For a fuss-free fountain pen you can use right out of the package, we recommend the Varsity. It comes pre-filled with ink and is entirely self-contained—no need to ever deal with cartridges or maintenance. Despite its disposable design, the Varsity sports a surprisingly smooth steel nib. However, the Varsity is not refillable and is meant to be disposed of once it runs out of ink.

Who says you can’t get a great fountain pen at a great price? The Preppy offers a range of smooth nibs and a wide variety of ink colors to choose from. It’s also compatible with converters that let you use the pen with any bottled fountain pen ink. Platinum produces their nibs in-house, so they’re able to make even their cheapest pens write with remarkable smoothness and consistency. If you love the way the Preppy writes but would prefer a sturdier body, the Prefounte and Plaisir are made from polycarbonate and aluminum respectively.

If you end up deciding that fountain pens aren’t for you, you can still get more use out of your Preppy. Thanks to Platinum’s interchangeable replacement tips, you can convert the Preppy into a marker or highlighter!

One can’t help but smile when writing with the Pilot Kakuno. Adorable faces are etched on the nib, reminding users which side of the nib should face up. We especially find the Family series endearing. They feature faces not found on standard Kakuno Fountain Pens that represent family members. For example, the face on the “Papa” pen’s nib has a mustache and necktie.

The Kakuno incorporates a subtle triangular grip section that encourages a tripod grip, cap indentations to make it easier to uncap, and a hexagonal cap and body design that prevents it from rolling off your desk. It comes with one ink cartridge. You can purchase replacement cartridges or try using it with a converter and bottled ink.

The Kaweco Perkeo sets up fountain pen newbies for success with a triangular grip section that is more pronounced than the Pilot Kakuno’s. Its indentations guide fingers into holding the pen with an ergonomic tripod grip. The grip section also promotes the best writing angle for smooth ink flow and effortless writing. Combined with the pen’s lightweight, plastic body, the Perkeo is exceptionally comfortable to write with, especially if you intend to use your fountain pen for long writing sessions. It comes with one blue ink cartridge and is compatible with many replacement cartridges and converters.

Of the sub-$20 pens, the Perkeo has the boldest color options for writers who value style even at the beginner level. Choose from demonstrator, solid color, or color-blocked pen bodies. While it already has a hexagonal cap that prevents the pen from rolling off a desk, clips are available to make this pen even more convenient to transport.

The Metropolitan punches far above its price, offering the best combination of quality and affordability of any fountain pen we’ve ever seen. Its nibs are fantastically smooth and reliable, and its comfortably weighted metal body is available in tons of great colors and patterns. Not only is the Metropolitan one of our favorite beginner-friendly fountain pens, but it’s one of our favorite fountain pens, period. Learn more about the Metropolitan—including its family of matching gel pens and pencils—in our comprehensive guide.

The Metropolitan is compatible with a limited selection of proprietary Pilot ink cartridges, but it comes with a converter so you can use it with bottled inks straight out of the box.

Besides its distinctively modern styling, the thing that stands out most about the Safari is its grip section, which is contoured to help users hold the pen with a traditional tripod grip. The pen is constructed from lightweight, virtually indestructible ABS plastic (the same stuff LEGO blocks are made of) and comes in a rainbow of fun colors. New limited edition colors are released every year, making the Safari especially tempting for collectors. If plastic isn’t for you, the AL-Star uses the same body design with an aluminum construction. You can learn more about this iconic family of pens in our comprehensive guide.

The Safari is available in a full range of nib sizes from extra fine to broad, and replacement nibs are easy to buy and install. LAMY fountain pens use a proprietary cartridge design, but you can still use any bottled fountain pen ink you like with the help of a converter.

The TWSBI ECO is the perfect entry-level fountain pen for people who love bottled inks and all the wonderful colors they come in. It features a built-in piston mechanism that lets you use bottled ink without the need for a converter. It holds a ton of ink—three times as much as a typical converter—and the clear barrel lets you admire the ink as it swirls around while you write. A version of the ECO known as the ECO-T has a triangular grip that encourages you to hold the pen ergonomically. Like all of TWSBI’s fountain pens, the ECO is easy to disassemble for cleaning and even comes with a special wrench and a bottle of silicone grease to make maintenance as convenient as possible. Please note that some limited edition TWSBI ECOs may cost more than the standard pens.

The Faber-Castell HEXO is an undeniably cool pen. Choose from stealthy all black or solid color bodies that contrast with a translucent black grip section. Like its name suggests, the HEXO has a six-sided barrel that won’t roll away when set down in the middle of a writing session. Its lightweight yet sturdy aluminum body is a little wider than most pens, which makes it especially comfortable for writers with large hands. The HEXO comes with an ink cartridge and is compatible with many standard international cartridges and converters.

If you prefer something a bit more rugged and industrial—or just something more portable—the AL Sport is an excellent choice. Like the rest of Kaweco’s Sport family of fountain pens, it is conveniently compact when closed yet comfortably full-sized with the cap posted. It is machined from solid aluminum, giving it a substantial and dependable feel. The AL Sport uses a system of replaceable nib units that screw into the grip section and can be easily swapped out if you want to change nib sizes. It can use standard international short ink cartridges or Kaweco’s mini-size converter.

If you like the design of the AL Sport but want something a bit heftier, Kaweco produces this iconic pen design in other metals, such as brass. The Steel Sport comes in at just over $100, but its stainless steel construction is incredibly durable and will last lifetimes.

The LAMY Studio is an excellent example of this price range’s upgraded quality and style. It features the same excellent steel nibs as the Safari, but fitted to a beautiful, solidly built metal body instead. There are versions available with 14k gold nibs as well, but those push the cost of the Studio into the premium range.

Its subtle but uniquely curving design gives the Studio remarkable aesthetic balance. Sophisticated yet unassuming, it would look equally at home in an art studio or an executive boardroom. Like the Safari, the Studio gives you a choice of proprietary ink cartridges or using the included converter with bottled ink.

Before the invention of ink cartridges and converters, fountain pens were typically filled with an eyedropper. The Opus 88 Koloro is a modern interpretation of classic eyedropper pens, sporting a high-capacity ink reservoir that can be filled with the included eyedropper or an ink syringe. The piston knob at the back of the pen, which you might guess works the same as a piston-filling fountain pen, actually controls a safety shut-off valve that prevents the pen from leaking when not in use. Unscrew the knob and draw back the piston when writing or filling the pen to allow ink to flow into and out of the pen. When the pen is not in use, screw the knob down tightly to prevent any potential inky accidents.

The Koloro is made of translucent acrylic and opaque ebonite, creating a stylish color-blocked look. Ebonite, a hard rubber, was a popular fountain pen material in the early 20th century. Pens made entirely of this material can be found at a higher price point.

For those who want to jot things down whenever inspiration strikes, the Vanishing Point is the ultimate fountain pen. Featuring a clever retractable mechanism, the nib can be extended and retracted at the push of a button. The Vanishing Point is compatible with Pilot's proprietary cartridges and converter, both of which are included.

The standard Vanishing Point is perfect for people who prefer larger, heavier pens, while the slimmer and much lighter Vanishing Point Decimo is better suited for people who prefer a more agile writing instrument.

If you’re looking for a blend of vintage fountain pen aesthetics with a modern writing experience, look no further than the Onishi Seisakusho. Its classic torpedo shape and gold accents evoke the nostalgic look of hand-turned fountain pens from the early 20th century. Each pen body is individually created using a method passed down from "the Father of Pens," Kiyoshi Kato, who is best known for establishing his own company making and selling celluloid pens. The Seisakusho is made with either acrylic resin or celluloid acetate, offering beautifully patterned pens that are comfortably weighted in the hand.

This Benu Fountain Pen takes inspiration from charms and talismans. It’s infused with materials associated with mythical powers believed to bring luck, protection, or love, such as dried edelweiss petals and mandrake root powder. Combined with eye-catching colorful resin and sparkly metallic flakes, the Talisman is like a magic wand come to life. Each pen is made by hand, so not only is it imbued with enchanting elements, it's also as unique as the individual that uses it.

In a world full of plastic and metal fountain pens, wooden pens bring something special to the table. The Pilot Custom Kaede is made of polished and hardened maple wood which will darken and become more vibrant as you handle it over time, similar to how raw brass pens patina. However, because the pen is unlacquered, you do run the risk of ink stains if a stray drop is left to set on the wood. We think it’s worth it to always have a small connection to nature every time you take out your pen.

This fountain pen takes Sailor’s flagship Pro Gear model and shrinks it ever so slightly for a pocket-friendly pen with a price tag to match its smaller size. Its flat-topped design is a distinctive twist to the classic cigar shape, and the cap, barrel, and grip section are accented with metal rings. The smooth 14k gold nib comes in standard sizes like extra fine and broad, as well as a stubby music and versatile zoom nib. Limited edition offerings that incorporate color patterns at slightly higher price points are regularly available.

Sailor also produces fountain pens for Nagasawa, a stationery brand located in Kobe, Japan. The Original Pro Gear Slim is inspired by Sailor’s Pro Gear Slim with slight modifications.

The LAMY 2000 is one of the most iconic fountain pens of all time. Inspired by the Bauhaus school of German design, it was created with the goal of being nothing more or less than a great pen for writing. Made of brushed stainless steel and Makrolon fiberglass, it is exceptionally well balanced and comfortable to hold for even the longest writing sessions. It also features a built-in piston filling mechanism, capable of holding more than twice as much ink as a typical converter. These qualities make the LAMY 2000 a favorite among novelists like Neil Gaiman, who has described it as "a glorious pen."¹

One minor word of warning: The LAMY 2000 tends to be a wet, broad writer—even by European standards. Whatever your preferred Western nib size is, we recommend going one size finer than that. Fountain pen friendly paper is also highly recommended.

The Custom 823 just might be the ultimate writer’s pen. Its large 14k nib is gloriously smooth, and its vacuum-filling mechanism holds plenty of ink for epic writing sessions. It’s also extremely comfortable to hold. The 823’s seamless resin construction allows it to be chunky but not heavy, and it also gives the pen a slight natural grippiness. This wide, lightweight, and slightly grippy body means that you don’t have to pinch the pen tightly to keep it under control. You just need to cradle it between your fingers and let the pen do its thing. And that makes for a far more comfortable writing experience, especially if you write a lot.

One of the mainstays of the luxury pen world, the Souverän was the first pen in the world to use a perfected piston filling mechanism. Almost a century later, Pelikan still prides itself on making some of the world’s smoothest, most reliable piston fillers.

Technically, the Souverän is an entire family of luxury gold nib fountain pens, from the compact M400 to the oversized flagship M1000. They demand a premium price—especially the larger models—but in exchange, you get a beautifully crafted and luxuriously smooth-writing piece of fountain pen history.

If you love the look of the Souverän but not the price tag, take a look at Pelikan's Classic line, which features more affordable steel-nib versions of the Souveran M400.

The Eboya Ricchiku is made of ebonite, a vulcanized rubber that was typically used for fountain pens of the early 20th century prior to plastic becoming more prevalent. Ebonite is known for its durability and resistance to chemicals—it’s even used for musical instrument mouthpieces and electrical insulation! When used to make fountain pens, ebonite is also known for its distinctive warm feel in the hand. This handcrafted pen has a seamless design, mimicking a bamboo stalk whether it's capped or posted.

The Graf von Faber-Castell Guilloche exudes elegance, boasting a precious resin barrel engraved with a guilloche pattern. Guilloche is an intricate and repetitive decorative technique traditionally used on jewelry and works of art, such as Fabergé eggs. The pattern on the Guilloche Fountain Pen, which is manually lacquered and polished, creates a ripple effect in the light as well as a pleasant texture in the hand. It has a spring-loaded clip for quickly clipping onto a shirt pocket or into a pen case.

The Visconti Homo Sapiens has one incredible claim to fame: it’s the only fountain pen that’s made with basaltic lava rock from Mount Etna. The lava is infused with resin to form a virtually indestructible body that has a pleasantly grippy texture in hand. The pen’s body is accented with rose gold on the Bronze Age, or red steel on the Magma—you can also go for full stealth with the Dark Age. Those who like to incorporate a little more color in their fountain pen collection can check out the Lava Colors series. Or, if you prefer to see the ink in your pen, the Windowed series may be for you.

This pen uses Visconti’s proprietary Hook Safe Lock Mechanism: the cap unscrews in less than a quarter turn, but it won’t come unscrewed on its own when placed in a pocket or pen case. Additionally, the Homo Sapiens is a vacuum filler with an enormous ink capacity.

With the Pilot Ishime, you’re getting a one-of-a-kind pen that doubles as a work of art. Its intricate, textured finish resembles a cobblestone path and is created with urushi, a type of Japanese lacquer. Fountain pens made with urushi can take months to complete. Penmakers apply exceptionally fine layers of this lacquer and must wait for each one to dry before applying the next. Urushi was traditionally a status symbol that could be found in decorative pieces and furniture possessed by nobles. Now it can be enjoyed by fountain pen enthusiasts, too.