Best Pens for Journaling: Gel Pens vs. Ballpoint vs. Fineliners
Choosing a journal is only part of getting started. You also need a pen you enjoy using.
Maybe you like colorful pages filled with doodles. Perhaps you prefer writing a few quiet thoughts before bed. Or you want something simple for gratitude lists and everyday notes.
The best pens for journaling depend on your paper, your writing style, and what you want to create. Gel pens, ballpoints, and fineliners each give you something different.
This guide will help you compare the three, choose a starting point, and test your pens before buying a whole set.
How to Choose the Best Pens for Journaling
Start with how you use your journal. Do you mostly write, draw, make lists, or combine a little of everything?
Use this table to choose a pen type to try first.
Your journaling style | Pen type to try | What to look for |
Daily reflections and longer entries | Gel pen or ballpoint | Comfortable grip and easy ink flow |
Gratitude lists and colorful headings | Gel pen | Colors you enjoy and suitable drying time |
Simple notes and everyday lists | Ballpoint | Consistent writing without pressing hard |
Doodles, borders, and trackers | Fineliner | A line width that suits your drawings |
A mix of writing and decorating | Writing pen plus a fineliner | Two pens that work well on the same paper |
You don’t need all three types. Start with one pen you already own and notice what you like—or what you wish were different.
Gel Pens: A Starting Point for Colorful Journal Pages
Gel pens use gel-based ink delivered through a small rolling ball. Depending on the range, you can find everyday writing colors and decorative options such as glitter finishes.
They are worth trying if you enjoy changing colors between entries, decorating headings, or adding little details around your writing.
Ways to use gel pens in your journal
Write your daily entry in one color and the date in another.
Give each item on a gratitude list its own color.
Add tiny hearts, flowers, or stars beside important moments.
Outline a favorite quote.
Create a colorful title for a memory page.
Keep your color system simple. Two or three colors are enough to experiment with.
What to check before choosing a gel pen
Test the drying time. Write a sentence, wait briefly, and see whether your hand smears the ink as you continue writing.
Some gel inks are designed to dry quickly. Pentel describes its EnerGel RTX as a quick-drying option suitable for left-handed writers. However, your notebook paper and writing habits still matter.
Also check whether you like the thickness of the writing. A pen that looks lovely in a heading may feel too bold for a full page of small handwriting.
Try this: Choose one question from our Morning Gratitude Journal Prompts: 30 Questions to Start the Day. Write your answer, then use a second color to underline one detail you want to remember.
Ballpoint Pens: A Starting Point for Everyday Writing
A traditional ballpoint uses oil-based ink delivered through a rolling ball. Ballpoint formulas vary, so two pens in this category can feel quite different when you write.
A ballpoint is a sensible option to try if you want a straightforward pen for daily entries, quick notes, and lists.
Ways to use ballpoints in your journal
Record a few thoughts during your lunch break.
Write a short entry before bed.
Keep a running list of ideas.
Note something funny your pet did.
Make a list of things you want to try.
A familiar pen can be enough. You don’t have to buy special supplies before beginning.
What to check before choosing a ballpoint
Write a full paragraph and notice your hand.
Are you pressing hard?
Does the pen skip?
Is the barrel comfortable to hold?
If you dislike one ballpoint, try another before ruling out the whole category. For example, uni describes its Jetstream ink as smooth-writing and quick-drying, including for left-handed users.
Try this: Write five things you noticed today. Include ordinary details such as the weather, a conversation, something you ate, or a moment that made you smile.
Fineliners: A Starting Point for Doodles and Detailed Pages
Fineliners are useful for writing, sketching, and drawing. Many ranges offer several line widths, giving you options for small details and more noticeable outlines. STAEDTLER’s pigment liner is one example designed for these uses.
Try a fineliner if decorating the page is part of what you enjoy about journaling.
Ways to use fineliners in your journal
Draw tiny flowers, leaves, stars, or everyday objects.
Make boxes for a habit tracker.
Add borders around photographs or stickers.
Create simple headings and dividers.
Fill a small section with repeating patterns.
You can also use a fineliner for your regular entries if you enjoy the writing feel.
What to check before choosing a fineliner
Try the tip with your normal handwriting and drawing pressure. Choose a line width that feels useful for the size of your journal.
Check the ink description before adding watercolors or other wet materials. Not every fineliner has the same water resistance.
STAEDTLER describes its pigment liner ink as waterproof on paper. Sakura says Pigma Micron ink resists running when liquids are applied after the ink has dried. These are properties of those specific products, rather than guarantees for every fineliner.
Try this: Draw three small objects from your day. If you enjoy making pages with pictures and patterns, explore our Journaling Without Writing: 15 Creative Ways to Express Yourself.
Which Pen Should You Try First?
You can make the decision easier by choosing one main purpose.
For long journal entries
Compare a gel pen and a ballpoint. Write the same short paragraph with each, then choose the one that feels more comfortable.
Pay attention to the grip, how tightly you hold the pen, and whether you have to press harder than you want.
For creative journaling
Try a black fineliner with one or two colored gel pens.
Use the fineliner for outlines and borders. Use the gel pens for titles, small details, and colorful writing.
For bullet journaling
Choose one pen for daily tasks and notes. Add a fineliner if you want a separate tool for trackers, boxes, and decorations.
A single pen is also fine if it does everything you need.
For left-handed journaling
Look for a quick-drying formula and test it using your usual hand position.
Both Pentel EnerGel and uni Jetstream have manufacturer guidance highlighting fast-drying ink for left-handed writers. Try an individual pen before committing to a larger pack.
Make a Simple Pen Test Page
Before using a new pen throughout your journal, give it a small test area near the back.
This can become a useful reference page—and a little hands-busy activity of its own.
1. Label the pen
Write down the brand, pen type, color, and tip size if you know them.
2. Write a sentence
Use your normal handwriting rather than carefully copying decorative lettering.
Try:
Today, I’m making a little time to notice, write, and create.
3. Draw a few shapes
Add a line, a circle, a tiny flower, and a shaded square.
This shows you how the pen feels for both writing and decorating.
4. Check for smudging
Draw several short lines. Gently swipe a different line after a short wait and then after a longer wait.
Note how long the ink needs on your paper.
5. Look at the back of the page
Check for two different things:
Ghosting: You can see the writing through the paper.
Bleed-through: Ink has soaked through to the other side
Decide what you find acceptable. A little show-through may not bother you, especially if you only use one side of each page.
6. Try your highlighter
If you highlight journal entries, test your usual highlighter over a dry writing sample.
Look for smearing before using that combination on a page you want to keep neat.
7. Give each pen a purpose
You don’t have to choose one winner. Label your favorites for:
Everyday writing.
Small doodles.
Headings.
Quick notes.
A pen you dislike for long entries might still be useful for little decorative details.
Put Together a Small Journaling Pen Kit
Start with a few supplies you will actually use:
Supply | Purpose |
One comfortable gel pen or ballpoint | Everyday writing |
One black fineliner | Doodles, borders, and layouts |
One or two accent colors | Headings and decorative details |
A small pouch | Keeping your pens with your journal |
Use the kit for a while before adding more. Notice which pens you reach for and which stay in the pouch.
For a first page, answer a morning gratitude journal prompt, add a small border, and draw one thing you appreciate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are gel pens or ballpoints better for journaling?
Neither is the right choice for everyone. Compare how they feel in your hand, how they look on your paper, and whether they smear during normal use.
Choose the pen you enjoy writing with.
Can I use a fineliner for everyday entries?
Yes. Fineliners can be used for writing as well as drawing. Pick a line width and tip feel that work with your handwriting.
Which pens won’t bleed through journal paper?
There is no guarantee based on pen type alone. Test your specific pen in your notebook, including areas where you shade or go over the same line more than once.
Do I need a whole set of colored pens?
No. One writing pen is enough to begin. Add colors if decorating, drawing, or organizing entries by color appeals to you.
What if I prefer doodling to writing?
Let your journal include doodles. A page can record your day through drawings, stickers, colors, and small captions. Our guide to journaling without writing offers more ways to try this.
Choose a Pen That Makes You Want to Open Your Journal
Start with one pen and one page.
Write a few thoughts, draw something small, or make a list of moments you want to remember. As you use your journal, you’ll discover which supplies suit you.
Your pages don’t need perfect lettering or a matching set of colors. They just need room for what you want to put on them.
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