Best Digital Writing Pads for Online Teaching in 2024

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A digital writing pad makes online lessons smoother. You write naturally with a pen, and your students see each step appear on screen as you write. It beats dragging a mouse around every time you need to show working or sketch a diagram. Here are the best digital writing pads for online teaching in 2026, for every budget.

At a glance

1. Wacom Intuos – Best overall

For online teaching, the Wacom Intuos is the writing pad most people should buy. The pen is precise, it connects by USB or Bluetooth, and the surface holds up to daily lessons. Four shortcut keys let you flip pages or undo without touching the keyboard.

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2. Huion Inspiroy 2 – Best value

The Huion Inspiroy 2 packs the most into a low price: a large writing area, eight buttons, and a scroll wheel for zooming mid-lesson. The pen feels paper-like, and it works with almost any computer.

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3. XP-Pen Deco MW – Best wireless

The XP-Pen Deco MW cuts the cord with Bluetooth and an all-day battery, then adds eight customizable keys, all for less than the big brands. A neat, capable pad for a tidy desk.

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4. One by Wacom – Best budget

If you want to spend as little as possible, the One by Wacom is the writing pad to get. No buttons, no wireless, but a quality Wacom pen and Chromebook support, everything you strictly need to write lessons on screen.

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5. Wacom Intuos Pro – Best premium

Full-time teachers who want the best writing feel should step up to the Wacom Intuos Pro. The pen and touch ring are a clear cut above, and the build is made for years of daily use.

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Pen tablet, pen display or iPad: which type is right for you?

“Writing pad” can mean three different devices. They all let you write by hand during a lesson, but they work differently and cost very different amounts.

For teaching math, the pen tablet is usually the best value. You get precise, pressure-sensitive writing for equations, graphs and diagrams, and the whole setup stays on your normal computer, where your video call already runs. If you find after a few weeks that you really want to see ink under the pen, a pen display is the natural upgrade.

Choosing a writing pad

Pick a medium-sized surface so you have room to write equations, a battery-free pen for natural handwriting, and a connection that suits your desk, Bluetooth for fewer cables, or USB for simplicity. Shortcut keys are a bonus that save time once you set them up.

The Wacom Intuos is the best all-round writing pad for online teaching, with the Huion Inspiroy 2 close behind on value and the One by Wacom winning on price. Want the finest feel? The Intuos Pro delivers. Match one to your budget and you’ll wonder how you taught without it.

How to set up a writing pad for your first online lesson

1. Install the driver from the maker’s website. The pad may work without it, but the driver adds pressure sensitivity and lets you set the shortcut keys.
2. Map the pad to one screen. If you use two monitors, set the pad to the screen you will share. Otherwise, your pen will jump across both screens and feel too sensitive.
3. Set up the keys and pen buttons. Useful choices are undo, eraser, pen/highlighter switch and clear page.
4. Pick a writing app. OneNote, Microsoft Whiteboard, the whiteboard built into Zoom, or any app that lets you draw on a blank or grid page will work. A grid background keeps equations and graphs neat.
5. Share the window, not your whole screen. In Zoom, Meet or Teams, share only the whiteboard window so students don’t see notifications or other tabs.
6. Practice for 15 minutes. Write a few equations and draw a number line and a graph. Write a little larger than you would on paper, and slow down for symbols like ÷, √ and exponents.
7. Save and send your notes. Export the page as a PDF after class so students can review every worked step.

For the rest of your setup, see our list of equipment needed for online math teaching.

What size writing pad do you need?

Size is the spec teachers most often get wrong. The active area is the part of the pad that actually reads the pen, and it matters more than the overall size of the device.

• Small (about 6 x 4 inches): Light and cheap, but cramped for long equations. Fine for quick annotations or a tutor who travels.
• Medium (about 8 to 9 x 5 inches): The best fit for most teachers. There is room to write a full line of algebra, and your hand moves about as much as it does on a notebook page. All five pads on this page are in this range.
• Large (10 inches wide or more): Comfortable for big arm movements, but it takes up desk space and can feel slow if your screen is small.

A good rule is to match the pad to your monitor. On a laptop screen, a medium pad feels natural. On a large external monitor, a medium or slightly larger pad keeps your strokes from feeling too twitchy.

Also check the shape. Most pads are widescreen to match modern monitors. If the pad and screen shapes differ, turn on the driver’s “force proportions” option, so circles don’t come out as ovals.

Frequently asked questions

What is a digital writing pad?

A digital writing pad (also called a pen or graphics tablet) is a flat pad you write on with a special pen. Your handwriting appears on your computer screen, which makes it ideal for showing math working or diagrams during online lessons.

Do I need a screen on the writing pad?

Not for teaching. Pads like the Wacom Intuos have no screen, you watch your computer monitor while you write, which keeps the cost down. Screen tablets cost much more and aren’t necessary for most online teachers.

Which writing pad is best for beginners?

The Wacom Intuos or the budget One by Wacom. Both are simple to set up, use a reliable pen, and work with Windows, Mac, and Chromebooks, so you can start teaching with them right away.

Does a digital writing pad work with Zoom and Google Meet?

Yes. The pad acts like a mouse with pressure sensitivity, so it works with any app on your computer. Open a whiteboard app or Zoom’s built-in whiteboard, write with the pen, and share that window in your call. Students see your handwriting appear live. Teams and Meet work the same way through screen sharing.

Can I use a writing pad with a Chromebook?

Some pads support Chromebooks and some don’t. On our list, the One by Wacom is certified for Chromebook, which makes it a safe pick if your school uses them. For any other model, check the maker’s compatibility page before buying. Also note that school-managed Chromebooks may block new USB devices, so test it before your first lesson.

Is a writing pad hard to get used to?

There is a short learning curve because you write on the pad while looking at the screen. Most teachers feel comfortable within a few days of short practice sessions. Start by tracing shapes and writing simple equations, map the pad to a single monitor, and write slightly larger than usual. After a week it usually feels natural.

Can I use an iPad instead of a writing pad for online teaching?

Yes, an iPad with a stylus works well for writing math, and you can join the call from the iPad or mirror its screen to your computer. It costs more than a pen tablet and adds another device to manage. If you already own one, try it first. If not, a pen tablet connected to your computer is the cheaper, simpler choice.