The 42 Best Pens for 2023: Gel, Ballpoint, Rollerball, and Fountain Pens
How We Tested
In choosing our recommendations, we drew on the extraordinary number of tests we’ve conducted over the years for our topical guides and videos. These include full product lineups, detailed product comparisons, step-by-step how-tos, and other educational resources. The tests we use vary depending on the product type and how it’s likely to be used, but they often include qualities like smoothness, waterproofness, showthrough, vibrancy, and drying time. Click in to the guides listed below each category to see specific test results.
Test These Pens
We’ve picked what we think are the best pens for each category, but your favorites may be different depending on your particular needs and preferences. Try our JetPens Pen Samplers and Starter Kits to test a selection of our best and most popular pens so that you can pick the best pen for yourself! You can also use our Comparison Tool to take a closer look at multiple pens at once. Try comparing some of our most popular pens here.
The Best Pens for Writing
The Best Fountain Pens for Writing
The
Pilot Metropolitan is far and away our favorite fountain pen for beginners. Its superior metal build and exceptionally smooth nib ensure that your first fountain pen is one you can be proud of. The Metropolitan also offers a variety of options to suit your personal style, with three nib sizes (
fine,
medium, and
medium italic) and several body colors to choose from. It can be filled with ink using Pilot’s proprietary
cartridges or
converters, which allow you to use any
bottled fountain pen ink.
For those who appreciate how the Metropolitan writes but not its body style, the Kakuno, Penmanship, and Prera all use the same swappable nibs. The Kakuno is particularly charming, with a smiley face stamped on each nib to remind you which side should face up.
Most fountain pens are filled with cartridges or converters like the Pilot Metropolitan, but some have built-in mechanisms that allow you to fill the pen barrel with ink directly. The TWSBI GO is an excellent place to start if you want to experiment with this sort of filling system. Its spring-loaded piston filling mechanism is remarkably easy to use. And if you have any tendency to place fountain pens on a special-occasions-only pedestal, the TWSBI GO’s quirky style will encourage you to treat it like the everyday writing instrument it is.
The
TWSBI ECO offers phenomenal value in the under $50 bracket. Most piston-filling fountain pens cost north of $100, but with the ECO, TWSBI delivers a high-quality piston filler with a sleek, clear body that lets you see exactly how much ink you have left. It writes very well and is available in a full complement of nib sizes, from
extra fine to
1.1 mm italic, so you are sure to find a size you like.
But if they’re both piston fillers, why would you choose the ECO over the TWSBI GO mentioned in the previous section? The answer comes down to ink capacity and style.
The GO’s spring-loaded piston is extra easy to use, but it leaves less space in the barrel for the ink. And although we enjoy the funky look of the spring, it’s definitely not for everyone. The ECO is a little larger and uses a more traditional screw-operated design, which allows it to hold about 0.4 milliliters more than the GO. This is helpful for those who write extensively or simply don’t want to refill their pens as often. The ECO also has broader appeal in terms of style and often comes in limited edition colors for those who want to go beyond the standard options of white, black, and clear.
We also wholeheartedly recommend the LAMY Safari, a distinctively modern fountain pen. Its triangular grip section helps guide your hand into an ergonomic tripod grip. The Safari is made of durable ABS plastic, but similar pens like the AL-Star and Lx are made of lightweight aluminum.
The
Kaweco AL Sport is a high-quality, stylish, and classic option for anyone who is ready to venture into more interesting fountain pen styles and materials. It manages to be both vintage and modern, with an iconic octagonal body design that was first introduced in 1935 and remains immensely popular. The Kaweco Sport’s slogan—“Small in the pocket, great in the hand”—describes its appeal perfectly. Although the pen is small enough to fit easily in a pocket for everyday carry, its long cap extends it to an easily usable size when posted on the back of the pen.
The Kaweco Sport is available in cheaper plastic versions, but we like the AL Sport’s premium feel. The aluminum build gives the pen substance and durability without adding undue weight. It also feels fantastic in the hand. The Kaweco Steel Sport and Kaweco Brass Sport are good alternatives for those who prefer heavier pens.
We also want to mention the LAMY Studio, which features the same steel nibs found on the Safari, but fitted to a solidly built metal body. The Studio’s subtle, curving design gives the pen a remarkably sophisticated look.
Although there are many sophisticated pens that any executive would be proud to carry, we have to choose the
Pilot Vanishing Point for the title of the best executive pen. Its simple yet elegant styling gives it the classic look of a tailored suit, while its unique retractable mechanism instantly impresses—not to mention, it is a supremely practical design for day-to-day writing and note-taking. The
standard Vanishing Point is best for those with larger hands and comes in a range of finishes, from the subdued
Black Matte to the stunning
Raden series. The thinner and lighter
Decimo is ideal for those with smaller hands or who intend to write for long periods of time.
Some writers may find that the Vanishing Point’s clip gets in the way of their fingers; others may want a more conventional pen. For an alternative that is no less luxurious, you can’t go wrong with the LAMY 2000. This fountain pen perfectly balances a striking design with an understated aesthetic. Because it’s a piston filler, it has a high ink capacity that allows you to write for pages and pages.
If you’re ready to try your first fountain pen, our
Starter Kit will get you set up with the basics. It includes a pen, converter, bottled inks, and two fountain pen friendly notebooks. The
Beginner Fountain Pen Sampler lets you test five popular fountain pens that are perfectly suited for newbies.
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The title of the best gel pen is especially contentious, but we stake our flag on the
Uni-ball Signo UM-151 with confidence. It writes exceptionally smoothly, from the reliable
0.5 mm size all the way down to the super-small
0.28 mm tip size that lets you write neatly in tiny planner squares. Its ink is wonderfully vibrant and comes in a beautiful array of colors. Off-black shades like lavender black and blue black are especially popular.
There’s more to the Signo’s ink than just appearances, though. Its pigment-based formulation is water resistant, archival, and resists fading from light exposure. This makes it an excellent choice for writing checks, signing important documents, and anything else you want to stand the test of time.
Our
gel pen samplers allow you to test a selection of our best gel pens in a variety of tip sizes. Choose from black, blue black, blue, green, brown, purple, and even more colors!
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The
Uni Jetstream combines all of the benefits of writing with a ballpoint pen with specially-formulated low-viscosity ink that provides a smooth, vivid, and consistent writing experience. The Jetstream also comes in several different body styles, tip sizes, and ink colors to allow you to choose your favorite version. This includes the ergonomic
Alpha Gel Grip Series as well as a super-fine
0.28 mm tip size that is unheard of among ballpoint pens.
Use our
ballpoint pen samplers to test a selection of our best ballpoint pens across brands, or evaluate several different body styles of the Uni Jetstream. They include a wide range of tip sizes for you to try.
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The humble
Uni-ball Vision Elite is our top contender for the best rollerball pen. It reliably delivers a smooth, skip-free, and satisfyingly dark line that makes it a pleasure to write with. The
0.8 mm, tip size is silky smooth, while the
0.5 mm tip size has some feedback without being scratchy. The Vision Elite’s fraud-resistant and archival pigment ink is ideal for signing checks and legal documents. As a special touch, it is available in off-black colors that are unusual among rollerball pens, including blue black, purple black, and brown black.
If you want your pen to have the finest of fine tips, the
Pilot Hi-Tec-C is hands down the pen for you. Its
0.25 mm tip can write neatly in the tiniest spaces, from book margins to planner squares. The Hi-Tec-C is remarkably smooth considering the fineness of its tip and comes in a wide range of vibrant colors, though we must warn writers that such fine tip sizes will feel more “scratchy” than those found on 0.38 mm or 0.5 mm pens. Additionally, we found that the 0.25 mm Hi-Tec-C can need a little priming before use: you may need to scribble on a piece of scrap paper to get the ink flowing. We find these minor quibbles a reasonable exchange for such fine lines, but the slightly broader
0.3 mm tip tends to perform more reliably.
Those who prefer ballpoint inks should reach for the Uni Jetstream Edge. It holds the title for the finest ballpoint pen available thanks to its 0.28 mm tip. As with the Hi-Tec-C, its ultra fine tip does not perform as consistently as the 0.38 mm pen, but we remain impressed by its performance.
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As its name suggests, the
Sarasa Dry dries remarkably quickly—often seconds faster than we could touch it in testing, and by about five seconds in the largest and wettest tip-size tests. It puts down a wonderfully dark line, writes smoothly, and comes in
0.4 mm,
0.5 mm, and
0.7 mm tip sizes. Like many other Sarasa pens, the Sarasa Dry is equipped with a handy binder clip for fastening it to notebooks and pockets.
As with many water-based gel inks, the Sarasa Dry smears readily beneath highlighters. Color-coders should consider using a ballpoint pens like the Pilot Acro and Acroball instead. Ballpoint pens use oil-based inks that won’t react when paired with highlighters, so you can go over your notes without worrying about smudges.
Ergonomic pens are highly individual, with the best options depending on a host of factors from hand size and shape to medical conditions. Even so, we think the
Uni-ball Signo 207 Premier is the best all-round ergonomic pen for most people. Its free-flowing ink helps you hold the pen lightly as it glides across the page. The pigmented ink is satisfyingly dark regardless of how lightly you write, but if you do still grip the pen hard, its delightfully squishy grip section will relieve your achy fingers. In addition, the 207 Premier’s light weight and low center of gravity won’t tire your hand as you write.
Since ergonomics are so specific to each person, it makes sense to try a variety of pens before committing to just one. Our
JetPens Ergonomic Pen Sampler includes five of our favorite ergonomic pens for you to test in the comfort of your home, including our recommended Uni-ball Signo 207 Premier, a Dr. Grip ballpoint pen, a Stabilo Worker rollerball pen, and even a fountain pen! If you know you prefer a specific ink type, try our
Ergonomic Gel Pen Sampler or
Ergonomic Ballpoint Pen Sampler for a more targeted selection of pens.
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Most people are unaware of how visual and audio clutter can affect their mental wellbeing. If this is something you’re concerned about, the
Zebra bLen was created exactly with stress-free writing in mind. The name is inspired by the Japanese word
burenai, which means non-vibrating, and that’s exactly what it offers: a carefully engineered pen that eliminates all the little rattles and vibrations which can cause frustration and distract us from writing. Its minimalist design is beautiful and calming to look at, and will fit seamlessly into any aesthetic. We especially enjoy Zebra’s smooth and vibrant emulsion ballpoint ink, which is darker and smoother than regular ballpoint inks. The bLen is also available in a
3-color multi pen model.
We also like the Pentel Calme and its clicker, which makes almost no sound. Its grip section has a leather-like texture and extends from the middle to the pen down close to the tip, so your fingers have something to grip on no matter where you hold your pen. Like the bLen, the Calme is available in multi pen versions, including some with mechanical pencil components.
The
Pilot FriXion is the best erasable pen by far. Of
all the options, this remarkable pen offers the best combination of vibrancy, consistent ink quality, and erasability. It accomplishes this with a special thermosensitive ink that writes just like any other ink, yet disappears without a trace when rubbed with the hard eraser on the end of the pen. The friction generated by this rubbing action raises the temperature of the ink and renders it invisible. The Pilot FriXion comes in several colors, tip sizes, and styles so that you can find one that fits your preferences. If gel pens aren’t your style,
FriXion ink technology can be found in
highlighters,
markers,
stamps, and more.
FriXion inks are less saturated in color than standard gel inks. This is most noticeable with the black ink, which can appear gray, especially if you tend to write quickly. The Ball Zone improves the ink’s saturation so the black ink no longer has a green tint and the colored inks are more vibrant.
It’s important to keep in mind that Pilot FriXion ink will “erase” with any heat, so we don’t recommend storing your notebooks on top of a radiator or in cars during the summer. Additionally, don’t use FriXion ink to take tests or write on important documents. If your writing disappears inadvertently, you may be able to get it to reappear by placing the paper in a freezer that reaches below 14°F, or -10°C.
For those who frequently switch between writing and using a touchscreen, a good stylus pen like the
Uni Jetstream Stylus is a godsend. Not only can it reduce finger pain from repetitive swiping, but it lets you change work surfaces without losing track of your pen because you put it down somewhere. The Uni Jetstream Stylus comes equipped with a
replaceable capacitive stylus made with silver-covered fibers. This lets it move across your screen more easily than typical rubber styli. Paired with the best ballpoint ink we know of, this pen offers a smooth writing experience on paper and on a screen.
