﻿Good quality pens—even the innovative ones from Japan— don’t have to cost an arm and a leg.
Today, we’re showing you our favorite cheap pens that don’t write cheap!
They’re also perfect for hitting free shipping if you’re just shy of $35 on JetPens.com.
Let’s get started.
Ballpoint Pen
At $3, the dependable Uni Jetstream Standard is actually one of the pricier options on our list!
It’s a JetPens staff favorite thanks to its special low-viscosity ink,
combining the reliability of a ballpoint pen with smooth consistent lines reminiscent of a gel ink.
It’s also waterproof and fade-resistant.
If you want more color variety, check out the Jetstream Color Series.
It’s just a little more at $3.30 and offers several vibrant colors.
Gel Pen
The Zebra Sarasa Clip is a steal at just $1.75.
Its smooth, pigment ink delivers rich colors that pop off the page.
Not to mention, it’s both water and fade resistant!
If that’s not enough, the Clip offers a wide array of tip sizes and rainbow of colors to choose from.
Not satisfied with the standard Clip?
The entire Sarasa line has plenty of other options.
Fan favorites include the quick-drying Sarasa Dry, the ultra vivid Sarasa R, the highlighter-friendly Mark On, and many more.
They’re all affordable too.
Multi Pen
With the Zebra Sarasa 4 Color Multi Pen, you can get four inks and a pencil in one body for just $7.50!
It features the same smooth and vibrant ink as a regular Sarasa pen, as well as the trademark sturdy binder clip.
Plus, the pen comes pre-filled,
so you don’t have to worry about buying ink components or assembling the pen out of the package.
When ink runs out, just pull out the component and insert a new refill.
If you don’t need a pencil with your multi pen, we recommend the Zebra bLen 3C 3 Color Ballpoint Multi Pen.
It’s not an ordinary ballpoint pen:
it’s designed to eliminate rattles and vibrations that can distract or cause stress as you write.
And it’s only $6!
The refillable pen comes in 0.5 mm and 0.7 mm tip sizes, and includes black, blue, and red ink.
Rollerball Pen
Don’t underestimate the Pilot Multi Ball Rollerball Pen’s simple looks or $1.65 price tag.
It feels similar to a gel pen on paper, but it can write on plastic, metal, cloth, and more!
In case of mistakes on smooth surfaces, you can remove them within six hours by wiping with a wet cloth.
After six hours, the marks will become permanent.
The pen is also available in fine and medium points.
For more color options, consider the Ohto Fude Ball Color Series.
Originally created for addressing holiday postcards and envelopes,
its broad 1.5 mm tip combines the precision and simplicity of a rollerball with the bold strokes of a brush pen.
Each pen is $2.65.
Fountain Pen
Yes, even at the remarkably low price of $5.50, you can get a smooth-writing, high-quality fountain pen in the Platinum Preppy.
The extra fine Preppy is a little more expensive than the other nib sizes,
but if you must have precise lines, we think it’s worth the higher price tag.
It features a "Slip and Seal" cap design that protects the nib from drying out for a year or longer without use,
so it’s a great pen for beginners and people who like to switch pens often.
Check out our video where we test a Preppy after one year of not using it in the card above!
The Preppy can be used with a converter, so you can try a limitless amount of ink, beyond what’s available in cartridges.
You can even convert it to an eyedropper pen with the right tools.
For a no-maintenance disposable pick, try the Pilot Varsity.
It’s just $3 and has an Advanced Liquid Ink Feed System that ensures smooth writing.
The nib writes between medium and broad, and a window on the side of the body lets you see how much ink you have left.
Marker
The humble Pentel Sign Pen is one of our favorite markers, and it’s only $1.80.
It offers bright colors and an extra-durable tip designed to create bold, expressive lines, perfect for calligraphy or drawing.
The Sign Pen even has historical significance:
it was favored by US President Lyndon B. Johnson and used by NASA in the 1960s, even traveling into space!
Looking for a fine tip pen? Check out Marvy Le Pen Marker Pens.
They’re the same price at $1.80,
and they’re perfect for doodling and color-coding thanks to their smooth-writing tips and many fun colors.
Each pen can write for about 200 meters before running out of ink!
Which pens would you get?
Let us know in the comments!
You can find these pens linked in the description below
and at JetPens.com, the place for pen and stationery lovers.
Thanks for watching!