Productivity

Best iPad Apps in 2026: Drawing, Music, Video and Notes

The iPad earns its place through apps that do not exist on any other tablet: Procreate for drawing, Shapr3D for CAD, and Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro for professional music and video.

The iPad earns its place through apps that do not exist on any other tablet: Procreate for drawing, Shapr3D for CAD, and Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro for professional music and video. As of March 2026, Procreate Dreams and the Whiteboard Explain Everything are newly included, and Linearity Curve has been added as well. The list runs across whiteboarding, writing and notes, illustration, photo editing, desktop publishing, 3D modeling and sculpting, video editing and music production. It is aimed at people who use the iPad as a working device, with Apple Pencil or keyboard in hand, rather than as a bigger phone screen, and the selection favors apps built around the iPad's strengths: touch, Pencil and a large canvas.

In this collection

01
Freeform
Apple Inc.
Free to downloadApp Store ★ 4.5
Freeform is Apple's whiteboard for collecting ideas without borders, free and universal across iPhone, iPad and Mac. It is free.
02
Bear - Markdown Notes
Shiny Frog Ltd.
Free to downloadApp Store ★ 4.7
Bear is described here as the most beautiful writing app on the iPad, with Markdown, sync and Pencil-friendly notes. It costs from about €3 per month and is an award-winning favorite.
03
Obsidian - Connected Notes
Dynalist Inc.
Free to downloadApp Store ★ 4.5
Obsidian brings connected Markdown notes to the iPad, linking ideas in a personal knowledge base. It uses a freemium model and is flagged as a rising choice.
04
LumaFusion
Luma Touch LLC
$29.99App Store ★ 4.7
LumaFusion is the iPad video editor in this list, with multitrack, non-destructive editing and professional features. It costs a one-time €29.99 and is an award winner.
05
Concepts
TopHatch, Inc.
Free to downloadApp Store ★ 4.7
Concepts is a vector-based sketchpad with an infinite canvas, aimed at flexible sketching and design work. It uses a freemium model and is an award winner.
06
GarageBand
Apple Inc.
Free to downloadApp Store ★ 4.1
GarageBand is Apple's free music studio, described here as the perfect starting point for iPad beginners. It is free.
07
Notability: AI Notes & Planner
Ginger Labs, Inc.
Free to downloadApp Store ★ 4.8
Notability is an iPad classic for handwritten notes with audio sync, pairing neatly with the Apple Pencil. It uses a freemium model.
08
Nomad Sculpt
Hexanomad
$19.99App Store ★ 4.8
Nomad Sculpt brings 3D sculpting with Apple Pencil, like ZBrush but on an iPad. It costs a one-time €22.99.
09
Linearity Curve Graphic Design
Linearity GmbH
Free to downloadApp Store ★ 4.5
Linearity Curve handles vector design and logo work on an unlimited canvas, from the German developer Linearity. It uses a freemium model.
10
Paper: Sketch, Draw & Create
Evernote Corporation
Free to downloadApp Store ★ 4.6
Paper is a minimalist digital sketchpad with a natural brush feel and a reported 25 million users. It is free.
11
Goodnotes: AI Notes, Docs, PDF
Goodnotes Limited
Free to downloadApp Store ★ 4.7
Goodnotes covers handwritten notes and PDF annotation, one of the mainstream iPad apps for Pencil users. It uses a freemium model.
12
Explain Everything Whiteboard
Promethean Ltd.
Free to downloadApp Store ★ 4.6
Explain Everything is an interactive whiteboard with screencast and collaboration aimed at teachers. It costs from about €10 per month.