Is the grip on your current fountain pen poor? Or is the engineering clunky for your needs? If the answer is yes, and you think you’ve had your fair share of troubles, then don’t worry about it anymore. In this article, I will walk you through the specific features to look out for during your search for a good, budget-friendly fountain pen.

What’s more, I’ve compiled a list of 10 best fountain pens under $30/$50, which will deliver according to your needs in addition to being budget-friendly. Make sure you read on so that you don’t miss out on our top ten fountain pens, complete with an editor’s pick. To start us off is a quick buying guide.

Features to Consider in Good Fountain Pens

Different pens serve different purposes; some even require some experience before using them. In this buying guide, I will focus on the fountain pen material, the nib style and finally, the ink capacity. Though there are many considerations, I felt that these are the most important for any buyer out there.

Design Features

Fountain pens can be made out of a variety of materials like acrylic, wood and even metal. But what’s important is the grip and how comfortable you are when writing stuff with it. Do you need that smooth feeling when writing? What about the weight of the pen? Do you prefer a heavy fountain pen or a light one? Remember that apart from the material of the pen, there is also ink, which adds to the weight of the pen. It all comes down to your preference. Those comfortable with heavier pens should go for metallic fountain pens and vice versa. Another issue is durability. Metallic fountain pens last longer than plastic and wood. So if your intention is to buy a durable fountain pen, then you should carefully consider the build material.

Nib and Writing Performance

Do you prefer broad or thin handwriting? If you prefer broad handwriting, then go for a fountain pen with broader nibs. The nib of a fountain pen is that writing end. That’s where ink is released on paper. So if you are selective about your handwriting, you should consider the nib style and material because your handwriting is heavily dependent on the shape and size of the fountain pen’s nib. Customers can opt for fine or broad nibs for thinner and broader handwriting respectively.

Nibs can be made out of different materials like iridium, stainless steel, etc. we will cover this section in the complete buying guide below. The point is if you intend to use it more frequently. Then you need a stronger tip, to make it more durable giving you value for your money.

Filling

Do you intend to use a pen for longer periods without refilling? If yes, you should opt for a fountain pen with a higher ink capacity, so that your writing process is not interrupted when the ink drains. Fountain pens come with different ink capacities that it can hold within a given time. I prefer fountain pens with huge ink capacities because I can write for longer periods before refilling and staining my hands with ink in the process. Go for an ink capacity that suits your needs. If you use the fountain pen frequently, then you need to purchase one with a larger capacity and vice versa.

Grip

Grip determines the comfort and the handwriting since you need to hold the pen while writing. You should consider the size of your hands so that you purchase a fountain pen that fits well in your grasp. To write conveniently, comfort is vital. Buy a fountain pen that is neither undersized nor oversized in relation to your hands. You have to physically test it out while writing to determine this feature.

Best Cheap Fountain Pens 2024

We researched on 10 different brands of fountain pens because we know that a pen can make or break your handwriting. The 10 best cheap fountain pens that we reviewed are good in terms of the grip (General Ergonomics), the convenience and also the material. Here are our picks.

1. JinHao Dragon Phoenix Fountain Pen

Design Features
For those who like heavy pens, then the JinHao Phoenix is the best purchase. It is covered in metal engravings and a ying-yang symbol on the pen cap’s end. The red faux decorations on the dragon’s eye make the pen look nice. The dragon engraving is rough on the surface, perfect for your grip.

Nib and Writing Performance
The JinHao Phoenix writes surprisingly well for a pen of its weight, the nib is smooth and gold plated with a dragon head decoration. The medium nib gives you fine handwriting, though you have to get used to a pen of its weight.

Filling
The ink reservoir is constructed with cast iron with rose-colored decorations and holds a considerable amount of ink. The piston converter is a great addition. Upon receiving this pen, you have to flush it with water before filling it with ink to make the ink flow effortless.

Verdict
The weight of the pen gives you a back heavy balance, which is good for writing. Though some people don’t like heavy pens, you can remove the cap to ease the weight. This is one of the best fountain pens for writing. Overall, it’s a good purchase.

2. ZenZoi Carbon Fiber Fountain Pen – Best wood fountain pen

Design Features
We were astonished to find out that the pen had a bamboo wood construction, with a nice wood grain finish making the pen look nice. The rounded ends give you a good grip, perfect for writing for long hours. The plastic cap reduces the overall weight of the pen, and it comes with a pen case.

Nib and Writing Performance
The nib is made of iridium, which makes the ink flow on paper nice and smooth. Interestingly, there was no hard start when the pen was left for some time. You can test this fact by leaving the pen uncapped for some time before writing again.

Filling
The ink reservoir doesn’t hold much ink, but it is easy to clean it after use and no leaks were evident while writing. The ink converter is a great addition to the filling system.

Verdict
The overall experience of owning this pen is good, a bamboo construction with nice packaging. It also came with a converter for refilling the ink. We highly recommend the ZenZoi Fountain Pen.

3. DRYDEN Luxury Fountain Pen – Best Fountain Pen for Calligraphy

Design Features
The Dryden fountain pen is ergonomically designed to ensure that it fits well in your hand so that you don’t get fatigued when writing for long hours. It feels solid in your hands because it’s heavy, but not too heavy. The pen’s metallic parts come in a shiny gold coloring, which makes the fountain pen look good in addition to the acrylic layering on the outside. If the pen is too heavy for you, you can remove some of the metallic parts to ease the weight of the fountain pen. This fountain pen comes with a classy Velcro slip bag, which is in sharp contrast with other expensive pens that come in gift boxes. The Velcro slip bag protects the pen against damages during shipment.

Nib and Writing Performance
The Dryden fountain pen comes with a medium nib style, which is good for you to make wonderful calligraphic inscriptions. That’s why it’s the best fountain pen for calligraphy.

Filling
You have the option of using an ink refill converter or an ink cartridge. If you want to work for long hours, you may want to use an ink refill converter which draws ink from an ink well. It is much easier than constantly replacing the cartridges. The big advantage here is that with an ink refill converter, you can use high-quality ink rather than rely on pre-loaded ink cartridges.

Verdict
In terms of ink capacity and the design, the Dryden fountain pen scores highly. Plus it is meant for both right and left-handed persons. If you prefer these features, you should purchase this fountain pen.

4. NEW Moonman C1 Fountain Pen

Design Features
We loved the pen’s transparent design, complete with an eyedropper tool which is well-designed. It appears to be well balanced and fits well in your hands. The body of the pen is made of acrylic which is tapered on both ends resulting in a well-balanced shape, which is good for writing.

Nib and Writing Performance
Most people are afraid of using an eye-dropper fountain pen as they may leak. The Dryden fountain pen comes with an o-ring that prevents leakages, resulting in clean writing. The ink flows smoothly through the nib. The nib style is fine, resulting in fine handwriting with less dramatic flair.

Filling
The ink capacity of the pen is large, about half the entire pen’s volume of 51mm*12.7mm. You can write for long without refilling the ink reservoir. The best thing about the Moonman fountain pen is that the color of the ink is the color of the pen.

Verdict
The Moonman fountain pen is ergonomically designed with smooth tapered acrylic, which is good for grasping while writing. The fine nib results in fine handwriting. We highly recommend this fountain pen.

5. Zebra Fountain Pen – Best fountain pen for beginners

Design Features
One of the most notable design features on the Zebra fountain pen exterior is the ridged black plastic grip. It is good for those who want to write for long hours as it gives you a good grip which is also good for those with sweaty hands. The cap fits firmly on the pen’s body; you don’t have to worry about ink leaks on your paper.

Nib and Writing Performance
The nib comes with a plastic hood that holds the steel nib firmly in place. This feature is good for heavy-handed persons, as flexible nibs might break easily. There are some concerns that the hood obscures the nib while writing, but you can adjust the writing angle to mitigate this issue.

Filling
The ink reservoir has an ink capacity of 12 counts, and it comes with an innovative ink system to ensure efficient utilization of every drop.

Verdict
The fountain pen comes with a double ink refill, giving you extended writing time. You cannot ignore the price versus the quality of this pen, making it good for those looking for budget fountain pens. We highly recommend this pen.

6. Parker IM Fountain Pen

Design Features
The first noticeable design is the gunmetal finish and the chiseled crosshatch patterns with grooves that give you a sense of style and grip when writing. The chrome trims in addition to the gloss finish make it eye-catching, and the cap comes with an arrow-shaped pen clip to slide it in your coat pocket.

Nib and Writing Performance
The pen comes with a medium nib, made of stainless steel which makes the pen durable from accidental damages and also gives you fine writing on paper. The nib can write well on any surface, whether smooth or scratchy with no skipping between lines. The only setback we experienced was that the barrel began unscrewing when writing for longer sessions.

Filling
The pen comes with a cartridge which you should plugin. we noticed that during the refill process, you have to plug in the cartridge, place the cap don and give it 30 minutes for the ink to flow down the nib by gravity instead of shaking the pen which is not recommended.

Verdict
The pen is well balanced and writes smoothly, the only improvement we would recommend is a gold plated nib addition. Which will give the pen both style and durability. Overall, at approximately $50 it’s a great value for money.

7. Duke Ruby Fountain Pen

Design Features
The Duke Ruby fountain pen is made of brass metallic parts, which makes it heavier (It weighs 32 grams), well-balanced and it feels solid when writing. The cap has a stunning ruby at the top, but we highly doubt if its actual ruby found in jewels.

Nib and Writing Performance
It comes with a medium nib style, which is good for those who like smoother handwritings. At a fairly normal pace, it’s hard for the pen to skip some writing. One notable advantage worth mentioning over other fountain pens is that there is no dry start.

Filling
It comes with an ink converter, which makes refilling a lot easier. It starts writing immediately after refilling as there are no dry starts.

Verdict
The Duke Ruby fountain pen looks classy and its performance is great for a pen costing less than $30. It is a great purchase.

8. Parker Urban Fountain Pen

Design Features
The Parker fountain pen is torpedoed in design, making it narrower on its ends. The widest point on the pen is where the barrel meets the cap. The metal body gives it a back heavy balance, which is more suitable for people with large hands.

Nib and Writing Performance
The nibs are made of stainless steel; available in medium nib giving you smooth writing. The only setback about the nib is that it dries out quickly, making the Parker fountain pen prone to dry starting.

Filling
Though the capacity of the Parker fountain pen is a lot less, the ink converter comes to its rescue, as you can refill ink in the reservoir in a breeze. You can also opt for an ink cartridge to get long writing hours.

Verdict
We highly recommend the Parker fountain pen for those in the corporate world because of its modern design and smoother writing. The hard starts make this pen a bit off, but it’s worth purchasing.

9. Travelers Company Fountain Pen – Best fountain pen for drawing

Design Features
The brass coating on the pen gives it an attractive finish, plus the ring at the back is a great addition to the pen’s design. If you don’t like the clip, you can remove it since it comes detachable. The overall size fits well in your pocket.

Nib and Writing Performance
The Travelers fountain pen comes with a fine nib made of stainless steel, which gives you both fine writing experience and durability at the same time.

Filling
The pen only uses short cartridges, which is good for effortless refilling. The ink capacity is good, though we recommend shorter sessions while writing.

Verdict
This pen is good for on-the-go writing, not suitable for frequent writing sessions. If you travel occasionally, then the Travelers fountain pen is a great purchase.

10. LAMY AI-Star Pacific Fountain Pen

Design Features
At first glance, the LAMY AI Pacific fountain pen has an ocean blue plastic finish and the grip is transparent you can easily see the ink flow. The clip is U-shaped and looks attractive in your pocket. The exterior finish is good but easily scratches.

Nib and Writing Performance
Upon testing the LAMY pacific pen, we noticed that the writing is consistent since it comes in a medium nib made of steel. We didn’t experience any hand fatigue since the pen is light-weight and you can write for longer sessions.

Filling
Upon testing the LAMY pacific pen, we noticed that the writing is consistent since it comes in a medium nib made of steel. We didn’t experience any hand fatigue since the pen is light-weight and you can write for longer sessions.

Verdict
Upon testing the LAMY pacific pen, we noticed that the writing is consistent since it comes in a medium nib made of steel. We didn’t experience any hand fatigue since the pen is light-weight and you can write for longer sessions.