Written by Paul Worrall
Copic or Ohuhu? It’s one of the most common questions anyone getting into alcohol markers asks, and for good reason. Copic is the famous professional brand that illustrators and manga artists have trusted for decades. Ohuhu is the budget brand that seems to be in every beginner’s starter kit, at a fraction of the price. So is Copic really worth the extra money, or are Ohuhu markers just as good? This guide compares them honestly, side by side, so you can decide which is right for you.
Copic vs Ohuhu: The Short Answer
Choose Ohuhu if: you’re a beginner, a hobbyist, buying for a child or teen, or you want lots of colours on a budget. See Ohuhu Honolulu sets on Amazon
Choose Copic if: you draw a lot, want markers that last for years, value an easy refill system and replaceable nibs across the whole range, or want to buy any colour individually. See Copic Sketch sets on Amazon
Best of both: start with an Ohuhu set, then add Copic markers one at a time in the colours you use most.
Copic vs Ohuhu at a Glance
| Copic | Ohuhu | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Too Corporation, Japan (since 1987) | Ohuhu |
| Main ranges | Sketch, Ciao, Classic | Honolulu, Oahu, Kaala and others |
| Colours | 358 (Sketch), 180 (Ciao), 214 (Classic) | 481 across all series, largest set 320 |
| Refillable | Yes, in all 358 colours | Yes, but refills only in 51 colours |
| Replaceable nibs | Yes | Yes |
| Buy single colours | Yes, widely available in the UK | Mostly sold in sets |
| Price | Premium | Budget, often less than half the price per marker |
| Best for | Serious hobbyists and professionals | Beginners, hobbyists, students |
About Copic
Copic markers are made by Too Corporation, a Japanese company, and were first introduced in 1987. They became the go-to markers for manga artists, illustrators, designers and card makers, and they’re still the brand most other alcohol markers are compared against. You can compare current Copic prices across UK retailers on our Copic deals page.
There are three main Copic ranges. Copic Sketch is the most popular, with an oval barrel, a brush tip and a chisel tip, and the full range of 358 colours. Copic Ciao is the more affordable, entry-level range, with a round barrel, the same brush and chisel tips, and 180 colours. Copic Classic has a square barrel, wide and fine tips, 214 colours and the biggest ink capacity.
The big selling point is the system around the markers. Every Copic marker can be refilled with any of the 358 Copic ink colours, and all the nibs are replaceable. That means a Copic marker is designed to last for years, which goes some way to justifying the price. You can also buy any colour individually, so you only ever buy the colours you need.
Copic Sketch on AmazonCompare Copic prices
About Ohuhu
Ohuhu is a much newer brand that has become hugely popular by offering big sets of alcohol markers at very low prices. It’s one of the most popular marker brands on Amazon, and it’s often the first set people buy when they try alcohol markers.
Ohuhu sells several series, named after places in Hawaii. The Honolulu series is the one to compare with Copic Sketch, as it has a brush tip and a chisel tip, so it blends and colours in a very similar way. The Oahu series has a fine tip and a chisel tip and is cheaper still, which makes it good for younger artists, lettering and line work. Altogether Ohuhu offers 481 colours, although even its biggest set has 320, so no single set has them all.
Ohuhu markers can be refilled and the nibs can be replaced, but refill inks are only available in 51 colours, so you can’t refill every marker in your set.
Ink Quality and Blending
This is where most people expect a huge gap, and honestly, there isn’t one. Both brands use fast-drying alcohol-based inks that blend smoothly, layer well and give bright, vivid colour. The well-known art supply reviewer Parka Blogs, who has used Copic, Ohuhu and several other brands, found the ink quality comparable, describing Ohuhu’s inks as vibrant, quick-drying and streak-free.
Where Copic pulls ahead is consistency and the feel of the brush nib. Many experienced artists find Copic’s brush tip a little more responsive, and Copic’s colour families are carefully organised, so it’s easy to find colours that blend smoothly together. For most hobby work, though, you’d struggle to tell the difference on the page.
One thing to remember with both brands: alcohol marker inks can fade if they’re left in strong sunlight. If you’re selling your work or want it to last, keep originals out of direct light and scan them so you always have a copy. If you want to sell prints of your marker art, my guides to the best printer for art prints and the best paper for printing art prints at home will help, and I’ve compared Etsy vs Shopify for UK artists if you’re deciding where to sell.
Refills and Nibs: The Long-Term Cost
This is the biggest real difference between the two brands. With Copic, every marker can be refilled in every colour, and each refill bottle refills a marker many times. Because the nibs can be replaced too, a Copic marker can keep going for years. Over the long term, that makes Copic better value than its price suggests, especially for the colours you use most.
Ohuhu sells refills and replacement nibs too, but only in 51 colours. For the rest of your set, when a marker runs dry, you’ll need to replace it. Because Ohuhu markers are so cheap in the first place, that isn’t a disaster, but it’s worth knowing before you buy.
Price
Price is why Ohuhu is so popular. An Ohuhu marker typically costs less than half as much as a Copic. For the same money, you can usually get around twice as many colours with Ohuhu, which is why it’s such a good choice for beginners who want plenty of colours to experiment with.
Copic sets are an investment, but you don’t have to buy a big set. Because Copic colours are sold individually, you can build a collection slowly, a few colours at a time. Copic prices also vary quite a bit between UK retailers, so it’s always worth comparing before you buy.
Which Should You Buy?
Buy Ohuhu if you’re new to alcohol markers. You’ll get a big range of colours for the price of a handful of Copics, and you’ll find out whether you enjoy alcohol markers without spending a fortune. It’s also the obvious choice for children, teens and art students.
Buy Copic if you’re serious about markers. If you colour or illustrate a lot, the refill system, replaceable nibs, open stock colours and consistency make Copic worth the investment over time. Professional illustrators and card makers who use markers every day usually end up with Copic.
Or go digital. If you love the look of marker art but don’t want to keep buying markers, digital colouring is another option. My guide to the best drawing tablets in the UK covers the best choices, and Krita is a free program that’s great for colouring.
Or mix them. Plenty of artists start with an Ohuhu set and then buy Copic markers in the colours they use most, especially skin tones, greys and blenders. Both brands use alcohol-based ink, so you can happily use them together on the same piece.
If you’d like to see more options, including other brands, my guide to the best alcohol markers in the UK covers the top choices for every budget. And if you’d like help choosing colours that work well together, my colour theory guide for artists explains the basics.
Tips for Using Alcohol Markers
Sketch first. Most marker artists draw a light pencil sketch before colouring. My guide to the best sketching pencils covers the best options, and a fineliner over the top gives you crisp line work.
Use the right paper. Alcohol markers bleed through ordinary paper. Use marker paper or smooth, heavy cardstock to get smooth blends and protect the page underneath.
Work light to dark. Start with your lightest colour and build up darker tones gradually. It’s much easier to add colour than to take it away.
Blend while it’s wet. Alcohol ink dries quickly, so blend neighbouring colours while the first layer is still damp for the smoothest results.
Store them flat. Storing double-ended markers horizontally keeps the ink spread evenly between both tips.
Test colours first. The colour on the cap isn’t always the colour on paper. Make a swatch chart of your markers when you recieve a new set, so you know exactly what each one looks like.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Ohuhu markers as good as Copic? For most hobby and beginner use, Ohuhu markers perform very similarly to Copic, with bright, smooth-blending alcohol ink. Copic’s advantages are its refill system in every colour, replaceable nibs, open stock colours and long-term consistency, which matter more if you use markers a lot.
Can you use Ohuhu and Copic markers together? Yes. Both use alcohol-based ink, so you can blend and layer them together on the same piece of work.
Are Ohuhu markers refillable? Yes, but Ohuhu refill inks are only available in 51 colours. Copic markers can be refilled in all 358 Copic colours.
What is the difference between Copic Sketch and Copic Ciao? Copic Sketch has an oval barrel and comes in 358 colours. Copic Ciao is the more affordable range, with a round barrel and 180 colours. Both have brush and chisel tips.
Which Ohuhu markers are most like Copic? The Ohuhu Honolulu series is the closest match to Copic Sketch, because it has a brush tip and a chisel tip.
Are Copic markers worth the money? If you use markers often, yes. Because every Copic marker can be refilled and its nibs replaced, a Copic marker can last for years. If you’re just starting out, a budget set like Ohuhu is a sensible first step.
Copic and Ohuhu are both great markers. The right choice comes down to how often you’ll use them and how much you want to spend. Marker prices vary a lot between UK retailers, especially around Black Friday and Christmas, so it’s worth comparing before you buy. For the latest deals as they land, join the newsletter or our Facebook group of 16,000+ UK artists.
