Oil-Based Stains: These take the longest to dry, so you can work a larger area at once without the excess drying up. I still recommend using a small amount, dip a corner of your lint-free rag in the stain, soak it and let the excess drip off before placing it to the wood.
Water-Based Stains: Water-based stains dry extremely quickly. Therefore, you should only use enough to cover a small area – small enough that you can go back and wipe off the excess within 2-3 minutes. Otherwise, the excess will dry on top of the wood and become blotchy and uneven.
Gel Stains:Gel stain is more like a paint than a stain in my opinion. You are dedicated to at least 3 coats no matter what when working with it. The first coat should be decently thick and even.
Use a foam brush, not a rag, and coat the entire area at once. It really doesn’t get rubbed in like the other two, it just sits on top. So if you think of it more like paint, you should get the amount I’m talking about.