Copic is the category gold standard, but at $5–8 per marker, a 36-piece starter kit runs $180–290. Most people searching for alternative Copic markers aren’t looking for a consolation prize — they want to know which of the serious budget options actually delivers. This is an honest 3-way comparison of Finecolour, Ohuhu, and Touchnew: what each does well, where each falls short, and who should buy which.
Best budget alcohol markers at a glance
Before the details: here’s how the three brands compare on the axes that actually matter for buyers.
- Finecolour: ink quality — good; nib quality — good (Japanese tips on Sketch/Brush); color range — 240 (Sketch line); refillable — yes; price per marker — $1.50–3.00
- Ohuhu: ink quality — decent; nib quality — fair; color range — up to 120 per set; refillable — selected colors and compatible lines; price per marker — $0.50–0.70
- Touchnew: ink quality — thin; nib quality — average; color range — up to 80 per set; refillable — no; price per marker — $0.30–0.50
These aren’t abstract scores — they’re based on the things that affect daily use: how the ink behaves on marker paper, how long the nibs last, and whether you can keep using the brand as you grow. We’ll unpack each below.
A note on how this comparison was assembled: pricing reflects typical international e-commerce pricing in USD-equivalent ranges; individual marker counts and color ranges are based on published brand specs. Color matching accuracy and blend quality are based on consistent independent reviewer observations across YouTube, Reddit, and art forums — not a single controlled test.
Looking for the best alcohol markers broadly? Our guide to best alcohol markers for beginners covers the full category including Copic Ciao.
Finecolour: strengths and trade-offs
Finecolour is the brand this site sells, so a conflict-of-interest disclosure upfront: everything in this section is based on verifiable product specs and consistent independent reviews, not promotion. The brand genuinely wins on some axes and genuinely trails on others.
Where Finecolour wins
Color range is the headline advantage. The Sketch line covers 240 colors across the full spectrum, sold both in sets and as individual open-stock markers. For artists building a collection over time, this matters enormously — you can fill exact gaps rather than buying another 72-set that duplicates colors you already own.
Finecolour’s current regional EF900 product copy describes a 21 ml refill bottle and says one bottle can provide up to nine complete marker refills. Nine refers to refill cycles, not nine ink colors. Exact shade compatibility and local stock still need checking before you refill a marker.
The Brush line is unique in this price tier. Most budget alcohol marker brands offer chisel + bullet; Finecolour’s Brush line provides a real flexible brush nib, equivalent in function to a Copic Ciao brush nib, at a fraction of the cost. For organic shapes, lettering, and portrait work, brush nibs produce results that chisel + bullet can’t match.
Japanese tips on the Sketch and Brush lines are a genuine quality indicator — denser fiber, better ink delivery, longer before fraying compared to softer felt used in lower-cost markers.
Where Finecolour trails
Blending isn’t quite Copic-smooth. Finecolour ink is slightly less saturated and the blend window is slightly shorter. On marker paper, you can produce excellent gradients. On cheaper or more absorbent paper, you’ll see streaking that Copic handles better. This gap matters for experienced illustrators; beginners on marker paper won’t notice it.
Lightfastness is lower than Copic. Dye-based ink fades in UV over time — all alcohol markers do, including Copic. Finecolour colors fade somewhat faster than Copic’s better-rated inks. For artwork displayed in indirect light, this isn’t a practical issue. For pieces destined for display in sunlight, frame under UV-protective glass.
Ohuhu: strengths and trade-offs
Where Ohuhu wins
Ohuhu’s primary advantage is accessibility. They’re the best-known budget alcohol marker brand on Amazon globally, which means consistent availability, straightforward international shipping, and plenty of independent YouTube and Instagram reviews showing real results. If you’re buying online and want confidence in the product you’re getting, Ohuhu is the known quantity.
Set sizes are generous. Ohuhu sells 40, 60, 80, 100, and 120-color sets at prices that represent strong value for color count. Most sets include a brush nib on at least one end, which puts them above entry-level brands. The 80-pack at roughly $45–55 is a particularly well-regarded value point for beginners who want variety.
Ink saturation is decent. Ohuhu markers lay down solid color on marker paper, and blending is achievable with quick strokes. Not as smooth as Finecolour Sketch, but workable for most beginner and intermediate illustration.
Where Ohuhu trails
Ohuhu currently offers individual markers and 16 ml refill inks for selected colors and compatible lines. As checked on July 29, 2026, its first-party refill page listed 51 colors and named Honolulu (B), Honolulu Plus/S, Oahu, Kaala (B), and Molokai among the compatible lines. Availability varies by marker code, line, region, and date, so check the exact product before buying a replacement or refill.
Large-set color selection has gaps. The 120-color sets look comprehensive but include many redundant tones in popular families while skipping less common colors. You may find you have four nearly-identical light blues and no warm grey family.
Nib durability is shorter than Finecolour Sketch. Regular use on marker paper wears the tips faster. After 6–12 months of consistent drawing, Ohuhu nibs often feel noticeably thicker and less precise than new.
It’s also worth noting that Ohuhu’s color numbering system doesn’t align with any other brand’s. If you later add Finecolour or Copic markers to your collection, you can’t use Ohuhu color numbers as references. This matters less when you’re buying by set, but becomes relevant once you’re looking for specific open-stock tones to fill collection gaps.
Touchnew: strengths and trade-offs
Where Touchnew wins
Price. Touchnew markers are the cheapest alcohol markers in the serious-brand tier — sets regularly come in at $0.30–0.50 per marker, sometimes including a carrying case. If your goal is to spend as little as possible to test the medium, Touchnew is the rational entry point.
For pure blending practice — understanding color order, learning the wet-on-wet window, exploring color families — Touchnew performs adequately. The ink is thinner, but it moves.
Where Touchnew trails
Ink quality is noticeably thinner. Colors are less saturated and more prone to streaking, especially on paper that isn’t dedicated marker paper. Side-by-side with Finecolour or Ohuhu on the same paper, the difference in ink body is visible.
Not refillable. No open-stock purchasing. Color range is smaller than Ohuhu. Tips wear faster.
The honest position: Touchnew is a good learning tool and a reasonable gift for someone testing the medium. It’s not a long-term art supply investment. Most artists who start on Touchnew end up replacing the set within 12 months.
Which budget marker should you buy
The right answer depends on your situation:
- Building a long-term illustration practice: Finecolour Sketch. Refillable, 240 open-stock colors, Japanese tips, real brush nib option. The investment pays back over 2–3 years of use.
- Want a large color range at the lowest upfront cost: Ohuhu 80-pack. Best value for beginners who want variety without the long-term commitment of a refillable system.
- Testing the medium for the first time: Touchnew or Caliart. Spend as little as possible, learn the basics, then upgrade to whichever brand fits your style.
- Student buying for architecture or fashion courses: Finecolour Sketch 36 or Ohuhu 60. The grey families and skin tones in these sets cover most academic use cases.
Cheap alcohol markers are a legitimate way to learn the medium — the differences between budget brands and Copic matter only once you’re producing finished work you want to display or last years. Start cheap if you’re testing. Once you know what your style needs, upgrade those specific colors.
One final consideration that often gets overlooked: buying from an authorized dealer matters for budget brands too. Counterfeit and old-stock versions of popular budget markers exist, particularly on third-party marketplaces. A Finecolour set purchased from an unauthorized reseller may use different ink formulas or older nib materials than the current production run. Buying from a recognized dealer — like finecolour.com.ua for the Ukrainian market — ensures you’re getting the actual current product, not a knockoff or liquidated old stock.
To see the full Finecolour color range across all three lines, browse the Finecolour color range.
FAQ
Four questions budget buyers ask.
If you’re on the fence between brands, read the first two Q&As — they directly address the most common comparison-buyer dilemma.
What are the best alternative Copic markers for budget buyers?
Finecolour Sketch is the closest functional alternative for serious illustrators — refillable, 240 colors, Japanese tips, real brush nib option. For absolute budget, Ohuhu gives you a large color range and brush nib at $40–55 for an 80-pack. Touchnew costs even less but ink quality reflects that. The right pick depends on whether you’re testing the medium or committing to it.
Is Finecolour better than Ohuhu?
Current sources verify different tip pairings, catalog claims, refill offers, and listing coverage. They do not include a controlled EF102-versus-Honolulu performance test. Choose the second tip for your work, check refill and single-marker support in your market, then test both on the same paper before judging feel or blend quality.
Are budget alcohol markers worth buying?
For learning the medium, definitely. Budget markers teach you blending, color order, and paper choice just as effectively as premium brands. The differences — ink longevity, blend smoothness, lightfastness — only matter for finished work you want to last years. Start cheap, learn what your style needs, then upgrade the specific colors that run out.
Can you mix alcohol markers from different brands?
Yes. Alcohol markers from different brands blend together because they share the same solvent base. Color numbers don’t translate across brands — a Finecolour R20 is not the same color as a Copic R20. Many illustrators use Finecolour or Ohuhu for most of their palette and Copic for the 3–5 most-used tones that need to last years.
Final Thoughts
All three brands are legitimate tools for different buyers. Finecolour, Ohuhu, and Touchnew differ in system breadth, tip options, availability, and upfront cost, but current sources do not prove a universal long-term-value winner. Compare the exact product line and your local access to individual markers, compatible refills, and replacement tips before deciding.
The comparison between these brands is also a comparison between philosophies. Ohuhu optimizes for volume and accessibility. Touchnew optimizes for entry-level affordability. Finecolour optimizes for long-term build: a complete, refillable system where your investment in a single marker continues paying off for years. Which philosophy matches your situation as an artist is the real question.
If you’re specifically looking for alternative Copic markers that you’ll use for years, Finecolour Sketch is the most direct answer: refillable, same dual-tip format, 240 colors available as singles. Browse the Finecolour color range to see what’s available across the Sketch, Brush, and Junior lines before deciding on a set.
