The dot pads I use so many of comes in two variations. Top stapled, or top spiral bound.

They are mostly the same. How the pages hang together is the only difference. Plus I think the stapled one are a bit cheaper.

The big advantage to the stabled ones is the they’re more compact and there isn’t really anything that can break on them. But is isn’t very convenient to use multiple pages at a time.

While the big advantage on the spiral bound ones is that it is much easier to flip over pages and use more than one page at a time. But the spiral is very easy to get stuck in stuff going in and out of bags and they have a bit extra bulk.

I have gone back and forth on my preference 3 times a year for as long as I can remember. But in general I think the spiral bound ones are better. But sometimes I prefer the stable bound ones.