s marketed for iPads and offers a comfortable feel, strong build quality, and reliable palm rejection. According to review guides, it delivers tilt support and works well for many note-taking and sketching tasks.
For digital artists, the Crayon stands out because it supports drawing and markup across many iPad models and has a solid battery life (several hours of use). While it may not achieve the ultra-fine pressure curve of the Apple Pencil, it is much more affordable and reliable. If you’re a student or artist on a budget who uses iPad for sketches, drafts, or light illustration, the Logitech Crayon is an excellent choice that balances price and performance.
Adonit Note +
Adonit is a brand with a solid reputation in the stylus and input-device world. The Note + model is aimed at creatives: it offers features like tilt support, palm rejection, and pressure sensitivity (claimed up to 2,048 levels in some tests) making it a strong contender for digital art use.
What makes the Adonit Note + compelling is that it gives you many of the “pro-artist” features of the Apple Pencil but at a more moderate price. The build quality is good, and many reviewers highlight that it does not feel like a cheap knock-off — it holds up for sketching, detailed line work and shading. For illustrators who want near-professional feel but can’t quite justify buying an Apple Pencil, this model is one of the best “dupe” options available.
UGREEN Smart Stylus Pen
UGREEN’s Smart Stylus Pen offers a very budget-friendly entry point for digital drawing on an iPad. While it may not match the premium styluses in every spec, for its price it delivers surprising value. It supports many iPad models, has a decent battery, and handles general sketching and note-taking tasks effectively.
For artists who are just starting out, experimenting, or want a backup stylus for travel, the UGREEN Smart Stylus is a smart pick. It won’t give the ultra refined feel of the high-end models, but if your workflow involves layers of sketches, quick shading, or digital doodles, it absolutely delivers for its cost.
Baseus Smooth Writing 2
At the very budget end, Baseus’s Smooth Writing 2 stylus offers a minimal cost solution that still offers capacitive touch precision, adjustable settings and decent responsiveness. Review summaries note that it supports tilt and works with many iPad models.
While this model might not be ideal for professional illustration or ultra-fine pressure transitions, for many artists it serves as a hydrating tool: perfect for thumbnail sketches, layering ideas, or on-the-go drawing when you don’t want to risk a premium stylus. It’s also a great choice if you’re building up your setup incrementally and want to keep costs low.
Which Stylus Should You Pick?
If you’re deciding which stylus dupe to go for, consider your workflow and how you draw:
Are you doing professional illustration, complex shading, lots of layers? If so, prioritize a stylus with strong pressure and tilt support (like the Adonit Note +). Are you more focused on sketching, note-taking, shading occasionally? Then a more affordable option like the Logitech Crayon or UGREEN Smart Stylus offers excellent value. Do you need a backup stylus, travel-friendly, or for quick idea capture? Then the Baseus covers your needs at minimal cost.
Make sure your iPad model is compatible and your drawing app supports whatever features the stylus offers. Some styluses rely on specific drivers or app support for full pressure/tilt functionality.
Final Thoughts
Digital art on the iPad has never been more accessible. While the Apple Pencil remains the gold standard, these alternative styluses prove you don’t have to spend the full high-end price to get serious drawing performance. Each stylus featured here offers a strong value proposition, picking up essential features like low latency, decent tip feel, broad compatibility and palm rejection.
Whether you’re just starting out, building a full creative kit, or looking for intelligent alternatives, any of these stylus options will get you sketching, illustrating and ideating without breaking the bank. Choose the one that aligns with your budget, workflow and creative goals — and get drawing.
