In a world where the term “starving artist” is commonplace, we need cheap Copic Marker alternatives. If you’re reading this, then you understand. The primary concern, though, is whether your art quality will be impacted by purchasing a cheaper brand.
In short – It won’t. Copic markers are good, but they’re (in my opinion) significantly more expensive than they need to be. The Copic marker alternatives I list below are not only going to keep you from declaring bankruptcy, but they’ll also enable you to create stunning, high-quality artwork.
| Brand | Total Price | Per Marker | VS Copic | |
| 1 | Ohuhu (72-Color Alcohol Marker Set) | $69.99 | $0.97 | -84% |
| 2 | ARTEZA (72-Color Alcohol Marker Set) | $92.85 | $1.29 | -78% |
| 3 | Blick Studios (96-Color Brush Markers Set) | $199.00 | $2.07 | -65% |
Prices compared to Copic 72-Color Sketch Marker Set at $421.20 ($5.85/Marker)
Top 3 Cheap Copic Marker Alternatives Compared
If you’re still reading, then price isn’t the ONLY thing that matters to you (and that’s good!). What about quality? Let’s dig into each of these Copic alternatives and why they rank the way they do:
1 – Ohuhu is Easily the Best Copic Alternative
Every time I read this company name out loud, it sounds like I’m making a poor attempt at fake laughing (AH hue hue hue). Anyways, let’s talk about Ohuhu – the high-quality but incredibly cheap alternative to Copic markers.
Ohuhu’s alcohol markers honestly blow me away. Not only do they rival (and dare I say EXCEED) the quality of Copic, but they’re one of the CHEAPEST. Literally how? I mean, no offense to Copic or anything, but why are Copic’s prices this high when Ohuhu makes alcohol markers of nearly the same quality at 80% off?
Ohuhu markers offer a range of colors comparable to Copic, and the only recurring negative comment I find about them is that the nibs tend to wear a little quicker than Copic’s. But Ohuhu markers have reversible tips. So, when you wear through one side, you flip the nib around and keep going.
User reviews on Amazon are even notably higher for Ohuhu than for Copic. It’s probably because artists who bought Ohuhu still had money left over for rent that month, lol.
2 – ARTEZA Alcohol Markers Come in Second
If you’re hesitant about Ohuhu because you read that one random 1-star review from Aas Mohamad that said, “One of the marker is used and dry not expected this kind of product quality,” and you’re frightened by the idea of taking the time to return them for a new free set (which Ohuhu will 100% do if you have an issue with your order) then ARTEZA is your next best bet.
These bad boys come in at just $1.29/marker when buying their 72-piece set, and ARTEZA is a quality brand. The reviews place them at 4.6 stars (which is what Copic had at the time of writing), with just under 200 reviews.
The biggest downside of these is the fact that they’re not refillable OR individually replaceable. So, if you’re using one color a lot and it runs out – tough luck. Your cheapest option is a 4-pack containing the color you want.
That’s a bit of a downer for me, but I’d still consider these for anyone just getting started. It’s a good beginner’s set and definitely a great cheap alternative to Copic markers. It could also make a good art supply gift for someone hesitant about spending the money on a new set.
3 – Blick Studio Brush Markers a Close Third
It was tough not putting this in second place, but ultimately, the price knocked these down into a close 3rd. The jump in price from $1.29/marker to $2.07/marker was just too much for an article focused on “Cheap” alternatives to Copic.
However, even these are a whopping 65% cheaper than their Copic counterparts. That’s still an insane difference. Plus, user reviews commonly refer to Blick Studio markers as “the most comparable” and “basically clones” of Copic markers.
Unlike the ARTEZA brand, these ones are refillable and can be purchased individually, which is great for anyone that uses a lot of the same colors. If you can afford the price increase, I’d actually recommend these over ARTEZA. But at nearly $0.80 more per marker, I had to put these in 3rd place for the cheapest Copic alternatives.
Conclusion
So, Ohuhu is the clear winner if you’re looking for the cheapest alternative to Copic while still maintaining quality. ARTEZA and Blick Studio alcohol markers offer great value but don’t stand against Ohuhu’s price and quality combination.
If you think I missed an important talking point, I’d love to hear about it. Send me a message on my Contact page, or leave it in the comments below!