Short answer
Pick Posca for most people: lower cost per pen, the widest tip range including brush tips, and the highest overall score in the largest independent test. Pick Molotow ONE4ALL if you want a refillable system, use a lot of a few colors, or work big. Many artists end up with both.
Head to head
| Posca | Molotow ONE4ALL | |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | Mitsubishi Pencil (uni) | Molotow |
| Paint | Water-based pigment (maker) | Acrylic, permanent when dry |
| Mechanism | Pump-action valve | Pump-action valve |
| Tip range | 0.7 to 15 mm, plus brush tips | About 1 to 15 mm, some twin tips |
| Refillable | No (maker FAQ) | Yes, refill bottles |
| Tip swap | Reversible tip on PC-5M (maker) | Swappable tips |
| Independent test | Highest overall pump-action score | Above average on every test |
| Weak spots | Spills if over-pumped; white is not its strongest | Lifted dried paint when layered over other media |
| Price tier | Mid | Premium, often about twice Posca per pen |
Specs from the Posca range, the PC-5M page and Molotow’s ONE4ALL shop. Test results from Sarah Renae Clark’s pump-action comparison. Price tiers come from retailer listings and change often.
Where Posca wins
- The test results. “They had almost perfect scores across every test, and their score was highest overall,” the reviewer wrote, adding that some of her Posca pens were still going strong after five years.
- Range. From the 0.7 mm PC-1MR to the 15 mm PC-17K, with two brush tips (PC-5BR and PCF-350).
- Fine tips. Posca’s extra fine tips were among the best tested, with less scratch and splatter on rock.
- Cost to start. In retailer listings, a set of medium Poscas costs less than a matching Molotow set.
Where Molotow wins
- Refills. Molotow sells refill bottles for ONE4ALL, so a well-used color is a refill, not a replacement pen. Posca cannot be refilled.
- Big work. The 15 mm ONE4ALL with matching refills suits murals and large canvases where you burn through paint.
- Mixing your own colors. Refill paint and empty markers let you mix custom colors, which Molotow promotes on its shop.
The cost question
Molotow costs more per pen, often around twice as much as a comparable Posca in retailer listings. Refills change that math only if you use enough of a color to empty a pen: a hobbyist with a broad palette will rarely empty a pen, while a muralist who goes through white every week will. We do not list prices because they move constantly; check current listings.
Layering and opacity
Both layer over dry paint. Reviewers split on Molotow’s opacity in some colors, while Posca’s main gap is its white. In the comparison, Molotow pulled up dried paint and absorbed ballpoint ink from a lower layer on one test, so give earlier layers time to cure.
Our verdict
- Pick
Choose Posca if…
- You are buying your first set, or for a mix of surfaces.
- You want brush tips and 0.7 mm detail in the same family.
- You use many colors a little at a time.
- Pick
Choose Molotow ONE4ALL if…
- You want to refill instead of rebuy.
- You paint big: murals, canvases, signs.
- You go through a few colors fast, especially white or black.
Going deeper on one brand? Read the Molotow ONE4ALL guide or see how both rank in the best acrylic markers for artists.
Questions people ask
Is Molotow better than Posca?
Not overall. In Sarah Renae Clark’s comparison, Posca scored highest of all pump-action markers and Molotow was above average on every test. Molotow’s real advantage is that it is refillable.
Can you refill Posca markers?
No. Posca’s FAQ says its markers are not rechargeable. If one seems empty, it may just have a dry tip, which you can revive by moistening it and re-priming.
Can you use Posca and Molotow together?
Yes. Both are water-based paint markers and both layer over dry paint. Let each layer dry before going over it, since either can lift a wet layer underneath.
Who makes Posca?
Posca is made by Mitsubishi Pencil, the company behind the uni brand. Some roundups wrongly credit it to other Japanese pen makers.
Sources
Last reviewed 2026-10-12. Specs and availability change; check the listing before you buy.