12 Best Gel Pens [Tested and Reviewed]

Writing with the Sarasa dry X1 results in clear lettering with no interruptions. The ink flow is also consistent, giving your writing a clean, professional look. Our testers generally agreed that it "wrote fluidly with no irregularities."

Other pens we tested weren't as consistent with the amount of ink produced and resulted in inconsistent line thickness. Taking into account that some weren't as comfortable to hold either, we recommend the Sarasa dry X1 if writing comfort is your top priority.

Gel pens with a rubber grip are less likely to slide around, making it even easier to write. Pens with only a plastic surface often slip, so it's hard to keep the tip steady. Another feature that makes gel pens more stable is their low center of gravity. You'll find that the balance transfers to your hand and results in a comfortable hold.

Pens with the right thickness will fit naturally between your fingers, which prevents strain and fatigue when writing for long periods. If you use a pen that's too thick or thin, you may end up unconsciously adding extra pressure while writing, making your hand sore.

The Sarasa dry X1 has a rubber grip to prevent slips. In contrast, our testers found that some of the lower-scoring pens either didn't stay in place or were too thick to hold comfortably. We rated products for comfort and the presence of non-slip grips to help you find the best pen.

Have you ever accidentally smeared ink on the page while writing or had it smudge after using a highlighter over it? A gel pen that's smudge-resistant and dries quickly is the perfect solution to these frustrating problems.

Not all gel pens are equal when it comes to smudge resistance and drying speed. Ones that dry as soon as you've written reduce the chance of smudging if you accidentally touch the page. This also helps readability when using a highlighter on top of it, as the ink doesn't smudge. 

Fast-drying ink is particularly important for left-handed people, who are a lot more likely to touch the page as their hand moves across it. Using a gel pen with fast-drying ink is the most reliable way to prevent this.

Since every pen holds a different amount of ink, you should check beforehand to get an idea of how long it can be used. Even pens of the same length can hold a different amount of ink if the barrel is larger. When we tested each pen's capacity, we found that those with thicker barrels typically held more ink.

However, a pen that stores more ink is not always better. This is because the consistency of the ink also comes into play. If you're looking for a gel pen that lasts as long as possible, check the ink capacity scores in our ranking.