Plotter Notebook Alternative? Exploring the MeePlus Slimpad Difference.

Plotter Notebook Alternative? Exploring the MeePlus Slimpad Difference.

If you love the flexibility and minimalism of a Plotter notebook but are looking for something more customizable, the MeePlus Slimpad might be the Plotter notebook alternative you’ve been searching for. In this article, we’ll explore how MeePlus compares to Plotter in materials, craftsmanship, sizes, refills, and accessories—highlighting what makes each system unique.

Plotter Notebook is known for a few standout characteristics:

1. Flexibility

As a leather binder with a compact ring binder mechanism (typically 11mm), Plotter allows you to easily add, remove, or rearrange pages. Accessories like pen loops or card holders are also available, enhancing its utility.

2. Slim Profile

The small ring size limits how many pages you can insert, but this can actually help you stay focused on what’s important. It also keeps the notebook lightweight and portable—easily slipping into a bag or even a jacket pocket.

3. Lay-Flat Design

Plotter’s cover design allows the notebook to open completely flat, making it ideal for writing, sketching, or planning without obstruction.

MeePlus Slimpad vs. Plotter: Key Differences

If you’re seeking a Plotter alternative, here's how the MeePlus Slimpad compares across several key areas:

1. Standardization vs. Customization

Plotter notebooks follow a ready-to-ship model: leather types, backplates, and ring sizes are fixed. This makes shipping fast and reliable. However, it means limited personalization.
MeePlus, on the other hand, operates on a made-to-order basis. Though it requires a longer production time (usually around 1–2 weeks for production and delivery), it offers a level of customization unmatched by most notebook systems:

- Choose from a wide range of leathers and colors

- Select your preferred ring binder diameter and finish (silver or gold)

- Customize your backplate color

- Pick from a variety of add-on accessories: pen loops, card holders, zip pouches, etc.

- Opt for different elastic closures or engraved initials

- Choose from evolving charm options (in development)

This level of personalization makes each MeePlus Slimpad a unique creation tailored to its user.

2. Leather Selection

Both MeePlus and Plotter use high-quality, vegetable-tanned leathers that age beautifully over time. While Italian Pueblo is a best-seller for both brands, the rest of their leather offerings differ slightly, giving each system its own unique material experience.
Here’s a quick overview of the four types of leather currently available with the MeePlus Slimpad. For a more detailed breakdown, feel free to check out this blog post dedicated to leather characteristics.

- Italian Pueblo Shared by both brands, Pueblo is known for its textured, matte surface and velvety touch when new. Over time, it develops a rich, smooth patina with deepened color and natural shine.

- Italian Buttero A medium-firm leather with a waxed and polished finish. It feels smooth and dense in hand, offering excellent durability. While it's prone to minor surface scratches, it ages with character.

- British Bridle MeePlus’s firmest and most structured option, traditionally used in saddlery. It has a dry, refined texture and maintains its shape exceptionally well, making it ideal for those who prefer a more formal look and feel.

- Fog Wax Leather A medium-firm leather coated with a thin layer of white wax for initial protection and aesthetic appeal. As the wax wears off, the underlying color gradually emerges, revealing a smoother, glossier surface and a distinctive aged character.

3. Sizes & Compatibility

Both brands offer a range of sizes, though the naming conventions differ:

Plotter Name MeePlus Equivalent Inner Page
Mini5 Mini 62mmx105mm (Plotter), 67mmx105mm (MeePlus/Filofax)
Mini6 Pocket ~80mmx120mm
Narrow Narrow ~80mmx170mm
Bible Personal ~95mmx170mm
A5 A5 148x210mm

If you're looking for detailed information about the cover and insert sizes of Filofax, Plotter, and Meeplus—and whether Filofax and Plotter inserts are compatible with the Meeplus Slimpad—be sure to check out this blog post.

Both MeePlus and Plotter offer a wide range of ring binder sizes that are largely compatible with standard refills. However, there’s one important distinction to note: Plotter’s Mini5 uses 62mm-wide inserts, while the “Mini” size from MeePlus and Filofax uses 67mm-wide inserts. This means Plotter’s Mini5 pages will fit nicely inside a MeePlus Slimpad Mini cover, but MeePlus Mini refills may stick out when placed inside a Plotter Mini5 cover.

Aside from this exception, most other sizes—such as Pocket, Narrow, Personal, and A5—are generally interchangeable across systems.

For users who require more flexibility, MeePlus also offers custom sizes, including:

- A5 Slim

- Personal Wide

- Other bespoke dimensions, such as slightly wider covers to accommodate index tabs or specific accessories.

This level of customization allows users to fine-tune their planner to suit both function and aesthetics—something rarely offered in standard pre-made options.

4. Leather Finish & Craftsmanship

The two brands approach leather finishing differently, each reflecting a distinct design philosophy:

- Plotter retains the natural reverse side of the leather, highlighting its raw, unprocessed texture. This finish appeals to users who value a more rugged and organic look.

- MeePlus Slimpad takes an additional step by removing the factory backing and applying a custom treatment to the reverse side. This results in a smoother, dust-resistant surface that enhances both comfort and durability. Edges are also finely burnished for a clean, polished look.

Both techniques have their own aesthetic appeal—Plotter embraces rustic minimalism, while MeePlus leans toward a refined and tailored presentation.

5. Lay-Flat Design & Closure Performance

Thanks to their clean, minimal layouts without bulky inner pockets, both Plotter and MeePlus Slimpad lay completely flat when open—making them excellent choices for writers and creatives alike.
To support proper closure, both brands taper the leather near the spine, a detail that enhances flexibility and helps the cover fold neatly around the ring binder.

- Plotter uses a more aggressive taper, which contributes to a cleaner, tighter fold. However, this may lead to visible ring impressions on the leather over time—a feature some users embrace as part of the notebook’s unique patina.

- MeePlus, by contrast, uses a more moderate taper to maintain long-term durability. As a result, new covers—particularly with stiffer leather like bridle—might need a strap closure initially until the material softens with use.

6. Ring Binder Mechanism & Options

Both systems are equipped with Krause ring mechanisms—German-engineered, highly regarded for their strength, smooth snap closure, and long-term reliability.

- Plotter currently offers a single ring diameter (11mm) in a silver finish, emphasizing compactness and simplicity.

- MeePlus Slimpad provides more flexibility, offering both silver and gold ring options, as well as multiple ring diameters tailored to different planner sizes and user needs.

Here's a quick breakdown of ring size options available for MeePlus covers:
Slimpad Size Available Ring Diameters
Mini 11mm,
Pocket 11mm, 13mm
Narrow 11mm, 16mm
Personal 11mm, 16mm
A5 11mm, 16mm

This customization lets users balance between compact portability and maximum refill capacity—a level of choice not commonly found in standard leather binder systems.

7. Backplate Construction

Plotter uses lacquer-painted backplates that feature an eye-catching shimmer and multiple color options. However, the sharp corners on these plates may feel less comfortable during handling.

MeePlus offers two premium backplate choices: stainless steel and uncoated brass. The brass option naturally oxidizes over time, developing a distinctive patina that adds character. All MeePlus backplate corners are carefully rounded and polished to ensure a comfortable grip and durability.

8. Accessories

Plotter provides a rich selection of standardized accessories, mostly in black, including pen loops, writing boards, straps, card holders, and ring protectors.

MeePlus takes customization a step further, offering accessories made from matching or contrasting leathers to complement your binder. Unique to MeePlus are innovative three-in-one components combining a card holder, pen loop, and strap—designed to save space and reduce costs.

Pen loop options include:

- Adjustable elastic loops that fit various pen sizes

- Slim leather loops for a minimal look

- Premium, wider leather loops with added tension for an elegant appearance, suited to specific pen sizes

For more information about Meeplus accessories, please refer to this article.

9. Paper & Fountain Pen Compatibility

The MeePlus Thick Series features thicker pages at 120gsm, allowing a maximum of 60 sheets in an 11mm ring. In contrast, the MeePlus Lightweight Series and Plotter pages are similar in thickness, around 50-60gsm, accommodating up to 140 sheets in the same ring size.

We tested fountain pens, ballpoint pens, brush pens, highlighters, and stamps on all three types of pages, and generally found no significant smudging, except for slight smudging when using a Uni-ball Air ballpoint pen on the Plotter paper.

Examining the reverse sides of the pages, the MeePlus Thick Series shows almost no ghosting due to the thickness of the paper, while both the Lightweight Series and Plotter paper display more visible text on the back.

If you're planning to keep certain content for a long time and frequently revisit it, I would recommend using the Thick Series for writing. However, if the content is something you'll write and then either discard or store away without much revisiting, the Lightweight Series should work just fine.

We also conducted a smudge test by writing "smudge test" with a fountain pen and then quickly rubbing over the text with our hand after 5 seconds. The results showed that the MeePlus Thick Series had almost no smudging, while the Lightweight Series displayed noticeable smudge marks.

This indicates that the Thick Series and Plotter dries faster than the Lightweight Series, making the writing less prone to smudging.

 

 

 

 

 

All paper types performed well in fountain pen tests. However, MeePlus’s thick paper dries faster and exhibits less ghosting, making it especially suited for double-sided writing. If you’d like to see a detailed comparison of the Meeplus inner pages, please refer to this article.

10. Refill Layouts & Formats

Plotter’s refill designs tend to lean towards simple, business-style layouts.
MeePlus offers a broader variety of refill options, including standard ruled, dotted, and grid formats, as well as specialized templates like:

 

- Habit trackers

- Project planners

- To-do lists

- Weekly, monthly, and yearly calendars

This diversity allows you to customize your planner for personal, academic, or professional productivity needs.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a refined yet flexible Plotter notebook alternative, the MeePlus Slimpad presents a compelling blend of craftsmanship, customization, and practical performance. While Plotter excels with its ready-made elegance and fast availability, MeePlus empowers users to co-create their ideal leather binder — from leather selection and ring sizes to accessories and refill layouts.

Whether you’re an analog productivity enthusiast, a journaling artist, or a collector of fine stationery, the MeePlus Slimpad offers more than just a notebook: it’s a personalized statement tailored to your lifestyle.

 

Back to blog

Leave a comment