Notebook Therapy VS Archer And Olive Journal Showdown
Notebooks are some of the most important types of Bullet Journal supplies, and in this post, we’ll be looking at the two most popular brands: Notebook Therapy vs Archer and Olive.
Ever been curious about what these two brands are about and which one would be a better choice for you? You’re in the right place!
We’ll discuss their key features, aesthetics, price points, pros, and cons — all so that you can figure out which one best fits your personal design style.
So sit tight, and let’s dive right into this Notebook Therapy VS Archer & Olive journal showdown!
If you’re ready to invest in a higher-quality notebook, you definitely want to know which one would fit you better.
Archer and Olive and Notebook Therapy are the two top brands at the moment, and it’s not easy to find any information on which one is better and why.
I won’t tell you which one is better since it all depends on what you’re looking for, but I’m here to share their differences, similarities, and my personal opinions.
Once you’re done reading the post, you surely will be ready to make a decision for yourself.
And be sure to check until the end for final numbers, a free Ultimate Guide To Bullet Journal Supplies, and a few links with more information on notebooks.
Ok, let’s dive in!
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Notebook Therapy VS Archer And Olive
I divided this comparison into different categories to make it easier for you to go through.
We’ll be starting with the packaging.
Packaging
There are no winners in this category because both journals come in pretty similar packaging: luxury-looking boxes.
Both the boxes feel high quality, and I’m reusing them for storing pens and such since they are really too good to just throw away.
Journal Covers
The next category is the cover pages, and this one is kind of subjective.
Both brands have a wide variety of designs and cover types to choose from.
Archer and Olive, in my opinion, come up with more new designs, and they have a large variety of different textures used in their journals.
Plus, they have some amazing collaborations like Simply Guilded, Plant-Based Bride, and Amanda Rach Lee just to mention a few.
Notebook Therapy also has several collaborations, and I see that they have different textures on their cover pages, as well as some creative cutout designs.
My feeling was that their journals offer a bit less in terms of different colors.
I have a Gentle Giant journal, and I must say I absolutely love the velvet texture of the cover page; it is almost therapeutic to touch. But it got dusty really fast, even though I mostly kept it in the box.
In this category, I’d probably give a point to Archer and Olive. But again, I think it really depends on your aesthetic.
Notebook Size
This was an easy one to decide.
Notebook Therapy journals come in 3 sizes, which can get a bit confusing since I bought an original one, and it turned out to be smaller than A5.
The three sizes of Notebook Therapy journals are original, A5, and B5. Which is a great selection.
However, Archer and Olive offer journals in 7 different sizes: A5, B5, B6, US Letter, A6, square, and travel. Sometimes, you can also find pocket-sized journals as well.
So, this one depends on what size of a journal you’re looking for, but the winner is definitely Archer and Olive for having a wider selection.
Paper Quality
Both of these journals come with 160 GSM paper which is more or less equal. With all my pen tests there was no bleeding or ghosting detected.
I did notice that in the Notebook Therapy journal, there was a slight feathering of the ink when I used a fountain pen.
Since I don’t usually use them, it was not a big deal for me personally.
For paper quality, I’d give a point to each journal since it is pretty similar.
Paper Color
Both brands come with pure white paper, which is my favorite color for the Bullet Journal notebooks since it allows for the best canvas to properly show all the colors of your markers.
If this is all you’re looking for – these journals are equal.
But if you’re looking for more, things might look different. Both brands offer notebooks with kraft and black paper, but Notebook Therapy has limited designs and sizes for these journals, while Archer and Olive often release new designs in all colors and at least two sizes.
So this round goes for Archer and Olive!
Notebook Binding
The next category is binding because that also can be different.
Both brands used to have very similar binding, which is a standard in the industry, but lately, Archer and Olive have changed the way they do theirs.
The new binding should create fewer possible errors with pages being stuck together. But I can’t say much about that since I’ve never had any issues before.
Either way, the new binding still allows for a journal to pay flat, so there is no change in quality.
However, in this category, I’ll give a point to Notebook Therapy, since simply aesthetically, I like the look of this binding more, and they have this cute wave on the spine.
Extra Features
There are many extra things a notebook can have, so let’s talk about them.
Both journals have a welcome page, a rubber closure, and a back pocket. Both brands also offer two ribbon bookmarks.
I would rate them equally, but Archer and Olive have that cute ampersand on the ribbons, so it gets an extra point. But as you can see, this is a very subjective view, and maybe this will not be a big deal for you.
Notebook Prices
Let’s talk money and how far back will these journals set you.
Notebook Therapy A5 journals (which are the usual BuJo notebook sizes) cost $30.89.
On average, Archer and Olive A5 journals cost $37, but with my code MASHA10 you can get 10% off. Plus, they constantly have sales where you can get a journal for around $27.
So price wise, I would put them on around the same level.
Shipping
Shipping is very important, especially if you need your journal to arrive by a certain date.
Notebook Therapy offers free shipping on all orders over $40, which is great, but their shipping takes a very long time. So if it’s not urgent for you, that’s fine. But if you’re on a timeline – I wouldn’t rely on it.
For example, an order I made at my friend’s address in the USA took almost 3 months to arrive. It’s not the case for everyone, of course, but just letting you know that it is a possibility,
Archer and Olive have a bit more expensive shipping, and it can get pretty steep (that’s why I usually put in one big order to save up on shipping costs), but it’s significantly faster and more reliable.
For example, when I ws living in Latin America, where mail is always an issue, I would usually get my Archer and Olive packages within a month.
So, this is hard to evaluate. If you want a fast and more reliable delivery – Archer and Olive is your go-to. If you don’t mind waiting longer and want to save on shipping, turn to Notebook Therapy.
Each brand gets a point!
Notebook Therapy VS Archer And Olive Final Thoughts
We’ve covered every little detail of both brands; let’s see what are the final numbers for this showdown:
| Categories | Archer & Olive | Notebook Therapy |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging | ✅ | ✅ |
| Journal Covers | ✅ | |
| Notebook Size | ✅ | |
| Paper Quality | ✅ | ✅ |
| Paper Color | ✅ | |
| Binding | ✅ | |
| Extra Features | ✅ | ✅ |
| Price | ✅ | ✅ |
| Shipping | ✅ |
In basic functionality, they are more or less equal.
If you want something with more variety, more confidence that it will arrive on time, and more different sizes and paper colors – Archer and Olive is your choice. They truly deliver that luxurious experience.
Plus, you can get 10% off your order with my code MASHA10.
If you’re just looking for a good solid white paper journal of a standard size, not in a hurry, and willing to wait for a while before it arrives, going with the Notebook Therapy journal might work better for you.
Personally, I’ll be sticking to Archer and Olive since I love their journals, but also, I’m impatient, and I can’t wait long for a new journal. Plus, I love my bright colors, so their aesthetic fits me better.
In the end, a lot of this comes down to personal preferences.
Free Ultimate Guide To Bullet Journal Supplies
Feeling confused about choosing a perfect journal and other supplies for yourself?
I’ve got you covered!
That’s exactly why I created this free UItimate Guide To Bullet Journal Supplies that will help simplify it all and give you recommendations for the best supplies to get.
Once you confirm your subscription, the guide will be on the way to your inbox.
Which one would you choose, Notebook Therapy or Archer and Olive?
Let us know in the comments!
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And remember: Keep Bullet Journaling, and Don’t Be A Blob!
