Whether you’re using an iPad Pro, iPad Air, or any other model, your iPad can be a powerhouse of productivity, creativity, and entertainment. The key is finding the right apps to unlock its full potential. Here are nine free apps that you absolutely must try.
1. Notability
Notability is a powerful yet wonderfully simple note-taking and PDF annotation app. It’s perfect for students, professionals, and anyone who needs to jot down ideas on the go. Whether you’re taking notes, sketching ideas, or annotating PDFs, Notability has got you covered.
One of the standout features of Notability is its audio syncing capability. You can record audio and sync it with your handwritten notes while you write. This feature is incredibly useful for students who want to record lectures or professionals who need to record meetings.
Notability also offers a variety of tools to suit your specific needs. The Moveable Toolbox is fully customizable, giving you one-tap access to your favorite tools. Every tool has its own customizable presets, including the pen, pencil, highlighter, eraser, text, lasso, photo board, microphone, navigate, zoom, laser pointer, tape, ruler, and more.
Getting started with Notability is easy. The Library houses your notes, subjects, and dividers, making it simple to access and organize your notes. You can create a new note with just a tap, and select Rule, Grid, or Dot at the bottom of a new note to change the background.
Notability is highly rated on the App Store. It has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars. Here are some user reviews:
- One user mentioned that they’ve been using Notability for the past few years and love it. They found it incredibly useful for uploading PPT and PDF decks for meetings and then taking notes on their iPad. However, they mentioned that the latest release of Notability for Mac had some issues.
- Another user, who has used this app for over 3 years, stated that they use it every day and have nearly 1000 separate articles and notes within it. They found it very useful during their doctorate and recommended it to many people.
2. Sofa: Downtime Organizer
For those of you who love organizing or work in fields that require a lot of organization, Sofa: Downtime Organizer is an app you should definitely check out. This app is designed to help you organize your downtime by creating lists of books, movies, TV shows, podcasts, music albums, and video games to enjoy later. It’s like having a customizable digital notebook in your pocket.
Using Sofa is easy and intuitive. You just type in the title of a book, movie, or video game and add it to your list. The app provides a simple, but powerful level of customization ranging from the look & feel to how the app works1. With Sofa, you can keep things organized with minimal effort.
Sofa is highly rated on the App Store, with an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars. Users have praised its beautiful design, intuitive interface, and the ability to organize various types of media. One user mentioned that they found Sofa to be a delight to use. However, as with any app, user experiences can vary, so it’s always a good idea to check the most recent reviews and updates before downloading. What are your thoughts on Sofa: Downtime Organizer? Please tell us in the comment section below. We’d love to hear from you!
3. Apple Notes
Apple Notes is a powerful note-taking app that comes pre-installed on all iOS and macOS devices. It’s designed to be the perfect place to jot down quick thoughts or save longer notes filled with checklists, images, web links, scanned documents, handwritten notes, or sketches. With iCloud integration, it’s easy to keep all your devices in sync, so you’ll always have your notes with you.
Using Apple Notes is straightforward. You can create a new note by tapping the Compose button, then start typing. The app allows you to add attachments like PDFs, photos, maps, web links, and more. You can also create checklists, apply different text styles, add tables, and even sketch right in your note. For organization, you can keep your notes in folders and subfolders, and sort them in the order you prefer. The app also supports collaboration on shared folders or specific shared notes.
As for the reviews, Apple Notes has been praised for its clean interface, valuable features for note-taking, organization, and security. However, there are potential concerns related to encryption and privacy. On the App Store, it has a high rating of 4.8 stars out of 5, based on 219.1K ratings. This makes it one of the top-rated note-taking apps available. So, if you’re part of the Apple ecosystem, Apple Notes is definitely worth trying out. Enjoy exploring its features! 😊
4. ComicTrack
For comic enthusiasts, ComicTrack is a must-try app. This application is a new and innovative way to track and organize the comic books you’ve read, are currently reading, and want to read. It’s similar to a video game tracking app, but applied to comics. ComicTrack makes managing your comic collection both easy and enjoyable.
Using ComicTrack is simple. There’s a search button at the top of the screen that searches a comprehensive comic database, making it easy to add any comic book to your collection. The app displays a grid of cover art for each title by default, which can be set to ‘Regular’ or ‘Compact’. You can also create custom reading lists and keep up with the latest issues that are released every week. Everything syncs over iCloud, making it easy to use across all your devices.
As for reviews, ComicTrack has been praised for its design, flexibility, and multi-platform features. It’s been described as an excellent app that has single-handedly gotten people back into reading comics more regularly. On the App Store, it has a rating of 3.5 stars based on 11 ratings. So, if you’re a comic book fan, ComicTrack could be the perfect app for you to explore. Enjoy diving into the world of comics! 😊
5. Reading List – Book Tracker
For those who love to read, Reading List – Book Tracker is an app that you should definitely consider. This app is a convenient tool for tracking and organizing the books you’ve read, are currently reading, and want to read. It allows you to record your progress by adding the start and finish dates of your books. You can add new books by scanning the barcode, searching online, or manually typing in the details. The app also syncs your data across all devices via iCloud, making it easy to keep track of your reading no matter where you are.
Using Reading List – Book Tracker is a breeze. You can quickly log the dates you start and finish each book with just a tap or swipe. The app allows you to order your books to help plan what to read next and create your own custom lists like “Wishlist”, “Favourites”, etc. You can record the current page of the books you’re reading, add your own rating and notes to each book, and even view your reading statistics. All data is private and stored on-device or in your iCloud account, ensuring your privacy and personal information are protected.
As for reviews, Reading List – Book Tracker has been highly praised for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features. It’s been described as an excellent app that has helped many users manage their reading more effectively. On the App Store, it boasts a high rating of 4.8 stars based on 23.7K ratings. So, if you’re an avid reader looking for a reliable and efficient way to track your reading, Reading List – Book Tracker could be the perfect app for you. Happy reading! 😊
6. Mandalier – Beautiful Moving Mandalas
For those who enjoy the mesmerizing beauty of mandalas, Mandalier – Beautiful Moving Mandalas is an app that you should definitely consider. This app is designed to provide a relaxing and meditative experience by displaying moving mandala patterns. You can customize the color, speed, duration, and background of the mandalas, then sit back and enjoy the patterns as they form and shift. It’s an excellent tool for recharging, taking a few minutes from your day to relax, meditate, or just enjoy viewing.
Using Mandalier is simple and intuitive. You can choose your preferred color, speed, duration, and background for the moving mandala. The app then generates a moving geometric kaleidoscope of mandala-like shapes that unfold at the pace and in the color of your choosing. There’s also a timer that allows you to select the minutes you wish to view the transformations. While the math underlying the images is fairly simple, the resultant patterns are not, leading to a fascinating and ever-changing display of generative art.
As for reviews, Mandalier has been praised for its beautiful moving mandalas and its ability to provide a relaxing and meditative experience. On the App Store, it has a rating of 5.0 stars based on 5 ratings. So, if you’re looking for a unique and relaxing visual experience, Mandalier – Beautiful Moving Mandalas could be the perfect app for you. Enjoy the mesmerizing beauty of moving mandalas! 😊
7. iWork
For those who are deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem, iWork is a productivity suite that you should definitely consider. This suite includes three robust apps: Pages, Numbers, and Keynote, which can be excellent substitutes for Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint respectively. With iWork, you can effortlessly create well-structured text documents, eye-catching spreadsheets, and engaging presentations. The suite features advanced word processing, dynamic and engaging slideshows, and eye-catching though analytically basic spreadsheets.
Using iWork is quite intuitive. You can start with a blank canvas or choose from a variety of templates to get started. The suite offers a unique graphic-centric approach, allowing you to add illustrations and notations using Apple Pencil on your iPad. You can also collaborate in real-time with your team, whether they’re on Mac, iPad, or iPhone, or using a PC. All data is private and stored on-device or in your iCloud account, ensuring your privacy and personal information are protected.
As for reviews, iWork has been praised for its simple, elegant interface, unique canvas-style format for worksheets, tight integration with Apple’s mobile platforms, and powerful graphics features. However, its native file formats won’t open in any other apps, which might be a downside for some users. On the App Store, it has a high rating of 4.5 stars. So, if you’re looking for a free, sophisticated, and deeply integrated productivity suite, iWork could be the perfect choice for you. Enjoy exploring its features! 😊
8. Timepage by Moleskine Studio
For those who are looking for a smart and stylish way to manage their time, Timepage by Moleskine Studio is an app that you should definitely consider. This app is a revolutionary smart calendar that combines your events, maps, contacts, and weather into one easy-to-use app. It’s designed to make planning your time and projects smooth and stress-free. With its unique Timeline view and Heatmap feature, you can easily see your week and beyond. The app also offers a variety of beautiful custom themes to choose from.
Using Timepage is quite intuitive. You can add events directly from the month view. The app allows you to see your daily schedule and timeline, day weather and week weather, event details and timeline side by side. It also syncs across your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. All your data is safely and securely stored in the cloud, and synchronized to all your devices.
As for reviews, Timepage has been praised for its stunning interface and solid functionality. It’s been described as a unique gem in the crowded market for calendar apps. On the App Store, it has a rating of 3.6 stars based on 75 ratings. So, if you’re looking for a unique and efficient way to manage your time, Timepage by Moleskine Studio could be the perfect app for you. Enjoy exploring its features! 😊
9. ZoomNotes Lite
For those who are looking for a versatile note-taking app, ZoomNotes Lite is an app that you should definitely consider. This app is a visual note-taking app for iPad/iPhone that allows users to make handwritten notes and sketches on virtual paper, PDF files, MS Word, Excel, and Powerpoint docs. It has a free fully functioning pen and more pens available as in-app purchases. Uniquely, it also lets you zoom in and out without arbitrary limits, an invaluable feature for this type of app.
Using ZoomNotes Lite is quite intuitive. You can create a new document and choose a page template. The app allows you to customize the user interface and the toolbars. You can use different pen tools, pencil, highlighter, and watercolor. You can save favorite tools and access them quickly. You can use multiple tabs and split view within the app. You can also enjoy the handwriting experience and palm rejection.
As for reviews, ZoomNotes Lite has been praised for its range of features and versatility. It’s been described as the most complete note-taking app available. However, some users find ZoomNotes Lite overwhelming due to its many features. On the App Store, it has a rating of 4.2 stars based on 181 ratings. So, if you’re looking for a comprehensive note-taking app, ZoomNotes Lite could be the perfect app for you. Enjoy exploring its features!
So, that’s all the 9 apps that you must try on your iPad. Each of these apps offers unique features and capabilities that can enhance your iPad experience. I hope these apps will be useful in boosting your productivity, creativity, and overall enjoyment of your device. If you have another app that you think people should also try, feel free to share it in the comments below. Happy exploring! 😊