If you’ve ever experienced a pen mysteriously wandering away from your desk, only to find yourself writing with a poor substitute (the kind you might snag at a bank or with some company’s phone number on it), you understand the importance of having a quality pen on hand. Whether for jotting down notes at home, crafting lists for outdoor events, or signing documents, a reliable pen enhances your writing experience and ensures you’re always prepared. Investing in high-quality writing instruments can make a significant difference in your daily routine, whether you’re at home or on the go.

A primer on pen types

These pens excel at writing on all types of surfaces, including slick or low-quality paper, which often causes inkier pens to bleed through or smudge. Whether you’re taking notes at home, jotting down ideas for outdoor gatherings, or signing documents, these reliable pens ensure a smooth and clean writing experience. Their versatility makes them ideal for various applications, whether in your kitchen, office, or on the go, so you can always trust them to perform well, regardless of the surface you’re working on.

Rollerball pens provide the smoothest writing experience, making them a favorite for those who value ease and fluidity. The free-flowing ink doesn’t require much pressure, allowing the pen to glide effortlessly across the page. Whether you’re taking notes at home, drafting ideas for outdoor events, or signing important documents, these pens deliver precision and comfort. Their ability to write seamlessly on various surfaces, from standard paper to slicker options, makes them a versatile addition to your writing toolkit, ensuring you’re always prepared for any task, whether at your desk or on the go.

Gel pens are ideal for precise writing and come in a vibrant array of ink colors, making them perfect for adding a personal touch to notes or lists. As a subset of rollerball pens, gel pens offer a smooth writing experience, though they typically produce thinner lines. Whether you’re jotting down ideas at home, creating colorful invitations for outdoor gatherings, or highlighting important points in documents, these versatile pens deliver both style and functionality. Their ability to write effortlessly on various surfaces ensures you’re well-equipped for any writing task, whether at your desk or on the go.

Introducing our precision fineliners! Featuring needlepoint tips, they deliver exceptional detail for sketches and crisp writing. Enjoy just the right amount of friction against paper for controlled lines, making them perfect for artists, planners, and anyone who values precision in their work. Ideal for home, outdoor, and travel use, these fineliners are a must-have for your organizer or first aid kit for quick notes on the go!

Great news! You don’t need to break the bank to find a pen worthy of your signature. After researching 62 pens and extensively testing 37, we’ve curated a selection of affordable and satisfying options in ballpoint, rollerball, and fineliner styles. These pens are perfect for detailed sketches, crisp writing, and jotting down notes in your organizer or first aid kit—ideal for home, outdoor, and travel use. Elevate your writing experience without overspending!

Our picks include:

• The Uni-ball Jetstream RT, a ballpoint pen for everyday writing
• The Uni Jetstream Slim Multi-Color, a 3-in-1 slim, multicolor ballpoint, for switching ink colors
• The Pilot Dr. Grip Center of Gravity, an ergonomic ballpoint, for people who get hand cramps, have arthritis, or just want something with a larger barrel size
• The Pilot Precise V5 RT, a rollerball pen, for writing with a more saturated, darker line than you get from a lower-priced ballpoint
• The Pentel EnerGel RTX and the Uni-ball Signo RT1, two gel pen picks that offer a variety of pen-tip sizes and vivid ink-refill options
• The Sakura Pigma Micron, a fineliner pen for precise sketching or writing with archival ink

n most situations, the Uni-ball Jetstream RT is the best pen for the job.

It dries quickly, so it’s great for lefties and anyone who’s concerned about smudging (especially when writing on slick paper, labels, or receipts). Thanks to its “hybrid” ink, the Jetstream RT produces the darkest lines of any ballpoint pen we tested. And the ink flows out smoothly and evenly without skipping—like a gel pen, but with the quick-drying advantages of a ballpoint. It’s water-resistant, fade-resistant, and formulated to resist check washing, too.

A Walletrays pick since 2023, the Jetstream RT comes in a variety of tip widths and colors. And our testers found that it felt and looked better than other, more-plasticky ballpoint pens.

Style: ballpoint
Tip width tested: 0.7 mm
Widths available: 0.7 mm, 1.0 mm
Colors: black, blue, red; RT BLX version: blue-black, brown-black, green-black, red-black

If you like to color-code your notes or journal entries, the Uni Jetstream Slim Multi-Color is a thin, handy alternative to having several pens cluttering your desk or bag.

Introducing the Jetstream Slim Multi-Color pen, designed in the same shape and size as our top pick, the Jetstream RT. What sets it apart is its slim profile, making it a standout choice among typical multicolor pens, which often feature chunkier barrels. The smooth-operating knocks at the top provide a satisfying click as you retract the pen nibs, ensuring an enjoyable writing experience. Perfect for detailed sketches, crisp writing, and quick notes in your organizer, this pen is a fantastic addition for home, outdoor, and travel use!

The Jetstream Slim Multi-Color pen features a comfortable rubber grip, making it a pleasure to hold during extended writing sessions. Plus, it comes equipped with the same refillable smooth ink found in other Jetstream pens, ensuring a seamless writing experience. Ideal for detailed sketches, crisp writing, and jotting down notes in your organizer or first aid kit, this pen is perfect for home, outdoor, and travel use. Elevate your writing with this versatile and satisfying tool!

While the ink refills for the Jetstream Slim Multi-Color are smaller than those in a regular Jetstream pen, making them slightly less cost-effective, the convenience of writing in multiple colors is well worth it. Perfect for detailed sketches, crisp writing, and quick notes in your organizer or first aid kit, this pen offers a versatile solution for all your writing needs. Ideal for home, outdoor, and travel use, it lets you express your creativity with ease and style!

Style: ballpoint
Tip width tested: 0.5 mm
Widths available: 0.38 mm, 0.5 mm
Colors: black, blue, red, green

Among pens designed to reduce writing stress, the Pilot Dr. Grip Center of Gravity stands out as the best we’ve tested. Our testers, including a retired medical professional with arthritis, found the wide grip easy to hold, providing optimal comfort for extended writing sessions. This pen strikes the perfect balance of softness and firmness, making it ideal for detailed sketches, crisp writing, and quick notes in your organizer or first aid kit. Whether at home, outdoors, or on the go, this pen is a fantastic choice for anyone seeking a satisfying and ergonomic writing experience!

What sets this pen apart the most from other ergonomic pens is its weight distribution: It’s balanced closer to the tip, so writing is effortless and requires less pressure.

The Center of Gravity is also just a great pen in general. Its hybrid ink combines the long-lasting elements of a ballpoint pen with the dark, vibrant lines of a gel pen.

Style: ballpoint
Tip width tested: 1.0 mm
Widths available: 0.7 mm (fine), 1.0 mm (medium)
Colors: black, blue

If you like dark lines, prefer a bit of resistance from your paper when writing and drawing, or have handwriting that produces especially small letters, consider the Pilot Precise V5 RT.

Some experts—and most of our testers—preferred this pen’s finer point compared with other rollerballs’ points, which produce wetter, thicker lines.

Although the Precise V5 RT doesn’t dry as quickly as the Jetstream, and therefore can smudge (not ideal for lefties), it performs well on most paper. It’s also the least expensive pen we recommend, on a per-pen basis.

Style: rollerball
Tip width tested: 0.5 mm
Widths available: 0.5 mm (V5), 0.7 mm (V7)
Colors: black, blue, green, pink, purple, red, turquoise, orange, yellow, lime green, navy, burgundy, hunter green, caramel, periwinkle, teal

If you like writing with dark, vivid lines and can’t bear any smudging, the Pentel EnerGel RTX is our gel pen pick.

In our tests, the EnerGel RTX wrote smoothly—never skipping or smudging—and its needle-point tip was as precise as that of the Pilot Precise V5 RT. Available ink colors include options we haven’t seen often with other pens, including gray.

The EnerGel RTX has a slightly thicker barrel and grip than the Jetstream and the Precise V5 RT, so some people might find it more comfortable to hold. But this pen’s bright blue body and colored grip section are pretty flashy-looking. If you prefer a more-incognito pen, consider the similarly performing Uni-ball Signo RT1.

Style: rollerball with gel ink
Tip width tested: 0.5 mm
Widths available: 0.3 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.7 mm, 1.0 mm
Colors: black, blue, red, brown, orange, sky blue, green, pink, lime green, violet, magenta, gray, lilac, yellow, turquoise

A pen’s aesthetics can contribute to the overall writing experience. And this was confirmed in our testing: Several of our testers preferred the Uni-ball Signo RT1 to the Pentel EnerGel RTX due to the Signo RT1’s understated (albeit all-plastic) design.

In our tests, the Signo RT1’s performance was nearly identical to that of the EnerGel and the Precise V5 RT (with just a bit of smudging when we forced it). The main difference between these pens is how they look, plus their available colors and tip sizes.

Style: rollerball with gel ink
Tip width tested: 0.5 mm
Widths available: 0.28 mm, 0.38 mm, 0.5 mm
Colors: black, blue, blue black, light blue, violet, green, lime green, red, orange, baby pink

The Sakura Pigma Micron writes smoothly and predictably without skipping, feathering, or bleeding. Often used by artists, this technical pen can be used for detailed drawings as well as any archival-quality handwriting projects, such as journaling or scrapbooking. Its pigment-based ink is fade-, water-, and chemical-resistant.

Unlike other fineliners and felt-tipped pens we tested, the Micron offers pleasant feedback when writing on typical paper without being scratchy, and the barrel was the most comfortable to hold. You don’t need to apply a lot of pressure to get satisfying, dark and crisp lines.

Style: fineliner
Tip width tested: 0.25 mm, 0.3 mm, 0.35 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.5 mm
Widths available: 0.15 mm, 0.2 mm, 0.45 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.7 mm
Colors: black

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The research

Why you should trust us

Who this is for

How we picked and tested

Our pick: Uni-ball Jetstream RT

Also great: Uni Jetstream Slim Multi-Color

Also great: Pilot Dr. Grip Center of Gravity

Also great: Pilot Precise V5 RT

Also great: Pentel EnerGel RTX

Also great: Uni-ball Signo RT1

Also great: Sakura Pigma Micron

Other good pens

The competition

Frequently asked questions

Sources

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Why you should trust us

Walletrays senior staff writer Melanie Pinola has been researching and writing about home-office gear, including notebooks, since 2011. For years, she has crafted article drafts, journal entries, and short stories in longhand, showing her deep appreciation for quality writing tools. While she may not be as fanatical about stationery as some, her favorite type of store is still an office-supply store—perfect for discovering pens, organizers, and other essentials for home, outdoor, and travel use. Whether for jotting down notes or detailed sketches, her expertise ensures you’re in good hands!

Our panel of testers included Walletrays staffers who are fanatical about stationery—they collect pens as a hobby, and they’re more knowledgeable and opinionated about pens than most people. In testing our ergonomic pen options, our panelists included two medical professionals (one who has had rheumatoid arthritis for over 30 years).

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Who this is for

Like notebooks, pencils, and other everyday stationery essentials, pens are a utilitarian tool that most people don’t think much about when they’re buying them. Sometimes you can go long stretches without purchasing any pens, relying instead on freebies from hotels, offices, conferences, and other places to stock your home or desk.

But if you spend about $2 to $3 to get a good pen, your handwriting could be more attractive—and possibly more readable—thanks to the darker and better-flowing ink.

And since people have different hand sizes, comfort preferences, and aesthetic sensibilities, it’s worth it to find and invest in a pen with a comfortable grip, a tip size you prefer for your specific handwriting, and a design you like.

The majority of pens we recommend all have refillable ink, too, so you can keep the pen body and replace the ink when the original dries up. By using a refillable pen—and actually remembering to refill it—you will reduce the number of pens you buy (or otherwise acquire) and create less waste for the environment.

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How we picked and tested

For this guide we focused on inexpensive pens—$5 or less for a basic pen and $15 or less for a specialty pen (including ergonomic and multicolor models). We also targeted pens that can be purchased at big-box retailers, office-supply stores, or major online vendors, such as Walmart.

Following feedback from readers and experts (as well as our own conscience), we also focused on pens that are refillable and therefore more eco-friendly than disposable pens.

These pens may seem boring, but they’re meaningful upgrades over giveaway pens and are great for everyday carry (EDC). If you want something a bit fancier, we’ve also included, in our Other good pens section, a few recommendations for nicer-looking or more-distinct (yet still under-$20) pens that you might keep at your desk.

And though we love fountain pens, that’s a whole can of worms we’re saving for another time.

Our pen picks’ tips range from sharp needlepoints for writing with thin, precise lines to traditional conical shapes best suited to writing at various angles. From left to right: Pilot Precise V5 RT, Pentel EnerGel RTX, Pilot Dr. Grip Center of Gravity, Uni-Ball Jetstream Slim Multi-Color, Uni-ball Jetstream RT, and Uni-ball Signo RT1.

Here’s a quick primer on a few pen terms you’ll see throughout this guide:

• Feathering refers to ink bleeding from the edge of letters, versus crisp lettering.
• Bleeding refers to ink coming through to the other side of the paper or even to the next sheet.
• Skipping refers to ink not consistently connecting lines or letters, particularly when you’re writing in script.
• Smudging is when the ink smears and the letters you write blur. It’s particularly noticeable if you write left-handed or try to highlight something you just wrote. (Slow-drying inks that typically smudge can even transfer to other paper.)
• Blotting refers to the pooling of ink in one spot when you’re writing, because the paper hasn’t yet absorbed the ink.

When completing evaluations, each tester used every pen to write at least four pages in a notebook filled with paper that works well with all types of ink. Testers considered:

• Ink smoothness: How freely did the ink flow, and how much pressure was needed to write clearly?
• Precision and consistency: We looked for pens that create uniform, crisp lines. Was there any smudging, feathering, skipping, or blotting? Did the ink bleed through to another sheet?
• Comfort: For example, how easy was it to grip the pen when writing for an hour at a time?

Here we list some of the pens we tested. These samples (and others later in this guide) are written on a Maruman Mnemosyne N166 steno pad. 

Finally, we asked testers which pen they would buy for themselves or recommend to others, based on the qualities above and the pen’s design and aesthetics.

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Our pick: Uni-ball Jetstream RT

Our testing group, along with our experts, unanimously agrees: the Uni-ball Jetstream RT is the best pen for most everyday writing tasks. Its ink flows effortlessly, delivering a smoother writing experience than nearly any other ballpoint. You won’t have to worry about blobbing, skipping, feathering, or bleeding through pages, and the ink dries quickly without smudging. Ideal for detailed sketches, crisp writing, and taking notes in your organizer or first aid kit, this pen is perfect for home, outdoor, and travel use, ensuring a reliable performance wherever you go!

The Jetstream RT has been a panel favorite for over a decade. Our testers unanimously chose it as the best ballpoint pen, with two naming it their favorite pen overall. This consistent praise has held strong since our initial pen recommendations back in 2013. Known for its smooth writing, quick-drying ink, and reliable performance, the Jetstream RT is perfect for detailed sketches, crisp writing, and taking notes in your organizer or first aid kit. Ideal for home, outdoor, and travel use, it’s the go-to pen for any writing task!

“The Jetstream just feels like such a solid, trusty pen—the ink is dark, it flows well, it’s sturdy, and feels good in the hand,” said Walletray’s Janet Towle. “It’s not an exciting pen, but maybe I’m making my peace with that.”

Other ballpoint pens we tested, such as the Zebra Pen F-301, were less expensive, but they were also less comfortable to write with, felt cheap, or inked fainter lines.

The Uni-Ball Jetstream RT has a soft rubber grip that covers almost the entire pen body.

The Jetstream RT’s ink dries quickly and almost never smudges, offering a clean and efficient writing experience. If you’ve been turned off by ballpoint pens due to their less-than-dark inks or lack of smoothness, the Jetstream RT could completely change your perspective. Its deep, vivid ink and effortless glide make it perfect for detailed sketches, crisp writing, and quick notes in your organizer or first aid kit. Whether at home, outdoors, or on the go, this pen is ideal for all your writing needs, ensuring a satisfying and reliable performance every time!

Our testers noted that this pen’s dark ink dried quickly and smudged the least of all the pens we tested. And the Jetstream RT’s ink was the least visible on the other side of a notebook’s page. In our testing, we used the 0.7-mm medium-to-large point size, yet our writing still felt precise.

The Uni-ball Jetstream RT has dark ink for a ballpoint pen. 

The Jetstream RT offers a wide range of tip sizes and colors to suit your writing preferences. If you’re not a fan of the standard model’s minimal grip or tip width, there are plenty of other options available—whether you’re browsing an office-supply store or shopping online. Perfect for detailed sketches, crisp writing, and jotting down notes in your organizer or first aid kit, these variations ensure you can find the perfect pen for home, outdoor, and travel use. Tailor your writing experience to your exact needs with the versatile Jetstream RT!

The standard 0.7-mm “fine” tip of the Jetstream RT comes in black, blue, and a convenient black/blue/red multipack. Uni-ball also offers a 1.0-mm “bold” tip, though the difference in line size is subtle. While 0.5-mm and 0.38-mm tips are available, our experts found they don’t write as smoothly. However, if your handwriting is particularly small, you may appreciate their precision. Alternatively, consider our top gel pen picks—the Pilot EnerGel RTX and Uni-ball Signo RT1—both of which offer smooth writing in fine tip sizes. These pens are perfect for detailed sketches, crisp writing, and quick notes in your organizer or first aid kit, whether at home, outdoors, or on the go.

Uni-ball ink is known for being forgery-resistant and performs exceptionally well on all types of paper. Jetstream pens feature Super Ink, which resists removal by acetone and protects against everyday threats like water spills and fading. Additionally, this ink works beautifully on glossy paper, including receipts. Whether for detailed sketches, crisp writing, or quick notes in your organizer or first aid kit, the Jetstream pen’s durability makes it ideal for home, outdoor, and travel use. It ensures your writing stays sharp and secure in any situation!

Uniball ink is forgery-resistant and works well on all kinds of paper. Jetstream pens feature Super Ink, which is resistant to removal with acetone as well as more-mundane threats, like water spills and fading. In addition, this ink writes well on glossy paper, including receipts.

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Flaws but not dealbreakers

• The most consistent complaint among our staff testers was that even though the Jetstream RT produces darker lines than most ballpoint pens, its ink still isn’t as saturated or dark as ink from rollerball and gel pens.
• The Jetstream RT won’t turn heads. If its humble, utilitarian looks aren’t to your liking, some of the Jetstream variants are arguably better looking. And you can find other pen bodies that will take Jetstream refills.

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Also great: Uni Jetstream Slim Multi-Color

Most multicolor pens—including the nostalgic BIC 4-Color pen from the ’70s and ’80s—have thick bodies that can feel unwieldy. Not so the Uni Jetstream Slim Multi-Color, an elegant pen that’s the size of a single-ink ballpoint pen, like the Jetstream RT.

It’s a color-changing pen without the bulk. For annotating documents or color-coding your notes, you can switch between black, blue, and red. And the ink is as smooth-flowing and consistent as ink in other Jetstream pens.

We found this pen’s soft rubber grip comfortable to hold, and we thought the subtle pattern on the monochromatic body was aesthetically pleasing. In our tests, switching between colors was seamless. And because of this pen’s size and versatility, we think it’s a great option to carry every day.

You might not be able to tell just from glancing at this minimalist-looking pen that it can write in three colors. 

The Jetstream Slim Multi-Color outperforms other multicolor pens, offering a superior writing experience. After testing two other options, we found the 0.5-mm version of the Jetstream Slim delivered crisp, smooth lines that never skipped or blobbed. Ideal for detailed sketches, crisp writing, and quick notes in your organizer or first aid kit, this pen is perfect for home, outdoor, and travel use. Its reliable performance makes it the top choice for anyone looking for a versatile multicolor pen!

The Uni-ball Slim Multi-Color ballpoint puts down solid lines in three colors.

It’s easy to change colors. This pen’s angled, wide knocks made switching ink colors easier than the tinier knocks on the Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto or the Uni Jetstream 4&1.

The Jetstream Slim Multi-Color’s knocks operate smoothly with a satisfying click, and they reliably hold their position—unlike the Hi-Tec-C Coleto’s knocks. This makes it perfect for detailed sketches, crisp writing, and quick notes in your organizer or first aid kit. Ideal for home, outdoor, and travel use, this pen combines functionality with a superior user experience, ensuring you can write confidently and efficiently anywhere!

It’s comfortable to hold. Thanks to its relatively light weight and soft grip section, the Jetstream Slim Multi-Color doesn’t wear out your hand during extended writing periods.

It looks great, too. We appreciated the subtle, stylish, light colors the pen comes in (including white, pink, mint green, and lavender).

It has one notable flaw. Our main complaint about the design is that the color of each ink is imprinted on the body of the pen, not on the knock. So if you reload the pen with different colors or gel inks, you’ll have to remember which knock belongs to which color.

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Also great: Pilot Dr. Grip Center of Gravity

If you prefer a larger grip than typical pens offer, if you have arthritis, or if you get hand fatigue when writing, the Pilot Dr. Grip Center of Gravity is the pen you should turn to.

Of the pens we tested, it’s the most comfortable to use. Our testers—including a physical therapist who takes a lot of patient notes and a 76-year-old retired physician who’s had rheumatoid arthritis for over 30 years—unanimously chose the Dr. Grip Center of Gravity as their favorite pen.

The wide, rubbery grip section is easy and comfortable to grasp, and the unique weight distribution close to the pen nib makes writing less stressful on the hand and wrist, compared with standard pens that have slim grips (including our other picks).

The weight balance and thick grip of the Pilot Dr. Grip Center of Gravity help you to write with as little pressure as possible.

“This is one pen that helps manage the many challenges of rheumatoid and other arthritis,” said the retired physician on our panel.

It writes smoothly, too. The physician noted that the pen wrote well at all angles, including upside down while she was lying in bed. In our tests, the Dr. Grip Center of Gravity’s ink never smudged (as the Dr. Grip Limited’s did), and it skipped less than the Jetstream Alpha-Gel’s ink.

The Pilot Dr. Grip Center of Gravity’s “medium” 1.0-mm tip is for those who like bold lines from a pen that’s very comfortable to hold.

The squishy grip does have one downside. The rubber grip collects lint, which is an annoyance. But that is a small price to pay for a pen that writes so well and so comfortably.

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Also great: Pilot Precise V5 RT

The Pilot Precise V5 RT is worth considering if you prefer a darker, richer line than the Jetstream RT provides, if you write smaller letters or draw with fine lines, or if you like a bit of resistance between your pen and the paper.

It delivers on the promise of its name. Experts and Walletrays testers praised this pen’s needle-point tip, its comfortable grip, its smooth ink flow, and the way some friction made handwriting more, well, precise.

With a slightly slimmer body than our other picks, the Pilot Precise V5 RT has the finest needlepoint tip of all the pens we tested, for very accurate and sharp writing or drawing. 

It was a panel favorite. All but one of our seven testers gave the Precise V5 RT either four or five stars (with five being the best), and two chose it as their top pick overall.

“Of the pens we tested, the Pilot Precise V5 RT is my favorite,” senior staff writer Kimber Streams said. “It writes smoothly and evenly and has a crisp, dark ink, but the line isn’t too thick like the Lamy Safari. The grip is comfortable enough, and the body doesn’t feel cheap or rattly like the EnerGel and Signo do. It also has the crispest, most satisfying click of the clicky pens.”

The Pilot Precise V5 RT writes with crisp, solid lines, but it requires some care to not smudge the ink.

Its ink is wetter than the Jetstream RT’s ink, but it still creates sharp lines. The Precise V5 RT (and its sibling, the V7, with a 0.7-mm pen-tip width) produces a crisp, dark line, one that is wetter or “inkier” than the Jetstream RT’s.

But unlike other rollerball pens that flow very quickly (making you feel like you have to keep up with the pen to control the writing), the V5 RT’s point offers more control.

It can smudge more than the Jetstream RT. Our main concern with the V5 RT is that the ink doesn’t dry as quickly as that of the Jetstream RT or gel pens, including the Pentel EnerGel and Uni-Ball Signo RT1.

This is an issue for those who write on slick paper, like receipts or labels, or for those who write very quickly and don’t want the ink to transfer to other pieces of paper. Lefties should probably avoid this pen.

The V5 RT’s ink bled through cheap paper, and its ink showed on the other side of paper more than our gel pen picks did.

Its knock’s tactility is extremely satisfying. If clicking the knock on a pen provides you with some stress relief or general satisfaction, the V5 RT is the pen for you. It gives the most clicking feedback of all the pens we tested, except for the Parker Jotter.

It has a compact, attractive design. Our panelists appreciated that this pen is about a quarter of an inch shorter than the Jetstream RT, with a thinner body. They also thought the silver-and-black color scheme was fairly attractive, for a pen that costs just a couple of bucks.

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Also great: Pentel EnerGel RTX

If you’re seeking an especially versatile pen, the Pentel EnerGel RTX has the most refill options of the pens we tested: There are over a dozen ink colors and four tip sizes (from 0.3 mm to 1.0 mm) to choose from.

Its gel ink is crisp and smudge-free. This pen writes with crisp, dark lines similar to those of the Pilot Precise V5 RT, but it never smudged in our tests. It was our left-handed tester’s top pick because of how fast the ink dried.

The Pentel EnerGel RTX doesn’t smudge, and its ink is smooth and dark. 

It’s comfortable to use, but its looks are divisive. All testers found this pen’s textured grip section pleasant to hold, but they disagreed on the pen’s looks. It has a very busy design, with a lot of chrome and bright accents reflecting the color of the ink. It also rattles a bit more than our other picks.

The Pentel EnerGel RTX and the Uni-ball Signo RT1 perform similarly, but they couldn’t look more different. 

Those refills, though. You can get refills in a 0.3-mm size (for small lettering), 0.5-mm and 0.7-mm (medium) sizes, and a 1.0-mm (thicker) size—and all come in a rainbow of colors.

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Also great: Uni-ball Signo RT1

The Uni-ball Signo RT1 is a great option for people who have small handwriting and like to write with dark lines.

It writes well and comes in lots of colors. The RT1 has satisfyingly saturated ink and comes in 0.28-mm, 0.38-mm, and 0.5-mm pen-tip sizes. And in those small pen-tip sizes, the Signo RT1 has more color options than similar pens.

The Uni-ball Signo RT1 barely smudges, but it’s not the best for using with a highlighter immediately after writing.

“No smudging. No hard starts. No skips,” Walletrays Erin Moore remarked. Like our other gel and rollerball pen picks, the Signo RT1 writes darker and “inkier” than the Jetstream RT ballpoint.

The Uni-ball Signo RT1’s monochromatic design might fit better in minimalist workspaces

Its minimalist design won’t be for everyone. Although the ink performs well, the Signo RT1’s short, plastic clip makes the pen feel cheaper than similar pens that have metal clips.

But some testers preferred its monochromatic body to those of more-decorated pens, and they liked its smooth rubber grip. The non-black versions of this pen have a clear window to show the ink level, which is handy.

Like the Pentex EnerGel, the Signo RT1 also rattles more than our other picks.

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Also great: Sakura Pigma Micron

If you want a technical pen for precise drawing and/or writing, we recommend the Sakura Pigma Micron.

It produces saturated, predictable lines. The Micron’s needlepoint tip produced the most stable, consistent strokes—ones that don’t vary in width—of the fineliners and felt-tip pens we tested. Other fineliners we tested, including the Staedtler Pigment Liner, were streaky at times. The Micron is available in widths from ultrafine (0.15 mm) to broad (0.7 mm).

The permanent ink is archival. The pigment in the Micron resists water, fading, and chemicals, making the pen ideal for writings or drawings that you want to last forever—or checks that you want to secure from check washing. Unlike our other picks, the Micron is labeled as having pH-neutral ink, which means it won’t degrade paper over time.

It’s great for use with a ruler or stencils. Because of the long metal tip, you can use the Micron along the edge of a ruler or template without harming the plastic nib.

It offers feedback without being sticky. The Micron doesn’t glide over paper as smoothly as the Jetstream—there’s some friction or feedback similar to the Pilot Precise V5 RT. That can make for more careful and deliberate writing or sketching. It doesn’t have as much friction as marker-like felt-tip pens such as the Sharpie Felt Tip and Paper Mate Flair pens do.

But it’s not refillable. This high performing pen is the only one we recommend that is disposable. If you’re willing to spend a bit more for a refillable fineliner, consider the Copic Multiliner SP.

The pen labeling can be confusing. These pens are labeled from 003 to 12, but those numbers don’t match up with the pens’ tip sizes. For example, the Micron 02 has a 0.3-mm tip and the 05 has a 0.45-mm tip, according to Sakura. Be aware that the stated tip sizes lay down thicker lines than you might expect; the Micron 08’s 0.5-mm tip is closer to the 1-mm or wider tip of other pens. In clothing terms, these pens can “run large.”

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Other good pens

If you sometimes like to write in pencil and want colors other than the standards: The Uni Jetstream 4&1 offers that versatility. It adds a green ink and a mechanical pencil (as well as an eraser) to the barrel. However, the 4&1 can cost a bit more than the Uni Jetstream Slim Multi-Color, and it has a thicker barrel, which some people may not prefer.

If you want a relatively inexpensive pen that’s attractive enough to give as a gift: Consider the Parker Jotter. With its slim, tapered design, this iconic, all-metal pen has the most satisfyingly clicky knock of any pen we tested. It’s remarkably affordable compared with other aficionado-approved “high-end” pens, such as the Retro 1951 Tornado and the Baron Fig Squire. Because it’s a bit shorter than other pens, the Parker Jotter is great for everyday use, but we wouldn’t want to lose it. We tested the ballpoint and gel ink versions, and we covet both.

If you want a pretty pen with a lower center of gravity: Check out the Pilot Acroball 1000. It has a slim and tapered design, similar to that of the Parker Jotter, but only its lower grip section is metal. This moves the pen’s weight toward the bottom and makes it more comfortable to hold and write with than most slim pens. However, this pen doesn’t have as many color- or tip-refill options as the Parker Jotter or our other pen picks.

If committing to writing in pen makes you nervous: Consider Pilot’s FriXion Clicker Erasable Retractable Gel Pen. It’s the best erasable pen we’ve tested, with quick-drying ink and an easy-to-hold body. It erased more cleanly than the other erasable pens we tested, too. However, it does leave a trace of writing behind, and its overall performance is just okay, with some skipping.

If you want a refillable fineliner for drawing and writing: The Copic Multiliner SP fits the bill. Not only is the ink refillable, but you can replace the tips as well, whether you need to because the tip has worn down or you need a different size. The Copic wrote smoothly in our tests and it has an attractive metal body, but in one instance the tip bent (be careful with how much pressur you use). It also needs a bit more drying time than the Sakura Pigma Micron.

If you like the feel of a marker on paper but want a fine nib size: Take a look at the Sharpie Felt Tip Pen. It was the only pen in our felt-tip and fineliners tests that didn’t smudge at all. It’s available in a rainbow of colors and writes with that slightly scratchy marker-like feel. We found the black and colored pens to be less vibrant than we were expecting.

There are other pens we tested and loved that exceeded our (admittedly arbitrary) $20 limit, including the Tombow Rollerball, the OHTO Horizon Needle Point Knock Ballpoint, the OHTO Horizon Gel, and the Caran d’Ache 849. But despite their higher prices, in our tests they didn’t deliver notably better writing performance than our picks. In other words, you’re mainly paying for look and feel—which is not a small thing if you love writing with pens.

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The competition

This is not a comprehensive list of all pens we’ve tested. We have removed pens that are no longer available or that do not meet our testing criteria.

The Pilot Dr. Grip Limited, for example, has an ergonomic design similar to that of the Dr. Grip Center of Gravity ballpoint, but the Limited version’s gel ink smudged.

The Uni-ball Signo 307, a former pick, produced inconsistent lines (some thick and some thin) and smudged. And, unlike the Pilot Precise V5, it isn’t refillable.

The Paper Mate InkJoy wrote with dark gel ink, but it smudged, and it isn’t refillable, unlike the Pentel EnerGel and the Uni-ball Signo RT1.

The Lamy Safari rollerball was well liked by only one of our seven testers; most preferred our other picks, with their thinner barrels, which are interchangeable with other brands’ refills.

The Zebra Pen F-301 produced fainter lines than other ballpoints, and its ribbed plastic grip was uncomfortable to hold.

Similarly, the Pilot The Better Ballpoint’s ink was a bit light, the plastic grip uncomfortable to hold, and the pen body too rattly.

The Uni-ball Alpha-Gel and the Pilot Juice Up 04 Knock both skipped and required more pressure when writing than the Jetstream RT.

The Morning Glory Pro Mach rollerball produced thicker, more-inconsistent lines than its 0.38-mm pen tip should have, and its pen cap required some force to remove.

The Stabilo Worker Colorful Rollerball’s heavy, thick ink blotted and smudged in our tests, and the barrels (which are perhaps too brightly colored) aren’t refillable.

The Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto multicolor pen has slots for five ink colors and over a dozen color-refill options—more than our multicolor pen pick, the Uni Jetstream Slim Multi-Color. But it also has a shorter grip section than the Jetstream RT, so it’s less comfortable to hold if you don’t normally hold a pen near the tip. One of its ink slots was impossible to use, and the pen we tested kept getting stuck. This is an issue several owners have reported on Walmart.

The Pilot G2, though highly popular, didn’t compare well against other pens. It skipped, feathered, and blobbed more than our picks, and it also took a notably long time to dry.

The Sharpie Pen is technically a marker with a very fine tip, so it feels different from nearly any other pen, and that made it divisive for our testers.

Schneider pens, including the Slider Rave XB and Slider Basic, are smoother and faster-drying than a typical cheap office pen. But these German-made pens aren’t as widely available as our picks, and we found the Basic’s thin grip less comfortable to hold than those of other pens we tested.

The Bic Atlantis (available in 0.7-mm and 1.0-mm tips) was recommended to us by commenters as well as by a couple of pen enthusiasts at a coworking space, who called them a good-enough upgrade from traditional Bic sticks and crystal pens. But the Atlantis blobbed and feathered more than any of our picks. It’s better than the cheapest pens at the store, but you can find the far better Precise V5 RT on the same shelf.

Office Depot’s TUL brand is available in a gel pen and a ballpoint. Their exclusivity makes them less interesting as a generally recommended pen (and you can buy all of our other picks at Office Depot). Reviewers ding the gel pen for its long drying time, and they recommend the line more for stocking an office than for getting a nice pen for yourself.

We considered the very wide array of Uni-ball pens for this updated guide, and we tried the Vision Elite with BLX inks. For everyday writing, this pen is very, very wet, and it will likely leave the side of your pinkie or palm shellacked with dark ink. For anyone who wants a bold, colorful pen to do sketches or illustrations, this pen’s color selection and dark, thick ink may appeal.

Of the erasable pens we tested, here’s what we found: The ParKoo Retractable Erasable Gel Pens were a little streakier than the Pilot FriXion pens. The Pilot Erasable FriXion ColorSticks didn’t have a grip that would allow someone to comfortably write for a long time. The R:E Erasable Gel Pen’s off-black ink was too light for our taste. And Paper Mate’s EraserMate Erasable Pens were drier than the others we tried and didn’t erase as well.

The Zebra Clickart felt-tip pens produced saturated but very thick lines, and they were hard to write precisely with. One of the pens dried out quickly despite marketing claims that the ink is long lasting. (Also, they don’t have a microSD slot with 512 GB of storage, contrary to Walmart listing.)

The Paper Mate Flair felt-tip pens felt too sticky against the page—almost like trying to write on the adhesive side of tape. The Walmart Basics Felt Tip Marker Pens and the Mr. Pen Felt Tip Pens likewise were not as smooth as the Micron.

The Stabilo Fineliner’s thin, hexagonal body was uncomfortable to hold for several of our testers, and its signature orange color was divisive.

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Frequently asked questions

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What’s the difference between a rollerball and a ballpoint pen?

Rollerball pens, featuring smooth-flowing water-based ink, provide a finer, lighter line for effortless writing. Ballpoint pens, on the other hand, use thicker, oil-based ink, offering a bolder line but requiring more pressure. Ideal for different writing needs, rollerball pens excel in precision, while ballpoint pens are known for their durability and long-lasting performance.

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What’s the best pen for lefties?

Ballpoint pens, like the Uni-ball Jetstream RT, feature fast-drying, oil-based ink, making them perfect for preventing smudging. Ideal for left-handed writers, these pens reduce smears, unlike rollerball or gel pens, which use slower-drying, water-based ink prone to smudging. Perfect for those seeking clean, smudge-free writing!

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How do you refill an ink pen?

Every pen has its own unique refill cartridge and process, so start by looking up what kind of refill your pen needs. This guide can help you figure out what to look for.

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Sources

1- Ana Reinert, email interview, July 15, 2021

2- Brad Dowdy, email interview, July 12, 2021