Signo 207 Retractable Gel (12-pack) vs Safari Fountain Pen
Two picks from our home office catalog, compared side-by-side by editor rating, AI confidence, price tier, and what each one is genuinely best at.
Signo 207 Retractable Gel (12-pack)
The best sub-$2 pen. Fraud-resistant pigment ink, smooth without being gushy, and the grip actually helps on a long writing session. Buy the 12-pack; you'll lose most of them anyway.
Check current price on Amazon →Safari Fountain Pen
The gateway fountain pen. Bulletproof German-made steel nib, ergonomic grip, and it uses standard ink cartridges. Owners keep them for 20+ years. If you journal by hand, this is the buy.
Check current price on Amazon →At a glance
| Brand | Uni-ball | Lamy |
| Category | Pens | Pens |
| Price tier | budget | mid |
| Editor rating | ★★★★★ (5/5) | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| AI confidence | 91 — Very High | 90 — Very High |
| Current price | Typically under $25 | Typically under $50 |
| Best for | accountant, developer, therapist, doctor, suit, teacher | creative, therapist |
Signo 207 Retractable Gel (12-pack)
- +Archival, fraud-resistant ink
- +Smooth 0.7mm gel
- +Comfortable grip
- +Under $1.50/pen
- −Not refillable practically
- −Ink takes ~5 sec to dry
Safari Fountain Pen
- +Lifetime-durable nib
- +Refillable + converter-compatible
- +Comfortable grip section
- +Iconic design
- −Grip shape divides opinions
- −Cartridges are proprietary size
The verdict
Signo 207 Retractable Gel (12-pack) is the pick for most people in this comparison — the best sub-$2 pen. fraud-resistant pigment ink, smooth without being gushy, and the grip actually helps on a long writing session. buy the 12-pack; you'll lose most of them anyway.
Choose the Safari Fountain Pen instead if lifetime-durable nib outweighs a slightly lower confidence score for your setup.