Dingbats Pro vs Earth Collection Comparison

This Dingbats Pro vs Earth Collection comparison looks at the real differences between the two notebook lines: size, cover material, page count, paper feel, features, and writing performance. They are both Dingbats notebooks, but they are not trying to do exactly the same job.

If you are choosing between them, the decision is mostly about how you write. If you want a portable dot-grid notebook for planning and bullet journaling, the Earth Collection makes more sense. If you want heavier paper and more space for drawing, ink, markers, or mixed-media experiments, the Pro Collection is the more specialized option.

Size and portability

The Earth Collection notebook shown here is A5, while the Pro Collection is B5. That makes the Pro noticeably larger on the desk and in the hand. It gives you more room per page, but it is also less compact if you carry your notebook around every day.

The Earth Collection feels more like a standard everyday journal size. It is easier to fit into a bag and more familiar if you are used to classic A5 bullet journals. The Pro is better when you want page space more than portability.

Cover material and outside feel

The Earth Collection uses a vegan leatherette cover. It has texture, but it feels smoother and softer. The Pro Collection has a linen cover, which feels rougher and more fabric-like. This gives the Pro a more art-sketchbook personality, while the Earth Collection feels closer to a classic journal.

Both notebooks include an elastic closure, a pen loop, Dingbats branding on the back, and two bookmarks. The feature set overlaps, but the materials make the notebooks feel different in daily use.

Paper differences

Paper is the biggest reason to pick one over the other. The Earth Collection uses 100gsm cream paper and has 185 numbered pages. The Pro Collection uses 160gsm white paper and has 128 pages. So Earth gives you more pages, while Pro gives you thicker pages.

The Earth paper feels smoother and more coated. The Pro paper feels more matte. That difference matters with pens. Earth is nicer for everyday writing and standard bullet journaling, while Pro is the one to choose if you want to push the paper harder.

Features and extras

Both notebooks include useful details that Dingbats users expect: pen loop, elastic strap, dual bookmarks, and branded styling. The Earth Collection also has more of the familiar notebook extras and animal-themed identity pages, while the Pro feels more focused on the paper itself.

The Earth Collection is the more complete planner-style notebook. It gives you more numbered pages and a format that is easier to use as a long-term bullet journal. The Pro feels like a notebook you would choose for specific creative work.

Pen test and paper performance

The Pro’s 160gsm paper is the clear winner if you care about heavier pens. It can handle more demanding tools because the paper is much thicker. That makes it more suitable for brush pens, markers, wet inks, and mixed-media pages.

The Earth Collection still performs well for normal writing, gel pens, fineliners, and everyday bullet journaling. It is not a weak paper; it is simply built for a different purpose. If you do not use heavy markers, the extra page count may be more valuable than the thicker paper.

Everyday use comparison

For daily planning, the Earth Collection is easier to recommend. The A5 size, smoother cream paper, and higher page count make it more practical as a main bullet journal. It feels like something you can carry and fill over time.

The Pro is more like a specialist notebook. It gives you more space and stronger paper, but fewer pages and a larger footprint. That is great if your pages are more visual, but less ideal if you simply want months of daily logs.

Pros and cons

Dingbats Earth Collection pros

• More portable A5 size.
• 185 numbered pages for longer-term planning.
• Smoother cream paper for everyday writing.
• Classic bullet journal feel with useful extras.

Dingbats Pro Collection pros

• Larger B5 pages give more room.
• 160gsm white paper handles heavier pens better.
• Linen cover feels more premium and creative.
• Better choice for mixed-media or art journaling.

Cons

• Earth is less suited to very heavy markers.
• Pro has fewer pages and is less portable.
• Choosing the wrong one depends heavily on your writing style.

Which one should you buy?

Buy the Dingbats Earth Collection if you want a daily notebook for bullet journaling, planning, lists, and regular writing. It is the more balanced choice for most people because it has more pages and a portable format.

Buy the Dingbats Pro if you know you want thicker paper and larger pages. It makes more sense for artists, visual journalers, marker users, and people who want a notebook that can take more than standard writing.

Decision guide: planner, journal, or creative notebook?

If your pages are mostly calendars, task lists, trackers, notes, and written journal entries, choose the Earth Collection. The smaller A5 format and larger page count make it a better long-term planning notebook. It gives you enough structure for daily use without making the notebook feel oversized.

If your pages include brush lettering, swatches, heavier marker tests, sketches, or art journaling, choose the Pro Collection. The 160gsm paper is the reason to buy it. You give up some page count and portability, but the paper opens up more creative options.

Best value choice

For most writers, the Earth Collection is the better value because it gives you more numbered pages and a familiar bullet-journal size. It is easier to finish and easier to carry. The Pro Collection is better value only if you will actually use the thicker paper. If you mainly write with a ballpoint, gel pen, or fineliner, the Pro’s extra paper weight may be more than you need.

So the simple rule is: Earth for planning and daily journaling; Pro for creative pages and heavier tools. Both are good notebooks, but they feel best when matched to the right job.

Final thoughts

The Dingbats Pro and Earth Collection notebooks are both strong, but they serve different writers. The Earth Collection is the sensible everyday choice. It is portable, has more pages, and works well as a daily bullet journal.

The Pro Collection is the better creative notebook. The larger B5 size and 160gsm paper make it more appealing if your pages include markers, art, sketches, or mixed-media layouts. If you choose based on your actual writing tools rather than the cover alone, the right option becomes much clearer.