The reMarkable is not the only pen-and-paper e-ink tablet worth buying. The Kindle Scribe, Boox, and Supernote are all good devices with real strengths. Here is a fair look at where each one shines and who the reMarkable is the better pick for.
All four use e-ink, all four let you write with a stylus, and all four are far calmer than a glass tablet. They differ mostly in philosophy: how open the software is, how much they lean into reading versus writing, and how much they try to do beyond the basics.
This page sticks to the differences in approach rather than exact prices and specs, which change with every new model. Check each maker's current lineup for the latest numbers before you buy.
reMarkable vs. Kindle Scribe
The Kindle Scribe is a reader first. If most of what you do is read books and you want writing as a bonus, it is a natural fit - it plugs straight into the Kindle store and the ebook library you may already own, with a bright, evenly lit screen. Where it is weaker is writing-led work: the note-taking and document tools are more limited and more locked to Amazon's ecosystem.
The reMarkable is the reverse - a writing device first that also reads well. If your center of gravity is notes, marked-up PDFs, and thinking on the page, the reMarkable's writing feel and document handling pull ahead. If it is finishing novels from the Kindle store, the Scribe wins.
reMarkable vs. Boox
Boox tablets are the do-everything option. Many run full Android, so you can install apps, use a browser, run color e-ink on some models, and generally treat the device like a flexible e-ink computer. If you want maximum versatility and the ability to tinker, Boox gives you the most rope.
That openness is also the trade-off. All those apps and settings bring back some of the distraction and complexity the reMarkable deliberately removes, and the writing experience, while good, competes for attention with everything else on the device. The reMarkable's answer is the opposite: fewer choices, less to manage, and a surface that only ever asks you to write or read. Pick Boox for flexibility, the reMarkable for focus.
reMarkable vs. Supernote
Supernote is the closest in spirit to the reMarkable - another writing-first device with a devoted following. It is known for a very paper-like writing feel, a replaceable-friendly, repair-minded design, and strong on-device note organization and linking. For some writers it is the better notebook.
The reMarkable counters with a thinner, more minimal hardware design, a polished and simple interface, and a larger template and accessory ecosystem to build on - including the PDF notebooks and tools on this site. Between these two it comes down to feel and taste more than features; both are excellent, and neither is a wrong answer.
How to choose
| If you want most... | Consider |
|---|---|
| A distraction-free writing and reading device with a big ecosystem | reMarkable |
| To read Kindle books first, write second | Kindle Scribe |
| Apps, a browser, and maximum flexibility | Boox |
| A writing-first notebook with strong on-device organization | Supernote or reMarkable |
Whichever writing tablet you land on, one thing carries across most of them: they all read PDFs. A well-built PDF notebook gives any of these devices structure the built-in templates lack, which is the subject of the next guide.
Try notebooks built for the reMarkable
Our hyperlinked PDF notebooks are laid out for reMarkable 2, Pure, Paper Pro, and Paper Pro Move, with left- and right-handed versions and free samples. See the difference before you commit to a device or a template.