Pan sets are usually less expensive. Many people find pan colors easier to us because of greater control of mixing. However, using a student grade pan set wears down the brush quickly. Tube paints are also sold in sets but are usually sold as open stock so consumers can choose the exact color they need. Tube colors can be used straight out of the tube.
Watercolor can also come in a pencil form.
They look and act like colored pencils. They are great for detail that would be too difficult to achieve with a brush. They are also great for giving the work a mixed media look. With a wet brush, the pencil can be blended into the existing colors. This makes it easier to cover larger areas of paper.