10 Best Gel Pen Options For Writers

Shopping for a gel pen? Check out these best gel pen options that would be a great addition to your writing toolbox.

A gel pen provides a smooth-flowing writing experience. If you spend a lot of time signing documents, taking notes, or making art, and looking for an ink pen, a gel pen can be a great choice. Gel pens come in a wide range of colors with opaque liquid ink that flows smoothly across the page.

One of the perks of writing with gel pens is that most of them are refillable. So when you find one you love, you don’t have to throw it out when it runs out of ink. Instead, you can add more ink when your favorite pen starts to run dry. In addition, they usually feature a rollerball tip that allows the ink to flow smoothly out of the nib.

Yet there are many different gel pens on the market, so how can you choose the best pens for your needs? The answer will depend on what your goals are. Do you want colored pens for creating art or standard ink colors for office and school use? Is durability important to you or the overall look of the pen? Do you want a medium point for everyday writing or a fine point for precision? After answering these questions, you can begin shopping for gel pens.

Below you will find suggestions on the top picks for gel pens, along with information about their price points and their pros and cons. Study the list, and find the best pen or pen set for your needs.

1. Pentel Energel Infree

Pricing: $4

Use for: Everyday writing

People who love gel pens love the Pentel Energel Infree because of its smooth writing and quick drying time. It also has a low price, which is another perk. This combination of good features and a low price point makes it one of the best gel pens. This gel pen has a rollerball tip. The barrel is clear plastic and has a rubber grip for writing comfortably. A top button allows the user to retract the pen when not in use. It comes in multiple ink colors, including turquoise and orange, in addition to two colors of blue and traditional black. It also has refills.

2. Uni-Ball Signo 207

Pricing: $2

Use for: Office use and everyday writing

The Uni-Ball Signo 207 is another excellent gel pen for this list. I feel the ink is what makes this stand apart. It is archival quality ink, and it is even water-resistant. In addition, the pigmentation makes it fraud-proof. You can choose from four writing sizes ranging from 0.38 to 1.0 mm. I also like this pen because of its handsome design. The rubber grip is made from sneaker-style rubber and is quite comfortable and durable in your hand. In addition, the pen comes in nine colors and has a plastic barrel and colored grip.

3. Zebra Sarasa Dry

Pricing: $3

Use for: Drawing and office use

The Zebra Sarasa Dry gel pen is the top gel pen of the Sarasa line. One of the biggest reasons I love this pen is the fast-drying ink, drying 85% faster than traditional ink dries. The style also looks better than most office pensso you will feel chic holding this one. This pen is a rollerball pen design. The 0.4 and 0.5 mm sizes are best if you are looking for quick dry times to reduce smudging, but it also comes in 0.7 and 1.0 mm sizes. This pen also features a rubber grip, a top button retractable design, and a spring-loaded clip. It comes in blue and black ink and a few pastel colors.

4. Pilot Hi-Tec-C Gel Pen

Pricing: $3

Use for: Everyday writing and note-taking

If you are looking for a great everyday pen, then the Pilot Hi-Tec-C gel pen is good. This is a capped gel pen, not a retractable one, with a clear plastic body and cap. It is a needle point tip that comes as small as 0.25 mm and has a smooth writing mechanism with good ink flow, unlike many other fine-point pens.

I found extended writing pleasurable with this pen. However, you do sacrifice quick-drying ink for this smooth writing experience. Like most affordable needle-tip pens, this one does sometimes experience skips. However, it is a high-quality pen if you want something that writes well for fine lines.

5. Pilot Juice Up

Pricing: $4

Use for: Journaling and note-taking

The Pilot Juice Up pens have great ink and a sleek, modern design. Though it has limited color options compared to the standard Pilot Juice, the Pilot Juice Up is the premium option for this pen. The pen comes in both pastel and metallic options. If you want to add this pen to your basic office supplies, you will also find a basic blue.

It is available in 0.4 mm fine tip and 0.3 mm hyper fine tip. This pen has a rubber grip to make writing more comfortable. In addition, the pen features a retractable design and click top. It can be a little scratchy to write with, but overall it is a high-quality pen in interesting colors for bullet journaling and more.

6. Pilot G2 Gel Ink Pen

Pricing: $2

Use for: Office pen

The Pilot G2 is a standard retractable gel pen sold primarily in 0.5 mm and 0.7 mm sizes with blue and black ink, though other colors and styles are available. This pen is so popular in the office world, and chances are you have used one in the past to sign a credit card receipt or bank document. Its low price and good function make it perfect for these uses. The Pilot G2 is refillable and has a retractable design. This pen writes smoother than a traditional ballpoint pen and is available in bulk, which makes it great for commercial uses. It is affordable and easy to find, with a plastic clip and a rubber grip.

7. Paper Mate InkJoy Gel Pen

Pricing: $1

Use for: Office and school pen

Another highly affordable gel pen that works well for office and school use is the Paper Mate InkJoy Gel Pen. Available in blue and black ink, this pen has bold ink color that flows smoothly and spreads well. If you wish, you can also purchase a multi-pack with various colors for journaling and note-taking purposes. Even though this is an affordable pen, it has fast-drying ink, so it rarely smudges. It comes in a 0.7 mm tip design and is a retractable pen. The one downside is that this pen hasn’t much character, but it gets the job done and does so smoothly and comfortably.

8. Pentel EnerGel RTX

Price: $2

Use for: Editing, margin notes, and general writing

The Pentel EnterGel RTX pen makes a great choice to add to this list because it is incredibly smooth. It also has a sleek design but a lower price than some luxury pens on this list. The pen has several tip sizes, including a 0.3 mm ultra-fine tip. These pens have fast-drying ink that will not smear or smudge. They also do not bleed through the paper. These writing instruments are great to have around and are affordable enough that you can stock up on them if you wish. You can find these pens in a wide range of colors.

9. Sharpie S-Gel

Pricing: $1.50

Use for: Note-taking and general writing

The Sharpie S-Gel pen comes in a wide range of colors for one of the more affordable price points of the pens on this list. It’s another great one for buying in bulk. It has a no smear, no bleed design, and bold gel ink colors. The 0.7 mm tip is a good option for everyday writing. Though this pen is from Sharpie, it is not necessarily a permanent ink pen.

The contoured comfort grip on this pen is made from durable and cushioning rubber. It comes in multiple point sizes ranging from an ultra-fine 0.38 mm to a bold 1.0 mm to meet a range of needs. You will find a wide range of ink colors as well. They also work great for lefties as well as people who write right-handed.

10. Sakura Gelly Roll

Pricing: $2

Use for: Art and journaling

The Sakura Gelly Roll pen is a traditional gel pen that is the same as the original creators of the gel ink idea. It is ideal for art and journaling because of the opaque gel ink and the many available colors. They will write on most surfaces, and they even write on skin. Sakura makes multiple tip sizes and every color of the rainbow. You can purchase them in multi-packs that have multiple tip sizes in the same pack to allow you to make beautiful art. This is a capped pen with no rubber grip and a fully plastic barrel.

Selection Criteria

Choosing the best gel pens was not easy with so many types of pens. However, I chose these writing utensils because they write smoothly and represent various uses. You’ll find gel pens in this list that works well for everyday writing, professional writing, and offices. So whether you are looking to do some art or need a smooth-writing pen that can accompany you to work, one of the pens on this list will work well. I also chose some of these pens because of their aesthetics. If you are signing important documents, you want a pen that will look professional and write well, and several on this list do both.

Why You Can Trust Me

I am a handwriting specialist, writer by trade, and art lover. These combine to make me the ideal person to help you choose your next gel pen. I find nothing quite as satisfying as the smooth glide of a quality pen across the paper, and I enjoy doodling, note-taking and journaling with the best of them. I know a quality pen when I hold one in my hands, and I am happy to pass that knowledge on to you.

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