It's been a big week for iPad. iPad Pro M4 and iPad Air 6 will be in the hands of users in just a few days. Now is the time to start compiling a list of all the best iPadOS apps that you can enjoy using the latest and greatest iPad hardware.
The question of how to get things done on iPad is an evergreen one. That's why we've put together a collection of the best iPad apps specifically for creative professionals, covering a variety of fields.
Want to create great things with your Apple tablet? Here are some of the best tools to get you started. Many of them will take advantage of the new iPad Pro M4, but even those that don't will run the new hardware more smoothly than ever.
Video
- FiLMiC Prois a video capture app that gives you full manual control over your footage. It supports ProRes shooting, and Apple even touted this feature when the iPhone 13 Pro debuted. As an alternative, be sure to check out Apple's new Final Cut Camera app, coming later this spring.
- LumaFusionis the gold standard of third-party video editing apps on the iPad. Our own Fernando Silva even uses LumaFusion for his video work on 9to5Mac.
- Final Cut Pro is Apple's own video editing solution for the iPad. Years in the making, the app finally debuted last spring and will soon receive a major update to version 2.
Podcasting
- Spotify for Podcastersis the new name for what was once called Anchor until Spotify acquired it. Anchor has built a strong reputation for making podcasting simple and accessible to the masses with a streamlined set of tools that make podcast recording and publishing easy.
- Ferrite Recording Studiois the app I love used to edit a now-defunct Adapt podcast on my iPad Pro. It's a versatile audio editing tool that works equally well on touch, as well as using an Apple Pencil or connected Magic Keyboard.
Photography
- Affinity Photowas the iPad equivalent of Photoshop long before Photoshop debuted on iPadOS. Affinity's powerful touch design proves that iPad apps don't have to be inferior to their Mac counterparts.
- Photomator provides convenient yet dynamic tools. for users of all skill levels and is particularly active in its use of artificial intelligence and machine learning.
- Adobe Photoshopmay not be a carbon copy of its Mac brother, but Adobe has done a significant job of bringing it to iPad some of the most important editing tools.
- Darkroom– a much more affordable option. app than tools like Photoshop, providing valuable tools for those who don't need a full editing suite. Darkroom's secret weapon is that it is designed to edit not only photos, but also videos.
Writing
- Ulysses is my favorite writing app on the iPad Pro. It features an elegant, extremely natural design, and also provides powerful tools that can scale from small jobs like writing 9to5Mac articles to creating entire books.
- Scriveneris a favorite among writers, especially among writers, thanks to the variety of tools created specifically for managing and tracking various author's notes, character details, and other world-building information.
Illustration
- Procreatehas a long history on the iPad and continues to receive noteworthy updates. It's the most popular sketching, drawing, and illustration app that truly deserves its success.
- Linea Sketch is an easier illustration tool for anyone who's intimidated by Procreate. The application does an excellent job of selecting a basic set of tools and provides a convenient interface for creativity.
Music
- BandLab is an all-in-one tool for creating music on the iPad, with tools that cover the entire process, from recording to editing and even publishing music online.
- Logic Pro is the iPad version of Apple's famous Mac tool, trusted by musicians and producers for decades. Logic's upcoming split-stem feature looks set to take full advantage of the iPad Pro's M4 chip.
Bottom Line
The above apps only scratch the surface of the powerful tools available to creative professionals on the iPad. While there's no denying that iPadOS has many limitations and limitations that don't plague the Mac, the platform can still be a fantastic place for creative work if you find the right tools for the job.
What are your thoughts? Do you have any creative apps on your iPad? Let us know in the comments.
