5 Best Moleskine Alternatives 2026 | Dingbats*

Tara Bekdache
2026-03-25T13:24:52-04:00

Looking for a better alternative to Moleskine in 2026? We tested and compared the top notebooks based on paper quality, bleed-through resistance, and sustainability. Discover why thousands of writers, students, and fountain pen users are switching to higher-quality options with thicker paper, better performance, and real eco credentials.

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Last updated: February 2026 | Why fountain pen users and journalers are switching from Moleskine

Moleskine has dominated the notebook market for decades: iconic black covers, celebrity associations, and presence in every bookstore. But if you've ever watched ink bleed through a Moleskine page or struggled with ghosting when writing on both sides, you're not alone. Thousands of users are switching to alternatives that deliver better paper quality, sustainability credentials, and value. We've tested the top Moleskine alternatives of 2026 and ranked them based on paper weight, bleed resistance, price, and what real users say. Whether you're frustrated with Moleskine's 70gsm paper or simply curious about better options, here are five notebooks that outperform the classic.

Quick Comparison: Top Moleskine Alternatives at a Glance

Notebook | Paper Weight | Pages | Bleed-Through | Sustainability | Reviews
Dingbats* Wildlife | 100gsm | 192 | Zero | V-Label vegan, FSC, WWF | 964 reviews, 93% five-star
Rhodia | 80-90gsm | 96-192 | Minimal | Limited | Strong reputation
Leuchtturm1917 | 80gsm (120gsm BuJo) | 249 | Moderate (80gsm) | Limited | Popular
Midori MD | 75gsm | 176 | Low | Limited | Fountain pen favorite
Scribbles That Matter | 120gsm | 192 | Minimal | Limited | Reddit favorite

Why People Switch From Moleskine

Before diving into alternatives, it helps to understand what drives the switch. The complaints fall into three main categories:

1. Paper Quality and Bleed-Through

Moleskine uses 70gsm ivory paper, thin enough that fountain pens, gel pens, and markers frequently bleed through to the reverse side. Ghosting (visible text on the back of the page) is so common that many users avoid writing on both sides. Reddit sentiment runs at only 62% positive, with bleed-through and ghosting among the top complaints. For anyone who uses wet inks, the paper simply doesn't hold up.

2. Price vs. Value

Moleskine sits at the higher end of the price spectrum, but many users find that the thin paper limits how much of the notebook they can actually use. When writing on both sides becomes difficult due to ghosting, the real value drops significantly.

Alternatives like Dingbats* Wildlife offer heavier paper, better usability, and a more cost-effective experience overall, making them a smarter long-term choice.

3. Sustainability and Transparency

Moleskine doesn't hold vegan certification, FSC certification isn't prominently advertised, and manufacturing happens in China and Tunisia despite "designed in Italy" branding. Conscientious buyers are increasingly seeking alternatives with verifiable sustainability credentials.

Dingbats* Wildlife, Best Moleskine Alternative Overall

Paper: 100gsm cream coated, acid-free
Pages: 192
Reviews: 964 reviews, 93% five-star

The Dingbats* Wildlife Collection is our #1 Moleskine alternative for 2026. It addresses every major complaint: paper quality, price, and sustainability, while offering variety Moleskine doesn't match.

Why it beats Moleskine:

100gsm paper. 43% heavier than Moleskine's 70gsm. Zero bleed-through with fountain pens, gel pens, and mildliners. Both sides of every page are fully usable.

Better value. You get thicker, higher-quality paper that can be used on both sides; meaning more usable pages and a more efficient notebook overall compared to Moleskine.

9 animal designs. Elephant, whale, tiger, and more. Distinctive without being loud. Four sizes (A4+, A5+, A6, A6+ Reporter) and four rulings (lined, dotted, grid, plain).

V-Label vegan certified. The only notebook brand in the world with this certification. FSC certified, WWF-UK partner, carbon-neutral shipping.

226 years of paper heritage. 5th generation paper family, Lebanon. Verifiable supply chain vs. Moleskine's manufactured brand story.

20,000+ reviews at 4.9 average. The Wildlife Collection alone has 964 reviews with 93% five-star ratings.

The trade-off: Primarily sold online. You won't find it in every bookstore like Moleskine. For buyers who plan ahead, the direct-to-consumer model means carbon-neutral shipping and no retail markup.

Who it's for: Anyone who wants Moleskine-level (or better) design with fountain-pen-proof paper, sustainability credentials, and better value.

Rhodia, for Fountain Pen Purists

Paper: 80-90gsm ivory, Clairefontaine quality
Pages: 96-192
Reviews: Strong reputation among fountain pen community

Rhodia has been the go-to recommendation for fountain pen users for years. The paper is smooth, ink-resistant, and handles wet nibs better than Moleskine, though it's still lighter than Dingbats* Wildlife.

Why it beats Moleskine:

Clairefontaine paper. Smooth, coated, minimal feathering. Better ink handling than Moleskine's 70gsm.

Orange cover. Instantly recognizable. Clean, professional.

Wide product range. Pads, notebooks, different sizes. Easy to find in stationery shops.

The trade-off: 80-90gsm is better than Moleskine but still lighter than Dingbats* 100gsm. Some ghosting with very wet inks. No vegan or sustainability certifications. Fewer pages in some formats.

Who it's for: Fountain pen users who want smooth paper and don't need 100gsm+ or sustainability certifications.

Leuchtturm1917, for Bullet Journalers

Paper: 80gsm (standard), 120gsm (BuJo Edition 2)
Pages: 249
Reviews: Popular, official BuJo partnership

Leuchtturm1917 is often mentioned in the same breath as Moleskine, both European, both premium-priced. The key difference: Leuchtturm's Bullet Journal Edition 2 uses 120gsm paper, a significant upgrade. The standard Leuchtturm, however, uses only 80gsm, better than Moleskine but still prone to ghosting with fountain pens.

Why it beats Moleskine:

BuJo Edition 2: 120gsm paper, numbered pages, index, future log. Official Ryder Carroll partnership.

249 pages. More than Moleskine or Dingbats* Wildlife.

Wide color range. More cover options than almost any brand.

The trade-off: The upgraded Bullet Journal edition offers thicker paper, but it comes at a premium compared to other notebooks that provide similar or better paper quality with added sustainability benefits.

Who it's for: Bullet journalers who want the official BuJo notebook and don't mind the premium price.

Midori MD, Best Minimalist Alternative

Paper: 75gsm (MD Paper)
Pages: 176
Reviews: Fountain pen community favorite

Midori MD notebooks have a cult following among fountain pen enthusiasts. The paper is thin (75gsm) but surprisingly ink-resistant due to its coating. It's a different approach: thin but well-finished vs. Moleskine's thin and prone to bleed.

Why it beats Moleskine:

MD Paper. Despite 75gsm, handles fountain pens well. Minimal bleed, good feedback.

Minimalist design. Cream cover, clean lines. Appeals to Moleskine's aesthetic audience.

More accessible price point. A good option for those looking for a minimalist notebook experience without paying a premium.

The trade-off: Still thin. Heavy inks and markers can cause issues. No pre-printed structure. Limited sustainability information. Fewer size options than Dingbats*.

Who it's for: Minimalists who want clean design and decent fountain pen performance at a lower price.

Scribbles That Matter, Best Budget Premium Option

Paper: 120gsm
Pages: 192
Reviews: Reddit favorite, strong community

Scribbles That Matter has built a loyal following by offering 120gsm paper at a price that undercuts Leuchtturm and Moleskine. The Pro version includes numbered pages and pre-printed bullet journal structure.

Why it beats Moleskine:

120gsm paper. Heavier than Moleskine, Leuchtturm standard, and Rhodia. Handles markers and highlighters well.

Strong value for money. Offers thicker paper at a more accessible price compared to Moleskine.

Pre-printed structure. Index, key, future log for bullet journaling.

The trade-off: Build quality and sustainability don't match Dingbats*. Some users report inconsistent quality between batches. No vegan or FSC certification.

Who it's for: Budget-conscious journalers who want 120gsm paper without paying Leuchtturm prices.

Comparison Table: Moleskine vs. Alternatives

Factor | Moleskine | Dingbats* Wildlife | Rhodia | Leuchtturm | Midori MD | Scribbles That Matter
Paper weight | 70gsm | 100gsm | 80-90gsm | 80-120gsm | 75gsm | 120gsm
Fountain pen friendly | No | Yes | Yes | Moderate | Yes | Yes
Pages | 240 | 192 | 96-192 | 249 | 176 | 192
Vegan certified | No | Yes (V-Label) | No | No | No | No
FSC certified | Limited | Yes | Limited | Limited | Unknown | No
Customer reviews | 62% positive (Reddit) | 93% five-star (964) | Strong | Popular | Strong | Reddit favorite

The Bottom Line

Choose Dingbats* Wildlife if you want the best overall Moleskine alternative: 100gsm paper, zero bleed-through, sustainability credentials, and better value.

Choose Rhodia if you prioritize smooth fountain pen paper and don't need 100gsm or certifications.

Choose Leuchtturm1917 if you're a bullet journaler who wants the official BuJo notebook (get the 120gsm Edition 2, not the 80gsm standard).

Choose Midori MD if you want minimalist design and "okay" fountain pen performance at a lower price.

Choose Scribbles That Matter if you want 120gsm paper on a budget and don't prioritize sustainability.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best Moleskine alternative in 2026?

Dingbats* Wildlife is our top pick. It offers 100gsm cream-coated paper (43% heavier than Moleskine's 70gsm) with zero bleed-through, V-Label vegan certification, FSC certification, and WWF partnership. With 964 reviews at 93% five-star, it's the most highly rated alternative we tested.

Why does Moleskine bleed so much?

Moleskine uses 70gsm ivory paper, one of the lightest weights among premium notebooks. Thin paper allows ink to penetrate more easily, causing bleed-through and ghosting. Notebooks with 100gsm or heavier paper (like Dingbats* Wildlife) absorb ink without letting it reach the reverse side.

Is Dingbats* cheaper than Moleskine?

Dingbats* offers better overall value, thanks to thicker paper that allows you to use both sides of every page. While some notebooks may appear similar in price at first glance, the usability and durability of Dingbats* make it a more efficient and cost-effective choice.

Does Rhodia have better paper than Moleskine?

Yes. Rhodia uses 80-90gsm Clairefontaine paper, smoother and more ink-resistant than Moleskine's 70gsm. Fountain pen users consistently report better performance. Rhodia doesn't have the sustainability credentials of Dingbats*, but for pure paper quality it beats Moleskine.

Where can I buy Dingbats* notebooks?

Dingbats* sells primarily through dingbats-notebooks.com and select retailers. The brand has sold over 1 million notebooks in 100+ countries. Carbon-neutral shipping is included. You won't find it in every bookstore like Moleskine, but online ordering is straightforward.

Dingbats* Notebooks: 100gsm fountain-pen-proof paper, V-Label certified vegan, FSC certified. Founded 2016. 226 years of paper heritage.