Are you looking for a sketchbook that's cheaper than a Moleskine but just as good? You have landed up at the right place. Moleskine products are top-rated, despite being priced at a premium. They are so popular that between 2014 and 2018, Moleskine nearly doubled its revenues. Moleskine notebooks are well-known for their quality paper, texture, portable size, and durable flat cover. They work amazingly well with fine liquid ink pens, pencils, and ballpoint pens, which is why they are so popular. artist sketching But if you sometimes feel that Moleskine may be priced a little "too high," you aren't entirely off the mark. So, let's have a look at some of the best Moleskine alternatives, which are equally good but priced cheaper.

#1 Conda Double-Sided Sketchbook

Conda Double-Sided Sketchbook is our top choice. This sketchbook has a black embossed cover with 80 sheets and 90 gsm white paper. Its sturdy and light-textured paper works amazingly with a variety of dry media.

Its best features are

Why should you buy it?

The hardbound sketchbook features 90 gsm textured paper with a versatile surface. It offers excellent durability, does not bleed through, does not age, and the spiral-bound pages are easy to tear out. It is the perfect alternative to a Moleskine.

#2 Canson Universal Sketch Pad

The Candon sketch pad is our second choice. This paper pad has 100 sheets of 96 gsm paper. It is good to use for a variety of dry media. This paper pad has the same level of thickness that you expect from the Moleskine notebook.

Its best features are

Why should you buy it?

The 96gsm high quality fine textured paper is nearly as good as a Moleskine. The sketchbook is perfect for dry media like pencils, charcoal, and crayon. The paper is smudge resistant and does not bleed through

#3 Ohuhu Markers Pad Sketchbook

The Ohuhu sketchbook has easy-tear pages with perforated edges. Despite being a hardbound book, you can share your artwork with others without fear of wear and tear. The 200gsm heavy paper has a smooth and flat surface, making it perfect for mixed media usage.

Its best features are

Why should you buy it?

The 200gsm heavy drawing paper has a smooth and flat surface that prevents bleeding and smudging. So it is a perfect choice to use for most art media.

#4 AppreciArt Sketchbook

This sketchbook is an excellent alternative for Moleskine sketchbooks. Its 120gsm high-quality ivory paper makes it an ideal choice to use for all kinds of dry media. The sketchbook is hardbound and has acid-free paper. So it is also useful for drawing water paintings.

Its best features are

Why should you buy it?

The art sketchbook comes with a pencil holder stitched on the cover, which includes six pencils and is packaged in a beautiful box with a cello-shaped cutout. So it can be a good idea to give this sketchbook to an art lover. Its classic appeal makes it a perfect alternative to Moleskine.

#5 Genie Crafts DIY Cover Sketchbook

The three-pack spiral sketchbook features a thick and sturdy 150gsm paper. You can use it with gel pens, metallic pencils, oil pastels, and markers. The high-quality paper sketchbook is good to use by beginners or by experts to create beautiful designs.

Its best features are

Why should you buy it?

The DIY Sketchbook is an excellent choice to create designs by both new and advanced artists. The quality and thickness of its paper are better than that of Moleskine. You can use it for gel pens, metallic pencils, markers, and oil pastels.

Buyers Guide

Moleskine notebooks are quite popular because of their high-quality paper, cover, and designs. When you are finding the alternatives for Moleskine, you have to consider all these factors. These factors can help you in choosing the best Moleskine alternative.

Paper Quality

The first thing you need to consider while buying a Moleskine alternative is the quality of the paper. You can use documents that are water-resistant, textured, thick, and acid-free to let you create beautiful artworks. Paper Quality

Covers of Sketchbook

When you are looking for a Moleskine alternative, then hardcovers are always more preferable to paperback. The hardcovers are suitable to provide support when you are drawing. You can quickly and comfortably draw on hardcover as compared to paperback. Hardcover based sketchbooks can be taken outdoors with you without fear of wear and tear. Moreover, the drawing surface should be comfortable to work on.

Paper Weight

The weight of the paper is also an essential factor to consider. When you choose an alternative for Moleskine, the best papers are ones that are above 100gsm. 100gsm is suitable for dry media, but if you are looking to work with wet media, you should look for at least 200gsm.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Moleskine acid-free?

Yes, Moleskine notepads are considered acid-free. They are made from pigmented pulp and are an excellent choice for all dry media and Moleskine pens and papers. You can conveniently use it for most of the dry media. These are thicker than the standard ivory-colored notebooks.

Is Moleskine good to buy?

Yes, Moleskine notebooks are worth your money and are an excellent choice to buy for creating a day to day designs. It is the right choice of notepad for both beginner and expert artists. These notebooks are of a variety of sizes and are compatible with all kinds of dry media. So it is good to use in creating your favorite designs.

What paper do most of the artists use?

Most of the artists, both beginners, and professionals, rely on canvas paper. You will find most of their artwork on canvas paper. This paper is always preferable to choose for various painting techniques and to draw intricate sketches. You can use graphite, pencil, oil, acrylic, and other sketches while drawing on canvas paper.

Do Moleskine notebooks lay flat?

No, the Moleskine notebooks do not lay flat when you open them. They can't stay open, and whenever you want to know what you have written in your notebook, you have to open it every time. Related Article: Ready to take your art to the next level?  Here's some tools for Easy Shading Drawing