In the right hands, a pen can be a mighty little thing. The Surface Pen from Microsoft is a digital stylus that changes the way you interact with your Surface device.
From note-taking to form-filling to digital illustration, the Surface Pen and Surface Slim Pen are mighty tools that only get better when you add some great apps into the mix. Here are some of our favorite apps to use on our Surface devices.
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Thanks to most of the above apps having at least some sort of free version or trial period, you can give them a try with your pen essentially risk-free. And don't worry about mixing and matching hardware; the Surface Slim Pen works with older Surfaces. Don't have a Surface Pen? You can always check out these Surface Pen and Surface Slim Pen alternatives.
Wondering exactly where to start with the apps? Bamboo Paper is a lightweight app that delivers a true paper feel while writing. Not only is it great for note-taking and journaling — you can add your own photos to a page — it can also be used to sketch or draw thanks to a custom color palette and a collection of tools beyond just a pen.
If you're more artistically inclined, there are countless drawing apps and Procreate alternatives for Windows, but compatibility between pens and apps can be an issue. The apps mentioned here will all pair exceptionally well with Surface pens, without any concerns for input issues. Apps like ibis Paint and Sketchbook Pro are excellent options with support for Surface pen features like pressure sensitivity and tilt without the need to purchase an additional pen display or drawing tablet.
