Many intuitive and useful iOS apps are available specifically for the iPad.
While most iOS apps do support the iPad, there are thousands of great apps in the Apple App Store that are meant to run on bigger screens (aka the iPad). Whether you want one for illustrating or writing essays or gaming, you have a multitude of options. There are so many it can be hard to decide which are worth trying. But we at Pocket-lint have been using the iPad (in its many sizes and models) faithfully since 2010.
That means we know which apps are amazing. To help clue you in, we’ve assembled this ultimate guide of the best iPad apps. We’ve arranged everything by category, too, so it should be easy to find the perfect app for your tablet.
If you want to know find great apps for the iPhone,we have a guide on that here.
BEST APPS CATEGORIES
• AR and VR (non-games)
• Books, audiobooks, and podcasts
• Cloud storage
• Education
• Dating and relationships
• Film and TV
• Messaging
• Health and fitness
• Photo and video
• Productivity
• Security
• Social media
• Shopping
• Travel and transportation
• Smart Home
•Graphic Design
AR and VR (non-games)
IKEA Place
IKEA Place lets you virtually see 3D, true-to-scale IKEA products in your space. It includes most of IKEA’s catalogue, like sofas and chairs, and helps you to better understand the furniture’s size, design, and functionality in your home.
Try it now:Ikea Place
Ink Hunter
AR can help you plan your next tattoo! InkHunter lets you preview what a tattoo might look like on your skin. Just draw a marker on yourself, and point your device camera on marker, and the app will show the design at every angle.
Try it now:Ink Hunter
Giphy World
This AR-powered app lets you overlay GIFs onto the real world and share your creations with friends. Imagine drawing in the air with cat GIFs.
Try it now:Giphy World
MeasureKit
Although Apple now offers a Measure app directly in iOS, there are alternatives, like MeasureKit, which has nine AR tools: Ruler, Magnetometer, Trajectory, Face Mesh, Marker Pin, Angles, Person Height, Cube, and Level.
Try it now:MeasureKit
Star Walk is a popular stargazing app. It’s an interactive guide to the night sky, following your every movement in real-time and allowing you to explore over 200,000 celestial bodies and get access to information about anything you find.
Try it now:Star Walk
Vuforia Chalk
Vuforia Chalk combines live video, audio, and the ability for a remote person to annotate their live view. Annotations accurately stick to real-world objects, even when people move around. Imagine, for instance, using this as a field technician.
Try it now:Vuforia Chalk
Cloud storage
Apple iCloud Drive
This is Apple’s own cloud storage service. Documents, media, and folders that you store in iCloud Drive stay up to date across all of your Apple devices, so you may access them from your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or PC, and on iCloud.com. You get 5GB of space for free to start.
Try it now:iCloud Drive
Dropbox lets you store files and folders to the cloud and share them, scan docs, and collaborate with others, with everything safely synced across all your devices - so you can access it anytime, anywhere. You get 2GB of space for free to start.
Try it now:Dropbox
Google Drive
Google Drive is similar to Dropbox, only you get 15GB free to start, and it directly supports Google’s entire product portfolio. You can see your Google Photos or Google Docs files, for instance, and invite others to view, edit, or leave comments.
Try it now:Google Drive
Microsoft OneDrive
Those of you who are more tied to Microsoft’s ecosystem (maybe you have a Windows 10 PC or use Office apps), should get OneDrive. It lets you access and share your documents, photos, and other files from your iOS device and computer (PC or Mac).
Try it now:Microsoft OneDrive
Dating and relationships
OKCupid is all about rich profiles, where you’re able to show off your personality and interests. You can answer thousands of questions about yourself, or just a few, and it algorithm will helps you connect with people who share your passions.
Try it now:OKCupid
Grindr is a social networking and chat app for gay, bi, trans, and queer people. It’s not as fully featured or pretty as, say, Tinder, but it’s still the No. 1 option for the LGBTQ community.
Try it now:Grindr
YNAB claims to help you “break the paycheck to paycheck cycle, get out of debt, and save more money”. Apparently, on average, new users save $600 in the first two months, and more than $6,000 in the first year. First 30 days of use are free.
Try it now:YNAB
Want to see how you spend your money? Mint is the free money management and financial tracker app that brings together your bank accounts, credit cards, bills, and investments and see what you’re spending and where you can save money.
Try it now:Mint
Robinhood lets you buy and sell stocks and exchange-traded funds without paying a commission. You can start a portfolio and invest in your favourite companies. Like Acorns, it’s meant for novice investors who want to buy and trade.
Try it now:Robinhood
Venmo is like Square Cash, but with a social layer. you’re able to add notes to your payments for others to see, and like or comment on friends’ stories.
Try it now:Venmo
Leo’s Fortune
Leo’s Fortune is an adorable platforming game with gorgeous stages and graphics, smart puzzles, a whimsical story, and a little fluff ball you can make float or sink to reach gold coins. It’s a refreshing break from side scrollers.
Try it now:Leo’s Fortune
Invisible, Inc.
Invisible, Inc. is a turn-based stealth game that generates complex levels you must navigate through to evade enemies and complete objectives. You control 10 different characters on various missions, with loads of customisation options.
Try it now:Invisible, Inc.
Minecraft: Pocket Edition
Microsoft’s hugely popular Minecraft game is available on every console and platform, including the iPad. With it, you can explore, mine, and craft away in a blocky 3D pixelated environment, letting your imagination run wild.
Try it now:Minecraft
Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery
This is an adventure game with an odd, spooky story as well as a great soundtrack. It’s pitched as a game where you traverse a mythic little realm, battle, and evoke sorcery - all while cooperating with friends via Twitter. Seriously.
Try it now:Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery
Stranger Things
Love the Netflix Original series? Us too. Now, with the game, you can travel through Hawkins and use characters' weapons to battle enemies, do quests, and solve the latest supernatural mystery in everyone’s favourite 80s town.
Try it now:Stranger Things
Mini Metro
Now you can finally fix the subway. Well, technically, Mini Metro will let you try to create your own subway system. It’s a minimalist, yet complex, game with mind-boggling, head-scratching puzzles you got to figure out.
Try it now:Mini Metro
Red’s Kingdom
Red’s Kingdom is an adventure puzzle game with a sweet story and wonderful gameplay. Mad King Mac has kidnapped your father and stolen your golden nut! You need to explore and battle your way through the kingdom.
Try it now:Red’s Kingdom
FTL: Faster Than Light
In FTL, you run a spaceship and attempt to save the galaxy, with every encounter presenting a unique challenge with multiple solutions. Each play-through will feature different enemies, events, and results to your decisions.
Try it now:FTL
Sid Meier’s Civilization VI
It’s Civ! You can have the full Sid Meier’s Civilization experience in your pocket. Download now and play your first 60 turns for free.
Try it now:Sid Meier’s Civilization VI
Darkest Dungeon: Tablet Edition
Darkest Dungeon is a challenging turn-based RPG about the psychological stresses. You must recruit, train, and lead a team through twisted forests, crypts, and beyond, all while battling stress, famine, disease, and the dark.
Try it now:Darkest Dungeon: Tablet Edition
The Room: Old Sins
Here is another challenging puzzle game with a captivating story: the sudden disappearance of an engineer and his wife provokes the hunt for a precious artifact that leads to the discovery of an old, unsettling dollhouse.
Try it now:The Room: Old Sins
With this game, you race around the globe in 80 Days or less, traveling by airship, submarine, mechanical camel, steam-train, and more.
Try it now:80 Days
Hitman GO is a turn-based strategy game where you navigate fixed spaces on a grid to avoid enemies and take out your target.
Try it now:Hitman GO
NEO Scavenger
NEO Scavenger is a game where you must survive in the wasteland. And with each passing minute, you weaken and must choose your starting abilities carefully, “because they and your wit are the only tools you have”.
Try it now:NEO Scavenger
The Witness
Ever wonder what it’d be like to wake up, alone, on a strange island? Now you can, but with puzzles that will challenge and surprise you.
Try it now:The Witness
Papers Please
The communist state of Arstotzka has just ended a six-year war with its neighbor. Your job as immigration inspector is to control the flow of people entering while also deciding who will be turned away or arrested.
Try it now:Papers Please
Alto’s Odyssey
This is a sequel app to Odyssey Adventure. You play the role of a snowboarder, flying down an endless, gorgeous landscape. While Adventure had players on a cold mountain, Odyssey throws in some pastures and desert landscapes.
Try it now:Alto’s Odyssey
Clash Royale
Clash Royale is a tower rush game in which you’re able to duel players from around the world in real-time in both 1v1 and 2v2 Battles. The objective (three minutes into the game) is to destroy opposing towers as well as the “King tower”.
Try it now:Clash Royale
This is a Battle Royale game where you squad up and compete to be the last one standing in 100-player PvP. You’re supposed to build cover, battle your opponents, and survive the longest to earn your victory.
Try it now:Fortnite
HQ Trivia a popular live game show where you’re able to win real cash prizes. Every day, you tune into the HQ live show to answer trivia questions, which range from easy to hard, and see if you can win cash.
Try it now:HQ Trivia
Hearthstone
With this card battler, you’re the hero who uses cards to “sling spells, summon minions, and seize control” of the battlefield. you may jump right in, build your deck, hone your skills, and fight for glory in the Arena and duel players.
Try it now:Hearthstone
LEGO AR Studio
LEGO AR Studio is an AR app that lets you play with virtual LEGO toys and sets in your real-world environment. You can move and position everything, learn details about your set, and try movie-making. You control the entire experience.
Try it now:LEGO AR Studio
Monument Valley
This is a sequel to 2014’s Monument Valley. It’s an indie puzzle game, where the goal is to guide Ro and her child through mazes, optical illusions, and impossible objects to complete the puzzle.
Try it now:Monument Valley
Pokemon Go
This game put mobile AR experiences on the map in 2016. It allows you to be a Trainer who can search for Pokemon in the real-world, as well as do catching, hatching, evolving, and more. You can even compete in epic gym battles.
Try it now:Pokemon Go
PUBG Mobile
This is a Fortnite-like Battle Royal game in which 100 players parachute onto a remote island. Players have to locate and scavenge their own weapons, vehicles, and supplies, and defeat every player to be the last one standing.
Try it now:PUBG Mobile
Threes is an indie puzzle game where the player slides numbered tiles on a grid to combine addends and multiples of three. The game ends when there are no moves left on the grid and the tiles are counted for a final score.
Try it now:Threes
Health and fitness
Clue on the iPhone is our No. 1 suggestion, but Glow is a nice alternative on iPad. It has a menstrual and ovulation calculator that also helps women learn about their fertility, whether avoiding or attempting pregnancy.
Try it now:Glow
C25K is another Couch to 5K program. Like the others, it mixes running and walking, gradually building up your strength and stamina.
Try it now:C25K
Fertility Friend
Fertility Friend is another fertility tracker. It has an advanced ovulation calculator, menstrual calendar, fertility chart, and period tracker. Its aim is to help you get pregnant, with personalised trying-to-conceive tips and analysis.
Try it now:Fertility Friend
Headspace is a guided meditation app. The basics course is completely free and will teach you the fundamental techniques of meditation and mindfulness. After that, with a subscription, you can access the full Headspace meditation library.
Try it now:Headspace
Lose It! is a weight loss program. You simply download the app, set your goal, and track the foods to lose weight.
Try it now:Lose it!
MyFitnessPal
MyFitnessPal, which is integrated with Under Armour’s apps and devices, helps you track food, create goals, log exercise, and get support.
Try it now:MyFitnessPal
Pocket Yoga
Pocket Yoga will guide you through an entire Yoga session. It offers different ones with varying difficulty and helps you to learn all the poses.
Try it now:Pocket Yoga
Sleep Cycle
Sleep Cycle is an intelligent alarm clock that tracks your sleep patterns and decides to when to wake you up in light sleep - the natural way.
Try it now:Sleep Cycle
Daily Yoga
Daily Yoga offers over 500 asanas, 200 guided classes of yoga, pilates, and meditation, 50 workout plans, and even coaches workshops.
Try it now:Daily Yoga
Apple Music
This is Apple’s music subscription service built into its devices. With it, you can stream practically any tune you’ve ever wanted to hear.
Try it now:Apple Music
GarageBand
Apple’s GarageBand turns your iPad and iPad into a recording studio, so you can create and mix music - or even be a DJ - while on the go.
Try it now:GarageBand
Pandora is a classic music app that’s basically a digital radio. It lets you create stations from your favorite songs, artists, or genres.
Try it now:Pandora
SoundCloud
SoundCloud is a music and audio streaming platform, with over 180 million tracks. It lets you upload audio and find new music, all in one place.
Try it now:SoundCloud
Spotify is like Apple Music, only it’s not tied to Apple devices, and there is a freemium tier that lets you listen to stations and playlists with ads.
Try it now:Spotify
This is a password manager. It remembers all your passwords for you, lets you generate passwords, and easily signs you in to sites and apps.
Try it now:1Password
Traveling to a foreign country? Or just want to browse in peace at home? With this app, you can enjoy safe and private internet access and secure your Wi-Fi connections against various cyber threats. There’s a free trial to start.
Try it now:NordVPN
Onion browser
Onion Browser is the original free and open-source Tor-powered web browser that helps you access the internet with more safety and privacy.
Try it now:Onion browser
We all know what Amazon is - and with this app, you can easily shop it from your mobile device. It even lets you access Alexa and scan products.
Try it now:Amazon
The ASOS app claims to be home to more than 850 brands and over 85,000 products (mostly clothing). It offers free delivery and return options.
Try it now:ASOS
Interested in buying or browsing handmade, vintage, and one-of-a-kind goods? Then you need to use Etsy.
Try it now:Etsy
Houzz is your one-stop shop for improving and designing your home. Browse inspirational photos, view and buy products, hire and collaborate with professionals, get advice, read articles, and more with this handy home decor app.
Try it now:Houzz
IKEA Catalogue
Want to browse IKEA’s latest product catalogue, create a mood board, and test out IKEA furniture in your space? Look no further.
Try it now:IKEA catalogue
Overstock is like Amazon, but it’s Overstock, obviously. Shop sales, try out furniture in AR, check-out with Apple Pay, and more.
Try it now:Overstock
ShopStyle enables you to buy clothing, shoes, sneakers, and entire outfits - from practically every designer you’ve ever heard about.
Try it now:ShopStyle
If home goods is your thing, Wayfair claims to house the world’s largest selection of home goods - with prices ranging from cheap to wow. It also has a new 3D View in Room feature that lets you see virtual items in your space.
Try it now:Wayfair
Love eBay? Then you’ll love the eBay app. It lets you use your camera to search for items, scan barcodes, and manage your account.
Try it now:eBay
