Compiled from 12 sources; we haven't tested these products ourselves yet. How we research
Quick answer
Both are retractable Japanese gel pens in 0.38, 0.5, 0.7 and 1.0 mm. The Signo 207 uses pigment Super Ink that uni-ball says resists water, fading and check washing. The G2 offers up to 41 colors and Pilot's longest-writing claim but no water-resistance claim. Pick the 207 for checks and records, the G2 for color.
On this page10 sections
The two best-known US gel pens, drawn in proportion.
Pilot G2 Premium Retractable Gel Pen (0.38 / 0.5 / 0.7 / 1.0 mm): Made by Pilot Corporation (Japan); sold in the US by Pilot Corporation of America. Made in Japan: per US retailer spec sheets (Stop & Shop, OnTimeSupplies for item 31171). Some grocery listings for a 4-pack say "Japan, USA", so origin may vary by pack. Pilot's US site doesn't state it in the sources we found. Source. Price: example listing.
uni-ball Signo 207 Retractable Gel Pen (0.38 / 0.5 / 0.7 / 1.0 mm; UMN-207): Made by Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd.. Made in Japan: OnTimeSupplies gives country of origin Japan (JP) for the 0.7 mm black 8-pack and a 0.5 mm 4-pack. uni-ball UK and Mitsubishi Pencil's Japanese pages don't state it. Source. Price: example listing.
Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43 = CZK 21.7; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).
Key takeaways
Same four ball sizes: Pilot names the G2's 0.38, 0.5, 0.7 and 1.0 mm Ultra Fine, Extra Fine, Fine and Bold; uni-ball calls the 207's 0.7 mm Medium and 1.0 mm Bold.
Mitsubishi Pencil's Japanese site says Signo pigment ink is water-resistant and lightfast because pigment doesn't dissolve in water; Pilot publishes no ink type or water claim for the G2.
Pilot USA says the G2 comes in up to 41 core colors and is America's #1 selling gel pen brand (Circana dollar sales).
uni-ball UK lists the 0.7 mm Signo 207 at 142.1 mm and 13.5 g; Pilot publishes no G2 length or weight.
Refills: G2 black 2-packs 77287, 77232, 77240 and 77289; the 0.7 mm Signo 207 takes the UMR-87 (US 2-pack 70207PP).
What is the difference between the Pilot G2 and the uni-ball Signo 207?
Both are retractable, refillable gel pens from Japanese makers, sold in the same four ball sizes; the difference is the ink. The Signo 207 uses uni-ball’s pigment Super Ink, sold as water-, fade- and fraud-resistant, while Pilot sells the G2 on smoothness, colors and how long it writes.
Pilot launched the G2 (G-2 in Japan) in 1997, per its Japanese company history. In the US, Pilot calls it America’s #1 selling gel pen brand; the uni-ball Signo 207 is the one office suppliers sell for checks, with fraud-resistant ink.
How do they compare?
On paper the two pens nearly mirror each other; ink chemistry and colors set them apart.
Sizes, colors and claims come from Pilot USA, uni-ball US and uni-ball UK; refill codes from Pilot’s US brochure and office suppliers.
The four shared ball sizes at 1 mm = 100 px, with each maker's names and refills.
Which ink resists water and fraud better?
The Signo 207, by its maker’s claims and in one informal test. Mitsubishi Pencil’s Japanese site says Signo ink uses pigment, which doesn’t dissolve in water and resists ultraviolet fading better than dye. uni-ball US adds that Super Ink bonds with paper fibers to resist check washing, water, fading and alteration.
Pilot’s Japanese explainer says the same about pigment versus dye, but Pilot doesn’t say which the G2 uses. In a soak test posted on the Fountain Pen Network, a forum user rated the uni-ball Signo waterproof and the G2 only semi-waterproof.
Which dries faster and smears less?
Neither maker publishes a dry time, so treat both as gel pens that need a second or two. Both inks work the same way: Pilot and Mitsubishi Pencil both explain that gel ink thins into a liquid as the ball turns, then sets back into a gel on paper, which limits feathering.
Pilot’s packaging calls the G2 smear-resistant, but left-handed writers often report G2 smearing in 0.7 and 1.0 mm. uni-ball calls the 207 smear-resistant too. A finer tip lays down less ink, so it dries sooner on either pen; our best pens for left-handed writers lists faster options.
Which line width should you pick?
0.7 mm for everyday writing and signatures, 0.5 or 0.38 mm for small handwriting, planners and thin paper. Both pens use the ball diameter as the size, and the line is usually a little narrower on paper.
Mind the names. Pilot’s “Fine” G2 is 0.7 mm, a size uni-ball calls Medium; G2 “Extra Fine” is 0.5 mm. Compare millimetres, not words.
What refills do they take?
Each takes its own brand’s refill: Pilot’s G2 refills for the G2, uni-ball’s UMR-87 family for the 207.
Size
G2 refill (US black 2-pack)
Signo 207 refill
0.38 mm
77287
Not in our sources
0.5 mm
77232
UMR-85N (Japan)
0.7 mm
77240 (BLS-G2-7 abroad)
UMR-87 (US 70207PP black)
1.0 mm
77289
Sold in the US; code not in our sources
uni-ball’s US store sells 207 refills in 0.5, 0.7 and 1.0 mm in black and blue. In Japan, Mitsubishi Pencil still lists the UMR-85N for the 207 at ¥88 (about US$0.60), though it no longer makes the pen body there.
Which should you choose?
Pick the Signo 207 for checks, forms, labels and archives; pick the G2 for color, availability and the familiar feel.
Signo 207: pigment ink that the maker says survives water, fading and check washing, plus a stainless steel clip (uni-ball UK).
Pilot G2: up to 41 colors, refills in every office aisle and Pilot’s longest-writing claim.
Which is better, the Pilot G2 or the uni-ball 207?
For signing checks and anything that may get wet, the 207, because uni-ball sells its pigment Super Ink as water-, fade- and fraud-resistant. For colors, the G2, which Pilot offers in up to 41 core colors.
Is Pilot G2 ink waterproof?
Pilot doesn't claim it. In one forum user's soak test the G2 was only semi-waterproof, while the uni-ball Signo stayed legible; the 207's maker markets its ink as water-resistant.
Is the uni-ball 207 good for signing checks?
Yes. uni-ball says Super Ink bonds with paper fibers to help protect against check washing, water, fading and alteration. That is the maker's claim; we haven't tested it.
Do G2 refills fit the uni-ball 207?
No. The G2 uses Pilot refills such as 77240 (0.7 mm black), and the 207 uses uni-ball's UMR-87 (0.7 mm). Each fits its own brand's pens.
Which smears less, the G2 or the Signo 207?
Neither maker publishes a dry time. Left-handed writers often report G2 smearing in 0.7 and 1.0 mm; uni-ball calls the 207 smear-resistant. A finer tip lays down less ink with either pen.
Are the G2 and Signo 207 sold in Japan?
Barely. Pilot's Japanese recruiting site says the G-2 has little presence in Japan but is highly rated abroad, and Mitsubishi Pencil's Japanese refill page says the Signo 207 body is no longer made there.
Where are they made?
Both are Japanese brands, and US retailer spec sheets list Japan as the country of origin for both pens.
