If you’re eager to tap into your creative side, there are plenty of iPad apps to help you get started. While the iPad began as a simple device for streaming and browsing on the go, Apple has transformed it into a powerful tool for creating digital art and editing videos.
We’ve put together a list of some of the best iPad apps for creativity available on the App Store.
Before diving into the list, it’s important to mention that while Adobe’s creative applications are popular, we won’t include them here since they’re already well-known. Instead, we’ll highlight some lesser-known gems.
Procreate
Procreate is a top choice for drawing on the iPad—and for good reason. The app lets you create digital paintings, sketches, and illustrations with a wide array of brushes. It’s user-friendly and features intuitive gesture controls along with a straightforward interface.
You can work with high-resolution canvases up to 16K by 8K on compatible iPad Pros. Procreate also supports storyboards, GIFs, animatics, and simple animations. Plus, you can easily import image files like JPG, PNG, and TIFF. The app offers tools like QuickShape, StreamLine, Drawing Assist, and ColorDrop to enhance your creative process.
Once you’re done creating, relive your artistic journey with the time-lapse “Replay” feature and share a 30-second time-lapse video on social media.
Procreate is available for a one-time payment of $12.99.
LumaFusion
LumaFusion is ideal for video editing if you want to move beyond iMovie. It boasts numerous user-friendly features, making it perfect for aspiring videographers or indie filmmakers on a budget.
With LumaFusion, you can create multi-layer edits with 4K ProRes and HDR media. You can add a variety of effects, select from many transitions, and even record voice-overs. The app lets you create multilayer titles and import fonts and graphics. Additionally, you can fine-tune your audio with tools like Graphic EQ and Voice isolation.
You can set up your projects in various aspect ratios, including 16:9 landscape, 9:16 portrait, square, widescreen film, and anamorphic.
LumaFusion requires a one-time payment of $29.99, with optional in-app purchases for features like multicam editing and exporting projects to Final Cut Pro for Mac.
Canva
Canva provides an easy-to-use platform for anyone looking to create visual content, even without graphic design skills. It supports creating presentations, infographics, videos, websites, social media posts, and more, with over 250,000 templates available.
You can edit photos, customize content with logos and images, add audio, and crop or speed up videos.
The platform also includes AI features that simplify content creation. For example, you can use “Magic Switch” to extend an image or turn concepts into visuals with “Magic Media.”
Canva is free, but a $12.99 monthly subscription unlocks unlimited access to its AI features, premium templates, and more.
Affinity Designer 2
Affinity Designer 2 combines vector design, pixel-based textures, and retouching into a single powerful platform. It’s perfect for professional illustrators, web designers, game developers, and other creatives.
The app allows you to create illustrations, branding materials, logos, icons, UI/UX designs, typography, posters, labels, flyers, stickers, concept art, and digital art. It fully supports the precision and functionality of the Apple Pencil.
With gesture controls to speed up your workflow and the option to customize keyboard shortcuts, you can even create your own custom fonts and zoom in for absolute precision (up to over 1,000,000%).
You can access the app for a one-time payment of $18.49.
Concepts
Concepts is a fantastic app to explore ideas and try out new designs. You can sketch plans, jot down notes and mind maps, or create storyboards and designs.
It features Nudge, Slice, and Select tools for modifying your sketches without needing to redraw. Use realistic pens, pencils, and brushes that respond to pressure and tilt.
Concepts also includes scale and measurement tools for real-world calculations, and you can customize the tool wheel to fit your preferences.
The basic features are free, while a $4.99 monthly subscription unlocks additional capabilities, such as creating custom brushes and premium editing tools.
Tayasui Sketches
Tayasui Sketches is a user-friendly app for sketching and drawing, with features like a realistic watercolor brush, digital acrylic brushes, and tools for color blending and adding depth.
You can multitask by opening another app and dragging layers and documents between them. A “Zen Mode” enables distraction-free creation.
You can upload images to incorporate into your artwork and organize your creations into personalized folders.
Basic features of Tayasui Sketches are free, with a $2.99 monthly subscription that unlocks unlimited layers, new brushes and markers, an extended brush editor, backup options, and more.
Dudel Draw
Dudel Draw takes a unique approach by giving you a new shape each day as a starting point for your sketches.
These daily shapes range from basic geometric forms to more complex designs. You can further explore creativity by using the app’s “flip” and “rotate” features to view the shape from different angles.
Invite friends to join in the creativity and compare your daily creations. Dudel Draw offers a fun way to sharpen your artistic skills and express yourself.
The app is available for free.
Sketchbook
Sketchbook is designed for sketching, painting, and drawing, with an emphasis on making the digital drawing experience feel like traditional paper.
The simple interface lets you tuck away palettes and tools to focus on your artwork.
You can customize brushes by adjusting size, opacity, flow, and more to match your style. Plus, there’s a “predictive stroke” feature for smoothing out lines.
The Sketchbook app is free, but you can access premium features for a one-time payment of $2.99. Premium features include importing additional brushes, adjusting canvas size post-creation, and exporting as a PDF.
This story was originally published in December 2024 and is updated regularly with new information.
