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Have you seen how many different journals are available out there? In this post, we will try to guide you and give you some good options from where you can choose the journal that fits you best.
In this guide we will center in empty journals, on the other hand, if you want a more guided experience have a look at our post of guided journals.
Empty journals, which could be simple notebooks too, are devoid of pre-printed content or guided prompts. As the pages are typically empty they provide complete freedom and flexibility so you can establish your structure, pacing, and content in your journaling practice. And makes them perfect if you want to add illustrations, doodles, photographs, or other mementos to make them uniquely their own.
Journal styles
Without taking into account the size of the journal, we could say that empty journals can have four main styles that offer different approaches to writing and creativity:
Blank Journals: Blank journals provide complete freedom for expressing your thoughts, ideas, and creativity. They are ideal for freeform journaling, doodling, sketching, or any other form of self-expression without constraints.
Lined/Ruled Journals: Lined journals have ruled lines across the pages, providing structure and guidance for writing. They are well-suited for traditional journaling, recording daily activities, personal reflections, or writing longer entries with neatness and organization.
Dotted Journals: Dot grid journals feature a grid of dots that serve as a subtle guide for writing, drawing, or creating layouts. They offer more flexibility than lined journals, allowing you to structure your journal entries, create bullet lists, design spreads, or even create intricate drawings with precision.
- Squared/Graph Journals: These journals feature pages with a grid pattern of squares or rectangles. The grid pattern helps maintain consistent spacing, alignment, and symmetry in writing or artwork. They offer a structured layout that can assist in creating charts, diagrams, tables, or other visual representations. As a personal note, they remind me too much to my school/college years, so I don’t like them specially for personal journaling.
Although the choice depends more on your journaling style, it doesn’t matter if you go with the freedom of the blank pages, the structure of the lined journals, or the versatility of the dotted ones, then you always can bend those limits doodling over lines.
Sizes
Journals come in various sizes to cater to different preferences and purposes. We have created a short post in this regard, find the journal size that fits you best.
For the current post, we are going to focus on A5 or similar-sized journals. Nevertheless, many of the brands we are going to list have them in multiple sizes, and the quality is transferable to any of those sizes.
Paper
When evaluating the quality of a journal probably the most important thing to consider is the paper. Let’s see some important characteristics/terms to take into account:
- Weight: The paper weight is measured in gsm (grams per square meter). Commonly journals use paper that range from 70gsm to 170gsm. More gsm means a thicker paper that normally will stand better heavier inks or color paints, although it depends too on the paper quality itself, varying a lot from brand to brand. And beware that thicker paper doesn’t mean that the overall journal experience is going to be better.
- Color: Yes, the color of the paper on each journal is a little bit different. Normally it will be white/sepia/ivory/yellowish. Is up to you which likes you more, the one I like the most is light ivory color, not white not very yellow.
- Texture/smoothness: Depending on the journal the writing experience may be very smooth or a little bit rough.
- Acid-free: Acid-free paper is a type of paper that is manufactured without the use of acidic chemicals. Traditional paper production involves the use of acids during the pulping and bleaching processes, which can cause the paper to become acidic over time. Acidic paper is prone to yellowing, becoming brittle, and deteriorating more rapidly compared to acid-free paper. On top of that it prevents ink from bleeding, feathering, or being absorbed excessively into the paper fibers.
- Ghosting: It is the phenomenon where the ink from one page or side of a journal or notebook is visible or faintly appears on the opposite side or subsequent pages
- Bleeding: It is occurrence of ink spreading or seeping through the paper, resulting in visible marks on the opposite side or subsequent pages. It happens when the ink is not absorbed by the paper but instead saturates and spreads beyond the intended writing area.
- Feathering: It happens when the ink spreads and creates tiny, irregular lines or tendrils on the paper fibers, resulting in a fuzzy or blurred appearance around the written or drawn lines
Now yes, let’s get to the journals!
Best paper journals to buy
When it comes to journals/notebooks/diaries there are a lot good quality brands. In this post, we have selected trustable brands with the best quality and reasonable prices, always considering that we want a special journal that inspires us, stands the test of time, and lets us enjoy writting with a great variety of pens.
Before we make it to our list here you have other good cheap options, that perfectly could meet your needs:
And now our picked journals (not in a particular order).
Peter Pauper Press Journals
Peter Pauper Press is known for producing journals with covers with multiple designs that include intricate illustrations, artistic patterns, floral motifs, nature-inspired imagery, inspirational quotes, and more at very good prices.
Those covers serve as an inviting gateway to the pages within, inspiring creativity and encouraging users to engage with their journals. But they don’t focus only on the covers, the paper is good too.
They use a 120gsm acid-free archival smooth paper, where it is easy to write in. It has a nice color that sits in between the white and the ivory/creamy ones, we are sure that no one will complain. The lined journals have light lines, not very intrusive, and the dotted ones have light-grey dotts, lighter than usual but a little thicker. Refer to the images below.
We have to say that although being 120gsm you may have trouble writing with some heavy markers, but it will be good enough for most uses and it won’t disappoint.
As a con, you might not find all the paper styles (blank, dotted, lined..) for all the covers that you like. Here you have for example the lined version and the dotted version of the celestial journal:
And beware that the lined version has 160 pages, golden edges and is A5+ while the dotted one has 192 pages, doesn’t have golden edges, is standard A5 and has the closing strap.
And the most impressive thing is that they come at a very good price, almost half compared to other brands. In fact, as we can read inside the journals, this brand pleads for low prices so they are accessible to everyone: Peter – and later, his wife, Edna – sought to create fine books that sold at “prices even a pauper could afford.”
So, summarizing, these are beautifully designed journals with great quality, at a very good price. If you like this classic style you should try them!
If you prefer a more conventional and versatile journal from this great brand, look into their Essentials Dot Matrix Notebook.
Extra features: Back pocket, golden edges (lined A5+ versions), very special covers, acid-free archival paper.
Alternative: Paperblank creates classic-styled journals too with very good quality.
LEUCHTTURM1917
Leuchtturm1917 builds very functional, high-quality journals with good construction and attention to detail. Plus they are available in a variety of sizes and formats.
The first thing you notice when you hold one is that they are sturdy and compact, the cover has a very nice feel and, in the same way as its pages, it is not very thick. It really gives you the sensation of holding something well-made, something that you will like to carry with you.
It uses an 80gsm yellowish ivory light paper that in my eyes feels a little more synthetic than in other journals. The paper is high quality and the ink seems to expand here wider than in other journals (ex. Rhodia). But, (here comes the but..), this paper bleeds through with heavier pens (fountain pens) and the ghosting is quite noticeable with more light pens too. So I would say that depending on how much you hate some ghosting and which is your favorite pen it may be a good choice or not. (For example, I’ve been writing a bit with the Pigma Micron 04, and it holds quite well, but still the ghosting is quite noticeable).
There is a 120gsm paper edition, that is more expensive but still doesn’t do so well with heavy inks.
If you use regular pens and don’t mind paying a little extra, this may be a very good choice, with all the variety of sizes and styles that this company offers we are sure that you will find your match. This is a very versatile option to be used across any type of situation (personal journaling, work, college, travel).
And speaking about the price take into account that it has 251 pages.
Extra features: Numbered pages, index, two bookmarks, back pocket, stickers.
Alternative: The most direct alternative would be Moleskine, with its high-quality build, but no so-great 70gsm paper quality, it offers a vast number of different journal options too. It is thinner and a good everyday notebook for normal pens.
Another cheaper alternative would be the Amazon basics journal, which depending of your needs, and if you find a good deal, it can be a good alternative.
Have a look to the Rhodia pick in this same article, if you are looking specifically for high quality paper with less ghosting and bleeding while still thin (90gsm) may be your alternativ.
String & Space Star Dotted Notebook
This journal has a cute, elegant, aesthetic design and offers a delightful writing experience. The journal features a durable hardbound vegan leather cover with rose gold edges, star doodles, and embossed foil details. And it comes in a stylish gift box, making it a perfect gift.
The journal is equipped with premium ultra-thick 170gsm paper that can withstand various writing tools, including fountain pens, markers, and watercolor paints. Although alcohol-based markers still will bleed through, but that is normal.
It has 160 pages and its color is white.
The price is very reasonable for its thick pages, design, presentation, and overall quality. Even if some users have reported problems with the binding it seems to be the exception.
Although this one is more appropriate for someone that is thinking of using different types of pens, markers, and paints, if you like it (it’s beautiful) and you don’t mind the extra thickness you will enjoy it too.
Extra features: Gift box, two bookmarks, rose gold sides, penloop, backpocket.
Alternative: If you think that this journal is a good fit for you, have a look too at the Yop & Tom – Moon and Stars Bullet Dotted Journal, it may not come in a gift box or with gold rose edges but they match in terms of quality/price.
And have a look too to the Scribbles That Matter journal that we have picked.
Scribbles That Matter
Scribbles That Matter is a popular journal brand that is known for its high-quality notebooks and planners. They offer a variety of different notebooks, including bullet journals, planners, and dot grid journals.
When you get one of these notebooks, you first notice that they are quite thick compared to other journals (see photo). The second thing you will notice is the quality of their build, they are sturdy and seem to have put attention to all the details, you know that you are holding a top journal.
These notebooks are made with thick, 120gsm / 160gsm paper. The paper is high quality and when using normal pens, gel-pens or markers you won’t see any bleeding or ghosting on any of its versions, so the 120gsm version is enough unless you are going te get creative. In fact, compared to other 120gsm journals the ghosting here is much les noticeable. The paper is white and quite stiff due to its thickness, as a con I would say that it is not as smooth as in other journals.
The 120gsm version has 200 pages while the 160gsm version has 153 pages.
This notebooks come with a variety of features that make them well-suited for journaling, such as numbered pages, page markers, and elastic closures, pen holder (quite narrow).
Scribbles That Matter offer a variety of different cover designs, including both plain and patterned covers. Their notebooks are also available in various colors, so you can find one that matches your style.
This brand is a great choice for anyone looking for a well-built high-quality journal with thick pages. Their journals are well-made, stylish, and feature everything you need to get started journaling.
Although they are not cheap they have a good price nad they come with a STM 0.4 black fineliner! nice extra.
Ah! and they come in a gift box or archiver.
Extra features: 0.4mm black fineliner pen, page divider, back pocket, pen holder, two bookmarks, numbered pages archiver or giftbox.
Alternative: Ottergami would be a good cheaper alternative with its 150gsm high-quality paper, although the overall construction may not be to the same level.
For thick papers, you could have a look Dingbats pro too.
Minimalism Art
Minimalism art journals are designed to be simple and uncluttered.
These journals offer good quality at very good prices, the build quality may not be top but is still well made, has good attention to detail, and a very special feel.
The paper is high quality, it is smooth and comes in an ivory color, not white but not very yellowish either. We have two versions in terms of paper, 100gsm softcover, and 120gsm hardcover. Even the 100gsm will be enough for normal pens where you will find no ghosting or bleeding.
Some important things about this journal:
- If you are going for the ruled or squared version be aware that the lines are dark, that personally don’t like very much.
- The 120gsm 186 pages version is quite thick (almost 1 inch / 2.5cm), in case that is a problem, there is an even cheaper version with 120gsm and 122 pages.
So if you are looking for a simple, classy journal with quality paper that wont bleed or ghost with normal pens at a very good price check this brand!
Extra features: Gift box, two bookmarks, numbered pages.
Alternative: Lemome, it would be a perfect alternative with 120gsm high-quality paper at good prices, but lately there have been some reports of quality drops and bindings broken in months.
Other good alternatives would be AHGXG, Stationery Island and Rettacy (that you can find it in this article too).
Rhodia
Rhodia is known for producing notebooks with high-quality paper.
And don’t get me wrong, the overall quality is great, these journals are very well constructed and they feel classy, but their paper is what really stands out.
Rhodia uses exceptionally smooth, fountain pen-friendly paper. The paper is acid-free and provides a pleasant writing experience, allowing for smooth ink flow and minimal feathering or bleed-through. And the most impressive thing is that it is ‘only’ 90gsm paper, which will make the pages not very rigid and the journal quite thin. Of course, the ghosting is bigger here than for example in the 120gsm Scribbles That Matter paper, but compared to the 80gsm Leuchtturm it does very very well.
The pages are ivory color, and as you can see in the pictures below, more sepia than the Leuchtturm. But in case that is a problem, there is a version with white pages too.
The grey color of the dots is really nice, the pages even smell well!
The 160-page Rhodia softcover, is very portable and the cover is hard enough to travel with it. And by the way, it is a little bit wider than the normal A5, providing more space to write.
The hardcover version, called ‘webnotebook‘, has 192 pages, but is very similar to the softcover version in terms of extras, although is more narrow.
And finally, there is a ‘goalbook‘ version that has 240 pages and comes with an index, pages for months, numbered pages, two bookmarks, penholder..
Rhodia is not a cheap brand, but the price may depend on where you live and the version you choose, that to be truthful, at least in Amazon, is not easy to navigate through them.
So if you are looking for a not-very thick versatile journal, with thin smooth pages that won’t ghost much or bleed with fountain pens and normal markers, this is a very good option!
Alternative: The Leuchtturm1917 and Dingbats would be good alternatives. Both are featured in this post.
RETTACY
Rettacy is another ‘cheap’ option in our journal selection but of course a great one!
It may not have the same attention to detail that more costly options (for example index page semi-glued to the first thick page…), the cover, while nice, feels a little bit cheaper and the printing of the dots and page numbers is no so elegant, but it has the important things very well covered!
The paper is great, it is a 120gsm ivory light smooth paper (very nice color). I really like how this paper feels. The only con is that it has more ghosting than its 120gsm paper contenders, maybe is because it takes the ink so well. Still, good paper if you are not thinking of going with heavy markers, and of course is not the same type of ghosting that may have the Leuchtturm1917 with tis 80gsm paper.
The journal is not very thick with 160 pages (3 index + 156 pages) so is quite portable.
I would recommend it if you are looking for a simple journal, comfortable, with good smooth paper that will no ghost with normal pens/markers at a very good price.
Extras: Pen holder, two bookmarks, stencils, back pocket, numbered pages.
Extra features: Two bookmarks, pen holder, backpocket, numbered pages.
Alternative: Minimalism Art, featured in this post, goes much in the same line in terms of quality and price.
Other good cheap options could be AHGXG and Stationery Island depending on the region.
Dingbats
Dingbats is specialized in producing eco-friendly notebooks and journals. They are known for their commitment to sustainability and the use of high-quality materials. These notebooks are made with vegan, FSC-certified, and acid-free paper. They feature unique cover designs, often inspired by nature.
Dingbats has two main lines of A5+ journals (they are a little bit bigger than the standard A5) that have similar characteristics but differ on some important details.
The wildlife line comes with all its pages slightly perforated (not everybody might like this) and in different styles (dotted, plain, lined, and squared). The pages aren’t numbered and there isn’t index or guiding pages.
The earth line only has the last 16 pages perforated, it only has the dotted option and has some extras like, numbered pages, index, tabs to color in each page, two bockmarks.
We have to say that Dingbats is not cheap, and the Earth version is more expensive than Wildlife. But we have to take into account that the construction, cover, and paper are high quality.
Dingbats journals stand out for their paper quality that with 100gsm holds very well even with fountain pens. If you are going with more demanding pens or watercolors probably you should go with a journal with thicker paper. In terms of paper, this journal can be a good compromise between the Leuchtturm1917 and the next level of thicker papers, so a little bit of ghosting will still be noticeable.
Extra features: Pen holder, backpocket, size A5+.
Earth edition adds two bookmarks and numbered pages.
Alternative: Rhodia, or we could go up to the other alternatives with thicker papers that we have seen.
Conclusion
Everyone likes different things and has different needs, so it would be imposible to point to one specific journal. In fact, probably you may use different journals for different things.
In my specific case, currently, I am using a 120gsm Scribbles That Matter journal as my main daily journal, a Rhodia softcover as a travel journal, and a Leuchtturm for business/finance related topics. But next year probably will try something different (or not hah).
So I encourage you to try more than one and compare them yourself! Any of the reviwed picks is a good pick. And of course look for the deals that may appear in your region, depending on where you live the brand pricing may be quite different.
And lastly, if you want to complement your paper journaling with an online journal try minspirits our journaling community app.
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