Notebook comparison : 5 different brands compared
It’s probably the more asked question : « What notebook should I use for my bullet journal? ». And my answer is almost always the same : « whatever notebook you find! »
But newbies usually need more guidance and ask what brand is the best and why.
With this post, I’m going to try to answer this question by comparing five brands of notebooks :
– Leuchtturm1917
– Scribbles That Matter
– Rhodia Goalbook
– Dingbats* Notebook
– Personal-Planner
Pens tested
When searching for the perfect notebook, the most important aspect is probably the paper quality! I’ve tested almost all the pen brands I own to give you an overview of the paper quality of the notebooks :
- Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen F (black)
- Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen S (blue)
- Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen B (green)
- Staedtler Triplus Fineliners (black, red, green)
- Sakura Pigma Micron 08 (black) + Brush Pen
- Tombow Mono Drawing Pen 03 (black)
- Tombow Dual Brush Pen (dark purple)
- Tombow Dual Brush Pen (yellow)
- Pentel Touch soft tip (orange + pink)
- PaperMate Flair M (black + blue)
- Stabilo Pointmax (black)
- Stabilo Pen 68 (blue)
- Muji gel pen 0.7 (dark blue) + 0.38 (pink)
- Edding 1800 Profipen 0.7 (black)
- Edding 1340 Brush Pen (pink)
- Pilot Frixion (black)
- Stabilo Boss (highlighter) (purple + blue)
Please note that I haven’t tested any alcohol-based which aren’t adapted to the notebooks mentioned in this post.
Leuchtturm1917 : A5 dotted notebook
Leuchtturm1917 notebooks are probably the most popular in the bullet journal world. Ryder Carroll himself uses one. The brand also launched the official bullet journal notebook available in three different colors.
Description
Leuchtturm1917 notebooks are available in different formats, different ruling types and different colors. It features two fabric bookmarks, a pocket, numbered pages and pre-made index.
Paper quality
The paper is ivory and has a weight of 80g/m². It’s a bit thin in my opinion and ghosting is very apparent. Some of the pens I tested bleed through the paper so be careful and keep a page at the end of the notebook to test your pens.
Overview
| Leuchtturm1917 - A5 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Hard cover | Soft cover | |
| Other sizes available | ||
| Dimensions | ||
| Cover colors available | ||
| Binding | ||
| Number of pages | ||
| Ruling | Squared Lined Dotted |
|
| Paper weight (g/m²) | ||
| Paper color | ||
| Numbered pages |  |
|
| Index | |
|
| Bookmark | ||
| Elastic enclosure band | |
|
|
||
| Other features | Stickers for labelling and archiving |
|
Scribbles That Matter : A5 dotted notebook (iconic version)
Scribbles That Matter offer dotted notebooks that have been able to establish themselves in the bullet journal community.
Their unique cover is full of cute little doodles. The brand also launched a pro version without any doodles on the cover.
Description
Available in A4 and A5 formats, Scribbles That Matter notebooks only exist in a dotted version. In addition to an index, the notebook also got a key page and a pen test page. I really like the fact that it has two bookmarks, a pen-loop and a pocket at the end of the book. However, you’ll need be patient or lucky to get your hands next a copy. Available only on Amazon, Scribbles That Matter notebooks are regularly out of stock.
Paper quality
The paper is thicker than in a Leuchtturm1917 (100g/m2). However, ghosting is present and some pens bleed through the paper.
Overview
| Scribbles That Matter - A5 | |
|---|---|
| Other sizes available | |
| Cover | |
| Dimensions | |
| Cover colors | Iconic version : multiple colors availaible Pro version : no doodles on the cover, multiple colors available |
| Binding | |
| Number of pages | |
| Ruling | |
| Paper weight (g/m²) | |
| Paper color | |
| Numbered pages | |
| Index | |
| Bookmark | |
| Elastic enclosure band | |
|
|
| Other features | Pen test page Pen-loop |
Rhodia Goalbook : A5 squared notebook
The French brand made a impressive breakthrough into the bullet journal univers. Their Goalbook, especially designed for bujo users, has awesome features and a great paper!
Description
Rhodia Goalbooks are available in a few different colors. Their soft cover seems a bit fragile and can be unstable when writing compared to a hard cover. Besides an index, the notebook also has got some nice pre-made pages : perpetual calendars and a future log. The Rhodia Goalbook features and elastic enclosure band, a pocket in the back and two ribbon bookmarks.
Paper quality
Awesome! The paper quality is awesome! The Clairefontaine paper is thick and soft. None of the pens I tested bleed through the paper and the ghosting is almost invisible! When I get a new notebook, I always use a page a the end to test my pens. And I’ve got the ultimate test pen : a pink Pentel Touch that bleeds through every paper I’ve got! But not in this one.
There’s only one detail that bothers me : the dots. They are more prominent than in other brands’ notebooks. It can positive or negative depending on the user but I had a hard time getting used to it!
Overview
| Rhodia Goalbook - A5 | |
|---|---|
| Cover | |
| Dimensions | |
| Cover color | |
| Binding | |
| Numbered pages | |
| Ruling | Dotted |
| Paper weight (g/m²) | |
| Paper color | |
| Numbered pages | |
| Index | |
| Bookmark | |
| Elastic enclosure band | |
|
|
| Other details | |
Dingbats* Notebook : A5 dotted notebook
Dingbats* Notebooks are so cute! The Libanese brand offers gorgeous animal themed notebooks.
Description
Dingbats* Notebooks exist in different colors, each color corresponding to an animal printed on the cover. Without any pre made pages, the notebooks allow you to do exactly what you want. It also features a bookmark, a pocket and a pen-loop. The only thing missing is the numbered pages feature.
Paper quality
Dingbats* Notebooks have a thick and soft paper (100g/m2) but as in most notebooks, the ghosting is here and can be bothering. I personally don’t mind it but I know some people don’t like it at all!
Overview
| Dingbats* Notebook (Wildlife) - A5 | |
|---|---|
| Other sizes available | |
| Cover | |
| Dimensions | |
| Cover color | |
| Binding | |
| Number of pages | |
| Ruling | Squared Lined Dotted |
| Paper weight (g/m²) | |
| Paper color | |
| Numbered pages |  |
| Index | |
| Bookmark | |
| Elastic enclosure band | |
|
|
| Other features | |
Personal-Planner : A5 dotted notebook
As its name suggests, Personal Planner is a website that offers you to personalize your own planner. But the website also allows you to create your own customized notebook.
Description
Having a customized notebook is great! You can choose the dimensions, the cover color and ruling… I really love the fact that you choose to have different ruling styles in the same notebook. You can have some dotted pages, some lined pages… with white paper or pink paper or blue paper… your choice! At then end, you get a unique notebook that suits you. The notebook comes with a ruler and a plastic sleeve that you can detach and reattach wherever you want in the spiral-bound notebook.
Paper quality
One thing you can’t personalize is the paper weight and that’s fine! I mean… 130g/m2! The paper is really smooth and the ghosting is so slight. Only my ultimate test pen bleeds through the paper, and that’s a tiny bleed through!
Overview
| Personal-Planner Notebook - A5 | |
|---|---|
| Other sizes availables | |
| Cover | |
| Dimensions | |
| Cover color | |
| Binding | |
| Number of pages | |
| Ruling | Horizontal lines (grey, white, blue or pink) Vertical lines (grey, white, blue or pink) Squared (grey, white, blue or pink) Dotted (grey, white, blue or pink) |
| Paper weight (g/m²) | |
| Paper color | blue or pink |
| Numbered pages | |
| Index | |
| Bookmark | |
| Elastic enclosure band | |
| Other features | Ruler included Plastic sleeve included |
Conclusion
Check this tableau recapitulative table to get all the info and details at same time.
This article contains affiliate links, meaning that I get a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your price doesn’t change because of these links.
4 Comments
Mallika
August 22, 2018 at 3:15 pm
Thank you so much for this review. I’ve been looking for a pen test comparison of the Rhodia, Scribbles That Matter, and Dingbats notebooks. I hate ghosting, so the Rhodia wins for me! Cheers!
Sarah
September 23, 2018 at 2:47 pm
Thank you so much for this! I’m just getting into bullet journaling, and was torn between the LT, Scribbles that Matter, and the Dingbats. I’m going with the Scribbles That Matter! Your comparison table at the end was priceless! Thanks again!
Isa
June 16, 2019 at 6:42 am
Hi! This is a nice review, but you forgot something important: coating.
Some of the notebook you reviewed have coated paper, that helps to handle the ink. Thickness of the paper is not the only thing to look when you need to research paper quality 😉
Elin
August 10, 2019 at 6:32 pm
Hi! What a super good and informative comparison. This was exactly what I was looking for when trying to choose a good planner for the new school year. I love the tables.
Thank you!