10 Best Pens for Note-Taking That Will Help You Write Faster
.JPG)
The best pens for note-taking can seriously change your life. Don’t believe us? Ask anyone who’s written with a top-notch pen before and they’ll tell you that they can literally feel the difference when they're not using a basic pen (like those free ones you get at the bank). A good quality pen can help make writing easier and less tiresome (hours of note-taking can cause hand fatigue/cramping).
For college students, a good pen is a back-to-school supply must-have. Using the best pen will give you a smooth and even enjoyable writing experience — no smudging or smears — just clean, neat, and clear ink to get all your necessary information down on paper.
So what makes a pen good for note-taking? Some things to consider will be the point type, size, ink color, finish, and design. There are several different types of pens to choose from, including ballpoint, fountain, rollerball, gel, and felt tip. Interested in passing aesthetically pleasing notes to your college classmate? Try a gel pen that comes in dreamy pastel colors. More focused on writing fast….opt for a ballpoint or rollerball pen, designed to release free-flowing ink and glide across various paper types. If you plan on handwriting fancy letters or want to create a more elegant-looking signature, reach for a fountain pen (this Dryden Design pick is a TikTok favorite). Felt tip pens will work well for any art class projects, and are most popular when it comes to drawing and sketching.
Top-rated brands like Muji, BIC, Paper Mate, and Sharpie all have a collection of affordable pens available on Amazon. However, you can also find more stylish picks to write aesthetically pleasing notes from luxury brands like Kate Spade and Swavorski.
Ready to find the best pen to keep stocked in your laptop backpack? Ahead, you’ll find a list of the most note-worthy pens, according to reviewers and satisfied TikTokers. You’re just a few clicks away from pen heaven.
Our Top Picks:
- Best pen for note taking with no smear: BIC Gel-ocity Quick Dry Pens, $10
- Best pens for note taking in college: Paper Mate Gel Pens InkJoy Pens, Medium Point, $11
- Best pens for writing fast: Sharpie S-Gel, Gel Pens, Medium Point, $14
- Best pens for aesthetic notes: Janmini Ballpoint Pens Set Metal Crystal Diamond, $12
- Best pens for journaling: UIXJODO Gel Pens, 5 Pcs 0.5mm Japanese Black Ink Pens, $9
This set of Papermate Gel InkJoy pens combines comfort and high-quality performance. The gel ink is designed to dry 3X faster than traditional gel pen formulas to help reduce the chances of smearing. Its also built with an ergonomic comfort grip wrapped around the pen for less hand fatigue during long hours of writing.
Style: Roller Ball Pen
Tip size: 0.7mm
Ink type: Gel
Colors: Assorted colors
Pros: Dries 3X faster* for reduced smearing, Ergonomic comfort grip
Cons: Some reviewers note that the ink fades out during use.
Amazon Customer Review: “I love these gel pens. They have vibrant colors and the ink seems to last a long time. I like to color code my calendar, teacher planner, and attendance book and these work perfectly.”
Okay, I came across these pens on TikTok and bought them right away. The colors are beautiful and go well with my other desk accessories. But my favorite part is how smooth the silicone material feels when I hold each pen and how easy the ink glides across the paper.
Style: Roller Ball Pen
Tip width: 0.5mm
Ink Type: Gel
Colors: Black
Pros: Super soft grip, Each pen has a durable clip that can let you fasten it to a notebook
Cons: Some users note they have to twist the pen around a few times for the ink to come out
Amazon Customer Review: “I got these as a gift for a colleague. She loves pens, and raved about this set. The ink glides smoothly and the texture of the pen does not cause discomfort with prolonged note taking or journaling. The soft hues are also unique and appealing.”
You may already be familiar with the Sharpie brand for their iconic permanent makers, but are you familiar with their top-rated gel ink pens? The S-Gel specifically is our favorite. It has an overall sleek and stylish barrel design and comes with a contoured rubber grip for a pain-free writing.
Style: Retractable
Tip width: Medium Point (0.7mm)
Ink Type: Gel pen
Colors: Black
Pros: Contoured rubber grip for a comfortable writing experience, No smear, no bleed technology
Cons: Some users note the ink does not transfer smoothly onto paper
Amazon Customer Review: “You know that pen that you don't want to share because it's so pleasant to write with? That is this pen. It has an attractive design, it’s comfortable, it doesn't smear, and the ink is perfectly smooth.”
You can’t stock up on school supplies without adding in a pack of BIC pens. And the Glide Exact collection is what you should opt for. Designed to deliver exact precise lines for clean and smooth writing, this pen will give you the exact feel of a fine point stick pen without the scratchy feeling. It has a retractable ballpoint pen and a full-length grip barrel.
Style: Retractable ballpoint
Ink Type: Liquid Ink
Tip width: Fine
Colors: Black
Pros: Full grip area for added control and comfort, Smooth click retractable ballpoint feature
Cons: Some users note that big blobs of ink can come out when writing
Amazon Customer Review: “I hate pens that seem to drag too much on the paper or leak ink all over the place, but this pen is great, no leaking and smooth to use. It is nice to find a pen that is a fine point that glides effortlessly over the paper, so when you're writing for a long time, there is no hand fatigue.”
There’s just something about using extra fine pens that makes us feel *elite* and Amazon reviewers agree when it comes to writing with the Pilot Precise V5 pens. They are designed with a transparent barrel and have a cool leak-proof design that can sometimes be caused pressure shifts.
Style: Rolling Ball Stick Pens
Ink Type: Liquid Ink System
Tip width: 0.5mm
Colors: Black
Pros: Visible ink supply on the barrel, Guaranteed clean lines
Cons: Some users note that the ink will smear if not allowed to dry for a few minutes
Amazon Customer Review: “Love these pens! I push hard when I write, but it seems with these, the easy glide keeps me from getting a cramp and/or tearing the paper.”
This Kepler pen is giving us big boss energy. The brass coating, sleek design, and ridges give it an aesthetically pleasing look. Even better? The ridges were designed to mold to your hand to help ease the strain of writing!
Style: Brass or Stainless steel Ballpoint
Ink Type: Uses Schmidt 635 refills
Tip width: 5" L x 0.3"Ø
Colors: Vapor black
Pros: Sleek design, Includes ridges all over for hand comfort
Cons: Expensive
Craighill Customer Review: “I bought this as a gift for a friend who is very particular about pens and he loved it! It feels wonderful in your hand and it’s very stylish. I would buy it again!”
Described by the brand as an “easy-to-use everyday essential,” this wiggle-top ballpoint pen will quickly become a stationery go-to. It’s available in three bright hues: yellow, orange, and bright blue. We also love how chic the zinc and copper details make the overall pen look.
Style: Ballpoint Pen
Ink Type: N/A
Tip width: 0.5”
Colors: Black
Pros: Made from coated beech wood, Lightweight feel
Cons: Only one ink color is available
Customer Review: N/A
If you need an extra push while taking notes, we suggest opting for some cute pens like this floral print set from ban.do. It comes with three pens that are 5.75 inches long and made from plastic.
Style: Ballpoint
Ink Type: N/A
Tip width: N/A
Colors: Black
Pros: Comes in a set of three, Powder coated pen clips with etched ban.do logo
Cons: Some users note that the pens don’t write too well
ban.Do Customer Review: “I love these pens. they are comfy to write with and make me think of my mental health and inner peace every time I see them”
With a 4.7-star rating and over 1,500 rave reviews, Amazon reviewers are loving these ballpoint pens. Each pen comes with an inspirational message on it that can help motivate you throughout class, studying, and while doing homework. Each pen also comes with a soft tip at the end, which allows you to transfer over to your favorite tech gadgets easily.
Style: Ballpoint pen with stylus
Ink Type: Ballpoint pen ink
Tip width: 1cm/ 0.39 inches in diameter
Colors: Black
Pros: Each pen comes with a positive saying, Touch screen design
Cons: A few users noted that pens are fragile and can break easily
Amazon Customer Review: “Love these pens, smooth writing, not cheap looking, reasonable price. I like the captions on each pen. Would definitely purchase it again!!”
You don’t need to be a professional letter writer to use a fountain pen. Nowadays, you can find upgraded designs that don't require manual dipping into ink. This AL-Star pick will give you a smooth and easy writing experience thanks to its unique grip design and stainless steel nib (the metal tip that touches the paper) which helps push out an even ink flow.
Style: Fountain Pen
Ink Type: Ink Cartridge
Tip width: Medium Nib
Colors: Black, Blue
Pros: Window on the barrel to check ink levels, Stainless steel nib for even ink flow
Cons: Some users note they have to readjust speed or angle to get the desired flow
Amazon Customer Review: “I use this pen on a daily basis for all sorts of writing at work. The pen is comfortable to write with and the ink sets to stock paper very well, mostly printer paper for my day-to-day. It is easy to replace the cartridges and easy to maintain. Highly recommend”
.JPG)
