best presentation apps for ipad pro

Presentations that stand out. Beautifully.

With its powerful tools and dazzling effects, Keynote makes it easy to create stunning and memorable presentations, and comes included with most Apple devices. Use Apple Pencil on your iPad to create diagrams or illustrations that bring your slides to life. And with real‑time collaboration, your team can work together, whether they’re on Mac, iPad, iPhone, or a PC.

See what’s new in Keynote

Present your story. Your way.

Keynote sets the stage for an impressive presentation. A simple, intuitive interface puts important tools front and center, so everyone on your team can easily add beautiful charts, edit photos, and incorporate cinematic effects. And Rehearse Mode lets you practice on the go, with the current or next slide, notes, and clock — all in one view.

Start with a gorgeous layout.

Choose from over 40 eye‑catching themes that instantly give your presentation a professional look. Or create your own slide designs, background images, and page‑by‑page customization.

Create next-level animations.

Add drama to your presentation with more than 100 cinematic transitions and effects. Make your words pop by adding textures, color gradients, and even photos — with just a tap. And animate objects along a path using Apple Pencil or your finger on your iPhone or iPad.

Make every slide spectacular.

Add subtle movement to your slides with dynamic backgrounds. Illustrate your point with over 700 Apple-designed shapes, or add photos, videos, music, image galleries, and charts. Easily remove backgrounds from supported images and live videos or manually refine adjustments as needed. You can even use your iPhone to take a photo or scan a document, and Continuity Camera can send it straight to Keynote on your Mac.

What’s new in Keynote.

Learn about everything you can do in Keynote

Get the updates. Then get in touch.

Stay up to date when people join, edit, or comment in collaborative presentations and easily get in touch with your team using Messages and FaceTime.

Get more done on iPad.

Quickly insert objects, find settings, and get to your favorite tools with the customizable toolbar. And Stage Manager makes it easy to multitask across multiple presentations and apps at the same time. 1

Make backgrounds disappear.

Now you can more easily remove backgrounds from supported images — and even live videos — or adjust them to your liking.

Add live video feeds to any slide.

Appear in a window, right on your slides, with a picture-in-picture display during remote presentations. Or include a live feed of your iPhone or iPad screen to show off apps.

Get started with dynamic themes.

Start with one of three beautiful new animated themes, then customize it to set the tone for each slide with 18 adjustable background presets — from understated to highly visual, monochrome to colorful, calm to energetic.

Captivate your audience with dynamic backgrounds.

Make your presentation stand out by adding stunning color and visual interest to your slides. Create motion on a title or closing slide for a bold statement, and keep viewers engaged with subtle movement throughout the presentation.

Present with your team. Seamlessly.

For slideshows with multiple presenters, you can take turns controlling a single deck — from anywhere — on Mac, iPad, and iPhone.

Play YouTube and Vimeo videos right in Keynote.

Embed a video from YouTube or Vimeo, then play it right in your presentations, without the need to download or open the video in a media player. 2

Present over video conference. Like a pro.

Play a slideshow in its own window so you can access other apps while you present. You can view your presenter notes, upcoming slides, and navigation in a separate window as well.

Outline your presentation. Easier.

With outline view for iPhone and iPad, quickly jot down your thoughts, restructure ideas, and move concepts from slide to slide. Then switch to slide view and start designing.

Present like never before. From anywhere.

With Keynote, presenting remotely can be just as seamless as presenting in person. Say goodbye to saying “Next slide, please” — now multiple people can present together, even remotely, with each person taking control of their section of the deck. Add a live video feed of yourself to any slide for a picture-in-picture experience. Or when presenting on your Mac, include a live feed of your iPhone or iPad screen to walk through your apps. You can even play a slideshow in its own window, so you can simultaneously access your notes and other apps.

Any presentation. Any device. Anytime.

You don’t work in one place on just one device. The same goes for Keynote. Work seamlessly across all your Apple devices. The slides you create using a Mac or iPad will look the same on an iPhone or web browser — and vice versa.

You can also work on presentations stored on iCloud or Box using a PC.

Start using Keynote at iCloud.com

Create and present together. Even when apart.

Work together in the same presentation, from across town or across the world. You can see your team’s edits as they make them — and they can watch as you make yours, too. You can even get notifications when people join, edit, or comment. When presenting as a team, you can also take turns controlling a single deck from anywhere.

Use Apple Pencil when inspiration strikes.

Add color, illustrations, and handwritten comments for more beautiful presentations with Apple Pencil on your iPad.

Plays well with Office.

Teaming up with someone who uses Microsoft PowerPoint? Keynote makes it a great working relationship. You can save Keynote presentations as PowerPoint files. Or import and edit PowerPoint presentations right in Keynote.

Learn more about Microsoft PowerPoint compatibility

See everything that’s new in Keynote

• What’s new in Keynote for iPhone and iPad
• What’s new in Keynote for Mac
• Keynote for iCloud release notes

Additional Resources

• Get Keynote support
• Learn about Microsoft Office compatibility
• Learn about collaboration for Pages, Numbers, and Keynote
• Use Keynote in a video conference app

Keynote User Guides

• Keynote User Guide for Mac
• Keynote User Guide for iPad
• Keynote User Guide for iPhone
• Keynote User Guide for Web

Build spreadsheets that are bottom-line brilliant.

Create documents that are, in a word, beautiful.

Presentation Guru

The best presentation apps for iphone and ipad.

In the wake of the demise of Symbian phones, the near death of BlackBerry and the expensive failure called Windows Phone, there are two obvious mobile OS competitors still standing: Android and iOS. As smartphones, tablets and phablets invade the mobile market, it is only a matter of time before desktop operating systems face the prospect of extinction, unless they somehow evolve. In the wake of this shift, it is necessary for presenters to gear up for things to come.

In a previous post we brought you our list of the best presentation apps for Android . This time we have compiled a similar list for iOS devices. The presentation apps listed below are a combination of applications meant to help presenters create, edit, view, present and remotely control presentations using iDevices.

[This article contains affiliate links. For more information, see our disclosures here .]

1) P owerPoint

Maybe it’s my bias being a PC guy or maybe because Apple is too high and mighty to let Keynote evolve with better cross-platform compatibility. Either way, PowerPoint for iOS is number one in our list of the best presentation apps for iPhone and iPad.

Many end users have complained about the need for an Office 365 subscription that is required to use PowerPoint for iOS, considering there have been a plethora of free apps providing PowerPoint support on iDevices even before this app was launched.

However, like all good things in life, it is only natural that PowerPoint for iDevices isn’t exactly free. While you can get the app for free via the App Store and create or edit documents by signing in with a free Microsoft account, to make the app really worth using, you would need to log in using an Office 365 account .

PowerPoint for iOS brings the famous desktop presentation to iDevices with support for charts, tables, SmartArt Graphics, animations, transitions, speaker notes, etc. Furthermore, like the desktop editions of PowerPoint 2013 and 2016, PowerPoint for iOS also provides a built-in laser pointer, pen and highlighter. Other options include integration with OneDrive, Dropbox & SharePoint.

With PowerPoint for iOS you not only get all great features of the desktop edition of PowerPoint but you can also wirelessly project a presentation using AirPlay, as well as control your slides using an Apple Watch.

Since PowerPoint is available for a wide variety of platforms like Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Windows Phone, and provides cloud based variants in the form of PowerPoint Online and Office 365, it is much easier to use PowerPoint files for presentations. In fact, many third-party services and apps like Google Drive, SlideShark and WPS Office also provide support for PowerPoint files.

However, it is safe to say that native PowerPoint support on iDevices from the official PowerPoint app by Microsoft is the best option for creating, editing and viewing presentations on an iPhone or iPad device.

When it comes to making quality presentations, Keynote is an app that cannot be ignored. While there is no real way of using Keynote on a PC or Android device, it is one of the most commonly used presentation apps for Apple users.

For those who have never used Keynote, it gives a plethora of PowerPoint like features for making presentations using readymade themes, with support for adding charts, tables, shapes, etc. Like PowerPoint, Keynote has also added collaboration features (currently going through the beta stage).

Just like OneDrive for PowerPoint, Keynote too provides cloud integration using iCloud. By all means, Keynote is a powerful presentation and there is no shortage of third-party templates which come with some extraordinary graphics and attention grabbing themes.

Other than Apple devices, the iCloud web app allows creating and editing presentations using an internet browser. This unfortunately is the only option for using Keynote other than on an Apple device. This restricts the scope for using Keynote files for presentations and since we live in a PC world, cross-platform compatibility is still a major hurdle for Keynote users.

That said, Keynote is still one of the best presentation apps for presenters and this is why it’s number 2 on our list for recommended presentation apps for presenters using iPhone & iPad devices.

3) Google Slides

While Google Slides isn’t the kind of app which provides killer features, it is decent enough to get the job done. Google Slides provide support for PowerPoint files and this app by Google has come a long way since Google Drive apps were rebranded a few years back.

If you’re looking for a decent iOS app which is free to use and can help you create, edit and view presentations from popular formats (e.g. PowerPoint & PDF presentations), then Google Slides isn’t a bad option. Lately, Google Slides templates have improved in quality and third-party template providers for this underrated platform have also begun providing high-quality templates . While Google Slides lags far behind PowerPoint, as we discussed in our comparison of Google Slides Vs PowerPoint , this poor man’s PowerPoint still deserves a bit of love.

4) Adobe Spark Video

Adobe is known to produce high-quality applications. Ranging from its high-end apps like PhotoShop, Premiere Pro to the free Adobe Reader that millions of users use to view PDF files; Adobe is a name tied to quality apps. Adobe Spark Video is a little known presentation app that can help you create studio quality video presentations.

Unlike most low-end or mid-ranged Android devices, iPhone and iPad devices tend to be more efficient in offering the kind of hardware which can help record better quality videos. This is perhaps the reason apps like Adobe Spark are usually not available for Android. While an Adobe Spark offering for Android is currently in development, it is likely that it might only work with high-end devices. The point is that iDevices have the kind of hardware that gives an edge in making video presentations. You might make such a presentation or video clip by interviewing people on the streets or by capturing an extraordinary event on your mobile device. Such video clips can add a powerful touch to your presentations and enable you to reach out at a very personal level to win hearts and minds.

Coming to Adobe Spark features; you can create videos with a voice-over using an iDevice, add a soundtrack and let the app do its magic. You can choose from an archive of more than 25,000 images and icons for your visual stories and let Adobe Spark automatically render your videos with cinematic animations to give your video presentations and clips a professional look. You can also choose between various themes, fonts and upload videos online.

5) HaikuDeck

HaikuDeck can be used for making attractive presentation decks via iPhone, iPad or web. You can begin making presentations on an iDevice by logging in using your HaikuDeck account, pick a template and start making slides using all major features you would expect in a good presentation app.

What makes HaikuDeck worth using are the very attractive graphics, availability of a plethora of images, a wide range of useful layouts and the ability to publish your slides online. HaikuDeck is not just a presentation maker but also an app you can use to present presentations in fullscreen mode on iOS devices. Needless to say, you can connect your iDevice to a projector to use HaikuDeck just like Keynote or PowerPoint to present professional presentations.

HaikuDeck has a free and a paid version, with the utility to opt for in-app purchases. But that’s not a bad thing. The high-quality graphics and imagery in premium content (e.g. premium templates) are worth the cost.

6) SlideIdea

SlideIdea is the kind of unique app that can help presenters make their presentations more attention grabbing. The app supports three formats, i.e. PDF, PowerPoint and the app’s very own SLD format. The app comes integrated with OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, Box & KingSoft Cloud to help you instantly import an existing slide deck for remodeling.

You can either import a slide deck or make one from scratch using some very attractive templates offered by SlideIdea. The editing features are similar to PowerPoint and Keynote, with a vast library of slide elements, support for whiteboard, animations and some handy transitions to switch your slides in style. Furthermore, you can add audio recording and video clips to create Slidecasts, as well as engage your audience using online polls.

SlideIdea is only available for iPad and works with devices running iOS 5.0 or above.

7) Prezi Viewer

It is sad to see that Prezi only has a Prezi Viewer for iDevices. Like its Android counterpart, this app is good for viewing and presenting Prezis. Since you can’t make Prezis on iDevices using an app, Prezi Viewer is only useful for presenters looking to use their iDevices for presenting Prezis.

8. SlideShark

Back in the day, SlideShark was one of the top presentation apps for iOS. However, since the advent for PowerPoint for iOS, its importance has arguably diminished. SlideShark is another app that can be used for viewing and presenting presentations. SlideShark supports uploading, viewing, presenting and sharing PowerPoint presentations while retaining original fonts, animations, colors and graphics. Moreover, there are a number of handy annotation features that can help you annotate slides during a Live presentation.

SlideShark also gives the utility to broadcast presentations online to share them with your audience during a Live presentation. The premium edition of SlideShark also supports PDF files.

9. MyPoint PowerPoint Remote

This is a simple app for remotely controlling PowerPoint slides running on a PC or Mac computer. You will need to install the connector app for your computer, as well as the iOS app for MyPoint PowerPoint Remote on your iDevice.

You can start your SlideShow directly from an iDevice remotely and instantly begin controlling your slides. The app has some advanced premium features that you can opt for, these include annotation tools like a pointer and marker, as well as a timer to time, rehearse and see the elapsed time for your slides.

10) Video Teleprompter

While iDevices have always had some good teleprompter apps, this one is as good as it gets. Video Teleprompter not only allows you to instantly turn your iPhone or iPad device into a teleprompter to read out a script but also enables recording video presentations.

The on-screen teleprompter can play your script and at the same time record your video using your iOS camera to enable you to create a video presentation or podcast.

Video Teleprompter provides good legibility for text that scrolls on your screen and makes it possible for you to face the camera while reading your script as if you are talking to your audience. Hence, it serves the dual purpose of acting as a teleprompter and video recording tool, which makes it perfect for making video presentations or video clips that you might want to include in your slides.

We hope our list of the best presentation apps for iPhone and iPad gave you some useful ideas for making more robust presentations using iDevices. The apps mentioned above can not only be used as standalone presentation apps but you can also use a number of these apps to add something special to your presentations. In fact, you might find it very useful to use some of the above mentioned apps in conjunction to design high-quality slides, video clips and to present them using an iPhone or iPad device.

If you know of an awesome iOS presentation app which you believe should have been included in this list, do share your views with us by leaving a comment below.

If you like this, you might also like

How to Present PowerPoint on iPads and iPhones

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Sanat Patel

6th November 2016 at 2:01 am

These are using new platforms to do things the old way. We need insights that take advantage of new paradigms. Presentations that tell a story and engage your audience. Persuade with interactive data visuals easier to create than a powerpoint animation.

25th February 2018 at 10:09 pm

OctaSales is the sales presentation web app for iPad and other tablets. This interactive tool allows in-depth presentations of your sales material: images, videos, documents and notes in a non-linear way. Works both online and off-line (as a regular app) and its easy to integrate to external CRM systems. More information is available at: https://www.octasales.com/

Rosie Hoyland

27th February 2018 at 9:19 am

Thanks for sharing Zoran

31st October 2018 at 10:52 am

Unfortunately SlideShark is going out of business late fall 2018. That is unfortunate – it was the only 3rd party tool for iPads that rendered Powerpoint files correctly.

For the teams that use common cloud storage platforms like Google Drive, Box, OneDrive, Sharepoint etc to manage their files, I’d like to recommend https://CrescendoApp.com as a great and inexpensive alternative to large, complex and expensive platforms like Showpad.

1st November 2018 at 9:09 am

Thanks for the update Marek. We’d urge any readers you have been using SlideShark to check out their FAQ page at https://www.brainshark.com/sites/default/files/slideshark-discontinue-faq.pdf for further explanation.

The Crescendo app is certainly worth looking at.

21st August 2020 at 12:08 pm

Great compilation. I’m Pramod, Product Marketer for Zoho Show. It would be great if you take a look at our new iOS app. You can create and edit the presentations right from your iPhone or iPad. You can also collaborate with peers and present your ideas using an Apple TV. Take a look at this video to get the gist of the product and the features on offer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zm3n0k9Q9io

Please consider adding the app to your list, it would be a fine addition and prove to be handy for your viewers.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

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Best presentation apps for iPad and iPhone in 2024

Presentations are a handy tool for students,  teachers , and professionals. Moreover, you can also use them at parties and events because gone are the days of boring slides that fail to retain your audience’s attention. Today, you can quickly create captivating slideshows that communicate your message effectively and engagingly. So, check out these best presentation apps for iPad and iPhone, no matter what kind of project you’re working on in the classroom or the boardroom.

Although Canva is well-known as a graphic design app , it can also help you create spectacular slides for a presentation that will wow your audience. There are tons of professionally designed templates that you can customize according to your needs.

Moreover, you can add your own brand elements like logos and images to create a unified look. The best part is that it is incredibly easy to use, yet gives you impeccable results. You can add your original pictures, illustrations, and text, or choose from the extensive database of design elements that it offers.

Price : Free (In-app Purchases start from $0.99)

2. Google Slides

Creating top-notch presentations with Google Slides is a breeze. It has a highly intuitive user-interface that makes your work easy. Further, the real-time collaboration feature lets you work with your friends and colleagues. You can add and rearrange slides, format text, and shapes with ease.

Further, you can also open and edit PowerPoint slides right from this app. Another notable feature is that it lets you work even offline. So, if you ever find yourself without an internet connection, your work won’t hit a roadblock. Lastly, Google Slides supports several languages, such as English, German, Italian, Japanese, and more.

Price:  Free

3. Microsoft PowerPoint

Across the world, PowerPoint has been synonymous with presentations for decades. In recent years, this tool has come a long way. So what better way to get creative than with this official app from Microsoft. It features a range of powerful and customizable slides and templates that will make you stand out.

Moreover, you can use a new AI tool called Presenter Coach that will help you practice your presentation and get real-time suggestions to adjust your pacing, avoid “umms” and speak confidently. Finally, there is seamless syncing with OneDrive that ensures your projects stay consistent across devices.

Price:  Free (In-app Purchases start from $6.99)

4. Notability

This is a renowned note-taking app for your iPad , but it doubles up as an excellent way to share presentations with others and keep your audience engaged. It has a lot of useful tools like ink, highlighter, text, and audio. If you’re working on a compatible iPad, you can even handwrite and sketch with Apple Pencil to bring your projects to life.

Further, the laser pointer makes it easy to direct attention to specific parts of your work. There’s also a multi-note feature that lets you view another note on your device that stays hidden from the audience whom you are presenting to. Not surprisingly, this is a bestselling paid app on the iPad App Store

Price : $8.99

5. Slideshow Creator

If you want to make a more casual presentation for family gatherings or parties, check out this easy-to-use iPad and iPhone presentation app. It offers various slideshow styles for everything from birthdays and graduation to sports events, invitations, and more.

You simply have to select the style you want, select the photos, videos, and music you want to collate, add text and captions, and then export it into a video that you can share through social media or project on a big screen.

Price : Free (In-app Purchases start from $4.99)

Here’s the app that Apple itself uses to present brilliant creations to the world. It’s the most powerful app to present your ideas on an iPhone or iPad. In addition to all the basic features, there are advanced options like animated charts and cinematic transitions to add that extra flair with ease.

Further, Keynote Live allows you to present a slideshow that your audience can follow on their Apple devices or online on iCloud.com. Finally, with the built-in real-time collaboration feature, it lets you work with your team seamlessly. Thanks to the Keynote for iCloud, even Windows PC users can collaborate.

7. Adobe Spark Video

This one’s a video editor app that also lets you create professional presentations. Within minutes, you can put together compelling video stories replete with professional images that highlight your message. You can even select the soundtrack that you like best, and the app will compile everything with beautiful cinematic motion.

Whether you want to inform, persuade, or inspire, your presentations can make an impact with this app. You can even access, edit, and share your video from a browser using Adobe Spark. All this functionality for free is a pretty sweet deal.

Price:  Free (Spark Subscription Monthly – $9.99)

8. Prezi Viewer

This iOS presentation app makes sure that you outshine everyone else. It’s intuitive and innovative, with stunning animations that draw your audience’s attention to precisely where you want it. You can even access and showcase your work offline if you need to.

When presenting, you don’t need to keep looking behind you because you can see your work on your phone screen too. Moreover, your iPhone or iPad acts as a clicker too! This neat app also supports multiple languages, including English, French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Hungarian, Italian, Korean, and Japanese.

Summing Up!

So, when are you making your next presentation with one of these apps? Let us know your favorite in the comments below.

You may also like to read these:

• Best Document Scanner Apps
• How to convert Keynote Presentation to PowerPoint on iPhone, iPad, and Mac
• Document Creation Apps
• Best Project Management Apps

🗣️ Readers like you help support iGeeksBlog. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.  Read Disclaimer .

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10 Best Presentation Apps for iPad

Cult.technology.

If you’re looking for the best presentation apps for iPad, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll show you 10 of the best options for iPad presentation apps that are currently available, along with their pros and cons.

iPad presentation apps offer a number of advantages over traditional presentation software. They’re more portable, for one thing, and they tend to be more user-friendly as well. Additionally, many of these apps offer features that are simply not possible with traditional presentation software, such as the ability to use your iPad as a virtual whiteboard.

So without further ado, here are the 10 best presentation apps for iPad:

10 Best Presentation Apps for iPad:

1. keynote :.

Keynote is one of the popular presentation apps for iPad. When it comes to giving presentations, there is no tool more versatile or user-friendly than Keynote for iPad. This powerful app allows users to create beautiful slideshows complete with animations, transitions, and multimedia elements. And thanks to its intuitive interface, Keynote is easy to use even for first-time users.

Keynote is Apple’s own presentation app, and it’s one of the best in the business. It’s got a clean, intuitive interface and a wide range of features, making it perfect for both simple and complex presentations.

Keynote users can create presentations that are as simple or complex as they need to be. Whether you’re creating a quick presentation for work or an elaborate slideshow for a special event, Keynote has the tools you need to get the job done.

There are many reasons to love Keynote for iPad.

• One of the biggest advantages of this app is its flexibility.
• Clean interface
• Wide range of features
• Great for both simple and complex presentations.
• Another great thing about Keynote is its compatibility with other Apple products. If you’re already using iCloud, you can easily share your presentations with other iOS devices and Macs.
• You’re using an iPhone or iPad, you can even control your presentation remotely with the Keynote Remote app

Though Keynote is a powerful presentation tool, there are some cons to using it on your iPad.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Formatting can be tricky. Because the iPad screen is smaller than a traditional computer screen
• The iPad version of Keynote is more expensive than the Mac version.
• You need an Internet connection to use Keynote on the iPad.

2. PowerPoint

If you’re looking for a powerful and easy-to-use presentation app for your iPad, then PowerPoint Presentation is a perfect choice. With its intuitive interface and wide range of features, PowerPoint Presentation makes creating and delivering presentations a breeze.

PowerPoint Presentation comes with everything you need to create professional-looking presentations, including:

• A wide range of templates to choose from
• An easy-to-use editor for creating and customizing your slides
• A library of built-in images and icons
• The ability to add multimedia content to your presentations
• The ability to share your presentations with others via email or social media
• Can be used to create engaging and visually appealing presentations
• Can be used to present on a variety of different devices, including iPads and smartphones
• Can be used to share presentations with others online
• Can be used to create presentations in a variety of different languages
• Some PowerPoint presentation apps can be expensive to purchase
• May require a monthly subscription fee
• Some users may find the app difficult to use
• There may be limited customer support available.

3. Google Slides

Google Slides is a powerful presentation tool that offers a variety of features and benefits. One of the major advantages of using Google Slides is that it is very easy to use and intuitive. Even if you are not familiar with presentation software, you should be able to create a professional-looking presentation with Google Slides in no time.

Another benefit of using Google Slides is that it allows you to collaborate with other people on your presentation. This means that if you are working on a project with someone else, you can both work on the presentation at the same time and see each other’s changes in real time. This can be a great way to get feedback and ideas from others while you are working on your presentation.

Finally, Google Slides is a very affordable way to create professional-looking presentations. If you compare the cost of Google Slides to other presentation software, you will find that it is very reasonably priced. Overall, Google Slides is a great choice for anyone who needs to create a presentation.

• Access presentations from anywhere – Great for collaboration
• you can easily add images, videos, and transitions to your slideshows.
• You can also collaborate with others on your presentations, making it easy to get feedback and make changes together.
• Limited features compared to desktop application
• Requires an internet connection to use
• Not as intuitive as some other presentation software options.

Prezi is a cloud-based presentation software and storytelling tool for presenting ideas on a virtual canvas. The zoomable canvas makes it easy to present details and structure information in a way that is more intuitive and engaging than traditional slide-based presentations. Prezi’s zooming interface brings ideas to life by providing a more interactive way of exploring them. This makes it ideal for presenting concepts that are difficult to explain with traditional slides. Prezi is also great for storytelling, as it allows you to zoom in and out of your story to provide more context and detail.

Prezi is a unique presentation app that allows you to create “zoomable” presentations. This can be a great way to add visual interest to your presentation, and it’s also very user-friendly.

• Zooming interface makes it easy to present complex information in a way that is easy to understand.
• Built-in templates and design tools make it easy to create professional-looking presentations.
• Cloud-based platform makes it easy to share presentations with others and collaborate on projects.
• Prezi is a great alternative to traditional presentation software such as PowerPoint.
• Some users find it difficult to use
• First, the app is not free to download and use
• Not as widely used as other presentation apps.

5. Haiku Deck

Haiku Deck is an app that allows users to create beautiful presentations. It is simple and easy to use, and it makes creating presentations fun and creative process. Haiku Deck is perfect for any occasion, whether you’re presenting at work, school, or just want to share your ideas with friends. With Haiku Deck, you can quickly and easily create stunning presentations that will engage and inspire your audience.

• Makes it easy to create beautiful presentations.
• Simple interface and templates make it easy to create stunning presentations in minutes.
• Built-in image library and search engine make it easy to find the perfect images for your presentation.
• Sharing features make it easy to share your presentations with others.
• Mobile apps make it easy to view and present your presentations on the go.
• Firstly, the app is not very flexible when it comes to design.
• There are only a limited number of templates and layouts available, so users may find it difficult to create truly unique presentations.
• Haiku Deck presentations can be quite image-heavy, which can make them slow to load and difficult to view on devices with lower resolution screens.
• The app does not have a built-in notes feature, so users who want to add speaker notes to their slides will need to use a separate tool or write them down separately.

6. SlideShark

SlideShark is a great iPad presentation app for businesses and organisations that need to give presentations on a regular basis. It’s got a ton of features and allows you to view your presentation on any device, even if it doesn’t have PowerPoint installed.With Slide Shark app for iPad is the ultimate presentation tool. It allows you to create beautiful presentations with ease, and share them with your audience with a few simple taps.

With Slide Shark, you can:

• Create slideshows from your photos and videos
• Add text, shapes, and transitions to your slideshows
• Share your presentations with your audience
• View your presentations on your iPad or iPhone
• Export your presentations to PDF or PowerPoint

Slide Shark is the perfect presentation tool for busy professionals who need to create great presentations quickly and easily. With its easy-to-use interface and powerful features, Slide Shark makes it easy to create stunning

So what are the pros of using SlideShark? Let’s take a look:

• View presentations in their original formatting
• Present directly from your device
• Access your presentations from anywhere, at any time
• Share presentations with others
• Get feedback on your presentations
• Improve your presentation skills

SlideShark, like all other apps, has its own set of pros and cons. Let’s take a look at some of the main cons of using SlideShark for business presentations.

• It can be quite expensive to purchase the app outright. Although there is a free trial available.
• Another con of using SlideShark is that it can be quite difficult to use.
• The app is not as user-friendly as some of the other presentation apps out there.
• SlideShark can be quite resource-intensive. The app requires a lot of storage space on your device.
• SlideShark doesn’t have as many features as some of the other presentation apps out there.

7. ClearSlide

The ClearSlide app for presentation is a powerful tool that allows you to create and deliver stunning presentations on your iPad. It’s got a clean, user-friendly interface, you can quickly create slideshows with photos, videos, and text that look professional and engaging. You can also add transitions, animations, and effects to make your presentation more dynamic. And with its built-in sharing capabilities, you can easily share your presentations with others so they can view them on their own devices. Whether you’re giving a sales presentation, delivering a keynote speech, or teaching a class, the ClearSlide app for presentation is the perfect way to get your message across.

You can rely on ClearSlide for the best iPad app for presentations. Now let’s look at the pros and cons of this app.

• ClearSlide has a clean, intuitive interface that makes it easy to get started creating presentations.
• ClearSlide also supports presentation sharing, so you can easily share your presentations with others.
• You can add slides, images, and videos from your iPad Pro’s library, or from the web.
• t’s easy to use, packed with features and designed specifically for the iPad Pro.
• One of the main drawbacks of using the ClearSlide app is that it can be quite expensive.
• Additionally, the app requires a subscription in order to use all of its features.
• Another drawback of the ClearSlide app is that it can be difficult to use. The interface is not as intuitive as some other presentation apps
• This app doesn’t have a built-in tutorial, so you’ll need to find one online if you want to learn how to use the app.

8. ShoweDeck

ShoweDeck is a presentation app that helps you create and deliver engaging presentations. With ShoweDeck, you can easily add multimedia content to your slides, including images, videos, and audio files. You can also use ShoweDeck to create interactive presentations, using features such as questionnaires and polls. ShoweDeck is a great tool for both personal and professional use.  It’s very user-friendly and comes with a wide range of features, making it perfect for both simple and complex presentations.

• First and foremost, the app is designed to be easy to use. It has a simple interface that makes it quick and easy to create and edit presentations.
• There are a variety of templates available, or users can create their own custom layouts.
• The app also includes a number of built-in features that make it easy to add multimedia content to presentations, such as photos, videos, and audio files.
• Another key advantage of the ShoweDeck presentation app is its portability. The app can be used on any iPad, which makes it ideal for use in a variety of situations.
• It is also possible to share presentations with others via email or social media.
• The ShoweDeck presentation app offers a number of features that make it easy to give presentations. For example, users can add notes to slides, and the app includes a variety of tools for creating and managing presentations.
• First, it lacks some features that are essential for effective presentations, such as the ability to insert notes or comments on slides or to easily format text.
• Additionally, the app is not very intuitive and can be challenging to use, especially for those who are not familiar with presentation software.
• Finally, the app is not compatible with all versions of PowerPoint, which can limit its usefulness.

9. Hypercontext

The Hypercontext presentation app is a great tool for creating professional-looking presentations in iPad. It’s easy to use and has a wide range of features, making it perfect for both businesses and individuals. With Hypercontext, you can create stunning slideshows with ease, adding photos, videos, text, and more. Plus, the app makes it easy to share your presentations with others, making it perfect for team collaboration. So whether you’re creating a presentation for work or school, Hypercontext is the perfect tool for the job.

• Ease of use : Hypercontext is designed to be extremely user-friendly, even for first-time users. Creating a presentation is as simple as dragging and dropping your slides into the app, and adding text, images, and other content is just a matter of a few taps.
• Flexibility : Hypercontext offers a wide range of features and options to customize your presentations, including the ability to add notes to slides, change backgrounds and fonts, and more.
• Sharing options : When you’re finished creating your presentation, Hypercontext makes it easy to share it with others. You can export your presentation as a PDF or PowerPoint file, or even share it directly to social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.

The Hypercontext presentation app for iPad has some cons that users should be aware of before using it.

• One con is that the app can be glitchy and may not work as intended.
• Another con is that Hypercontext presentations can be very long and time-consuming to create.

10. MyndPlayer

MyndPlayer is a powerful and easy-to-use presentation app for iPad. With MyndPlayer you can easily create, edit and share presentations on the go.

MyndPlayer makes it easy to stay organized and keep your presentations looking great. You can easily add, remove and rearrange slides, and add notes to each slide. MyndPlayer also supports iCloud, so you can access your presentations from anywhere.

Whether you’re giving a presentation for work or school, MyndPlayer has you covered. Download it today and see how easy it is to create beautiful presentations on your iPad.

• MyndPlayer supports both PowerPoint and Keynote presentations, so you can use the app regardless of which program you’re accustomed to using.
• MyndPlayer offers a number of features that make it ideal for presentations. For example, you can use the app to record your voiceover narration for your slideshows, which can be a great way to add professional-sounding audio to your presentations.
• MyndPlayer makes it easy to share your presentations with others. You can export your slideshows as video files that can be played on any computer, or you can share them via email or social media.
• The app includes a built-in whiteboard that you can use to annotate your slideshows in real-time. This can be a great way to add visual interest to your presentations and make them more interactive.
• The app can be challenging to use if you’re not familiar with presentation software. It takes some time to get used to the interface and learn how to create and edit slideshows.
• It is not compatible with all devices. If you’re using a PC or Mac, you won’t be able to use MyndPlayer.
• This app doesn’t have a lot of features compared to other presentation software. For example, it doesn’t allow you to embed video or audio into your slideshows.

Conclusion:

We have listed down the top 10 best iPad presentation apps with their pros and cons. For more tech updates, do follow cult.technology !!

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Best presentation apps

We round up the best Android, iOS and desktop apps to transform your presentations and make a big impact

Whether you're presenting information to your team, potential clients or investors, having a reliable app that can make the process of creating, sharing and making presentations is key.

These apps are all available across platforms and although only some allow you to create presentations on the move, they all allow you to break away from the norm and produce something with that wow factor.

Apple Keynote

Publisher: Apple

Format: Browser, iOS, Mac

Price: Free (basic version via iCloud and bundled with new iPad purchases), £7.99 (sold separately)

Keynote is Apple's sturdy presentation app. Whether compiling your presentation on the go or at the desktop, the app's sleek design makes the process straightforward. Keynote comes with 30 pre-made presentation themes, plenty of slide layout and fonts, and a selection of “cinema-quality” animations.

It’s possible to create and edit a presentation on Mac, any post-iOS 8 iPhone or iPad, as well as a PC via iCloud.com, and users can also import and edit Microsoft PowerPoint files. For iOS users, Keynote’s interoperability with Mac OS and PowerPoint compatibility makes it a sound choice.

Publisher: Canva

Format: Browser, iOS

Price: Free

Canva transforms everyone into a designer, helping you create impactful presentations quickly. Although it is primarily a design app, it has a large database of stock images, themes, appealing text boxes and backgrounds, all which can be used to make professional looking, and image-centric slides.

You can simply drag and drop on the interface, making the slides look as you want them to! Canva allows you to play around with the built-in layouts and themes, making your slideshow seem appealing for corporate brands and businesses, travel, classes and many other environments.

Publisher: FlowVella

Format: Mac, iOS

Price: From free, up to $20 a month

FlowVella makes it easy peasy to create and share presentations with embedded rich media, including photos, videos and sound. You can create galleries within presentations and even add PDFs to be viewed in their full colourful glory.

The company says it is turning presentations into powerful stories, giving them more impact than standard PowerPoint presentations, which is a huge bonus if you’re one who hates the normal slide-by-slide walkthrough of a business matter.

The app is available for iPhone, iPad and Mac, so it’s focused towards creatives, but don’t let this deter you. It’s easy to use with templates to help get your presentation off the ground and with powerful analytics to help you understand who viewed your presentation, which pages were the most impactful and how you can improve next time, it’s a powerful sales tool for any organisation.

Google Slides

Publisher: Google Inc

Format: Android, Browser, iOS

Part of Google’s Docs suite of productivity apps, Google Slides makes the production of and sharing of presentations a simple process. Although not all features are supported on mobile, you can view and edit them on smartphones and tablets.

It’s easy to share the presentations with others and you can download them as a wide range of file formats (including PDF and PPTX) if the person you’re sending the presentation to doesn’t use Google Docs. Google Slides is a simple way to make presentations. It can be used on or offline and comes with a number of pre-installed templates to transform your presentation.

Publisher: Haiku Deck

Haiku Deck allows users to create a presentation on the web, iPad, or iPhone. Users can choose from a range of fonts, layouts, and image filters to use in presentations.

It boasts access to over 40 million free Creative Commons images. Presentations are stored in the cloud and can be displayed on any device.

Publisher: Prezi Inc

Format: Android, Browser, iOS, Windows Phone

Price: Free (basic)

Prezi adds a lot more to your presentation than just the usual boring transitions. You can add motion, zoom, and other effects to your presentations to make them stand out from the crowd. The mobile apps on iOS and Android don't let you create apps (the screens are too small for that), but you can review them and make changes if you need to.

They’re simple to send to colleagues and with collaboration at the heart of everything it does. Prezi allows you to create animated, appealing and nonlinear presentations with moving objects that keep the audience engaged in what you say.

Publisher: SlideBean Format: Browser

Price: Free (basic), $5/month for downloadable presentations, $6/month for private presentations

SlideBean makes it simple to create beautiful presentations without the hassle of implementing the design elements, making it a great option if you don't have an in-house designer. They're all created and available to view online, where you're also able to browse other users' presentations for research or inspiration.

You can simply add the text, images and videos you wish to display, choose a template and hey presto! SlideBean will transform it into a stunning presentation viewable via the company's online presentation viewer. If you opt for the $5/user/month option, you'll be abe to download the presentation to view via your preferred presentation platform or $6/user/month if you want to make it a private presentation so only those granted access can view it online.

You can also add your own branding with the premium options, although the free version's templates look attractive without your logo.

SlidePocket

Publisher: SlidePocket

Format: iOS

Price: Free (in-app purchases)

SlidePocket for iPad gives you the tools create simple and attractive presentations directly from your tablet. You’ll have a selection of templates and themes to choose from, as well as access to a moderate library of stock images.

There are options to import PDFs, edit themes, and export for different apps, delivered through a straightforward interface. It's perfect for those looking for a presentation app that does not require scanning a lengthy tutorial first.

Publisher: Slideshare

If you have made a presentation that you wish the world should see, Slideshare is the place to upload it. It’s one of the largest online slide sharing portals where you can make your public, shared with certain users or completely private.

Owned by LinkedIn, this is the best and the most suitable application through which you can share your knowledge and thoughts and build your portfolio of valuable content for brand building and other such objectives. It's the simplest way to share your presentations with the world and get noticed.

Publisher: Zoho Show

Price: Free (basic version)

Zoho Show is the online, no frills version of Microsoft PowerPoint, but it offers so much more than just being a carbon copy. It uses simple drop down menus and tabs, making it super-intuitive to use. What makes Zoho Show great is that it allows you create instant content by clicking on text boxes that can be added to the slides and apply themes, all with just a single click. A unique feature is ‘broadcast', i.e. you can share your slideshow in real time with anyone online.

With Zoho Show, you can access these files easily online, make and edit them, practice your presentation well before time. Although the basic version is free, for more add-ons there are premium and paid features starting at $5/month.

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Clare is the founder of Blue Cactus Digital, a digital marketing company that helps ethical and sustainability-focused businesses grow their customer base.

Prior to becoming a marketer, Clare was a journalist, working at a range of mobile device-focused outlets including Know Your Mobile before moving into freelance life.

As a freelance writer, she drew on her expertise in mobility to write features and guides for ITPro, as well as regularly writing news stories on a wide range of topics.

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Keynote User Guide for iPad

• What’s new in Keynote 13.2
• Intro to Keynote
• Intro to images, charts, and other objects
• Create a presentation
• Choose how to navigate your presentation
• Open a presentation
• Save and name a presentation
• Find a presentation
• Print a presentation
• Prevent accidental editing
• Undo or redo changes
• Quick navigation
• Change the working view
• Customize the toolbar
• Copy text and objects between apps
• Basic touchscreen gestures
• Use Apple Pencil with Keynote
• Create a presentation using VoiceOver
• Add or delete slides
• Reorder slides
• Group or ungroup slides
• Skip or unskip a slide
• Change the slide size
• Change a slide background
• Add a border around a slide
• Show or hide text placeholders
• Show or hide slide numbers
• Apply a slide layout
• Add and edit slide layouts
• Change a theme
• Add an image
• Add an image gallery
• Edit an image
• Add and edit a shape
• Combine or break apart shapes
• Save a shape to the shapes library
• Add and align text inside a shape
• Add 3D objects
• Add lines and arrows
• Add and edit drawings
• Add video and audio
• Record video and audio
• Edit video and audio
• Add live video
• Set the movie format
• Position and align objects
• Use alignment guides
• Place objects inside a text box or shape
• Layer, group, and lock objects
• Change object transparency
• Fill shapes and text boxes with color or an image
• Add a border to an object
• Add a caption or title
• Add a reflection or shadow
• Use object styles
• Resize, rotate, and flip objects
• Add linked objects to make your presentation interactive
• Select text and place the insertion point
• Copy and paste text
• Format a presentation for another language
• Use phonetic guides
• Use bidirectional text
• Use vertical text
• Change the look of text
• Use text styles
• Change text capitalization
• Add drop caps
• Make characters superscript or subscript
• Format fractions automatically
• Format dashes and quotation marks
• Format Chinese, Japanese, or Korean text
• Set tab stops
• Format text into columns
• Adjust line spacing
• Format lists
• Add mathematical equations
• Add borders and rules (lines) to separate text
• Add or delete a table
• Select tables, cells, rows, and columns
• Add or remove rows and columns
• Move rows and columns
• Resize rows and columns
• Merge or unmerge cells
• Change the look of table text
• Show, hide, or edit a table title
• Change table gridlines and colors
• Use table styles
• Resize, move, or lock a table
• Add and edit cell content
• Format dates, currency, and more
• Highlight cells conditionally
• Format tables for bidirectional text
• Alphabetize or sort table data
• Add or delete a chart
• Change a chart from one type to another
• Modify chart data
• Move, resize, and rotate a chart
• Change the look of data series
• Add a legend, gridlines, and other markings
• Change the look of chart text and labels
• Add a chart border and background
• Use chart styles
• Animate objects onto and off a slide
• Animate objects on a slide
• Change build order and timing
• Add transitions

Present on your iPad

• Present on a separate display
• Present on iPad over the internet
• Use a remote
• Make a presentation advance automatically
• Play a slideshow with multiple presenters
• Add and view presenter notes
• Rehearse on your device
• Play a recorded presentation
• Check spelling
• Look up words
• Find and replace text
• Replace text automatically
• Set your author name for comments
• Highlight text
• Add and print comments
• Send a presentation
• Intro to collaboration
• Invite others to collaborate
• Collaborate on a shared presentation
• See the latest activity in a shared presentation
• Change a shared presentation’s settings
• Stop sharing a presentation
• Shared folders and collaboration
• Use Box to collaborate
• Create an animated GIF
• Post your presentation in a blog
• Use iCloud Drive with Keynote
• Export to PowerPoint or another file format
• Restore an earlier version of a presentation
• Move a presentation
• Delete a presentation
• Password-protect a presentation
• Create and manage custom themes
• Transfer files with AirDrop
• Transfer presentations with Handoff
• Transfer presentations with the Finder
• Keyboard shortcuts
• Keyboard shortcut symbols

Play a Keynote presentation on iPad

To advance through the presentation, do any of the following:

Go to the next slide: Tap the slide.

Go back a slide or reset the builds on the slide: Swipe right. Avoid the left edge of the screen as you swipe, so the slide navigator doesn’t appear.

Jump to a different slide: Tap the left side of the screen to show the slide navigator, then tap the slide you want. You may need to swipe up or down to see all the slides. Tap anywhere on the slide to hide the slide navigator. Even if your device is connected to an external display, the slide navigator appears only on the device.

To see the toolbar, touch and hold anywhere on the screen, then tap a button to show the slide navigator, live video sources , multipresenter slideshow , or drawing and laser pointer controls. Tap away from the toolbar to dismiss it.

To stop playing a presentation, pinch anywhere on the screen.

Draw on a slide as you present

You can draw on your slides as you present to emphasize information on the slide. If you’re using Keynote Remote to control a presentation from your iPad, you can draw on your iPad and have your drawing appear on the Mac, iPhone, or iPad that’s playing your presentation.

Do any of the following:

Draw with a color: Tap a color, then draw with your finger on the slide.

Use the laser pointer: Tap the laser pointer and move your finger around the slide; the laser pointer follows your movements.

Return to the previous slide or advance a slide: Tap the left or right arrow on the slide.

Hide the drawing tools: Tap Done.

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8 Things I’ve Learned Using an iPad for Presentations

I love using my iPad for travel to conferences, and not just because it’s so lightweight and its battery lasts all day. For one thing, with the LTE version I’m not beholden to conference Wi-Fi; while some conferences have good connectivity, I never want to count on it. With the iPad I can nearly always get online.

But the iPad isn’t convenient only for attending conferences. It’s a good tool for presentations, too-or at least an excellent backup for a dedicated computer. I can easily be ready to present if I have a last-minute computer replacement.

Still, I had some things to learn the hard way about using an iPad for presentations. Perhaps I can save you a few steps.

The Basics of Getting Started

Learn the differences between “desktop” keynote and the ipad version.

While I present nearly exclusively from an iPad, I usually build my initial presentation on a Mac. I build all of my presentations in Keynote, and store them in iCloud. I can (and do) make tweaks to a presentation on-site via the iPad version of Keynote, but it always feels as though I’m slightly fighting with the software.

Keynote supports a customizable presenter display in both versions. On the Mac desktop version, you can pick three ways to give yourself that during-the-talk cheat sheet, instructing it to show you the current slide, next slide, and presenter notes. On the iPad, the presenter display options only give you a “two out of three” option, between current slide, next slide, and presenter notes. I begrudgingly pick Next Slide and Presenter Notes, and then I hope the venue has a confidence monitor that shows me what’s on the projector behind me.

Some folks prefer to use Powerpoint or Google Slides. This distills down to religion, and I can confidently state that those people are wrong. Both tools offer iPad versions as well, but I’m not well versed in them. Deckset doesn’t offer an iPad version, and I’ve not had much patience for the swath of custom JavaScript-based presentation tools that render Markdown inside of browsers. I want to like them, but I can’t quite get there yet. As a result, use Keynote; you’ll be happier. As an added bonus, the presentations live in iCloud; with a bit of notice you can grab a copy on someone’s Mac, iPhone, or iPad and be back in business should calamity befall your iPad.

Do be aware that this means that if your presentation requires a demo in a terminal or a web browser, you either get to do some awkward transitions—or accept that presenting from an iPad isn’t right for this talk. I still haven’t found a good way to give my “Terrible Ideas in Git” talk from an iPad due to its live demos…

Invest in a presentation remote

A presentation remote is a necessity, unless you enjoy being trapped behind the podium. I treated myself to a little luxury with the  Logitech Spotlight .

This device does it all. It speaks its own wireless protocol via a USB-A dongle that plugs into most laptops, but the Spotlight also speaks Bluetooth with a great range. Its battery charges using a built-in USB-C port that hides behind the dongle, and a single charge lasts for months.

I freely accept that most folks find the idea of paying $129 for a single-purpose device a bit nutty. Those folks generally don’t give double-digit numbers of presentations a year. A word of caution: Don’t leave it behind at the podium after your talk. It’s expensive enough to buy the first time. Please don’t ask me how I know.

Pay attention to fonts and typefaces

I have a condition I jokingly refer to as “typeface blindness.” I can’t tell the difference between most fonts unless I stare at them and actively work out what I’m seeing. I’m told this is atypical, and whenever I forget this fact I get reminded on Twitter. “Well, that’s the fifth talk so far today that uses Helvetica (the system default)” always makes me facepalm. As a result, I make it a point to not use system default fonts.

Contrary to what many folks believe, you can use custom fonts on iOS, but the process is a bit arcane. Do yourself a favor and drop the $2 for  AnyFont . This magic app streamlines an otherwise incredibly painful process.

Lessons I’ve Learned

I’m conservative here; while you can save money by buying third party adapters, I find that minimizing the risk of screwing up a presentation in front of 400 people is worth the extortionate rate that Apple charges for first party adapters. You’ll want both HDMI and VGA adapters. Both of these are available in Lightning and USB-C flavors, depending upon which generation of iPad you’re using. Note that this is less of a concern with USB-C than it is with Lightning adapters—just make certain you test all of your adapters before you leave home.

Save time; don’t bother looking for DVI adapters. The iPad officially doesn’t support it, Apple doesn’t sell them for Lightning, and I’ve only ever encountered it on the speaking circuit once. Your test a few hours before your talk will validate that you’ll be okay.

You can never be too rich, too thin, or have a big enough battery pack

Grab a beefy battery pack, and you can go days without finding a power outlet. You don’t want to discover that the podium power strip is full, the extension cord is a trip hazard, or that you don’t have the right adapter for the country you’re in when it’s time to give a talk. Having a battery pack that can borderline jump-start a car means you’re fine so long as your iPad battery level is anywhere about roughly 3%. (Too much lower and the tablet won’t boot at all.)

I like Anker products for this, but your mileage may vary. I soundly endorse finding reputable brands. Saving a few bucks on chargers, cables, or batteries that (a) plug into a very expensive electronic device and (b) have a propensity to include “sets the building on fire” in their list of failure modes just never seemed worth the trade-off to me.

Note: If you need to give away something at a booth, don’t use branded USB battery packs or chargers, as swag. At best, they’re cheap and feel flimsy. At worst, something with your logo on it started a fire.

Spend extra for an LTE connection

You can tether your iPad to a mobile device or ride on conference Wi-Fi. However, if you’re presenting frequently it’s worth the extra money to get an iPad version that can speak to the cell networks. Suddenly you no longer care what the conference Wi-Fi password is, whether you remembered to charge your phone, or if the captive portal login page is going to expire and pop up again mid-presentation.

Speaking of which…

Before the presentation, turn on both “Do Not Disturb” and “Airplane Mode”

In presentation mode, Keynote swears that it blocks pop-ups, reminders, incoming calls, and other distractions. To its credit, I’ve never seen it do otherwise.

That said, I always enable Do Not Disturb on my iPad. I put the device in airplane mode. And only then do I plug in the projector. Perhaps I’m paranoid, but you’re also not seeing horrible screenshots from my talks that feature embarrassing notifications, either.

Update nothing before your presentation

If a new iOS version or a Keynote update comes out the same week as your presentation, fine. But resist the upgrade. It can wait a day.

There have been enough regressions in software over the years that I’m extremely hesitant to trust that everything will “just work” an hour before I go on stage.

These are the sometimes-hard-won lessons I’ve learned after spending a year giving talks solely from an iPad.

Corey is the Chief Cloud Economist at The Duckbill Group, where he specializes in helping companies improve their AWS bills by making them smaller and less horrifying. He also hosts the "Screaming in the Cloud" and "AWS Morning Brief" podcasts; and curates "Last Week in AWS," a weekly newsletter summarizing the latest in AWS news, blogs, and tools, sprinkled with snark and thoughtful analysis in roughly equal measure.

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Best Apps for iPad Pro: Essential Tools for Creativity and Productivity

Optimizing Productivity on the iPad Pro

To transform your iPad Pro into a powerhouse of efficiency, the right selection of apps is crucial. These tools harness the device’s advanced capabilities for professionals, designers, and organizers, ensuring a streamlined workflow.

Essential Work Apps for Professionals

For professional tasks, the iPad Pro coupled with apps like Microsoft Excel , PowerPoint , and Word makes spreadsheet, presentation, and text editing fluid and intuitive. 1Password secures all your passwords, while Ulysses offers a focused writing experience, ideal for crafting documents with Markdown support. These apps, combined with the tactile precision of the Smart Keyboard , elevate the traditional office experience.

• Spreadsheet management : Microsoft Excel
• Presentation design : PowerPoint
• Document creation : Word, Ulysses for Markdown

Enhancing Creativity and Design Workflow

Creative professionals can rely on Procreate and Adobe Illustrator for iPad to bring their visions to life. With the Apple Pencil , artists can sketch and paint on a digital canvas using an extensive library of brushes and layers. For photo editing, Pixelmator Photo and Adobe Lightroom offer robust tools and effects to enhance images. LumaFusion and CapCut are top-tier choices for video editing, making the most of the iPad Pro’s processing power.

• Digital painting : Procreate (with brushes, canvas, layers)
• Graphic design : Adobe Illustrator for iPad
• Image editing : Pixelmator, Lightroom
• Video editing : LumaFusion, CapCut

Streamlining Organization and Note-Taking

Organizational apps like Evernote and Things 3 simplify managing tasks and schedules. When it comes to note-taking, Notability provides a comprehensive experience, supporting hand-written notes with Apple Pencil as well as audio recordings. Google Docs and the iWork suite (Pages, Numbers, Keynote) integrate seamlessly with iCloud , keeping documents updated across all your Apple devices.

• Task management : Evernote, Things 3
• Note-taking : Notability, Google Docs
• iWork suite : Pages, Numbers, Keynote

Entertainment and Leisure on iPad Pro

The iPad Pro has transformed into a hub for not only work but also entertainment and leisure. With a stunning display and powerful processor, it’s perfect for both media junkies and gaming enthusiasts.

Top Apps for Media Consumption

For those who love to kick back with their favorite shows, the following apps are must-haves:

• Netflix : A streaming giant offering a vast library of movies and TV shows.
• Disney+ : Home to Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic content.
• Amazon Prime Video : Offers a variety of popular movies, TV shows, and Amazon Originals.
• Apple TV+ : Apple’s own streaming service featuring Apple Originals.
• Spotify : While mainly for music, also provides podcasts for a well-rounded audio experience.
• Apple News : Keeps users updated with the latest news and magazines.

Consuming media on the iPad Pro is a seamless experience, thanks to its Liquid Retina display and impressive audio.

Best Gaming Experience on iPad

When it comes to gaming, the iPad Pro is in a league of its own with its selection of games and performance:

High-performing games for iPad Pro:

• Call of Duty: Mobile : Offers console-quality graphics and gameplay.
• Minecraft : A creative and open-world game that runs smoothly on the device.
• Fortnite : Known for its battle royale mode and cooperative play capabilities.

Using the iPad Pro for gaming is enhanced by the responsive touch screen, along with support for various gaming controllers.

The iPad Pro excels in providing top-notch entertainment apps and gaming experiences, making it an ideal companion for play. Whether you’re streaming your favorite series on YouTube or engrossed in an iPad game, the device delivers without a hitch.

Advanced Utilities and Product Enhancements

The right apps turn the iPad Pro into a powerhouse for professionals and creatives alike, elevating its status from mere tablet to an essential tool in any productivity or design-oriented workflow.

Professional Tools and Utilities

For those immersed in design and productivity, a suite of applications is available to transform the iPad Pro into a versatile workspace. Affinity Designer stands out as a vector graphic design tool offering precision and flexibility with an extensive range of professional features. Craft detailed vector illustrations with ease, enjoying full control over curves, nodes, and a comprehensive library of assets. For architects and engineers, CAD applications like AutoCAD bring the power of computer-aided design to the iPad, and PDF Expert by Readdle offers robust capabilities for editing, annotating, and organizing PDFs with seamless file exports making sharing work effortless.

Graphic Design & Photo Editing:

• Affinity Photo: A complete photo editing software with a robust set of tools for retouching, layer control, and live filters.
• Adobe Photoshop: Streamlines tasks with a touch-optimized workspace and core features for composite and retouching work.

PDF Management:

• LiquidText: A unique PDF experience, it allows users to interact with their documents, pulling out key sections and comparing information across texts.

Expanding Creative Horizons

For creatives, the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil duo open up a new world of possibilities. Procreate is lauded for its natural drawing experience, offering an impressive array of brushes and animation features. One can design single-frame pieces or dive into frame-by-frame animations with this intuitive sketching app. Concepts offers an infinite canvas ideal for brainstorming and bringing ideas to virtual paper, with assortment of brushes and a versatile color palette catering to both casual scribblers and professional artists .

Sketching & Animation:

• Procreate: Lets users create intricate art, offering customizable brushes and a high-resolution canvas.
• Concepts: Simplifies the process of sketching ideas with adjustable brushes and a unique infinite canvas design.

Collaboration & Workflow:

• Slack: Keeps teams connected, integrating messaging with file sharing and collaboration tools within the iPad ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

When you’re looking to deck out your iPad Pro with the best apps, you may have some questions. Below are the answers to some common queries about getting the most out of your device .

What are the essential productivity apps for iPad Pro users?

For getting things done efficiently, iPad Pro users tend to favor Microsoft Excel for spreadsheets and data management. Other essential productivity tools include Procreate for digital artists and Affinity Photo for photo editing tasks.

Which games for iPad Pro offer the best experience?

Many games shine on the iPad Pro thanks to its powerful hardware. Some of the most visually stunning and engaging games include titles from the action and adventure genres that have been optimized for the device’s advanced graphics capabilities.

What are the top free apps that can enhance the functionality of my iPad Pro?

There are many free apps that add incredible value to your iPad Pro. For instance, apps like iMovie for video editing and Adobe Acrobat Reader for PDF management are useful and don’t cost a dime.

Can you recommend apps specifically designed for students using an iPad Pro?

Absolutely, students can benefit from apps like Microsoft Excel for managing data and Complete Anatomy for medical students. The iPad Pro is more than capable as a standalone educational device.

Are there any apps that fully utilize the advanced features of the iPad Pro?

Yes, some apps are designed to leverage the powerful hardware of the iPad Pro. Procreate, for instance, is well-known for fully utilizing the Apple Pencil’s capabilities, offering a seamless drawing experience.

What are the best apps for creating and managing digital sheet music on iPad Pro?

Musicians using the iPad Pro can look at apps like forScore or Symphony Pro. These apps are great for creating, editing, and reading digital sheet music and take advantage of the iPad Pro’s large display.

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13 Best Notetaking Apps for iPad for 2024

Feb 15, 2024

By Lindsay Armstrong

If you’re a serious notetaker, you know that just having an iPad and an Apple Pencil isn’t enough.

The app you use for notetaking can have a huge impact on the quality of your notes.

But there are hundreds of apps to choose from, and not all apps are created equal.

Today, we’re going to take a closer look at 13 of the best notetaking apps in the App Store.

Let’s dive in.

Notetaking: Handwritten or typed?

While there’s no “correct” way to write your notes, one of the things you’ll have to decide early on is whether you should handwrite or type them.

Based on the research we’ve seen, data suggest that taking notes by hand is better than using a laptop .  As with pen and paper, handwriting is slower, but it gives your mind more time to absorb what you’re writing.  While keyboarding is more efficient, for many notetakers, notes created in this way simply lack the sticking power that comes with using traditional methods.

With that in mind, most of the apps below are designed for handwriting your digital notes using your iPad and your Apple Pencil .

While some apps on our list have some keyboard-based functionality — like Nebo  and Apple Notes  — we’re looking at these apps through the lens of notetakers planning to handwrite their notes.

But however you choose to do it, keep in mind that taking notes is essential when you’re trying to learn something.  Creating effective notes has been proven  to enhance recall and improve study sessions, resulting in greater academic success.

Find the best app and notetaking system that works for you and stick to it!

#caption#Image: Deniz Kurtoglu / Paperlike

#alt#A title card for the Notability app.

With thousands of positive reviews, Notability has certainly proven its worth to notetakers over the years.

This app is most well-known for its audio syncing feature, which allows you to record audio and sync it  with handwritten notes while you write, but other apps like Goodnotes have caught on and added this feature, too. However, Notability also recently introduced audio transcripts, which include time-stamped text of your recordings.

#caption# The Notability interface makes navigation simple and easy.  Switch between folders/sections using the left sidebar.  Select a note by tapping on it.  Create a new note by tapping on the + New button in the top right. (Image: Notability / Screenshot by Lindsay Armstrong / Paperlike)

#alt# A screenshot picturing the Notability user interface featuring a selection of folders on the left sidebar and a collection of notes on the right selection interface.

To set itself apart, Notability also boasts some unique features. Multi-note support  gives users the ability to open two notes and arrange them in the app for comparison or multitasking. The new Pencil  tool provides the app with added versatility, allowing users to draw and sketch. 

By combining multitasking tools and technologies like handwriting recognition  and math conversion, Notability makes it easier than ever to take notes during classes, meetings, conferences, and everything in between.

In late 2021, Notability switched  from a one-time purchase app to a free plan with a premium subscription option called Notability Plus.  If you’re looking for an awesome app that doesn’t require an up-front cash investment, Notability is a great option to consider.

Coolest features

• Multi-note support allows you to easily compare and work on multiple documents at one time.
• Favorite presets make it simple to create and save your favorite tool colors for fast and easy reuse.
• Math conversion (premium only) allows you to convert handwritten calculations into common mathematical expressions.
• Pencil tool  allows for drawing and sketching, with pressure sensitivity and tilt-activated shading.

Main limitations

• No iCloud syncing or backups on the free plan  creates some risk for notetakers who don’t upgrade.
• Limited note edits on the free plan  (resets monthly) means that hardcore notetakers could find themselves unable to continue taking notes without an upgrade.
• Limited organizational tools  force users into a style of note-keeping that may feel restricted or insufficient.

Important details

• Pricing: Free plan available; $14.99 per year for the premium plan.
• Reviews:  Notability is currently rated 4.7 out of 5 stars on the App Store with 286,000+ reviews.
• Platform:   Available for iPad, iPhone, and Mac.
• Links: Download app  / View website .

#alt#A title card for the Goodnotes 6 app.

Goodnotes 6

Goodnotes is a powerhouse for notetakers everywhere.  The app comes with everything you need to take notes, write music, mark up PDFs, and more.

One of the biggest differentiators between Goodnotes and other competitors is its abundance of organizational tools.  By default, Goodnotes allows you to create Notebooks  and store everything within them.  This is a fundamental difference from a tool like Notability or Apple Notes, where your ability to organize is somewhat constrained by the software.

#alt# A screenshot picturing the Goodnotes interface, featuring various folders and notebooks.

Of course, Goodnotes doesn’t stop there.  The app offers a powerful search function, onboard handwriting recognition ,  AI-powered tools, and much more. You can use these features to annotate and mark up your imported documents. The app also syncs with iCloud and third-party storage so that you can keep your notes with you at all times.

So, what’s the downside?

While there aren’t a ton of cons to Goodnotes, the lack of a favorites toolbar is a common feature that is (sadly) missing here.

• Notebook creation tools  provide an unparalleled level of customization for notebooks and notes.
• Infinite, nested storage  enables users to store folders within folders and create an organizational structure that suits their needs.
• Favorites section  allows you to locate any note, document, or page in seconds from a single location.
• Text conversion is clunky and difficult to deal with. It works well, but converting handwritten text to typed text is a tedious process.
• Lack of a favorites toolbar  means that you’ll need to reformat your tools each time you select or change them.  While the app saves some settings, like pen width and color, resetting your tools still feels more involved than it should be.
• Pricing: Limited free plan available; $9.99/year subscription or $29.99 one-time purchase from the App Store for the full version.
• Reviews: Goodnotes 6 app currently has 4.7 stars derived from a total of 238,000+ reviews.
• Platform:  Available for iPad, iPhone, and Mac. Beta version for Windows and Android.

Goodnotes is most often compared against Notability, and the two apps have had a friendly rivalry for years.   Read our in-depth comparison of both apps.

#alt#A title card for the Apple Notes app.

Apple Notes

Believe it or not, Apple Notes has been around since the early days of digital notetaking.  The app launched with the first version of iOS, way back in 2007.  Originally, it was a mobile version of the Notes app that has been (and continues to be) a staple on the Mac operating system.

Why does all that matter?  Because the Notes app is older than any other app on our list, and its longevity makes it clear that it isn’t going anywhere.

As a notetaking app, Apple Notes  has come a long way.  Like most of the other notetaking apps, it comes with the usual tools (pens, highlighters, etc.), and they’re all arranged in a toolbar that can be moved around on the screen for added workspace customization.

But, while Apple Notes might seem a bit bland, it has a few unique features that will surprise you.

#caption#While text and handwriting can coexist in Apple Notes, they’re given distinct sections on the note.  Notice how the lines separating the handwriting from the text runs the entire length of the note. (Image: Apple Notes / Screenshot by Scott Summers / Paperlike)

#alt#A screenshot picturing a note created in Apple Notes.  The top and bottom parts of the typed text are separated by a handwritten sentence.

You can open a Quick Note on your iPhone or iPad without even opening the Notes app. This allows you to quickly jot down a thought, save content from the web or another app, and more.

Once you’re done, Quick Notes  will appear in their own folder in the app so that they’re easy to find later.

Apple Notes is also one of the few notetaking apps that is set up to create tables and interactive checklists .

But even though this app has a lot of things going for it, Apple Notes isn’t as robust as some of the other apps. The app lacks audio recording features (but you can dictate your notes).  It also treats PDFs and other imported files as attachments instead of integrating them into your notes, meaning that editing is limited to annotation and markup.  

On the other hand, as part of the Apple ecosystem, you can trust that Apple Notes works on any version of iOS, and on any iOS device, whether you have an iPad Pro or iPad mini.  You’ll also find native software for Apple Notes on macOS and watchOS, so you can get notes on your Mac and Apple Watch.

Overall, Apple Notes lacks the flexibility that you’ll see with most of the other notetaking apps listed here, but it’s still a formidable tool, especially for occasional notetakers.

• Natively supports handwriting and typing on the same page  using various inputs, including fingers, on-screen keyboard, Apple Pencil, and Apple Keyboard.
• Allows shading when drawing  with the Apple Pencil.  Tilt your Apple Pencil to enable shading.  You can also press more firmly to create a more intense shading effect.
• Recognizes handwritten phone numbers, dates, addresses, and other data.  Will enable other options for recognized text, like scheduling events or calling phone numbers directly from the Notes app.
• Native iCloud syncing  across all Apple devices.
• Lacks many customization features,  including the ability to create templates or create deeply nested organizational structures.
• No onboard syncing for non-iCloud storage.  While it’s possible to do this with a little work if you want to back up your notes to Dropbox, Google Drive, or Box, it’s not as simple as flipping a switch.
• Limited PDF annotation and markup capabilities  force you to conduct these tasks elsewhere — typically using the Markup tool  inside the file or image itself.
• Pricing: Free!
• Reviews:  Apple Notes is currently rated at 4.8 stars with 214,000+ reviews.
• Platform:  Available for iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch, and Mac.

#alt#A title card for the LiquidText app.

Unlike traditional notetaking apps, which offer a blank page for you to jot down notes, LiquidText is more of a study and research tool  designed to help you parse PDFs and other documents.

It works like this: When you open a file in LiquidText, the document is imported into a digital workspace. In the workspace, your document takes up half of the screen, and the workspace takes the other half.

#caption#With LiquidText, you’ll be able to draw connections between nodes on your mindmap, access multiple documents simultaneously, and compile research in a free-form workspace. (Image: LiquidText / Screenshot by Scott Summers / Paperlike)

#alt#A screenshot picturing the LiquidText interface, including a written article on the left, along with a window allowing for the selection of multiple documents.  A mind map of notes and excerpts is located on the right side of the screen.

As you read your document, you can highlight and mark up your text as you would in any other notetaking app.

You can also grab snippets of text and pull them to the opposite side of the screen.  As you do this, LiquidText will transform these excerpts into small cards that you can move around the workspace.

As you gather data from your document, you can consolidate it into groups, draw lines and make connections between those details, and much more.

While this approach to notetaking is more research-based, it’s definitely a game-changer for anyone looking to parse documents for key details and insights, as LiquidText offers a battery of tools that you won’t find in most other apps.

• Infinite workspace  allows for a tidy collection of excerpts, comments, and handwritten notes.
• Adding multiple documents to a single workspace  allows users to create projects centered around a theme or idea and assists in consolidating associated research.
• Importing web pages as PDFs is quick and easy  thanks to the built-in web browser.
• Ability to squeeze and expand documents  during research makes critical details much easier to parse and compare.
• Snippets and text can easily be lost  inside the workspace.  Because the workspace is infinite, it’s possible to misplace or forget your snippets if you don’t stay organized.
• Workspace often feels cramped,  no matter how you choose to set it up.
• Not a great fit for everyone.  If you aren’t doing major research projects, this app probably isn’t for you.
• Pricing: Free plan available; $29.99 for Pro (one-time purchase per platform); $9.99/month for LIVE; $174.99/year for LIVE Unlimited.
• Note: LIVE & LIVE Unlimited are both cloud-based subscriptions, and the subscription covers LiquidText on all devices.
• Reviews: LiquidText is currently rated at 4.6 out of 5 stars based on 6,000 reviews.
• Platform: Available for iPad, Mac, and Windows 10.
• Links: Download app / View website .

#alt#A title card for the MarginNote 3 app.

MarginNote 3

The second of the two research tools on our list, MarginNote is similar to LiquidText (featured above) in how it functions and operates.

MarginNote  opens your document into a digital workspace where you can highlight and annotate PDFs or select excerpts from the text.

However, where LiquidText focuses on taking handwritten notes and marking up the document (all of which is possible in MarginNote), this software also allows for clipping notes, creating flashcards or mindmaps, and building study outlines.

#caption#MarginNote provides clean, clear connection lines for your mind map, allows for handwritten notes, and much more. (Image: MarginNote 3 / Screenshot by Scott Summers / Paperlike)

#alt#A screenshot picturing the MarginNote 3 interface, including a written article on the right and a mind map of notes and excerpts on the left. 

One of the key differentiators in MarginNotes is that much of the mind-mapping generation can be done in a way that looks clean and crisp, with straight lines and blocks that feel sharp and organized.

MarginNote also allows you to compile a single set of notes from multiple sources or files, so if you have several books in a series or several documents where you should combine notes, MarginNote makes it easy to simplify that process.

While this app probably isn’t a replacement for an outright notetaking app like Notability or Goodnotes, it’s a great study tool for students who need to comb through a large number of documents and keep everything organized at the same time.

• All notes can be edited and annotated, so you can add context to excerpts as you set them aside.
• Flashcard review  helps you quickly review notes and study for exams.
• Auto Add to MindMap tool  allows you to organize excerpts without a ton of dragging and dropping.
• Different viewing modes and setups can get confusing.  Though useful, it’s easy to get lost during navigation and find yourself struggling to pick up where you left off.
• Overabundance of features  makes for a steep learning curve.
• Auto mind mapping tool can be difficult to set up.  The mind map is based on the table of contents, so some forethought is required in how you structure your notes.
• Pricing: Free (reader-only) version available; $12.99 for full version.
• Upgrades:  OCR Pro for $1/month or $9.50/year.
• Reviews:  MarginNote 3 is currently rated at 4.7 of 5 stars with 4,800 reviews.
• Platform:  Available for iPad, iPhone, and Mac.
• Links: Download app  / View website

LiquidText and MarginNote 3 are the top PDF annotation and research apps. Check out our comparison of the two here .

#alt#A title card for the Nebo app.

Where apps like Goodnotes and Notability emphasize (and mostly stick to) the idea of handwritten notes, Nebo  tries to marry the concept of handwriting and text together within its notebooks.

As with other apps on the market, you can draw freely using Note pages (formerly Freeform), but the app’s Document pages (formerly Regular) are where it really begins to shine.

All Document pages are lined sheets, and users have the option to write using an Apple Pencil or a keyboard.  If you choose to handwrite your content, Nebo shows how it’s interpreting  your handwriting to text in real time.

#caption#Note how the handwritten text has already been pre-converted in the upper left corner of the text box.  While you can keep the text in a handwritten format, Nebo gives you a clear indication that it understood what you wrote. (Image: Nebo / Screenshot by Scott Summers / Paperlike)

#alt#A screenshot of the Nebo interface featuring handwritten and typed text.

You can also mix and match your handwriting and typed text or just convert your handwriting to text. This adds an extra layer of flexibility to Nebo that you won’t really see in other apps.

With the free version, you’ll just have access to the basics, including a limited number of notebooks that you can create.  However, you can get a dictionary, convert PDFs, and share your content out in various formats by purchasing the appropriate upgrade pack for a relatively low cost.

It’s also worth pointing out that Nebo is cross-platform compatible, which makes it unique for users who are looking for one of the best iPad note apps that can exist outside of the Apple ecosystem.

• Combining handwriting and typed text  is an interesting concept that is hinted at in other apps, but Nebo really takes ownership of this feature.
• Handwriting and math conversions  are second to none, and both features are included at no additional charge.
• Having both freeform and lined pages  allow you to work in a way that suits you best.
• The ability to edit typed text using a stylus  adds extra flexibility when editing, revising, or reformatting your text.
• Lack of templates, layouts, and other custom formats  that you see in apps like Goodnotes, Notability, or Noteshelf .
• Formatting can be a pain.  While you can adjust text placement by dragging boxes around, fiddling with the indent tools to position text correctly inside the box (or on the page) can be tedious.
• Note pages feel subpar compared to competitors.  If you’re focused purely on handwriting, this app falls a little short in its feature set.
• Pricing: Free version available; $4.99 for Essentials Pack; $4.99 for Connect Pack; $4.99 for PDF Pack.
• Note: Packs are sold individually or can be purchased as a bundle for $8.99.
• Reviews:  Nebo is currently rated at 4.7 of 5 stars with 29,000+ reviews.
• Platform: Available on iPad, Mac, Windows, and Android.

#alt#A title card for the CollaNote app.

In many respects, CollaNote is still a work in progress that has gained a massive following in recent years. The app provides a rock-solid notetaking experience with simple and intuitive tools that look good and feel great to use.

Inside the notetaking interface, you’ll find a vast array of pen types and brushes, as well as a few extra goodies.

#caption#In CollaNote, pressure sensitivity is enabled by default, so your text will shrink and grow as you write based on how hard you press your Apple Pencil against the screen.  Converted text is framed within a text box and can be adjusted to taste. (Image: CollaNote / Screenshot by Scott Summers / Paperlike)

#alt#A screenshot of the CollaNote interface featuring a combination of handwritten and typed text.

Just like Apple Notes and Notability, CollaNote actively distinguishes between a pen and a pencil, both of which provide a completely different writing experience.

Interestingly, this app provides the largest and most varied selection of unique pens and brushes when compared to other notetaking apps — including major players like Goodnotes and Notability.  From vector pens to art and 3D brushes, you’ll have every tool you need to make your notes come to life.

This app also offers tools like the color fill  tool to add color quickly and the curve  tool to help when creating curved lines (great for charts and graphs).

For text boxes, the app makes it easy to add text and provides layering options that allow you to place your text over other objects.

You can even create flashcards to help you study.

And did we mention that you can collaborate with other CollaNote users by creating an account? It’s that simple.

Even though CollaNote currently lacks some of the features you’d see in more mature apps, it’s well on its way to becoming a major player in the notetaking space.

• Robust notetaking toolkit  gives you everything you’ll need to take great notes, including a pencil, a vast array of pens and brushes, a color fill tool, a curved line tool, and more.
• Collaboration features  make it easy to work with other notetakers to generate a group or shared note. An account is required, and notes are stored in your account, not with CollaNote’s servers.
• Importing PDFs, images, and other multimedia is fast and easy.  With the exception of PDFs, media files reside within a note and are not imported as standalone objects.
• Limited to iPadOS and iOS only.  While this app does back up to iCloud, it currently offers no platform compatibility with Mac, Windows, or Android.
• User interface is an acquired taste.  The blocky windows and multiple toggles give the app a unique feel, but it may not be for everyone.
• Folders and notes lack customization features  and fine-tuning that you see in apps like Goodnotes.
• Rigid organizational structure  limits how you can format and organize your content.
• Pricing: Free  version available; $11.90 one-time purchase from the App Store for Premium.
• Reviews:  CollaNote is currently rated at 4.8 stars with 12,000+ reviews.
• Platform: Available for iPad and iPhone only.

#alt#A title card for the Noteshelf app.

Noteshelf  is a great compromise between Goodnotes and Notability. You’ll find all the tools you need to take great notes on your Apple, Android, or Windows devices.

The interface provides a streamlined experience that’s easy to navigate, with plenty of customization features — from page templates and notebook covers to different pen types and the colors and sizing of your tools.

It even has a  customizable toolbar that allows you to add or remove tools so that it only displays the ones that you like to use.

Noteshelf also offers one of the best interfaces when it comes to magnification. When you need to write smaller text or you want a closeup of your existing notes, the  Zoom Box  makes it easy to do. It’s highly customizable, and it loads the tool interface on the magnification bar, so you can quickly switch to what you need.

#alt#A screenshot picturing the pen interface and three example lines at varying thicknesses of the ball, fountain, felt, and pencil styles.

Like Notability, Noteshelf  features audio recording that you can attach to your notes. While it doesn’t sync with your text, being able to listen to a playback of a lecture or presentation can be extremely helpful.

The sheer amount of organizational capabilities, Focus mode, Noteshelf AI, and advanced customization all make this app perfect for users who take massive amounts of notes.

• Advanced customization options, such as a variety of page templates, notebook covers, and tools, allow you to get creative with your notes.
• Zoom Box has the tool interface in the magnification bar so that switching between tools is quick and easy while working in this mode.
• Customizable Toolbar allows you to pick and choose what tools you want to see on your toolbar and leaves the rest out, so it’s exactly what you need.
• Multi-device compatibility allows you to use this app on all Mac devices (including Apple Watch), Windows, and Android devices.
• Free version limits how many notes you can take. You only get three notebooks to use on the free version, which likely isn’t enough for serious notetakers. Also, Noteshelf doesn’t offer any free trial on Android or Windows, so you can’t try it before buying it.
• Moving notes isn’t a simple process, making reorganizing your notes a bit of a pain.
• Not cross-platform compatible.  While there are Android, Windows, and iOS versions of this app, the three don’t talk to one another. You can hand off your notes between various Apple products (iPad, iPhone, Watch), but you won’t be able to send your notes from your iPad over to your Android tablet or PC.
• Pricing: One-time fee of $9.99.
• Reviews:  Noteshelf 3 currently has 4.1 out of 5 stars on the App Store, but is relatively new with only 196 reviews .
• Platform: Available for iPad, iPhone, Mac, Apple Watch, Windows, and Android.

#alt#A title card for the Evernote app.

If you’re a productivity geek, Evernote  is the perfect notetaking app for you. Not only does it have a dedicated section for taking notes, but it also incorporates different sections that’ll help you be more productive, such as a Tasks  section for to-do lists and more.

The home dashboard is fully customizable (with an Evernote Premium Plan), so you can organize all your information in a way that makes the most sense for you.

When you’re taking notes, you can choose from more than fifty templates . You’ll find a range of options for work, school, and personal categories.

#caption#Evernote’s structure keeps your notes neat and organized, separating text and handwritten notes. (Image: Evernote / Screenshot by Lindsay Armstrong / Paperlike)

#alt#Image of a typed note with a handwritten section separated into its own box below in Evernote.

Evernote offers a rigid notetaking structure that makes it easy to get your thoughts on the page. Formatting is similar to Word or Google Docs, which doesn’t offer a lot of flexibility, but it does keep your notes neat and tidy.

Unfortunately, this means that you can’t really mix handwriting and text. Like Apple Notes, it’ll keep these sections separate from each other. That’s because it’s not really meant for handwriting in general. You’ll have to enter Sketch Mode  to draw or write, and once you’re finished, Evernote converts your work into an image to add to your note.

The app also has plenty of great features that’ll help you be more efficient, including an excellent web clipper  (desktop only), audio recording features , and PDF markup tools .

With cross-platform compatibility and the ability to sync across devices in real time, Evernote can help you create the ultimate task management and productivity system.

• Dedicated task section helps you keep on top of your to-do lists.
• Structured formatting feels familiar thanks to its similarity to word-processing programs and also keeps your notes neat and organized.
• Robust web clipper allows you to capture information from your desktop for later use.
• Cross-platform compatibility and real-time syncing allow you to work anywhere, anytime.
• Sketch mode is the only place you can handwrite, which can be annoying if you don’t like typing out your notes.
• Ability to connect to Calendar and add reminders to your task lists is locked behind a subscription.
• Only being able to sync two devices  on the free plan means you’ll have to pick what platforms you prefer if you don’t want to pay for a subscription.
• Pricing: Limited free plan; $14.99/month or $129.99/year for the Personal plan; Professional plans available.
• Reviews:  Evernote currently has 4.4 out of 5 stars on the App Store with 54,000+ reviews.
• Platform: Available for iPad, iPhone, Mac, PC, and Android.

#alt#A title card for the Microsoft OneNote app.

Microsoft OneNote

Wildly popular and completely free, OneNote  is the go-to app for tens of thousands of users interested in taking effective notes.

Like Evernote, this app is geared more toward keyboard-based notetaking, but its handwriting component works beautifully and doesn’t make you switch modes or move to a different section to write. You’ll just hit the Draw  tab at the top of the screen to access your writing tools.

OneNote only has one pen type, but you can change the size and color to fit your needs.

And this is what makes OneNote truly unique.

This app’s Ink Color Selector  is one of a kind, offering both solid and specialty options, like galaxy, marble, and glitter colors.

#caption#OneNote’s ink colors are completely unique, with options like glitter, marble, and galaxy colors. (Image: OneNote / Screenshot by Lindsay Armstrong / Paperlike)

#alt#Image of the OneNote Ink Color Selector to showcase the unique color options.

OneNote also includes features like a Math Assistant  and audio recording  that are great for students and a web clipper  to capture content from the internet and video recording, which is completely unique to this app (Desktop or Windows app only).

Its onboard organization tools make it a great option for storage, especially for users already integrated with other Microsoft products like OneDrive, Word, Excel, etc.

• Ink Color Selector unlike any other app allows you to really get creative by choosing from options like galaxy, marble, and glitter colors.
• Math Assistant  can solve equations for you, making it great for students or anyone who works with a lot of math equations.
• Free version with complete access to all its features. Subscriptions only necessary for storage purposes.
• Automatically opens to the last screen used, which can be annoying if you’d like to start a new note or find a different note.
• Only backs up to its own servers. You can’t create a backup to any other cloud service.
• Only 5GB of storage included on the free plan, which might not be enough if you plan to take a lot of notes.
• Pricing : Free! (Note: You can get 100GB of storage for $1.99/month or purchase Microsoft 365 Personal with 1TB of storage and all integrations for $6.99/month.)
• Reviews : OneNote currently has 4.7 out of 5 stars with over 851,000 reviews.
• Platform : Available for iPad, iPhone, Mac, PC, and Android.
• Links : Download app / View website.

Evernote and Microsoft OneNote are the leading apps for productivity. Take a look at our comparison article here .

#alt#A title card for the Zoho Notebook app.

Zoho Notebook

Similar to both Evernote and OneNote, Zoho Notebook  is available on a variety of platforms and seamlessly syncs across your devices using its own cloud service. It was awarded Best App of the Year in the App Store in 2016 and has risen in popularity since then.

But as a notetaking app, it takes a different approach than most of the other available apps in this space. It has an aesthetically pleasing UI, and the available covers for your Notebooks are works of art.

Individual notes inside the Notebooks are called Cards, and they look like little (brightly colored) sticky notes. You can change the background color on every note, making it easier to visually differentiate between topics.

#caption#Zoho Notebook turns your notes into different types of cards that look a bit like Post-it Notes. (Image: Zoho Notebook / Screenshot by Lindsay Armstrong / Paperlike)

#alt#Image of the All Notes section in the Zoho Notebook app, which shows all the notes on little cards that look like Post-it Notes.

On top of that, Zoho Notebook offers different Card types (Checklist, Audio, Sketch, and more) to match your notetaking needs.

Most of these are pretty self-explanatory, but the Smart Card  is a really neat feature worth mentioning. When you want to save content from the internet or another app, Smart Cards  automatically take that information and format it into a beautifully designed Card.

Unfortunately, this is another app that’s geared towards typed text, and you can really only handwrite or draw when you open a Sketch Card. Even the Text Card  isn’t super customizable - you can’t even change the font or text size.

But, you can password protect your notes, share, and collaborate with others in real time, which are excellent features in any notetaking app.

• Beautiful UI and artwork make this app one of the most aesthetically pleasing.
• Post-it Note appearance and colors  allow users to easily differentiate between individual notes.
• Smart Cards automatically format saved content, keeping these notes nice and neat.
• Lack of search capabilities in the free version  can make it difficult to find your notes, especially if you have a lot of them.
• Limited notecard sizes and storage on the free version  mean that if you plan to take a lot of notes, you’ll need to upgrade.
• Limited tools for handwriting and customization for typed text make it more difficult to get creative with your notes.
• Pricing: Limited free version; $2.49/month or $24.99/year for the full version .
• Reviews:  Zoho Notebook currently has 4.7 out of 5 stars with 22,000+ ratings.
• Platform: Available on iPad, iPhone, Mac, Windows, Android, and Linux.

#alt#A title card for the  Pencil Paper Notebook: Penbook app.

Pencil Paper Notebook: Penbook

If you’re looking for a notetaking app that’ll really let you get creative and customize your notes, Penbook  might be the answer.

Like Zoho Notebook, this app offers a variety of beautiful Notebook covers, but it doesn’t stop there. With Penbook, you can choose from over 1,000 customization options!

There are page templates for every category, even super niche options for chemists, developers, and musicians. Once you’ve chosen a template, you can change the font, the background and accent colors, and decide how many pages to add to your notebook (don’t worry, you can always add more later!).

#caption#Penbook has over 1,000 customization options for your notes, including page templates for any topic. (Image: Penbook / Screenshot by Lindsay Armstrong / Paperlike)

#alt#Image of the note creation page in the Penbook app showcasing all the different customization options.

The best part?

You can mix and match templates throughout your notebooks, and each page could be something completely different.

If you’re too overwhelmed with all the options, you can choose from a variety of pre-made “Editions” that Penbook has already put together for you.

While the tools are pretty basic (Pen, Pencil, Highlighter), you can change the line thickness and color on each, and you can even customize or use hex codes to get the perfect shade. Once you have what you need, you can add up to six custom tools to your toolbar for easy access in the future.

Unfortunately, navigation throughout the app isn’t as intuitive as we’d like, and there’s a bit of a learning curve when you get started. While the app does offer a user manual, it’s pretty long and involved, and there aren’t any video tutorials or quick guides to help you get going.

• Highly customizable, with thousands of different ways to set up and personalize your notes.
• Pre-made “Editions”  help you skip the Notebook creation process so you can get right to taking notes.
• Live Paper automatically fills in the date and time when you create new pages, which can be handy for schedules, journals, and more.
• Free version is basically just a free trial, as you only get a single Notebook.
• Navigation isn’t intuitive, so it takes some time to learn how to use the app.
• Lack of organizational features makes it more difficult to find and keep track of your notes.
• Pricing: Free version available; $14.99/yr or $49.99/lifetime for the full version.
• Reviews:  Penbook currently has 4.6 out of 5 stars with 30,000+ ratings.
• Platform: Available for iPhone and iPad.

#alt#A title card for the ZoomNotes app.

ZoomNotes provides an infinite whiteboard, making it a great choice for visual notetakers.

As you might expect from the name, ZoomNotes  offers the most impressive zoom range. It’s practically endless, making it easy to sketch out your thoughts and ideas without worrying about running out of room.

When you zoom in to get a better look or make adjustments or additions to your notes, the full view stays on your screen off to the right, allowing you to see the bigger picture while you work.

#caption#ZoomNotes allows you to create a page within a page as a sticky note, PDF document, and more. (Image: ZoomNotes)

#alt#A screenshot from ZoomNotes showing the different types of sub-documents available, such as a sticky note.

Another feature that sets this app apart is the ability to create a page within a page. These sub-pages can be separate notes, like a mind map of your full notes, a sticky note with key concepts or reminders, or even a full PDF document that relates to your notes.

ZoomNotes goes the extra mile by adding linked sound recording, unlimited paper sizes/styles, Bookmarks, and more. It’s easy to completely customize your notes, especially with eight different pen types and unlimited color options.

It syncs to iCloud and even integrates with your Apple Calendar and Apple Reminders, so you can easily manage your checklists and schedule. Importing, exporting, and sharing features round out this app, making it competitive with apps like Notability and Goodnotes.

• Infinite canvas provides endless room to write, draw, or sketch your notes and ideas.
• Incredible zoom range makes taking visual notes like mind mapping or sketchnoting  super easy.
• Sub-pages allow you to create a page within a page. You can add PDFs, sticky notes, and more.
• Integrates with other apps like Apple Reminders  & Apple Calendar .
• UI is a bit clunky  and not as user-friendly as most of the other apps.
• Limited tools on the free version make it hard to customize your notes the way you’d like.
• Too many features make it overwhelming and difficult to learn.
• Pricing: ZoomNotes Lite is free; $7.99 one-time purchase for the full version on the App Store.
• Reviews:  ZoomNotes is currently rated 4.5 out of 5 stars on the App Store with just 762 reviews .
• Platform: Available for iPad, iPhone, and Mac.

Other cool apps

Even though we’ve mostly covered handwriting applications for notetakers, there are some other cool apps out there that you might want to consider.

Many of these apps incorporate handwriting in some way, even if it's not their primary function.

• Agenda . This is a notetaking tool that uses your calendar as a way to tie your note to a fixed point in time. Notes are attached to projects and can be assigned to a specific date so that you regularly refer back to them. As you use the app and tag notes with data, those notes become recurring tasks on your agenda until you mark them as complete. It’s an innovative way to combine notetaking and task management.
• Freeform .  Apple recently added this app to its extensive list of apps that come pre-installed on all Apple devices. It’s a digital whiteboard where you can add images, text, handwriting, and more. Whether you’re sitting down for a brainstorming session or you’ve got some ideas to map out, this app can help you do it. It's even fun for practicing digital hand lettering and calligraphy . While Freeform is the perfect app to get creative and express yourself visually, you may want to stick to Apple Notes  or one of the others mentioned for serious notetaking.
• Penultimate . If you’re an Evernote user, you might already know about this app. Penultimate is Evernote’s writing application. Notes you create here can be moved directly into Evernote and stored with other notes that you take inside the app. Compared to other apps on our list, Penultimate lacks several major features, but its connection to Evernote makes it worth a mention.
• PDF Expert . Need to annotate or edit a PDF?  As a PDF editor, PDF Expert gives you total control over your PDF documents.  You can mark them up, edit them, convert files, take notes, and much more.  The app requires a subscription and can be a bit pricey, but it’s one of the most capable PDF tools out there.
• ThinkSpace .  While you can use other notetaking apps to create mind maps, ThinkSpace is specifically designed to help you manage this task. Create quick notes, organize them in a spatial way, add visuals, and more. If you’re more of a visual notetaker, ThinkSpace is a great addition to your toolkit.

#caption#Image: Paperlike

#alt#Image of an iPad with a drawing of the word “hello” on it, laying on a lined sheet of paper with an Apple Pencil.

Use Paperlike to make the best notetaking apps for iPad even better

Without a doubt, having the right app can make the difference between success and failure when studying for the next exam or jotting down quick notes in a meeting.

Most of the apps on our list are free apps, so you can try them out and create simple notes and docs (handwritten or otherwise) with absolutely no risk.

If you’re planning to use the Apple Pencil or a similar stylus to take notes on your iPad, don’t forget to pick up a Paperlike so that you can improve your notetaking experience.

Paperlike transforms your screen from slippery glass into something that feels just like a real notepad or notebook so that you can scribble and jot notes with ease.

You can also make your iPad look and feel like your favorite notebook with our Folio Case and reduce hand cramping by using our Pencil Grips .

Download an awesome app, pick up one of our Screen Protectors , and set yourself up for notetaking success.

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The 50 best iPad apps in 2024

All the best iPad apps you need to get you started

• Information apps
• Entertainment apps
• Productivity apps
• Essential apps
• Family apps
• Shopping apps
• Creating apps

Apple's iPad is arguably one of the most versatile pieces of technology you can invest in. Its features, alongside what you can access from the range of iPad apps out there, mean it can be everything from an entertainment device, serving up your favorite movies and TV series, to an education platform, helping you – or those in your family – learn new skills. 

Whether you're using your iPad for work or play, sketching designs or editing video, there are a few essential apps you should download to make sure you get the most out of your Apple tablet. We've rounded up our top 50 iPad apps, but if you're looking for iPad games specifically, we've got you covered in our best iPad games and best free iPad games features.

Best iPad Information apps

Flipboard is an excellent app for a curated view of everything you might want to read about your interests in one place. You choose your topics – spanning business and wine tasting to film and science, with plenty in between – and Flipboard will offer up quick access to all the latest stories and features in your chosen areas.

There is a huge selection of publishers on board, from The New York Times and National Geographic to Runner's World and Elle Decor, so there's plenty to keep you reading and the way it 'flips' between stories is dreamy.

PressReader

Whether you love to read magazines or newspapers, PressReader will have you covered, offering a pleasant way to read either on your iPad. You might not get the feel of the paper in-between your digits, but you don't get inky fingers either. There's a listening mode, dynamic commenting and access to more than 7,000 of the world's most popular titles. 

You can sign up to PressReader Premium to enjoy unlimited reading on up to five devices, but the free version will still allow you to select your favorite sources, discover new ones and toggle between the original print view of issues to the mobile-optimised text view.

Certainly one for the magazine lovers out there, Readly offers access to over 6,000 US and International magazines, but best of all – it isn't just about the latest issues. This app not only offers back issues so you can flick back a few months, but you can download them and read them offline, wherever you are – plane, train or relaxing in a coffee shop.

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There is family sharing for reading across up to five profiles and one subscription covers all, meaning it's pretty much Spotify for magazines. Aside from reading your favorite magazines however, Readly also offers up crosswords so you can keep your brain ticking without leaving the app.

Apple News might be a native iPad app, but if you're after brilliantly curated content, then don't ignore it. As with many of the curated news platforms, there is a free option or you can sign up to the subscriber edition where you will get access to hundreds of premium magazines and newspapers in one place. 

The Today feed delivers top stories across a range of news outlets, but there is plenty more than meets the eye with this app. You can like or dislike articles to teach the algorithm your preferences, check out the For You section for recommendations based on the topics and channels you read and scroll all the way down for a special sports section. The side bar is full of treats too, with Special Coverage and Favorites.

Google Earth

It's a little left field this one, but hear us out. Travelling is wonderful but it's also expensive and sometimes it's just not possible either. The Google Earth app for iPad allows you to visit places you may never have the opportunity to go to in person, right from the comfort of your couch.

You can see plenty of places in the world from above thanks to the high-resolution satellite imagery, see the amazing sky scrapers of New York and Dubai with a few clicks and check out streets and neighbourhoods with the app's 360-degree perspectives. If there's somewhere you've always want to visit, but haven't yet, this app is a chance to explore.

Best iPad Entertainment apps

If you're looking for one of the best entertainment apps out there, Disney+ is exceptional. The interface is incredibly easy to navigate and there's thousands of hours of content available, whether you're looking for Disney, Pixar, Marvel or Star Wars. 

Shows or films are added weekly so there is always something fresh to watch, while the current library has everything from new releases to timeless classics. There are multiple parental controls available if your iPad is a family iPad, and while you'll need a Disney+ subscription to watch the content here, it's worth it, trust us.

We all know Netflix – it's the OG of the streaming platforms and still one of the best entertainment apps for iPad out there, even if its competition is much fiercer now than when it first launched. Perfect for binge-watching your favourite TV shows and films on the go – whether travelling or commuting – the Netflix iPad app is an absolute must.

Like all streaming apps, you'll need a subscription to access the huge library of content on offer here, whether that's Stranger Things or Emily in Paris. The interface is one of the best though, super simple to navigate and the Netflix algorithm is superb at serving up extra content you might like based on what you have previously watched.

If listening to music or podcasts wherever you are is your jam, then you'll want to make sure the Spotify app is on your iPad and your iPhone. It offers access to millions – and we mean millions – of songs, albums and podcasts for free, with everything from Bad Bunny to Taylor Swift. 

The app is incredibly easy to navigate so finding new music is especially easy thanks to the various curated lists like daily music mixes and algorithms working behind the scenes, and you can make your own playlists too. When it comes to podcasts, you can bookmark individual podcasts into your Playlists, and subscribe to your favorites so you don't miss any episodes, whatever your podcast vibe.

It wouldn't be the best iPad apps for entertainment without YouTube. Whether you get your kicks out of gaming videos, beauty videos, news or learning, there's something for everyone on YouTube and if you can't find something, well then you can always create your own. 

The YouTube iPad app is exceptionally user friendly, serving up videos within a range of popular topics, along with trending videos and your favorite channels. Personal recommendations can be found in the Home section, while Library collects any videos you've watched, liked and saved for later.  

Apple TV is a native Apple app that comes pre-installed on iPad but that doesn't mean it doesn't have place on this list. From comedy delights like Ted Lasso to documentary marvels like They Call Me Magic, there's plenty to sink your teeth into here. 

Naturally, you need a subscription, as with all streaming services, but the Apple One subscription option does tie some of these native apps together like Apple TV and Apple News. The interface is lovely and simple to use with sections including Binge Entire Seasons and Crime Thrillers, to Top Chart: TV Shows and Newest Releases, and it will offer up your purchases too.

Prime Video

It's not our favourite streaming platform interface, but Prime Video still offers up some superb shows. You can search for content by genre, title or even actor, as well as download any TV shows or movies for offline viewing – perfect for taking with you on the move.

From Reacher and Detective Bosch to Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan and films like Air, there's content to fill your entertainment bucket for months. Multi-user profiles ensure your entertainment experience isn't infiltrated by others in your home, while features like X-Ray are excellent for finding out information on actors while watching.

Best iPad Productivity apps

Iwork - pages, numbers and keynote.

Apple's suite of productivity apps includes Pages, Numbers and Keynote and they are all great for working on the move with iPad. As you would expect being native Apple apps, they are all optimised for use on iPad, offering a fluid experience with a range of handy features.

Pages is our favourite, but all three have their uses – Numbers for spreadsheets, Pages for word documents and Keynote for presentations. You can create and edit a range of files and document types too, and if you're sharing your work with Office users, all three are compatible with Microsoft's counterparts.

Microsoft 365 (Office)

Similar to Apple's iWork suite but better for those more comfortable with Microsoft's way of doing things, the Microsoft's 365 line of productivity apps are comprehensive. You can view, edit, and create documents on your iPad with these free apps, but with an Office 365 subscription, you'll get some really nice extras, including OneDrive storage and an Outlook email account.

If you prefer Microsoft to Apple when it comes to productivity, the Microsoft 365 apps are an absolute essential for getting work done on your iPad.

Notability is an excellent note-taking app that lets you handwrite your notes instead of typing them, which is perfect for anyone with an iPad and Apple Pencil at their disposal. There are a variety of features on offer, from sketching, writing and typing to organising.

You can also record audio that is then saved within a specific note and search everything from handwriting and text to audio. This note-taking app also features palm detection, so you can write with your hand resting on your screen (the way most people handwrite) without confusing the app, and it's compatible with widgets too.

The ChatGPT app gives you access to the latest model of OpenAI at your fingertips. There's so much power in an app that is on the whole pretty simple in its appearance. Type in any request from asking what the best iPad app to asking it to make up a recipe with by listing some specific ingredients, and it will deliver you an answer pretty much instantly. 

There's a voice mode that allows you to speak to it, ask it to read a bedtime story or settle a debate between friends, but you can also ask it to help you brainstorm for a meeting, or come up with an elaborate explanation about electricity for a child that likes dinosaurs. The possibilities are pretty much endless. 

Notion is one of many tools designed to make organizing your workflow easier, but this is one that actually works well, whilst also being very easy to use and navigate. There are plenty of customization options here to get things just how you like them, and in turn, get stuff done. 

It's simple to drag and drop pretty much anything from documents to notes or tasks, while it's also just as easy to share things with others and work collaboratively. One major highlight is syncing across devices including iPad and Mac, helping you stay up to date on all your devices.

Google Docs

It's a classic, but it's a classic for a reason. Google Docs is perfect for creating, editing and collaborating on word documents, allowing you to see real-time changes, make comments and add actions by @ your team members.

Whilst real-time changes are an online feature and require connection, you can choose to work offline and there's a dark mode too. Using the iPad app rather than just a browsers gives you more optimised control and an easier interface to work with.

Best Essential iPad apps

Mint: budget & expense manager.

Mint automatically creates a budget for you, saving time and effort on your part. Once you connect your credit cards and bank accounts, it does the rest, creating a budget based on your average spending habits and offering insights into things like subscriptions you don't use anymore. 

You can increase or decrease the maximum for each budget, as well as add or remove categories. Income and expenses are automatically added as you make purchases, but you'll need to enter cash transactions manually. If you don't really need a budget, you can use Mint for the finance tracking and take advantage of the budgeting feature should you find it useful in the future.

Fantastical

Apple's Calendar app has improved over the years, but the Fantastical 3 is still up there with one of the best calendar apps available. It's a very robust app for keeping track of your daily events as well as keeping track of your reminders too. 

It has three different views to show you your days, weeks, and months at a glance and its sidebar helps keep you on schedule too. It connects to your Reminders app so whether it's a meeting or a quick dash to the store for milk, Fantastical will ensure you get things done and don't miss a beat.

Zoom might have lost some of its spark since being one of the most popular apps in the pandemic, but it remains an integral part of many lives and the iPad version of the app is great.

Apple's latest iPads have the Center Stage feature on board so if you're moving around the room on camera, they will follow you and keep you within the frame. Meanwhile, the iPad 10th generation has the camera in landscape orientation, making it a perfect choice for Zoom catchups.

There are plenty of reasons to invest in a Kindle as well as an iPad, but the Kindle app is a great start. It offers access to thousands of books, and serves up various settings to make reading on your tablet enjoyable too. 

It's possible to customise everything from the font size and type to the text alignment, orientation and margins. When you purchase a book on Amazon, you can send it directly to your iPad and when you open the Kindle app, it will be there waiting for you to download. Landscape mode also means reading on iPad is more natural than on a smaller screen, but books sync across devices if you want to read on your iPhone and Mac too.

Whatever device you're using, there's a good chance you have several website passwords to try and keep track of. Apple is pretty good at saving passwords if you use Safari but 1Password also makes it incredibly easy to store information across all of your devices so you only have to remember the one you use to unlock the app. 

It works with Touch ID and Face ID, so you can keep your passwords ultra-secure and it's significantly better for security than using easy-to-guess passwords. No more typing in multiple versions of your favorite password trying to get into an app!

Google Translate

It's pretty much as simple as apps come in terms of appearance, but Google Translate has the power to help you order a drink on holiday, understand a menu, or have a conversation with a loved one that speaks a different language. 

It can translate between 133 languages and it will do everything from translating text that you simply type, to real-time translation of words you speak into the app. It can also translate text in real-time when you hold your iPad's camera up to words you don't understand, as well as translate text in imported images. Comprende?

Google Drive

Many of us have a Google account – even if it's just for email – but that account comes with Google Drive, which works brilliantly as a cloud service. Like iCloud Drive and Dropbox, you can save all kinds of files, including videos and pictures, before sharing them with others, and it's perfect for having on your iPad as a storage option.

All you need to do is be online and logged into your Google account, and you can save any files you're working on to Google Drive, as well as access files like saved PDFs. 

Best iPad Family apps

If you love a classic board game, Monopoly is an iPad app you should definitely download. You can play by yourself against AI, with friends and family, or with players around the globe, as well as online or offline so plenty of opportunities to grab the boot and get yourself passed Go.   

It's fully immersive so you get gorgeous Monopoly graphics lighting up your iPad display and while you do pay for the app initially, there are no ads interrupting your game play once you start. 

It's another family classic and whether you're an Uno veteran or you're new to the card game, the iPad version lets you take it from the kitchen table to anywhere you're going – plane, train, office, or holiday. 

You can play with friends and family, or compete in Uno tournaments, and you can buddy up to play in two-player teams too. For those feeling particularly competitive, try and top the leaderboards, or choose to take on one of the world series tournaments to see if you can become numero uno.

Where's My Water?

You can always count on Disney to bring the goods when it comes to entertainment – whether for adults or children – and Where's My Water really delivers. There are over 500 physics-based puzzles within this iPad app, delivered through four characters; Swampy, Allie, Cranky and Mystery Duck.

The aim of the game is to guide water to the broken shower, with each level increasing in difficulty. It's fun, but educational too, and who doesn't love a puzzle with some entertaining characters to keep it interesting?

Crossy Road

Crossy Road is an 8-bit delight that will hook you in and keep you hopping whenever you get a spare minute on your iPad. You can unlock and collect more than 300 characters and there are 28 retro worlds to hop your way around.

Whether you're crossing roads, hopping over train tracks or skirting over rivers, there's endless fun, with even the ways you can die pretty entertaining in their own way.

Duolingo might be one of the best apps out there, not just for iPad but in general. Starting out as an app for learning a new language, but it is a lot more than that now, with the ability to learn maths and music the Duolingo way too.

Using science-based teaching methodologies, Duolingo gamifies learning languages, music and maths, offering bite-sized lessons and introducing characters to keep you motivated and build solid skills.

Best iPad Shopping apps

The iPad is the perfect mobile device for making a few sneaky online purchases and Amazon has pretty much everything available to buy, making this mobile app both brilliant but dangerous for your bank balance.

You can add items to your wish list, compare items, check for daily deals, view recommended products, and buy pretty much anything. It makes shopping exceptionally easy, with a simple interface too so download with caution.

Whether you're having a clear out and you want to make a bit of extra dollar, or you are looking for some second-hand or vintage bargains, Vinted is the app you'll want to download.

The interface is super simple to use and it looks excellent on iPad, serving up what is effectively a newsfeed of bargains. You can shop by brand, view popular items and selling is incredibly easy too.

Pinterest is a social networking website for crafting, cooking, building your dream home or just great ideas. In what can only be described as a digital scrapbook – that you can also find links to buy from too – you can search for anything that interests you with a delightful focus on all things visual. 

You can browse through pins in your feed, search for specific topics, and see who is saving your finds. Your pins are all saved on your private personal boards for quick access and it's ideal for finding new recipes, inspiration for a home or cupboard redesign and shopping links to rare trainers.

Like Amazon, eBay is a huge online retailer, selling products across a huge range of categories, whilst also enabling you to sell your own products. It is useful for finding some fairly obscure items and it's lovely and simple to use, making browsing a breeze. 

On iPad, you can search for products and filter by price, ending time, distance, and plenty more. You can also see what condition something is in and bid in auctions or purchase immediately. If you've been looking for a vintage favorite from your youth, this is where to go.

If you're looking for a cheap online shopping marketplace that covers off everything from home, pets and shoes, to beauty, tools and electronics, Shein is an app you shouldn't miss off your download list.

It delivers easy shopping – which is of course both a good and a bad thing – and the interface is exceptionally simple to browse on iPad. You can look by New Arrivals, Trends, Category, Best Sellers and plenty more, so we challenge you not to have something in your basket within several minutes. 

Not too dissimilar from Shein above, Temu also prides itself on being cheap and cheerful, offering products across a multitude of categories. From clothing, shoes and beauty, to home decor, handmade crafts and electronics, there's something for everyone.

The iPad app makes Temu very easy to navigate – and spend money – with prices so low on some items, it's a constant surprise. Be sure to look at the reviews of products you're buying though and make sure you don't expect the sort of quality you would get from more reputable brands with some things.

Best iPad Creating apps

CapCut is an easy-to-use but incredibly powerful video editing tool. It's as simple as you need it to be. You can use it to just trim and shorten clips, or you can add keyframe video animations, adjust speed via the speed curve tool, or remove specific colors.

If you're a keen content creator, it's will simplify your workflow right down to applying text-to-speech in order to make your videos more accessible. 

Procreate is a powerful app for creating full digital paintings. It has a huge range of painting and drawing tools with a wide array of color options, plenty of customization and hundreds of handmade brushes. 

You can paint on top of colors as well as blend shades for a realistic artistic experience and it also has digitizing features like adjustable motion and perspective blur, as well as color balance. The project tracking feature lets you record your progress as a time-lapse video, while there are also UHD canvases available in 16K and 8K for compatible iPad Pros. 

If you're looking for a solid app for photo and video editing, Canva should be on your list. It has plenty of features on board, from offering up the ability make videos to swapping backgrounds on photos, adding filters and flicking on stickers for good measure.

There are a range of templates if you need some inspiration, and you can design and collaborate from any device, meaning you can start on iPad, but finish on Mac.

Adobe Photoshop

Photoshop really needs no introduction – it is one of the most powerful image manipulation tools available with more features than many will ever even touch on in use. The iPad app is brilliant, offering everything from brushes and drawing with touch, to smudging, blending and mixing. 

Select images with the lasso tool and the power of AI, and work across multiple layers. You'll need a subscription, but once you have signed in with an Adobe ID, your files will synchronise across all your devices.

Adobe Lightroom

One of the most trusted apps for photo and image editing is Lightroom and the iPad version of the app is superb. The easy-to-use interface offers a huge range of tools at your disposal for turning your photos into professional looking shots, from enhancing portraits with one-tap presents to making detailed edits.

Using AI to its advantage, the iPad Lightroom app lets you blur the background of images quickly, delivering that portrait effect, but perhaps even better, is the ability to retouch and remove elements you don't want in your shots. It effectively puts the power of Google Pixel's Magic Editor on your iPad. 

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe's Illustrator is a fantastic tool for creating logos, illustrations (hence the name), graphics and plenty more. The iPad app is carefully considered, allowing you to design whatever your craft with precision, whist also offering a variety of tools from the ability to upload fonts, to typing on a path. 

There are more than 18,000 fonts available, coupled with over 20 color books, and features including the Blend Tool, the ability to raster images or paper sketches into vector images and stunning art and calligraphic brushes. If you want to let your imagination flow, this is the app to do it.

Whether you shred on an electric guitar or drop beats on a synthesizer, GarageBand makes it very easy to create music. You can download tracks you've recorded from another program, connect your instrument with an adapter, or capture your inspiration using a microphone. 

Even if you don't own or play instruments, you can use the app to create multi-track songs as there are dozens of guitar, bass, keyboard, and drum samples here for digital music creation. Once recorded, you can export your tracks to a range of platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, and SoundCloud.

Freeform is another native Apple app, but it is fantastic for creating what we would describe as mood boards or scrap books. Back in the day you may have stuck inspiration into a scrapbook, but Freeform gives you the power to save paper and create multiple boards directly on your iPad screen.

There's a dotted canvas by default but you can switch to plain if you so wish. After you select your base, you can draw with your finger or Apple Pencil using the various pen options, add sticky notes, add text boxes, introduce various shapes or add your own images from your library. It's a lovely app for brainstorming. 

Best iPad Kids apps

Bluey: let's play.

If you're a parent and you haven't watched Bluey, you are missing out. The hilarious TV show about an Australian family of dogs is recreated in this iPad app, allowing children to explore, create, imagine and play in Bluey and Bingo's house.

Kids will be able to hunt for longdogs, play a game of Pop Up Croc, listen to their favourite Bluey tracks or have a bounce on the trampoline in the garden. Best of all,  Bluey and Bingo's friends are in the app too, as well as parents Bandit and Chili.

YouTube Kids

While YouTube is great for entertaining us adults, YouTube Kids is a far more appropriate app for any younger people in your home and it's perfect for iPad. There are a range of parental controls that allow you to customise various settings and content available, as well as features like limiting screen time and keeping up with what your kids watch.

The app offers up a contained environment for kids filled with family-friendly videos on a range of different topics, from learning how to make slime to watching some of the great TV shows out there for kids.

Teach Your Monster to Read

Teach Your Monster To Read's aim is all but given away by the title of the app itself, but it's a lovely app on iPad, and an educating one too. Three games are included – First Steps, Fun with Words and Champion Reader – and the idea is that children create a monster that they then take on a magical journey. 

Through that journey, they meet a range of colorful characters, but more importantly, improve reading skills at the same time. The app is designed to cover the first two years of learning to read for children, from matching letters and sounds to enjoying little books, and it has been designed in collaboration with phonics programs.

Numberblocks: Hide and Seek

It wouldn't be right to have a reading app on our list and not a numbers app right? Numberblocks: Hide and Seek is designed to help children with addition, numbers bonds and other number skills, offering a fun way to learn. 

The aim is to find the hidden Numberblocks and add them together to see what happens, with each time the child gets to 10, they win something new to play with. An animation will play to celebrate each time the child hits 10, and the sums get harder as the child continues to play, helping them develop.

LingoKids - Play and Learn

For one of the best learning apps for kids, look no further than LingoKids. It isn't just about maths or reading, this app looks to cover it all. From science and engineering, to art, music and technology, there are more than 1200 learning activities wrapped up in this delightful app.

Using interactive games, songs and activities, the LingoKids app attempts to introduce life skills like empathy and resilience, whilst also covering off academics. There are more than 650 objectives across the various subjects and curated STEM curriculum. It's excellent.

Maths is by no means everyone's bag, but the Photomath app aims to combat that, offering you the ability to learn, practice and understand maths, one small step at a time. It will tackle everything from primary school maths to advanced calculus, allowing you to solve problems and untangle the trickiest of algebra equations. 

You can scan any maths problem on your iPad with the Photomath app to be presented with step-by-step explanations and solutions from a number of teacher-approved methods, breaking the problem down into easy-to-understand steps. Handwritten, textbook or on a screen, there's no maths problem this app won't be able to help with.

Room on the Broom

If you haven't read Room on the Broom then you really should – it's lovely – but even if you haven't, this iPad app is still excellent. Perfect for three to seven year olds, the Room on the Broom app has eight fun-filled games designed to inspire creativity and learning. 

Children will collect medals as they fly star to star and create pictures in the sky, catch things for cat as they fly past and help dog, bird and frog find things the witch has dropped. They will also be able to help the dragon eat his favorite food and steer the magnificent broom through the sky.

Britta is a freelance technology journalist who has been writing about Apple and tech for over a decade. She's covered everything from phones, tablets and wearables to smart home and beauty tech, with everything in between, and she's reviewed every Apple product to launch in the last few years. She has a fashion journalism degree from London College of Fashion and was previously deputy editor of Pocket-lint. You'll never find her without her Apple Watch on, aiming to complete her rings so she can justify the extra bar of chocolate and she loves a good iPhone trick.

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The 17 Best Apps for the Apple Pencil

Here are the best apps for Apple Pencil. There are plenty of great options for drawing, taking notes, and more.

The Apple Pencil transforms the iPad from a touchscreen tablet to a computer with a precise pointing instrument. Add an Apple Pencil to your iPad or iPad Pro and you'll watch the device spread its wings.

Tasks like editing photos, taking notes in class, drawing, and graphic design become more intuitive, faster, and easier. Check out our list of the best Apple Pencil apps for iPad and iPad Pro.

1. Apple Notes

Before you jump into the abyss of amazing third-party apps, don't forget everything Apple Notes can do . The built-in Notes app comes with support for the Apple Pencil.

Make a new note, then just start writing with the Apple Pencil. You can scribble, draw, or do whatever else you want. Tap on the Pencil icon at the bottom to reveal the toolbar. From here, you can switch to a pen or a marker tip and pick any color you want.

Tap on the lasso tool icon to make a section. With it, simply draw over part of the note and you'll be able to pick it up and move it around.

The best reason to use Apple Notes as a quick note-taking app on iPad is its integration with iOS/iPadOS. Tap on the Lock screen with your Apple Pencil and you'll instantly open the Notes app with either a blank note or the last note you accessed (you can specify this in the app's settings).

2. Notability

Notability is designed as a multipurpose note-taking app, especially for students. When you open a note, you can choose to write with your Apple Pencil or type with the keyboard (and easily alternate between them).

Plus, you can record the audio in the background. This makes Notability the best tool for taking lecture notes. You can change the background to show graph paper and write as much as you need, thanks to the infinite scrolling feature. Notability also marks page breaks, which makes it easy to export notes as PDFs or print them later.

Download : Notability (Free, subscription available)

3. Adobe Photoshop

As the iPad continues to become more powerful, desktop-class apps are making their move to the tablet, including Adobe Photoshop. Adobe designed the app to take advantage of the iPad's touchscreen and include support for the Apple Pencil.

With the app, you can create full PSDs with layers and use features you know from the desktop version, like spot healing and blending. There are other familiar tools like the Layer stack and Toolbar. To better help you while working, the app's UI is context-aware, so it will only show tools that you really need.

You can try the app out with a 30-day free trial. Anyone with a current Adobe Photoshop monthly membership can use the app at no additional cost.

Download : Adobe Photoshop (Free trial, subscription required)

4. AstroPad Standard

You can bring an iPad and Mac together with AstroPad Standard. Requiring a special app to run on a Mac simultaneously, connect your iPad via Wi-Fi or plugged in with a USB connection. On the iPad, you’ll be able to mirror any Mac app on the tablet screen. Along with full touch support and gestures, you can use the Apple Pencil all across the system and with any app. That opens up a wide variety of ways to bring stylus support, including full pressure sensitivity, to the Mac.

For example, you can draw directly into any creative software like the popular Adobe Creative Suite, Pixelmator, and more. You can also use the Apple Pencil for annotation, whiteboarding, and other tasks. When using the app, it bursts up to 60 FPS, even when using Wi-Fi. The app also sports accurate palm rejection for an even better experience.

Download: AstroPad Standard ($29.99)

5. Linea Sketch

Linea Sketch sits somewhere between a simple doodling app and more professional drawing tools like Procreate. It gives you the simplicity of doodling whatever you want, with power user tools like unlimited layers, transform tools, automatic ruler, grids, and more.

Like every other drawing app, Linea takes a canvas-based approach. Unlike Notability, you won't find an endlessly scrolling page here. However, you can create multiple canvases and organize them in projects.

The grid tool gives you backgrounds for note-taking, drawing, and user interface design. Linea Sketch's genius lies in its simple design. The tools are arranged in two panels on either side of the screen, letting you ignore features you don't need.

But this is a double-edged sword, as many of Linea's interesting features are hidden behind buttons. Once you get comfortable with the app, you should create a blank page and try all the tools at least once.

Also make sure to take a look at some of the other best iPad drawing and painting apps for beginners .

Download : Linea Sketch (Free, subscription available)

6. GoodNotes 5

GoodNotes 5 is the modernized version of the original versatile note-taking iPad app. The first app's premise was simple: it replicated a physical writing environment on the iPad. If you liked writing on a yellow legal pad, you could essentially get the same feeling on your iPad.

But this also meant that GoodNotes was limited in functionality. For example, it didn't have the endless vertical scrolling we're used to in apps like Notes and Notability. Instead, you had to flip pages every time.

GoodNotes 5 takes care of these annoyances. The continuous vertical scrolling makes note-taking much easier. And this version improves on all the aspects that make GoodNotes such a robust note-taking app. You can now nest as many folders as you want and organize them easily.

Plus, the handwriting recognition works even if your handwriting is poor.

Download : GoodNotes 5 ($7.99)

7. LiquidText

LiquidText takes the usual note-taking app to a new level. The app is designed to bring the true paper experience to an iPad. On the tablet, using an Apple Pencil you can gather and organize notes, ideas, a more from a number of sources. And a single tap can show the original context of the information. The app’s unique visualizations allow you to bring search results and highlights to see the big picture. Once the notes and excerpts are organized how you’d like, results can be exported into a PDF and other standard formats to share with others.

The free version offers limited functionality. There are multiple purchase opportunities for a single device or a cloud-based version that can be used across multiple devices.

Download: LiquidText (Free, in-app purchases and subscriptions available)

8. Pixelmator

Pixelmator is known as an intuitive and simple image editor. While you can use Pixelmator to quickly edit photos, it does a lot more than that. You can create an empty canvas, add and arrange photos, create shapes, add text, and more. Each lives on its own independent layer.

The Apple Pencil adds an extra layer of creativity. Using the selection tool, you can accurately single out parts of images that you want to edit. You can also write over images freehand, or draw any shape you want. Pixelmator comes with a variety of brushes, from calligraphy to crayons.

Download : Pixelmator ($4.99)

9. Procreate

Procreate is the ultimate Apple Pencil app. If you can dream it, and you have the skills, you can probably make it using Procreate on iPad. If you don't want to use Photoshop, Procreate is rightly championed as an Adobe suite replacement and one of the best professional iPad apps .

However, Procreate is best suitable for drawing and painting. It's not really designed for graphic design and vector work.

Download : Procreate ($9.99)

Nebo is a full-featured note-taking app that's made even better with the Apple Pencil. With it, you can edit and format text and do tasks like add or remove content and space, plus decorate and apply different styles.

One of its headlining features is converting handwriting from the Apple Pencil into text that you can edit and add to different notes. The app recognizes more than 65 languages and will also convert handwritten symbols. You can also enter text using a keyboard if you prefer. When looking for specific information, both typed and handwritten text are searchable.

When you finish a note, it can be converted into Word, PDF, HTML, or text. While the app is free to download, the majority of features require an in-app purchase to unlock the Pro version.

Download: Nebo (Free, premium version available)

11. Concepts

Concepts can be whatever you want. Optimized for the Apple Pencil, the app is made to be an advanced version of a piece of sketching paper. With the infinite canvas and a wide variety of paper types and grids, you can write notes, draw, and more while being able to easily send to others or present using AirPlay.

The vector nature of the app allows you to edit every stroke made with the Nudge, Slice, and Select tools. You can select from dozens of pens, pencils, and brushes that flow with your pressure, tilt, and velocity. It’s possible to even create your own tool for a perfect drawing experience. You can even customize other parts of the app including the gallery, canvas, tools, and gestures.

While the app is free, you’ll pay separately to unlock some tools or subscribe to use the entire app.

Download: Concepts (Free, subscription available)

12. Sketch Club

Sketch Club combines a great drawing and painting app with a vibrant community of artists looking to improve their craft.

When creating with an Apple Pencil, there are a wide variety of different tools at your disposal allowing you to create different layers with configurable blending, naming, and color tagging. You can create a canvas up to 16K resolution with a number of exportable sizes, including the standard 300 DPI. To help craft a perfect creation, there are many built-in tools to choose from, and you can even import others from the community.

Along with the drawing features, you can follow other artists and even gain followers while sharing creations. A new challenge arrives each day and a fresh competition comes each week, giving you a chance to improve. You can also live stream and chat for feedback while drawing.

Download: Sketch Club ($3.99)

13. Affinity Designer

Affinity Designer is the only great full-featured vector design app on iPad. It brings almost all the features from the Mac app to your iPad, and does so in an intuitive manner.

At first glance, you might feel like there's a lot going on as the app covers three edges of the screen with toolbars. But don't be overwhelmed; tap on each button and you'll see detailed options appear.

To make working easier, Affinity has three different modes: Vector , Pixel , and Export . The Vector mode is for drawing, while Pixel mode is similar to using a raster app like Photoshop. If you're using Designer to design graphics or user interfaces, Export mode makes it easy to export individual assets.

The app is fast and slick. Start creating points and paths, and you're on your way to creating an illustration. The features you expect from a good vector design app (pen tool, node tool, fill tool, live shapes) are all here, and they've been made more intuitive for a touchscreen.

Download : Affinity Designer ($19.99)

14. Flow by Moleskine

Flow by Moleskine takes the iconic notebook to your iPad. Just like with a real Moleskine, if you can dream it, it's possible to create using the app and an Apple Pencil.

One of the most unique features of the app is that documents are an infinite width, so you can simply pan and continue the drawing. And with a virtual toolset, you can create custom tools available with just a single tap.

The app is free to download. A subscription unlocks cloud storage and backup for all documents and tools so you can start on one iPad and then pick up work on another.

Download: Flow by Moleskine (Free, subscription available)

15. Tayasui Sketches Pro

Tayasui Sketches Pro aims to provide the most realistic drawing tools available to use with the Apple Pencil. You can take advantage of more than 20 tools to draw including a unique watercolor wet brush. With an Apple Pencil, the app has been designed to mimic a brush on paper while adapting the pressure, angle, and width to your movements. While drawing the UI is designed to hide away to provide a clear canvas.

Other great features available include a number of rulers and magnetic shapes and the ability to import photos.

With iCloud sync, you can back up your drawings and pick up on another iPad or even the iPhone version. You can also organize drawing in folders.

To get inspired, you can even head to the Sketches Community to see other works and vote for ones you like. The app is a one-time purchase.

Download: Tayasui Sketches Pro ($5.99, in-app purchases available)

16. Pigment

Coloring has been known to reduce stress and anxiety. The mere act of taking time out of your busy life and focusing on coloring can be meditative. And you don't need to buy an adult coloring book or colored pencils to get started. All you need is an iPad coloring app.

Pigment has a collection of more than 4,000 coloring pages. You'll certainly find something that strikes your fancy, as it has everything from simple nature drawings to complex mandalas that you can really take your time with.

Pigment has two coloring modes. If you want, you can tap on a shape to only color inside it. No matter how inaccurate you are, the color won't bleed outside the selection. If you want a more realistic drawing experience, don't tap on the shape before you start coloring.

Download : Pigment (Free, subscription available)

17. Sticker Doodle

Even the most novice drawer can still use the Apple Pencil and iPad with some fun results. With Sticker Doodle, you can use your Apple Pencil to draw anything and turn it into a sticker that can be sent to others via iMessage. You can also create sticker packs for WhatsApp and Telegram along with Discord stickers. And Slack users can export drawings as emojis for use on the service.

Thanks to iCloud support, you can start on a sticker on your iPhone and finish it up on your iPad and Apple Pencil.

You can create five stickers with the free version. To unlock the ability for unlimited stickers, there is an in-app purchase.

Download: Sticker Doodle (Free, in app-purchases available)

Get More From Your Apple Pencil

As we've seen, the Apple Pencil is truly a remarkable tool when paired with iPad apps designed for it. Grab some of the best apps for Apple Pencil and see what you can create.

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What's on my iPad in 2024: favorite productivity apps, how to customize it like a MacBook

How to make the iPad look and work like a MacBook (in 2024)

Step 1: enabling true multitasking with windowed apps support.

Step 2: Get more screen space with Display Zoom

Step 3: Consider getting a Magic Keyboard for iPad

Step 4: Fixing the iPad mouse cursor – faster movement, no more weird inertia, no more snapping

The best iPad apps for creative work in 2024 (that I've been using)

Drawing and animation – procreate.

Video editing – LumaFusion

Music production – FL Studio Mobile

Transferring files between your iPad and other devices – KDE Connect

Honorable iPad app mentions

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Latest News

When will Apple release the new iPad Pro? Here’s what the rumors say

Apple’s new iPad Pro models are highly-anticipated and have been described as the biggest update to the devices since 2018. Over the last several weeks, we’ve gotten a lot of questions about when these new iPad Pros will actually be released. Here’s everything we know…

When to expect new iPad Pros

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has been consistent in his reporting that the new iPad Pro will arrive sometime at the end of March or in April. Gurman reiterated this expectation in the most recent addition of his Power On newsletter, saying that the timeline hinges on a new version of iPadOS 17.4 that is designed for the new iPad Pro hardware.

In December, I  said the new iPad Pro would arrive  after the M3 MacBook Air, or “around the end of March.” Since then, I’ve  repeatedly said  that new software for the iPad Pro — a variant of iPadOS 17.4 designed for the updated models —  won’t be complete until the end of March or even sometime in April. Once the OS is finished, Apple needs to send it off to the factories to be installed on the new hardware. That process could last a couple weeks, probably taking us deeper into next month. Nothing in my reporting has changed. Just be patient.

Analyst Ross Young of Display Supply Chain Consultants said in a report today that the new iPad Pro models will begin shipping in April. This aligns with Gurman’s reporting. According to Young, production of the 11-inch iPad Pro is lagging behind the 12.9-inch model , suggesting it could be hard to find when it launches.

Finally, a pair of additional rumors this week added more fuel to the fire about when to expect the new iPad Pro.

• On Weibo, leaker Instant Digital said that Apple is planning to announce something iPad-related on March 26.
• A number of third-party cases and accessories have gone live on Amazon suggesting a March 26 launch date for new iPad Pro models.

9to5Mac’s Take

With all of that said, one thing is clear: new iPad Pros are coming, and they’re coming soon. iPad fans might be waiting a little bit longer than they’d like, but all signs point to a launch within the next several weeks.

The new iPad Pros will feature OLED screens, a significantly thinner design, upgraded performance with an M3 chip, a new Magic Keyboard accessory, and more. Check out our full roundup for details on everything to expect .

Are you planning to buy a new iPad Pro this year? If so, which model are you upgrading from? Let us know down in the comments.

Read more about the new iPad Pro and iPad Air:

• What to expect from the new iPad Air
• OLED iPad Pro: Everything we know right now
• A new iPad Pro is coming: Here are four things to expect
• 11.1-inch OLED iPad supply lags behind larger version, April launch expected

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A message to our amazing Affinity community

I am thrilled to announce that Affinity is joining the Canva family.

This is a moment of great excitement, anticipation, and profound gratitude for all of you who have been part of our story so far.

We know that those of you who’ve put your faith in Affinity, some since we launched our very first Mac app, will have questions about what this means for the future of our products. Since the inception of Affinity, our mission has been to empower creatives with tools that unleash their full potential, fostering a community where innovation and artistry flourish. We've worked tirelessly to challenge the status quo, delivering professional-grade creative software that is both accessible and affordable.

None of that changes today.

In Canva, we’ve found a kindred spirit who can help us take Affinity to new levels. Their extra resources will mean we can deliver much more, much faster. Beyond that, we can forge new horizons for Affinity products, opening up a world of possibilities which previously would never have been achievable.

Canva’s revolutionary approach to design democratisation and commitment to empowering everyone to create aligns perfectly with our core values and vision. This union is a testament to what can be achieved when two companies that share a common goal of making design accessible and enjoyable for everyone come together.

I want to express my deepest gratitude to our incredible Affinity team. Your passion, dedication, and relentless pursuit of excellence have been the driving force behind our success so far, and I can’t wait to continue this journey with you all.

To our loyal users and the creative community, your support and feedback have been invaluable. You’ve inspired us to push boundaries and continuously improve, and we’re excited to embark on this new chapter together.

The future is bright, and I am incredibly excited to continue our story together and create a world where design is within everyone's reach.

You helped us start a movement. Today, that movement becomes a revolution.

With heartfelt thanks,

Ashley Hewson CEO

As of today (26 March 2024) Affinity is part of the Canva family. Canva has acquired Serif, the company behind the Affinity suite of professional creative software.

From the very early days of developing Affinity, our aim has always been to empower the world to design with incredibly powerful professional creative tools which do not cost a fortune. We are really proud of everything we have achieved so far, with more than three million designers around the world using our apps.

We have to say that selling Serif was not on our minds at all, but when Canva contacted us (only a couple of months ago!) there was something about it which just felt right. Product-wise it is a great fit as Canva do not have professional design tools as part of their offering, and we do not have any cloud or collaboration as part of ours. But more than that, our overall philosophies align so well and Canva’s culture (despite being a much larger company than us) is very similar.

We do believe that together we can produce the world’s most comprehensive visual communications offering, while at the same continuing to serve our existing creative professional community with more rapid development of our apps.

Since our inception, both of our companies have shared the same mission and vision. We were both founded with the belief that design shouldn’t be limited to those who can afford complex software.

Our goal has been to make the highest quality design tools available to the largest number of people with fair, transparent and affordable pricing at our core. By joining forces, we’re looking forward to accelerating this shared vision. As part of that, we’ve made Four Pledges to the Affinity community .

Affinity and Canva share a commitment to making design fairer and more accessible. For Canva, this has meant making its core product available for free to millions of people across the globe. And for Affinity, this has meant a fairly priced perpetual license model. We know this model has been a key part of the Affinity offering and we are committed to continue to offer perpetual licences in the future as one of our Four Pledges to the Affinity community .

If we do offer a subscription, it will only ever be as an option alongside the perpetual model, for those who prefer it. This fits with enabling Canva users to start adopting Affinity. It could also allow us to offer Affinity users a way to scale their workflows using Canva as a platform to share and collaborate on their Affinity assets, if they choose to.

We believe Affinity is the highest-quality professional-grade design suite on the market. It’s non-destructive, superfast, and easy to use. As such, we want to reassure you that Affinity is here to stay – and will only get better.

In fact, as one of our Four Pledges to the Affinity community , we’re committed to using our shared resources to continue expanding Affinity’s products through further investment in Affinity as a standalone product suite.

Absolutely! We’re looking forward to accelerating the rollout of highly requested features such as variable font support, blend and width tools, auto object selection, multi-page spreads, ePub export and much more.

These additions will further cement Affinity as the best advanced design suite on the market and will be released over the coming year as free updates to V2.

We plan to start the beta of version 2.5 in the next month or so – if you would like to get involved in that you can sign up to our beta program .

Yes, it’s likely there will be some integration between Affinity and Canva in the future, particularly in consideration of the workflows of enterprise customers. Creative and brand management teams need professional tools to create and edit assets, images, icons, logos and other elements - and Affinity apps are the perfect choice for that.

Being able to quickly sync those assets to Canva for the wider organisation to easily use within their documents, presentations, whiteboards and other visual communication materials would make a lot of sense.

Any integrations we do will be done using additional resource from Canva and will not get in the way of us continuing to develop the features and improvements you want to the Affinity apps.

Many of you would like to see a way to easily sync your Affinity documents and assets to all your devices, and also to be able to share and collaborate on your Affinity files. For us to build the infrastructure required for this was always going to be challenging, but it’s now certainly achievable via Canva’s platform.

Very early days and we don’t have a specific plan, but the main thing to say is that this is now certainly a possibility in the future!

No, your Affinity account remains the same and our website will continue to sell our apps and add-ons. You can continue to manage your purchases and downloads in the same way you always have.

As for individual users, you can expect to benefit from continued updates to your apps including many new features and improvements. If your school, university or business also uses Canva you will additionally benefit from some of the future integrations mentioned above between our platforms.

In fact Canva, which has pledged 30% of its value as a company towards doing good in the world through its two-step plan , offers premium plans at no cost to schools and nonprofits all over the world. More than 60 million students and teachers, plus 600,000 charities and registered nonprofits, benefit from this each month.

As one of our Four Pledges to the Affinity community we’re excited to extend this programme to include free access for schools and nonprofits to Affinity Designer, Photo and Publisher. These professional-grade tools will add enormous value to this free offering, helping millions of students to master the craft of design, and empowering mission driven organisations to amplify their voices and maximize their impact.

We’ll share more details on this in the coming months, including what it means for our education and NFP customers that already use Affinity.

No, there are not going to be any layoffs. This was something that Canva were immediately clear on when initially discussing the acquisition – they are investing in the team we have here and it’s very important everyone is part of the future.

The team behind Affinity remains in place and our approach remains the same – and this is something that Canva is very focused for us to maintain too. Yes, we are now a division within a larger company, but we believe this will allow us to serve our community even better in the future and give us even greater freedom and ability to challenge the status quo.

There’s every chance there will be some expansion of our team over time – vacancies will be posted on our website as appropriate.

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New iPad Pro Again Rumored to Feature Landscape Front-Facing Camera

The next-generation iPad Pro will feature a landscape-oriented front-facing camera for the first time, according to the Apple leaker known as " Instant Digital ."

Currently, the front-facing camera of both the iPad Air and ‌iPad Pro‌ resides on the top of the device, which means that the camera is positioned to the left when the device is being used in landscape, such as with a Magic Keyboard. Apple relocated the front-facing camera of the 10th-generation ‌ iPad ‌ to the side of the device to provide a better experience in landscape and the company has not launched a new ‌iPad‌ since then.

In January, code discovered in iOS 17.4 suggested the next ‌iPad Pro‌'s TrueDepth camera array would be moved to the side of the device. "During ‌ Face ID ‌ setup, ‌iPad‌ needs to be in landscape with the camera at the top of the screen," the code read.

Earlier this month, Instant Digital suggested that the switch to a landscape front-facing camera could also be made on the next-generation iPad Air . How Apple will achieve this switch to a landscape camera on the new ‌iPad‌ models is unclear, since the second-generation Apple Pencil connects to both the ‌iPad Air‌ and ‌iPad Pro‌ using an inductive magnetic charger located where it seems the camera will need to move to. Both the new ‌iPad Air‌ and ‌iPad Pro‌ models are expected to launch within weeks.

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The iPad Pro 2024 could get a new camera to fix its wonky video calls

Eyes straight ahead

It’s been a while since Apple has launched a new iPad, with the latest model going back as far as October 2022. That situation has provided plenty of fodder for the rumor mill, and the latest idea is that the upcoming iPad Pro will move its front-facing camera to the side of the device.

That information comes from a leaker known as Instant Digital on the Chinese social media platform Weibo (via MacRumors ). According to Instant Digital, the iPad Pro’s TrueDepth camera system will move to the right-hand side of the tablet. The microphone array, meanwhile, will be centered at the top of the device.

Why is Apple apparently going to make this move? It all comes down to video calls . Past iPads have put the front-facing camera on the top edge of the tablet. When you use the iPad like a laptop in landscape mode and join a video call, it means you have to awkwardly look at the side of your device (rather than the top, where your eyes would naturally go) in order to look into the camera. It’s a clumsy situation that could be easily avoided by Apple moving the camera’s position.

Now, it looks like that’s exactly what the company is planning on doing. And if we’re being honest, it’s a long-overdue move on Apple’s part – but better late than never.

Mounting evidence

Instant Digital’s claim isn’t the only instance of a rumor asserting that this change is imminent. Earlier in March 2024, Instant Digital announced that the iPad Air would also get a side-mounted camera .

As well as that, code discovered in iOS 17.4 revealed that the change could indeed be coming to the iPad Pro. Among the code snippets was this tidbit: “During Face ID setup, iPad needs to be in landscape with the camera at the top of the screen.” The latest entry-level iPad is the only one with a landscape camera , but it doesn’t have Face ID – that’s reserved for the iPad Pro, suggesting this code was referencing one of Apple’s unreleased top-end tablets.

A landscape camera is not the only thing we’re expecting in the new iPad Pro . Other rumors suggest it might come with a larger display, an OLED panel, an upgraded chip and more. That could make it a sizeable improvement over the current model .

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When it finally arrives, it will put an end to an excruciatingly long wait for updates. The latest iPad upgrades came in October 2022, and 2023 was the first year without new iPads since the product launched in 2010. Here’s hoping Apple puts that drought behind it by launching new models as soon as possible.

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Alex Blake has been fooling around with computers since the early 1990s, and since that time he's learned a thing or two about tech. No more than two things, though. That's all his brain can hold. As well as TechRadar, Alex writes for iMore, Digital Trends and Creative Bloq, among others. He was previously commissioning editor at MacFormat magazine. That means he mostly covers the world of Apple and its latest products, but also Windows, computer peripherals, mobile apps, and much more beyond. When not writing, you can find him hiking the English countryside and gaming on his PC.

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5 reasons to get an iPad over a Fire tablet

• Apple's iPad outshines Amazon's Fire tablet with superior build quality, design, and premium craftsmanship.
• The iPad offers a vast app library with over two million apps tailored to its capabilities compared to Fire tablets.
• Seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem, powerful performance, and long-term software support make iPads a superior choice.

Apple has been a pioneer in the world of mobile devices since introducing the iPhone and iPad . Shortly after Apple's first tablet became a must-have gadget, Amazon sought to set the tech world ablaze with its Fire tablet. Both tablet brands remain immensely popular over a decade later, but which is better: iPads or Fire tablets?

Truth be told, the original tablet makers still make the best tablets . Whether you're a casual user, a creative professional, or a business executive, the iPad's combination of style, functionality, and reliability makes it a worthy investment that outshines its competitors in the tablet market.

While there are several reasons to get a Fire tablet instead of an iPad , here are five ways Apple's iPad beats Amazon's Fire.

Superior build and design

Apple is synonymous with quality, apple ipad pro 12.9-inch (2022).

One of the most noticeable differences between an iPad and a Fire tablet is their build quality and design. Apple has a reputation for its attention to detail and premium craftsmanship, and the iPad is no exception. From its sleek aluminum body to its stunning Retina display , the iPad exudes elegance and sophistication.

While Amazon's tablets are functional and budget-friendly, they often lack the refined aesthetics and robust build quality that Apple is known for.

In contrast, Fire tablets are primarily constructed from plastic, which can feel less durable and less premium compared to the iPad's metal construction. While Amazon's tablets are functional and budget-friendly, they often lack the refined aesthetics and robust build quality that Apple is known for.

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An extensive app library, apple has more apps than amazon.

​​​​​​​

Apple iPad Air (2022)

When it comes to the variety and quality of apps available, the iPad outshines the Fire tablet by a significant margin. Apple's App Store boasts over two million apps specifically designed for the iPad , ranging from productivity tools to entertainment apps and everything in between. This vast ecosystem ensures that users have access to the latest and greatest software innovations tailored to the iPad's capabilities.

Some popular apps and games may be exclusive to iOS, further enhancing the iPad's appeal for users seeking a diverse and robust app library.

While the Amazon Appstore offers a decent selection of apps for Fire tablets, it pales in comparison to the breadth and depth of offerings available on the App Store. Not to mention that if you want to install any of Google's apps, you have to go through an additional process to sideload the Google Play Store on a Fire tablet -- and it's not for the faint of heart . Additionally, some popular apps and games may be exclusive to iOS, further enhancing the iPad's appeal for users seeking a diverse and robust app library.

Seamless integration with Apple's ecosystem

Connect your iphone, mac, and apple watch, apple ipad (2022).

For individuals already invested in the Apple ecosystem, choosing an iPad offers seamless integration with their existing devices and services. Whether you own an iPhone, a Mac, an Apple Watch, or other Apple wearables , the iPad seamlessly syncs with your other Apple devices, allowing for effortless sharing of content, continuity, and cross-device functionality.

With features like Handoff, AirDrop , and iCloud integration, you can start a task on one device and pick up right where you left off on another, enhancing productivity and convenience. While Fire tablets offer integration with Amazon services like Kindle and Prime Video, they lack the deep integration and ecosystem synergy that the iPad offers.

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Powerful performance and hardware, the ipad is harder, better, faster, and stronger, apple ipad mini (2021).

Apple's relentless focus on performance and hardware excellence ensures that the iPad delivers blazing-fast speeds and buttery-smooth performance across a wide range of tasks. Equipped with Apple's custom-designed chips, such as the A-series processors, iPads consistently outperform Fire tablets in terms of processing power, graphics performance, and overall responsiveness.

Whether you're multitasking with multiple apps, editing photos and videos, or playing graphics-intensive games, the iPad handles everything with ease. Additionally, features like Apple Pencil support and high-resolution displays further enhance the iPad's appeal for creative professionals and multimedia enthusiasts.

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Long-term software support and updates, apple devices have longer lifespans, apple ipad (2021).

Another compelling reason to choose an iPad over a Fire tablet is Apple's commitment to long-term software support and regular updates. Apple typically provides software updates for its devices for several years, ensuring that even older iPads receive the latest security patches, performance improvements, and feature enhancements.

In contrast, Fire tablets may receive software updates for a shorter duration, so older devices may be left behind as Amazon focuses on promoting newer models. This difference in software support means that iPads generally offer a longer usable lifespan and a more consistent user experience over time.

While Fire tablets are more affordable and have Amazon integration, the iPad is the superior choice for users seeking premium build quality, a vast app library, seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem, powerful performance, and long-term software support.

This article may contain affiliate links that Microsoft and/or the publisher may receive a commission from if you buy a product or service through those links.