Best iPad Apps for Better and Smarter Use in 2022
The iPad is a powerful device. However, what is the use or value of all this power if you do not have the right applications to use it? Well, this list of the best iPad apps can help you, whether you’re using an iPad, iPad Pro, iPad Air, or iPad mini.
Please note that I have taken these applications on a general basis and have tried to cover common use cases. However, your use case and choice of apps may differ. So, while the apps mentioned below are some of the best, take them as pointers or hints to find the perfect app.
1. Things 3 – Best for task management
Why download?
- Clean, minimal interface
- Cool organizational opportunities
- One time payment, no subscription
Here’s one challenge: go to YouTube, search for iPad performance, and watch the first few videos. Or you can trust me when I say that most professional iPad users suggest this to-do list and task management app.
And I support their opinion; Things 3 is a nearly perfect app (see the overview for more info). It boasts an easy to use user interface that is customizable and fun. There’s also a Home widget and Siri Shortcut support for quick access.
You can also create tasks, reminders, or notes by mailing them to Things. In addition, it supports Apple Pencil, keyboard shortcuts, and a number of other features.
And if you’re not ready to shell out $20 just yet, try its iPhone or Mac version for free. Although the smoothness of things 3 for the iPad is on a completely different level.
Price: $19.99
2. Spark Mail is the perfect email companion for iPad
Why download?
- Intuitively organized mailbox
- Easily schedule, snooze and sign emails
- Smart Collaboration Features
Spark Mail has just about everything you need in a smart email management app. First, its intuitive user interface learns from your behavior and creates a truly personal experience that’s fast, collaborative, and well suited to the iPad’s large screen.
Smart Inbox clearly categorizes all new emails into personal, newsletters and notifications. You can schedule an outgoing message and even delay an incoming message so you can read it later or at a convenient time.
Spark also features a full-featured calendar, integration with apps like iCloud and Dropbox, and quick replies with tap and swipe to select the right signature. It also works as a chatbot; you can invite teammates and discuss certain emails and topics within the app.
In addition, it supports shared mailboxes, i.e. multiple people can handle email. Interestingly, this feature allows you to assign emails (like tasks), set deadlines, track progress, and more.
Price: Free
3. Procreate is the best iPad app for designers
Why download?
- Designed specifically for iPad
- A set of exclusive art tools
- Tutorials for almost everything
Procreate and iPad are the perfect combination, especially if you have an iPad Pro. You can create sketches, paintings, illustrations, animations, mood boards and more; The sky is the limit.
Plus, it’s intuitive, easy to use, supports Apple Pencil, and includes various art tools. Key features include hundreds of handmade brushes with over 100 customizable settings, 16K or 8K canvases, multiple prefabricated color palettes, and customizable one-finger gestures.
Other benefits include an advanced layering system, lightning-fast Valkyrie graphics engine, QuickShape for perfect shapes, dynamic type, stroke stabilization, perspective, isometry, and visual symmetry guides.
And that’s not the best part; the iPad app is so popular that you’ll find detailed tutorials online and on YouTube. So, whether you’re a professional or a beginner, Procreate can be the best drawing app for iPad.
Price: $9.99
4. iWork – Enough for documentation and more
Why download?
- Made by Apple for Apple Products
- Ready-to-use templates and advanced tools
- Free use
iWork is Apple’s software package that includes Pages for documents, Numbers for spreadsheets, and Keynote for presentations. And because they’re made by Apple, they’ll work seamlessly with your iPad, no matter the model.
Each app comes with templates to make it easy to get started. And design tools that facilitate all basic and advanced features. Plus, they’re built to support the Apple Pencil, so you can annotate and handwrite, draw, highlight, and more.
Plus, iWork enables real-time collaboration so your team can work together using a Mac, iPad, iPhone, or PC. And yes, they may not be the best in their fields, but as the name suggests, they are enough for everyday versions. Plus, they’re free to use on iPad.
Price: Free
5. Google is the best iPad app for Google
Why download?
- All the features of Google on your iPhone
- Search using your voice or iPhone camera
- Get updates on what you like
Yes, you can use Google in Safari. However, the Google app has a few special tricks that make it a worthy app for your iPad.
The Google app gives you quick access to web searches. Whether you’re looking for a query, nearby shops/restaurants, live sports scores, images, videos, news or more.
And not only by typing; You can search with your voice, use the Google Lens option to search with your camera, or scan QR codes. What’s more, if you want to keep your searches private, you can also switch to incognito mode right from the app.
Another benefit of using the Google app on your iPad is a personalized experience, from getting updates on topics to real-time updates on sports, movies, and events that interest you.
Price: Free
6. Fantastical Calendar – to organize your schedule.
Why download?
- Beautiful interface
- More than a calendar – keeps track of tasks, weather and more
- Synchronization between devices
An award-winning calendar app that keeps you up to date with your schedule, tasks, weather and more. It boasts a beautiful, minimal, clean, and easy-to-use interface suitable for students, executives, freelancers, entrepreneurs, and just about everyone.
You can view a full-screen calendar for the day, week, month, quarter, or year. Its strength lies in the intuitive analysis of natural language text. This means that you can create tasks using natural language and not be limited to certain phrases or actions.
Moreover, it integrates apps like Todoist, Google Tasks, Zoom, Google Meet, etc. and automatically creates appointments and tasks accordingly. It also makes it easier to find your availability and plan events.
And if you choose the premium subscription, you get access to some fantastic tools like customizable calendars based on location, cool calendars like sports, moon phases, etc., customizable event colors, and more.
Price: Free (premium subscriptions start at $4.99 per month).
7. 1Password: Great for protecting passwords
Why download?
- Remember all your passwords and fill them in automatically
- Notifies you if your passwords are compromised
- Store cards, account details and documents
So many accounts and passwords, but so little brain bandwidth, pretty unfair, right? Get rid of this routine by using 1Password on your iPad.
This will not only save you the hassle of remembering passwords, but it will also help you set strong passwords for your important accounts. And since it supports autocomplete, the login process will be pretty easy.
1Password also acts as an authenticator; you can store two-factor authentication codes and access them when needed. It also closely monitors existing passwords and sends you an alert when a password is compromised and needs to be changed.
Eat more; the app expands its support beyond passwords. You can store your bank accounts, credit cards, addresses, notes, documents, passports, and more in 1Password vault.
Price: Free (subscriptions start at $3.99 per month).
8. Headspace: Best iPad App for Guided Meditation
Why download?
- Helps you stay focused and focused on current tasks
- Simple Sessions
- Mini sessions at your fingertips
You might need an iPad Pro for graphic design, an iPad Air for college, or an iPad for work, but for all of this and more, you need to be in the right space (pun intended).
The idea is to have a soothing app on your iPad and I prefer using Headspace. One of the best apps of its kind, it contains hundreds of sessions to help you manage stress, relax, and channel your energy in the right direction.
It offers guided meditation, sleeping pills, breathing exercises, stress relief workouts, and calming morning rituals. If you don’t have time at your disposal, don’t worry. The app offers mini 3-minute sessions to keep you refreshed and energized in the meantime.
And the best part is that the app helps you track your progress, mental and emotional health, mood swings, and the number of Mindful Minutes you’ve spent meditating.
Price: Free (subscription starts at $9.99 per month).
9. Evernote – Great for organizing notes on the iPad.
Why download?
- Multipurpose application for organizing notes and tasks
- Simple, minimal and neat user interface
- Synchronization between devices
While the Apple Notes app works flawlessly on iPad, some features and functionality are only available on Evernote. This one app can single-handedly take on the work of many apps, from note-taking to task management.
You can bring your ideas to life in any form, write, sketch, or add content such as images, documents, PDFs, audio, web clippings, and more. Also, scan and organize documents, handwritten notes, whiteboards, and much more.
Evernote can be integrated with your Google calendar to bring your schedule, to-do lists and notes into one platform. In addition, the application allows you to organize everything in separate notebooks so that personal or professional plans do not get mixed up.
If you choose Evernote, you’ll also get access to a comprehensive home toolbar, cross-device sync, and a powerful search interface that filters text from images and handwritten notes.
Price: Free (In-app subscriptions start at $3.99 per month).
10. Garage Band: For music lovers who like to tinker with music.
Why download?
- Create, edit or mix music with ease
- Multi-touch support
- Free use
Want to set your own ringtone for your iPad or iPhone? Or want to create your own music brand? Or just want to practice playing your favorite instrument? Well, you can do all this and more with this great app.
Garage Band is made by Apple, so expect flawless and smooth performance. In addition, it houses a collection of touch instruments, making it an impromptu full-featured recording studio.
And this is not the end of the matter; the application supports multi-touch gestures, i.e. you can play the numeric keypad, guitar or other instruments almost like real instruments. You can also plug in a guitar, bass, or any other sound to create the sounds of your choice.
Notably, this is more typical than your typical applications and will require some research and experimentation on your part. And whether it works for you or not, it’s sure to be a fun ride, so explore it.
Price: Free
11. Netflix is my favorite iPad app
Why download?
- Wide selection of content
- Excellent picture and sound
- Available PiP Mode
I don’t think this app needs an introduction. So let’s keep it short and simple. Netflix is my best bet; it has amazing shows and an even more amazing algorithm with extra features like Play Something, games and more.
Yes, it’s more expensive than its competitors, but when you love a show, movie, or TV series, that extra money is worth it. What’s more, it lets you take full advantage of your iPad’s screen and speakers. And if multitasking is your thing, Netflix also has a decent PiP mode.
Price: Free (subscription starts at $9.99 per month).
12. Minecraft is one of the best iPad games
Why download?
- Fun, interactive and educational game
- Variety of game modes
- Large and friendly community
There are games and there is Minecraft. You can explore endless worlds and build everything from a simple house to a majestic castle. Basically, it’s your world and you can build it your way.
This is one of the best games for the iPad, and rightly so. You can choose survival mode and play typical challenges with limited resources. Or choose creative mode and enjoy hours of entertainment on offer.
Minecraft has a plethora of mods, and some of them are so complex that they can be considered full-fledged games. You can also interact, compete and make friends with a large community of like-minded gamers.
Price: $6.99
13. GIPHY World: Best funny AR app for iPad
Why download?
- Interesting to explore
- Could share experience with friends
- Free use
Speaking of iPad games, I have to bring this one up. While not actually a game, it is a lot of fun to play. And why is this one special? Because it brings GIFs to life.
GIPHY World is an AR (Augmented Reality) based application that projects a selected GIF in any direction of the camera. And while you can import GIFs from Giphy’s vast library, you can also draw in the air to bring your imagination and art to life.
Want to share your experience with a friend? Just cooperate with them, record video and share the whole scene.
Price: Free
14. Calculator – if you miss this app on iPad
Why download?
- Easy to use, minimal user interface
- Works efficiently
- Up to 80 themes to choose from
It’s no secret that the iPad hasn’t had a calculator app since its inception. And while I understand the developer’s sentiment a bit, because even this isn’t a perfect design, we still need an alternative.
Now you can do a little calculation from spotlight (just type in a query); however, we will need a calculator for complex calculations. So, if you often need to do calculations for your business or calculate canvas dimensions, you should try this app.
The Calculator app works as it should, but what stands out is the set of 80 themes at your disposal. Choose the one you like and start calculating.
Price: Free
15. Amazon Shopping is the app you need
Why download?
- Exhaustive list of products
- Prompt notification of sales and offers
- Use AR to view products
Another app that needs no introduction. Amazon has hooked most of us; this is usually the first place we check the availability and price of the item. And I don’t think a shopaholic’s iPad is complete without this app.
Yes, the web interface is decent and you can easily shop from the browser. However, the app certainly offers the best experience; First, you won’t have to re-login. In fact, you can use Face or Touch ID to sign in.
Plus, you’ll get notifications for sales, daily deals, special prices on the items you love, and more. Also, when using the Amazon app, you can get a 360-degree view of the product and even use the AR/VR feature to see if it fits your room or not.
Price: Free (In-App Purchases)
16. CapCut is a great video editor for iPad
Why download?
- Suitable for both beginners and professionals
- Wide filters and effects to choose from
- Free use
The best part about the CapCut app is that it’s full of features and it’s free. In addition, it boasts an easy-to-use user interface, allowing beginners to learn the editing process and make quick and easy changes.
You can trim the video, change its speed or flip it with a few taps. CapCut can also help you overlay videos or photos, apply subtle or dramatic effects, smooth skin with advanced features, and more.
The app also has an extensive music library, stickers, text styles, and more. And most importantly, the iPad (especially the iPad Pro) really lets you have enough screen space for video editing and the portability to edit them on the go. Thus, it is a win-win situation.
Price: Free
17. Audible is the best iPad app for audiobooks
Why download?
- Wide selection of audiobooks
- You can adjust the speech speed
- 3-month trial with Amazon Prime
Although paper books never lose their charm, I prefer audio novels to e-books. And if you feel the same way, Audible is the right app. As an avid audionovela listener and podcast lover, I have tried and tested many platforms.
And maybe not for podcasts; Audible is one of the best audio novels out there. First, the variety of books you get by subscription. I am a YA (Young Adult) lover and Audible originals and novels have my heart.
The iPad app is no different than the iPhone app, which is a good thing. Because you don’t have to adapt to a separate interface. Plus, it syncs across devices, ensuring you pick up right where you left off, even if you change devices.
And if you have an Amazon Prime subscription, you get a 3-month trial for free, so hit that download button and give the app a try.
Price: Free (subscription starts at $7.99 per month).
18. ZOOM is the best iPad video conferencing app
Why download?
- Invite up to 100 people to a call
- Tools to improve your video calls
- Smooth and simple user interface
Video calls, conferences, classes, seminars, and more have become the norm. And the iPad is one of the best devices for video calling (full explanation in this article), so it’s obvious that Zoom will be on the list of the best iPad apps.
FaceTime is great and works great, although it has its limitations. And Zoom overcomes all of this by providing users with a seamless video calling experience. In addition to great video quality, Zoom makes screen sharing, meeting scheduling, call recording, chats, file sharing and more easy.
Zoom also neatly adopts iOS and iPadOS features like Safe Driving Mode with Apple CarPlay, Siri Shortcuts, and Zoom Rooms Direct Sharing.
Price: Free
19. Shadowrocket – Effective Proxy Client for iPad
Why download?
- Makes proxies easier
- An advanced tool to improve your user experience
- Does not collect or share your data
While there are several great iPad VPNs to protect your internet usage, proxies have their uses. And if you want to dive into the world of proxy servers or need help, Shadowrocket is the perfect starting point.
Once configured, it uses rules-based software that routes all your web traffic through proxy servers, so your IP address is hidden and protected.
And it’s not; the app also boasts advanced features such as measuring traffic usage and speed, blocking ads, setting up rules to match a domain, CIDR IP address range, and/or GeoIP lookup.
Price: $2.99
As mentioned earlier, not all of these iPad apps may be right for you. You will have to tweak things according to your use case and preferences. And if you need help with that, use the comment section below. Moreover, if you have any applications that I might have missed, please share them.
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