The Apple Pencil alternative I use daily is on sale for $28 - but not for long

## Summary
Close Home Tech Computing Tablets iPad The Apple Pencil alternative I use daily is on sale for $28 - but not for long ESR's Geo Digital Pencil is on sale for under $30, but today's the last day to shop Amazon's Big Spring Sale. Also: The best Amazon Big Spring Sale deals: Live updates on last chance offers Right now, my favorite Apple Pencil "dupe" is the ESR Geo Pencil , and it's on sale starting at $28, depending on the color you choose. Also: Last chance to shop the best Amazon Spring Sale tablet deals The ESR Geo Pencil is compatible with most iPads made after 2018, including the latest models. Also: How we rate deals at ZDNET in 2026 Amazon Spring Sale 2026 Amazon's Big Spring Sale 2026: Everything to know Best Amazon Spring Sale phone deals Best Amazon Spring Sale TV deals Best Walmart deals to compete with Amazon's Spring Sale Amazon's Big Spring Sale 2026: Everything to know Best Amazon Spring Sale phone deals Best Amazon Spring Sale TV deals Best Walmart deals to compete with Amazon's Spring Sale Editorial standards Show Comments Log In to Comment Community Guidelines Related My favorite smart notebook for to-do lists is currently on sale No internet?

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The Apple Pencil alternative I use daily is on sale for $28 - but not for long
ESR's Geo Digital Pencil is on sale for under $30, but today's the last day to shop Amazon's Big Spring Sale.
Written by
Kayla Solino,
Editor
Editor
March 31, 2026 at 12:45 p.m. PT
Kayla Solino/ZDNET
ESR Geo Pencil for $28 (save $7)
Under $30 deal
2/5 Editor's deal rating
$28 at Amazon
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If you've got an
iPad
, chances are you've considered getting an Apple Pencil or a similar stylus. While they all do the same thing on paper, the market offers numerous options. The Apple Pencil lineup certainly takes the cake in terms of popularity, but they are expensive -- even on sale.
Also:
The best Amazon Big Spring Sale deals: Live updates on last chance offers
Right now, my favorite Apple Pencil "dupe" is the
ESR Geo Pencil
, and it's on sale starting at $28, depending on the color you choose. Thanks to
Amazon's Big Spring Sale
(which ends tonight), the already affordable stylus is now 22% off.
Under $30 deal
ESR Geo Pencil for $28 (save $7)
$28 at Amazon
I've written a full comparison of the Geo Pencil and the Apple Pencil Pro (and other Apple Pencil models). Still, the basic takeaway here is that the ESR Geo Pencil packs a lot of value into a single stylus that's hard to ignore.
Also:
Last chance to shop the best Amazon Spring Sale tablet deals
The ESR Geo Pencil is compatible with most iPads made after 2018, including the latest models. While it doesn't offer everything some of the pricier Apple Pencil models do (it lacks wireless charging, automatic power-off, or intuitive features tied to iPadOS), it does offer fast 20-minute charging, a 12-hour battery, and some elevated aspects like shortcuts, handwriting, shape sensitivity, tilt sensitivity, and more. It also has replaceable tips, FindMy technology, and magnetic attachment. The white model is also just $28 now, which is still $72 cheaper than the
Apple Pencil Pro
, which is on sale for $99.
Also:
Apple Pencil Pro vs ESR Geo Pencil: I tested both, here's what I recommend
For students, kids, note-takers, and most casual iPad users, I don't find many reasons to splurge on the Apple Pencil when the Geo Pencil does the basics so well. I personally use the Geo pencil in my everyday routine with my iPad Air M2, and it's exactly what I need. The battery is great for my regular tasks like browsing, streaming, note-taking, and more, and I love that it magnetically secures to the side. I paired my Geo Pencil with ESR's $20
Folio iPad case
, and it's been the perfect setup for light use. I'm not a heavy stylus or iPad user to begin with, so do keep this in mind if you are, but for most people, this stylus offers everything you really need.
Last chance to shop Spring Sale
How I rated this deal
According to our deal-rating system, this 22% off deal should be rated 3/5 by editors. I've chosen to downgrade it to a 2/5 Editors' deal rating, since not every color is discounted by the same amount, and I would have really loved to see at least a 25% discount. But this is still an affordable buy that works great.
When will this deal expire?
I'm not sure if this 22% off deal will expire at the end of Amazon's Big Spring Sale, but if you're considering it, I wouldn't wait. Amazon's sale ends at 11: 59 p.m. PDT tonight, so we're heading int

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
N/A

### Areas for Consideration
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### Expert Commentary
This article covers sale, pencil, amazon topics. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 1163.