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13 Best iPad Writing Apps for Students and Professionals

Best writing apps for beginners and professionals, quick answer.

Go with Apple Notes or Google Docs for simple, free note-taking. If you use an Apple pencil, check out Notability . If you want a minimal app, try Bear or iA Writer if you don’t mind paying. Apple’s Pages is perfect for a free word processor with Apple pencil support. Evernote , Microsoft Word , and One Note for team collaboration. Grammarly is great for fixing your writing for free. Ulysses and Scrivener are awesome for professional writers, but they subscription-based.

Writing apps have recently become very popular thanks to their greater availability. These apps can create and edit written content such as documents, notes, articles, etc. They have features like spell and grammar checkers, various text formatting options, and the ability to share or collaborate on documents with others. Overall, they make writing better and more efficient.

If you own an iPad and are looking for the best writing app, this list is for you. This guide has compiled 13 iPad writing apps for personal or professional use. Whether you are a beginner or a professional writer, this list should help you find the best app.

Before we turn to the list, you should consider a few points before choosing the best writing app for your iPad.

Table of Contents

Best Writing Apps for iPad

Apple Notes: Integrated Powerful Notes App From Apple

Apple Notes is a built-in notes app for iPad. It allows you to create notes and organize them easily. It has a simple interface and easy-to-organize structure which makes it the best choice for most users.

You can easily write notes on the go. Apple Notes has various formatting options, such as bold, italic, and underline, making it easy to format text differently. You can also add photos, videos, and web pages to the notes.

One of Apple Notes’ best features is that it supports handwritten notes using the Apple Pencil. You can use an Apple pencil or any supported style to write, draw, and sketch in the notes. The app also offers a variety of settings to specify different pencil styles, colors, and sizes. You can also customize the Pencil’s pressure sensitivity to suit their needs.

Apple Notes also supports sync and an Apple continuity feature that allows notes to be synced with other Apple devices, such as the iPhone and Mac. You can start a note on their iPad and pick up where you left off on their iPhone or Mac. This feature can be useful if you live in the Apple ecosystem. It also has a built-in search function to find specific notes easily based on keywords and also the ability to lock notes for privacy.

Key points:

• Price: Free.
• Key features: Syncs across all Apple devices, supports multimedia notes, and offers handwriting and drawing with the Apple Pencil.
• Format Text: You can format text with lists, styles, and even scan documents.
• Multimedia Support: Add photos, videos, and drawings to your notes.
• Handwriting Recognition: Use Apple Pencil to write notes and automatically convert them to typed text.
• Apple Pencil Support: Sketch and draw directly in your notes with Apple Pencil.
• Collaboration Features: Share and collaborate with others in real-time.
• Offline Support: Use and edit notes offline.

Download Apple Notes (Free)

Obsidian: VSCode for Writers

Obsidian is another powerful writing app for the iPad. This app is primarily based on the principles of plain text and Markdown, which makes writing and formatting notes easy and flexible. The app is also popularly known as VScode for writers.

The best thing about this app is that it stores files locally in your file system and not on the app server, which makes it more secure. There is also support for Apple’s iCloud service if you want to backup and access it on other devices.

Notes are saved in plain text format, which can be easily edited using the built-in formatting tools. The app also has a built-in search function to search the file using your Explorer. Other features of this app include a privacy screen, support for multiple Windows, quick switching between different vaults, and more.

Another nice feature of Obsidian is the ability to organize notes in a graphical structure. This can be especially handy for students or professionals who like to create Mind maps. Additionally, the app also allows users to install various plugins and integrations to customize the app to their specific needs.

The only downside to this app for me is that it doesn’t support the Apple Pencil or any stylus pens . You cannot take handwritten notes with this app. Or else this would have been my top pick for an iPad note-taking app.

• Price: It’s free, but you can opt for paid upgrades for more features.
• Key features: Offers advanced markdown editing capabilities, link suggestions, graph view for visualizing notes connections, and custom plugins for enhanced functionality.
• Format Text: Comprehensive text format options.
• Multimedia Support: You can embed links, images, and other media directly into your notes.
• Handwriting Recognition: Not supported.
• Apple Pencil Support: Doesn’t support Apple Pencil or any stylus input.
• Collaboration Features: Offers real-time collaboration in the paid version.
• Offline Support: Works completely offline, storing all files locally.

Download Obsidian (Free)

Bear: Best Design and Usability

It offers a variety of text formatting options, including headings, lists, and quotes. It also supports multi-media, You can add images and links to documents. Comes with Advanced Markup Editor, highlighting over 150 programming languages. You can add hashtags to any note to quickly organize your notes.

In addition, the app supports encryption of individual notes, and you can lock notes with the Face/Touch ID. The lock feature is only available in the Pro version. Other notable features of the Bear app include support for multiple themes and export options, including HTML, PDF, Docx, JPG, and more.

• Price: Free, Costs $1.49 per month for premium.
• Key features: Markup options, focus mode, cross-device syncing via iCloud.
• Format Text: It offers comprehensive text formatting and supports Markdown.
• Multimedia Support: You can insert photos and add hyperlinks to your notes.
• Handwriting Recognition: Not available.
• Apple Pencil Support: It supports sketching with the Apple Pencil.
• Collaboration Features: Not available.
• Offline Support: Works fully offline.

Download Bear (Freemium)

Notability: Best for Handwritten Notes Using the Apple Pencil

If you often take handwritten notes , Notability is your best choice. The app offers a variety of tools and features that make it easy to write and format notes in various file formats, including PDF, Word, and more.

The app supports various text formatting options, such as bold, italic, and underlined, and allows you to insert images, videos, and audio recordings into your notes. The app also supports a variety of text formatting options for Apple Pencil. You can draw, type, write, and sketch with different styles and format options in the same notes.

In addition to creating notes, you can also import external documents and images and annotate and edit them within the app. I use this feature to import books (PDFs) and annotate with Apple Pencil. It is very handy thanks to its clean interface and support for Apple pencil.  However, the free version only allows you to create limited notes. You can delete old ones and use that space for new notes.

• Price: Freemium, Available for a one-time purchase of $8.99.
• Key features: Combines typing, handwriting, audio recording, and photos within a single note.
• Format Text: Provides rich text editing and organizational features.
• Multimedia Support: Enables embedding of audio recordings, photos, and sketches.
• Handwriting Recognition: Offers advanced recognition and conversion features.
• Apple Pencil Support: Fully supports Apple Pencil, including pressure sensitivity, for natural writing and drawing.
• Collaboration Features: Supports real-time document collaboration.
• Offline Support: Fully functional offline, allowing access and use without an internet connection.

Download Notability (Freemium)

Microsoft Word: Powerful Word Editor

It comes with powerful text formatting tools, users can choose from different fonts, sizes, and colors and adjust line and paragraph spacing. Moreover, you can also insert tables, images, videos, and other media into their documents, making it easy to add visual elements to their texts. It also integrates with another suite of Microsoft applications making it easy to create and share notes if you use Windows.

Microsoft Word also supports cloud-based storage. In real-time, the app backs up your data as you write. It also helps you to collaborate and edit documents from anywhere. The app also supports various file formats, including .doc, .docx, and .pdf, making it easy to share and edit documents with others.

• Price: Freemium
• Key features: Comprehensive text formatting options, integration with other Microsoft Office tools, real-time collaboration, and advanced document review tools
• Format Text: Offers rich text editing and organizational features.
• Multimedia Support: Allows you to embed audio recordings, photos, and sketches.
• Handwriting Recognition: Provides advanced recognition and conversion capabilities.
• Apple Pencil Support: Fully supports Apple Pencil, including pressure sensitivity for a natural writing and drawing experience.
• Collaboration Features: Enables real-time collaboration on documents.
• Offline Support: Yes.

Download Microsoft Word (Freemium)

Google Docs: Powerful With a User-Friendly Interface and Easy Access

If you think Microsoft Word is too complex, try Google Docs . Compared to Microsoft Word, Google Docs is easily accessible and offers a user-friendly interface.

The best thing about Google Docs is that it’s easily accessible online. You can instantly open your favorite browser, visit Google Docs, and start writing. Once you create a document on the iPad, you can access it from any device including the well-built web interface.

Related Read: 13 Best iPad Drawing Apps

Another great feature of the Google Docs app for iPad is real-time collaboration with other users. You can easily share your document with others and work on it together in real time. This is especially useful for group projects or team collaboration. Also, the app saves your documents directly to Google Drive.

• Key features: Real-time collaboration, access from any device, and integration with Google Drive.
• Format Text: Offers extensive tools for formatting and editing.
• Multimedia Support : Embed images and tables in documents.
• Apple Pencil Support: Not supported.
• Collaboration Features: Supports real-time collaboration with a detailed revision history.
• Offline Support: Available offline when set up in Chrome or through the app.

Download Google Docs (Free)

Evernote: Powerful Note Organizer With Support for Multiple Content Formats

If you have been looking for the best writing apps for your iPad, you may have already heard of Evernote . Evernote is not only one of the best and most powerful writing apps but also a powerful organizer for notes.

You can easily create notes in different formats. The most popular formats on Evernote include plain text, lists, images, videos, and audio. The app also comes with powerful text formatting tools to format the text the way you want. You can also insert multi-media content, it comes with support for templates and more.

Another great feature of Evernote is the ability to sync between different devices in real time. This can be especially useful if you use Evernote on multiple devices. However, the app’s decision to limit the number of notes and notebooks that free users can have sparked controversy. With the new restrictions that took effect on December 4, 2023, free users are now limited to just one notebook and 50 notes.

• Price: Offers a free version; premium plans begin at $7.99 per month.
• Key features: Powerful tagging and search functionalities, multimedia support.
• Format Text: Offers advanced text formatting options.
• Multimedia Support: Attach files, photos, and audio to your notes.
• Handwriting Recognition: Can search through handwritten notes.
• Apple Pencil Support: Supports basic drawing and handwriting.
• Collaboration Features: Share and collaborate.
• Offline Support: Available with premium plans only.

Download Evernote (Freemium)

Apple Pages: Best Apple Alternative to Microsoft Word and Google Docs

If you are looking for a free powerful word processor that is an alternative to Apple’s Microsoft Word and Google Docs and integrates easily with other Apple devices. Apple Pages is the best option for you.

Apple Pages offers powerful text formatting options. One of the most important features of Pages is the wide selection of templates. They are fully customizable and include built-in text styles and formatting options. Moreover, Pages also supports importing Microsoft Word documents, so you can easily transfer your Word documents to Apple pages.

You can create notes, and documents with rich formatting options. Pages also support multiple media. The outstanding feature of Apple Pages is support for Apple Pencil. You can use an Apple pencil to draw, and write on the pages.

It also supports real-time collaboration. Multiple users work on the same document simultaneously, making the app perfect for group projects and real-time collaboration.

• Key features: Rich text formatting tools, templates, and integration with other Apple apps.
• Format Text: Provides advanced formatting and layout options.
• Multimedia Support: Integrates with other Apple apps for rich media embedding.
• Apple Pencil Support : You can draw and comment using Apple Pencil.
• Collaboration Features: Collaborate through iCloud.
• Offline Support: Works completely offline.

Download Apple Pages (Free)

Grammarly: For Productive and Error-Free Writing

If you want a writing app to correct your grammar mistakes, Grammarly is the best choice. The app uses advanced algorithms and natural language processing technologies to check grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors, making it easy for users to spot and correct text mistakes.

As you type, the app scans their text and highlights any errors in real-time. The formatting tools are not as powerful as those of other word processors. Also, you can add multimedia to the notes which is something you should keep note.

• Price: Freemium, Plans start at $12 per month.
• Key features: Advanced grammar and style checking, vocabulary enhancements, plagiarism detector.
• Format Text: Basic
• Multimedia Support : You can add images, and import documents to edit.
• Offline Support: Functions within other apps that offer offline capabilities.

Download Grammarly (Freemium)

Ulysses: Best for Authors Who Publish Their Work Online

The next choice on our list is Ulysses . It is the best choice if you are a professional writer and frequently publish content online. The app offers powerful editing tools and markup features. It also includes a built-in dictionary, thesaurus, and word search features to help you write better content.

Ulysses also supports exporting your texts in various formats, including Markdown, PDF, and HTML. Besides, you can publish your texts directly to WordPress, Medium, and other platforms. There is no free version of the app. The app costs $39.99/year or $5.99/month. A student discount of up to 6 months is available for $10.If Ulysses is too expensive, you can choose Byword, which offers a similarly powerful editing feature but is less expensive.

• Price: Premium, costs $39.99 annually or $4.99 monthly.
• Key features: Markdown support, seamless sync across all Apple devices, and publishing tools for bloggers.
• Format Text: Provides a streamlined text editor with markup support.
• Multimedia Support: Focuses primarily on text, with minimal multimedia capabilities.
• Handwriting Recognition : Not supported.
• Offline Support: Offers complete offline access for writing and editing.

Download Ulysses ($39.99 per year)

Download Byword ($5.99)

Microsoft OneNote: Powerful Note Organizer

Microsoft OneNote is another powerful note-taking app for iPad. You can create, save, and share notes across devices. Microsft One Note is a dedicated Notes app while Microsoft Word is a word processor that is part of Microsoft Office suite.

The best thing about Microsoft apps is that they offer powerful text editing options. Like Microsoft Word, Microsoft OneNote has powerful text editing tools, including creating tables, changing text size and font, adding multimedia, and more. Additionally, One Note comes with drawing and sketching tools that help you to draw and take written notes.

Microsoft OneNote is also great for teamwork. It comes with built-in sharing and collaboration features to easily share your written notes with your teammates and ask them to make changes in real time. You can also add comments to the work you have shared.

The built-in templates to create new notes are also handy. For example, you can use a task list template to keep track of all your tasks without creating them from scratch. One Note is free and seamlessly syncs and integrates with other Microsoft applications.

• Key features: Excellent for multimedia notes, collaborative features, and extensive organizational tools.
• Format Text: Support for comprehensive text formatting options.
• Multimedia Support: Add images, audio, and videos to your notes.
• Handwriting Recognition: Compatible with touch and stylus including Apple pencil.
• Apple Pencil Support: Yes
• Collaboration Features: Allows multiple users to work on the same notebook at the same time.
• Offline Support: Access and edit notes without an internet connection.

Download Microsoft OneNote (Freemium)

iA Writer: Minimalist App for Writing That Reduces Distractions

The next choice on our list of best writing apps for iPad is iA Writer . If you want a minimal writing app that focuses primarily on writing, iA Writer is your best option.

It has a minimalist design and special features for a streamlined distraction-free writing experience. It has a full-screen mode that hides all other apps, allowing users to focus on writing without interruption.

You can choose from various fonts, sizes, and colors and adjust line and paragraph spacing and more. The app primarily focuses on text. If you struggle with taking notes from apps, this app can help.  iA Writer is available for macOS, Windows, Apple, and Android devices for a one-time fee of $29.99. It also has a 14-day free trial that allows you to test the features before upgrading. You can try the free trial and check if the app can be useful.

• Price: Costs $29.99 as a one-time purchase.
• Key features: Simple, clean interface with focus mode, syntax highlighting, and Markdown support.
• Format Text: Offers comprehensive text formatting options.
• Multimedia Support: Limited to mainly text.
• Collaboration Features: Not supported.
• Offline Support: Yes

Download iA Writer ($49.99)

Scrivener: For Professional Writers

The final pick on our list is Scrivener . If you read or write a lot of research documents and letters, this is the app for you. The app is designed to help professional writers organize their research and write high-quality documents.

Thanks to the strong organizational structure in the app, you can divide your work into smaller amounts. You can also easily save your work in folders and create subfolders. This is especially useful when writing large books or documents, where you need to keep track of everything you have written.

You can also store and organize all your research content, such as PDFs, images, and web pages, in one place. This way, you can easily refer to your research as you write. The app costs $49. Only consider if you are someone who writes research papers and wants a tool that makes your job easy.

• Price: Costs $49 for a one-time purchase.
• Format Text: Provides comprehensive text formatting tools perfect for complex writing projects.
• Multimedia Support: Allows integration of images, PDFs, and multimedia files directly into projects.
• Apple Pencil Support: Does not support Apple Pencil or other stylus inputs.
• Collaboration Features: Designed mainly for single-user use, but you can export files to share.
• Offline Support: Operates fully offline, enabling uninterrupted work without internet access.

Download Scrivener ($23.99)

How to Choose the Best Writing App for iPad

• Features: Consider what features are important to you. Do you need a spell checker, a grammar checker, formatting options, or the ability to collaborate with others?
• Platform compatibility: If you need to share or collaborate on documents with others, ensure the app you choose is compatible with the platforms you use.
• Ease of use: Look for an app that is easy to navigate and understand.
• Price: Some writing apps are free, while others require a subscription or one-time purchase. Consider your budget before choosing the app.
• Cloud sync: some writing apps offer cloud syncing, allowing you to pick up where you left off, even if you switch devices.
• Apple Pencil Support: Make sure the app supports the Apple Pencil for handwritten notes.

Choose the Best iPad Writing App for Your Use Case

So, that’s the list of the best writing apps for iPad. We have included various apps for both beginners and professional writers that offer different note-taking features. In the comments below, let us know which app you will use.

FAQs about Best iPad Writing Apps

What is the best ipad writing app for writing a book.

Scrivener is the best iPad app for writing a book if you can afford it. Evernote is also a good choice for writing books if you are looking for a free version, but it's not as powerful as Scrivener. Scrivener is specifically designed for long-form writing and offers a wide-range of tools to help you manage your book writing project from start to finish.

What are the must-have apps for writers?

Most writers use a variety of apps for writing. Scrivener, MS Word, Google Docs, and iA Writer are the most common - but there are many other great apps that bestselling authors use for their writing process. Ulysses, Apple Pages, and Notability are the other good options for writers.

What is the best app for writing on iPad?

The best apps for writing depending on the features you need as a writer. Here's a list of the most common things you should consider before choosing the best writing app for your iPad. These include features of the app, platform compatibility, ease of use, price, cloud syncing, Apple Pencil support, and more. Personally, I use Apple Notes and Notability to do most of my writing.

What is the best app novel writing app on iPad?

Living Writer is the best app for writing novels on the iPad. The app is specifically designed for writing substantial fiction books. With its easy-to-use interface, you can easily organize and plan your stories. The app is available for Windows, Apple's Mac, Android, iPad, and even iPhone. It is available for free and also includes in-app purchases.

Is GoodNotes or Notability better?

While GoodNotes has been around for a while and has its sets of fans, Notability can add more items to your notes than GoodNotes. In addition to images, stickers, and importing documents, you can also add audio recordings, sticky notes, and GIFs on Notability, which isn't yet possible on GoodNotes. So, if you ask us, we would choose Notability over GoodNotes.

Does iPad have a text editor?

iPads don't come with a built-in text editor as such, but one can download TextEdit+ for free. It's a sleek and fast text editor for iPad and iPhone. It's compatible with desktop text editors like WordPad and TextEdit. It supports TXT, RTF, MarkDown, etc.

How I use the iPad as a serious writing system

The iPad has revolutionized the way I approach my writing and I am regularly asked how I use it. I originally wrote about the iPad as a solid system for writing a year and a half ago and the tablet is still serving me well. I have used a number of tablets for writing work since then and while most of them work just fine I always come back to the iPad for a number of reasons.

Why it works so well

It's hard to believe but I hear regularly from folks who refuse to believe that the iPad can be use productively for my work.  The fact is the iPad with a physical keyboard is a no-compromise tool for my writing. It works well for a number of reasons:

• Long battery life- I never think about battery life on the iPad, unlike most other PCs/tablets.
• Retina display- the screen on the iPad makes it possible to work for hours without eyestrain.
• LTE- having integrated LTE frees me from the wi-fi hotspot, which is liberating.
• Small package- I can carry the iPad in the keyboard case in the smallest bag possible, making it easy to move around.
• Taller display- the iPad's screen is taller than other tablets with a wider screen.
• Focus- having multiple apps on the screen at once can be nice, but for writing the one app on the screen eliminates distraction. I hit the Do Not Disturb toggle on the iPad to turn off notifications when I'm writing.
• Speed to production- I can take the iPad out of the bag and be where I left off in the last session in just a few seconds.
• Security- all of my work is in the cloud so I lose nothing if the iPad is stolen. I can deactivate it remotely if that ever happened.

I currently use an iPad 4 with 64GB of memory (which frankly is overkill) and most importantly integrated LTE. The LTE capability is a godsend, freeing me from needing to find a wi-fi hotspot. I can literally work anywhere without compromise, a powerful feature.

I pair the iPad with a keyboard case to facilitate text entry. I could forego the physical keyboard if I wanted to, I know some who do that regularly. My writing projects can be 1,000-2,000 words so a real keyboard makes my work much easier.

See related: Definitive guide to keyboards for iPad and iPad mini

I've tried most popular keyboard cases for the iPad (see related link above) and I've settled on the ZAGG Profolio+ . The case protects the iPad from the bumps of the road, and has a fantastic keyboard that supports fast touch typing. The backlit keys are a nice touch.

The software tools

The writing in my projects is just a small part of the entire process. A lot of research goes into the work and that takes place online. A web browser is where most of the research takes place and I largely use Chrome for that work. The Safari browser native to the iPad works just fine and while many use it I prefer Chrome. I use Chrome on every platform and device so it's nice to have my environment and bookmarks always at hand on the iPad.

I use RSS feeds to follow hundreds of web sites for my research, and until recently I did that with Google Reader. Now that Google has shut that down I use Newsblur for RSS feed work. It works very much like Google Reader and the iPad app is pretty solid. I use it to peruse several thousand items daily. It keeps me abreast of all the tech news I need to follow.

My main writing app on the iPad is Evernote, the note app supreme. There's a version of Evernote for every platform so my collection of notes is always at hand. The editor in Evernote is good for my needs as I don't do any formatting, I just write. When the article is finished I copy and paste it (as plain text) into the ZDNet CMS in the Chrome browser. I can add images and hyperlinks in the CMS for final formatting before publishing.

I often receive Microsoft Office documents (Word and Excel mostly) from PR firms with information about new products. Not having Office on the iPad is not an issue as I use Office2 HD to access them. It does a good job rendering these Office documents and since I am using them for reference I don't need to worry about revising and formatting them.

I use the Google Drive app on the iPad when I need to access my Google Docs in the cloud. This gives me instant access to anything in the cloud and is a useful repository to have my stuff available when I leave the iPad behind and bring some other device with me.

Not the only solution

While I am writing this I can anticipate the reaction to this article, pointing out there are other devices and platforms that can do this work. I agree fully with that observation, in fact I sometimes bring other tablets/laptops/hybrids with me for my remote work. My new MacBook Air is coming along for my work outings quite a bit due to its light weight and 9+ hour battery life.

It's a fact there are other solutions that are cheaper, faster, and more capable than my iPad with keyboard. There are other laptops and tablets that some will find a better fit than the iPad. I agree that others will find the iPad lacking in some areas and won't meet their needs. That's OK, we're all different and should use what works best for each of us.

The iPad is a constant road companion for me for all of the reasons stated in this article. It's a solid system for a writer that has no compromises yet is full-featured enough to write thousands of words a day. I like using it and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. The key for each user is to use what works well for them.

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Best iPad apps for writers in 2022

There are still people who think that iPads are only good for consuming content like watching films, reading books and playing games. Clearly, none of these people have tried to write on a Kindle.

For writers, the iPad does offer every bit of this content consumption, and it offers it extremely well. But every iPad, iPad mini , iPad Air , and iPad Pro is also a writing studio that is about as light and convenient as you could imagine, and at least as powerful as you could hope.

You really should buy some kind of external keyboard, or keyboard case, if you're going to be doing serious writing on any iPad. Typing thousands of words onto the glass is not ideal, and the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro and now also iPad Air isn't essential.

But you want one of those options and you don't want the other.

Beyond that, you are able to do just about every type of prose writing you need to on an iPad, straight out of the box. Without any other apps than Apple provides, you have a full word processing solution in Pages, for instance.

There are things Pages is poor at, though, such as scripts and screenplays. They can be written in Pages in theory, but in practice, it's no better at them than Word is.

So there are specific needs to use alternative apps, and there are plenty of alternative apps to satisfy requirements like that. Plus there are apps that do the same thing yet one just works better for you than others.

It's like the ancient old days when you might have a preference for which type of pencil you use. You know they all get the job done, yet just one is right for you.

That does mean that any roundup of the best writing apps for iPad is unquestionably subjective. And any unquestionably subjective roundup is bound to leave out your favorites.

Don't take that as a failing, do take it as your opportunity to enthuse in the AppleInsider forums. And also this: the reason people get very passionate about writing apps for the iPad is that they are worth it.

Apple will never say that it only makes iPads for writers, but they're so good for all writers and authors that you have to wonder.

Main word processors for iPad

We used to write everything in one word processor, whether it was a novel or a shopping list. We did so partly because they were built to handle everything, but mostly because they were so expensive that you only ever bought one.

That's changed because of the iPad and the App Store, but while there is a booming market in more specialized writing tools, there are still a couple of heavyweights that would could make a case for being your sole text editor.

Microsoft Word

Microsoft made a mistake choosing to keep Word off the iPad for years. Once users were required to find alternatives, they did, and they also found that they liked them.

Then once a user has moved to an alternative on the iPad, they very easily moved to the same alternative on the Mac. And what they routinely found was that this alternative, whichever it was, didn't crash as often as Word, it didn't drive them spare twice a day.

So Microsoft Word went from being a synonym for word processor and into just one more of your choices.

It has not come close to reclaiming the total dominance it once had. But when it did come to the iPad, it came in a completely new and rewritten form — which was better than we'd had on the Mac.

That wasn't to say it was as powerful, but starting from scratch meant adding in only features that users need. The bloated Word for Mac was regenerated into the slim Word for iPad, and there is a huge amount to like about it.

Microsoft Word is a free download from the App Store, but then requires one of many alternative subscriptions starting from $6.99 per month.

Apple Pages

Pages — free on iPads, Macs and iPhones — does not get as much love as it should. Where Microsoft likes you to see how powerful it is by displaying every tool and option it can, Apple wants you to be able to just get on with your writing.

Consequently, Pages hides away its powerful features until you need them. And unfortunately, that can have the effect of making it look as if Pages does not have these features.

Pages looks simple but it's not just a note-taking app. It is not as powerful as Word, but for the giant majority of writing tasks, Pages is Word's equal — and can subjectively feel better to you.

Only, Word and Pages both date back to the days when everything we wrote was then printed out on paper to be sent to publishers. Today you might be struggling to remember where your printer is.

Word and Pages continue to be used for writing that is going online, or certainly being sent digitally to book publisher systems like Affinity Publisher and Adobe InDesign . But they are not ideal for it.

Worse than not being ideal, if you copy text from either of them — most especially Word — and then paste it into an online content management system, you can get problems. Peculiar formatting, odd characters, even unexpected spacing issues can all arise because these two produce heavily formatted text.

Between a word processor and a text editor

You can't really have both a full word processor without issues like this, but you can have tools that do tiny, specific writing tasks. And you can have some in the middle, neither full word processors nor bare text editors, yet somehow better than both.

The iPad and Mac app iA Writer is a calming, relaxing kind of writing tool which lacks the powerful features of Word and Pages, such as longform book options, but will make you not care.

For iA Writer knows that writing has to be written, that it has to be put down on screen from out of the writer's head. Until then, there's nothing to format, nothing to create footnote citations about.

So this app concentrates on pushing aside features, interruptions, and really even any non-essential options. It's for making you concentrate on your writing.

For the iPad version, iA Writer costs $30 on the App Store.

Now Drafts 5 practically bills itself as a text editor, which is a way of saying you can basically type into it but mustn't expect anything fancy. Except Drafts 5 is replete with fancy tools and options.

Its chief aim is to get you writing immediately. Start the app, start typing. No pause, no waiting for a moment, no tapping on a New or a Plus sign.

There's also no obvious formatting, no obvious controls, it's just a blank page for you to get your words down. There is formatting, though, you can use Markdown controls to set headings and bold, italic and so on.

And what's great about Drafts, beyond just the practical feel of it all, is that once you do have your words written, there is an enormous amount you can do. Take that text and email it directly to your publisher, send it to your Kindle, send it out as a text message, or publish as a blog.

Drafts 5, which is also on the Mac and iPhone, has a library of Actions that let you create whole workflows for your work.

Drafts 5 is free to download from the App Store, and then costs $20 per year.

Specialized prose writing apps for iPad

Somewhere between the word processors of this world and the better text editors, there are apps that you might call writing studios, or writing environments. They are apps that work to help you with the business of writing as well as the job of typing text.

Scrivener, for instance, knows that when you're writing a novel, you are in it for the long haul. It knows you may need research, and it definitely knows that once you're up around 80,000 words or more, you need help keeping track of everything.

So Scrivener will let you write sixty chapters one after another if that's what you like, but it will also then slice that text up. If you have a character who only appears in chapters 4, 7, 11, and 33, then you can have Scrivener show you solely those chapters.

Look at the entire manuscript to get the whole picture, or concentrate on a specific segment. Scrivener bounces between both of these as you want, and it also offers a slew of extra writing, or rather writer, tools.

Such as how it handles research. You can drag images, URLs, whole web pages, and even entire other documents into the research section of your book.

Then whenever you open your iPad to write, everything you need is there. And when you're ready to send the manuscript to a publisher, they get everything — except the research.

Scrivener for iPad costs $20 on the App Store.

Ulysses is a curious writing environment for writers, one that is either completely compelling or just does not feel right to you at all. Rather than having documents per se, Ulysses offers you one single app with one single file — within which you can create countless pieces of writing.

Those are called Sheets in Ulysses and, like Scrivener, you can write them all in one go or you can slice them up.

It's a Markdown editor which means it feels bare, like Drafts can, and it doesn't have the same full-feature sense that Scrivener does. But wherever you go, whenever you open your iPad, you don't just have your latest writing, you have all of your writing.

All of it. Every bit since you started using Ulysses, anyway, and that grows into a very compellingly handy library of all your work.

Ulysses is free to download, then costs around $40 per year. It's also available as part of Setapp .

Specialized writing tools for scripts

As yet, there's no breakout hit app for writing haiku poetry. But there are a lot of apps for writing scripts and screen plays.

Scrivener is one of them. As well as prose, you can switch to a scriptwriting mode in Scrivener and it is a good writing tool for screenplays.

Screenplays have very specific formats and margins, developed over the last century and every bit is the way it is for a reason. It could be a reason that helps location scouts later on, rather than being any use to the writer now, but each reason is real and each formatting requirement is needed.

And they are just fiddly enough that it's only right an iPad should do as much of that work for you as possible. Let you concentrate on what's happening in the script, while your writing app looks after making it readable on the screen.

Final Draft 12

The most famous and the longest-running screenwriting app is Final Draft, now in version 12. It is very, very good on the Mac and PC.

Don't ask any Final Draft user if there's anything they dislike about it, you haven't got time, but still it's very, very good.

Whereas the iPad app is just good, approaching pretty good. It's had some bugs over the years and the company's support hasn't always been marvellous, but there are writers who solely use the iPad version and don't even have a Mac.

If they did have a Mac, they'd find out that the computer version of Final Draft is expensive. For Mac, it's officially $250 , though it tends to go on sale a great deal, and once you have one the company is good at selling you upgrades that are expensive, but seem cheap next to buying the full thing.

On the iPad, though, it costs $9.99 on the App Store. It's some writers' sole professional tool and it costs less than a book.

Alternatively, there is also Celtx, which used to be practically a clone of Final Draft and has the advantage that it's free on the App Store.

As yet, there isn't an iPad version of what might be Final Draft's best competitor on the Mac, Highland 2 . It's modern, slick, and it's built by professional, working screenwriters with long success in the industry.

They say that an iPad version is in the works, but no release date has been announced yet.

Utilities for writers

You could spend all your writing time just checking out utility apps for writers, like dictionaries and outliners and programs that make up your plot for you.

However, save yourself some trouble. Skip those ones where they say you just put in a name and choose a genre like comedy or western, and they'll outline your story for you.

But speaking of outlines... You may not be the kind of writer who plans anything out, you could be a pantser — one who writes by the seat of their pants.

Whether you like outlines or not, you can be required to write them for certain publishers or producers. When that's the last requirement before they start paying you, suddenly you can get to be very fond of outliners.

Try OmniOutliner 3 for iPad when you have any thing like a book structure to create, or an event to program. It's free to download and try, then costs from $19 .

There is an outliner in Word, but it's built for academics and is like working in treacle. There was an outliner in Pages, but Apple removed it.

Actually, you can jury-rig an outline in Pages using heading styles, but moving around it, changing text, grouping ideas together, it's as bad as Word.

Scrivener also has its own outliner and that's pretty powerful. But the separate, standalone OmniOutliner is the kind of writing tool that turns you from a user into a fan.

The best writing apps for iPad

This has been about the best writing apps for iPad, but it's really about the best writing apps for writers and those are on the iPad. We are now most definitely spoiled for choice for straight writing tools, and it is a fantastic thing.

And we have even more choice when it comes to writing being part of a larger project, a larger business. Then there are apps like Notion and Craft which are good for handling lots of information, or DEVONthink which is like a bionic research and writing too.

There may never be an end to the best writing apps for iPad, and there certainly won't be an end to the debate over just what constitutes the best.

But what doesn't change is that each of these runs on every iPad from the regular one, through the iPad mini, and on up to the 12.9-inch iPad Pro . We can have superb writing apps, and we can have them anywhere we go.

After you write your novel, you may want to try to publish it. We'll be talking about that very soon.

You're doing screenwriters a disservice in not mentioning WriterDuet - platform agnostic, device agnostic.  It just works.

I’ve written six novels in Scrivener, but the iPad version, sadly, is so “fat” that you can barely see a single page in it. The great thing about the macOS version is that you can see your writing and a bunch of panes at the same time (outline, metadata, notes, references, split views horizontally or vertically, etc.), to taste. The iPad version can squeeze in a few views (at the expense of content), but it’s all aimed at finger navigation and feels shoehorned in. I bought it, but it’s claustrophobic to look at.  Unrelated: another outlining app that’s been getting a lot of attention in the last week or so is Bike: https://www.hogbaysoftware.com/bike/

A shame the mere existence of a writing app isn’t enough motivation for some to just write, but these are good apps. Right, well… write well!

Thank you for the thoughtful write up.  I am writing a book that has a unique, smaller page size that “standard”. I also want to include drawings, pages with quotes, pages with pictures.  A combination of visual drawing and written word.   My desire is to find a software program that allows me to create a template for each page, so I know what will fit on each page. Then I am able to format the written word, and also format my drawing and images on pages.   Then I’d also like to be able to move pages around, so that I am sure which pages are facing each other. For example, if I want to do a drawing that is on 2 pages, I want to be sure that they are facing each other (not back to back/requiring a page turn).   I’d love suggestions or ideas about software for the iPad that you’d suggest for this project.  With a deep bow of gratitude. 

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14 Best Writing Apps for iPad

If you need help with your writing needs, then you should find the best writing apps for iPad.

The App Store is filled with numerous apps that can help you create and edit your documents. However, choosing the best writing apps for the iPad can prove to be a real challenge. And your time is invariably better spent writing rather than procrastinating about what app to buy or try.

At A Glance: Our Top 3 Picks For Writing Apps For iPad

• Best Grammar Checker: Grammarly
• Best for Storytellers: LivingWriter
• Best For Long-Form Writing: Scrivener

That’s why we have come up with the best writing apps available for iOS and iPad. Remember, Apple Notes is a great free choice, and it syncs nicely across all Apple devices. But, what if you want more? Try these apps to help you when working on your next book , blog post or article with an iPad.

1. LivingWriter

2. scrivener, 3. grammarly, 4. apple notes, 6. notebook, 7. ia writer, 8. simplenote, 9. notability, 10. evernote, 11. goodnotes, 12. onenote, 13. ulysses, tip: get an ipad keyboard, why you can trust us, testing criteria, is writing on an apple ipad hard, which ipad is best for writers, can you use an ipad to write a book, are ipads good for writing, writing apps resources.

Pricing: From free trial for 14 days to $96 billed once a year / $9.99 per month

LivingWriter  is a newer writing app for writing stories or a book via your iPad and online. Rather than using a word processor, It helps writers arrange plots and stories using boards and templates. This tool includes a series of outline templates for popular story structures like the Hero’s Journey.

It’s ideal for writing short stories and novels. Story writers can take out a 14-day free trial without a credit card.

Check out my  interview with LivingWriter’s founders .

Living Writer contains time-saving templates for authors and novelists. iOS and Android apps available

Pricing: From $49 per month | Requires macOS 10.12+

Scrivener is my preferred writing app of choice for longer articles like a book thanks to its many export options and advanced self-editing tools. Think of it as a powerful word-processor rather than as simply another minimalist writing app.

You can even use Scrivener for blogging .

It works quite well with an iPad Pro and is great for organising complicated writing projects. However, it’s more expensive than some of the other writing apps for iPad listed in this article.

You can sync a manuscript to Dropbox and work on it when back at your Apple Mac. It offers a comparable writing experience to Ulysses. Unfortunately, Scrivener doesn’t support Markdown which may put off some bloggers.

Read our Scrivener review

Scrivener is our go-to app for long-form writing projects. It's popular with best-selling novelists, screenwriters, non-fiction writers, students, academics, lawyers, journalists, translators and more. 

Pricing: From free trial available, then $29.99 per month

Writing on the go with your iPad? Grammarly can help you find and fix common writing mistakes with a clever AI-powered assistant. It also includes a handy plagiarism checker.

Grammarly offers apps for iOS. You can also use its virtual keyboard with your iPad or log directly into the web app It includes a free trial before taking out a $29.99 monthly subscription.

Monthly and annual discounts are available.

We tested dozens of grammar checkers, and Grammarly is the best tool on the market today. It'll help you write and edit your work much faster. Grammarly provides a powerful AI writing assistant and plagiarism checker.

Pricing: Free

When in doubt or on a tight budget, use Apple Notes. It’s free and built into your iOS devices. It also syncs instantly across an iPad, iPhone and Mac. You can organize your early story drafts using folders or simply write them up and copy to a dedicated story writing app later on.

Pricing: From $5.99 | Requires macOS 11.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip

Byword is one of the newer apps available for the iPad. The app can open all of your text documents across all Apple products, including the Mac, iPhone and iPad.

With this writing tool, you can also edit your documents even when you are offline. The app can convert files into PDF and HTML formats for easy editing.

Finally, people also love the app because you can multitask with it. Byword allows you to split your screen, helping you quickly move between documents if necessary. Its dark mode makes it more comfortable on your eyes.

Pricing: Free | Requires iOS 11.0 or later

Notebook was designed by a company called Zoho. This is one of the strongest all-around writing apps for the iPad. It even won “Best App of the Year” back in 2016.

Like a typical word processor, you can use Zoho to add and edit spreadsheets, documents and PDFs. The app even allows you to scan documents, so you have a soft copy of them.

You can store your work on your iCloud and access them on other Apple devices. Notebook is one of the best free writing apps for iPad.

Pricing: From $29.99 per month | Available for Mac, iOS, Windows, and Android

Also available on iOS, iA Writer is a simple, intuitive writing app that has a short learning curve. This app has even won “Best App” on the App Store four separate times.

People love iA Writer because it has something called Focus Mode. A distraction-free writing environment, it will dim everything on the screen except the current line that you are editing.

The app can even mark your mistakes, repetitive words and weak verbiage, helping you become a stronger writer . You can even customize writing templates and publish them on WordPress. It will also sync your writing to iCloud or Dropbox.

I use iA Writer for writing short articles in full-screen on my iPad Pro. I’ve also occasionally used it on various iOS devices like my iPhone over the years. It supports Markdown.

Pricing: Free | Available for Mac, iOS, Windows, and Android

Simplenote is the ideal writing app to knock out your writing assignments quickly. This app allows you to type, record your voice, record videos, and more. It works well if you like plain text .

You can also set reminders, change the color of your text, change its size, and change the font entirely.

Furthermore, you can link Simplenote to your social media accounts and share your notes with your friends. You can also access Simplenote via a web browser.

While this app is not compatible with Bluetooth, it can sync to iCloud, allowing you to share your documents across multiple devices. Unfortunately, it no longer syncs to Dropbox.

This was one of my preferred note-taking apps for several years. Lately, I use notes on iOS instead. That said, both are good.

Pricing: From $8.99 | Requires macOS 10.15 or later

Notability is a strong writing app for the iPad. This app was even selected as the “Editor’s Choice” app when it first came out.

This is a great app for students, teachers and professionals. It has a user interface that’s easy to follow. You can use Notability to secure important notes with password protection as well.

You can even sign documents on this app.

People love Notability for the multi-note feature. This allows you to list two documents side by side and work on them simultaneously.

There is even a word counter tool along with numerous other customization options.

Evernote is one of the most popular writing apps for the iPad.

This app has been designed to help you focus on your most important tasks and leave distractions behind. Evernote is meant to help you organize your documents, dictate your notes, and convert them into text.

You can even use Evernote to discuss issues and chat with your friends.

Finally, you can also annotate PDF documents, sync Evernote across all of your devices, and access valuable storage space.

Read our Evernote guide .

Pricing: From $7.99 | Available on the iPad, Mac, and iPhone

Goodnotes is one of the top writing apps for the iPad. Its vector engine helps you precisely and fluently write on the screen. Everything in Goodnotes is searchable, allowing you to pick up easily where you left off.

Goodnotes lets you sync your documents to the iCloud. Then, you can access them on different devices. There is even a shape tool that allows you to draw on the app itself.

OneNote is a classic Microsoft app that has made its way to the iPad. This app allows you to create texts, sketches and more. This app even allows you to quickly jot down thoughts you want to remember for later.

People love OneNote because it allows you to edit your texts, record voice notes, save images and take videos. While OneNote does have some complex features that are meant for professionals, this app can be used by anyone.

Pricing: From $5.99 per month

Ulysses is a writing app designed for Apple products, including the iPad, and has been designed to help creative writers customize their writing experience to meet their needs.

Ulysses features a clean, distraction-free user interface that helps you focus on the words in front of you. Ulysses also comes with a text editor, helping you mark headlines, key passages and comments. It will sync your writing to iCloud or Dropbox. It’s more feature-rich than its competitor iA Writer.

This app is good for bloggers who have many writing projects in production, as you can organize them using tags and folders. You can also set target word counts.

It also comes with a typewriter mode that vertically fixes the current line on which you are working. It also supports Markdown. Finally, you can also set benchmarks in terms of words or characters, helping you stick to your deadlines.

Pricing: From $9.99 | Windows 10 version 16299.0 or higher, Xbox One

Nebo is an app that comes with advanced tools and customizable features. The app is only available on the iPad and lets you create and edit documents using the Apple Pencil.

A highlighting feature helps you track important sentences and phrases in your documents. Nebo even lets you edit your PowerPoint files.

If you need to add charts and formulas to your documents, Nebo can handle this as well.

To get the most use out of writing on an iPad, I recommend upgrading to a keyboard with trackpad. It’ll enable you to type faster. The dedicated Apple iPad keyboard is a good if expensive choice. Another cheaper option is available from Logitech.

• LAPTOP-LIKE TYPING - Turn your iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd and 4th gen) into a laptop with Slim Folio Pro. Forget about cramped on-screen typing — now you can type quickly and accurately in comfort with a familiar laptop-like premium keyboard. With a full row of iOS shortcut keys and media controls you can optimize your productivity without leaving the keyboard.
• BACKLIT KEYS - Type away, day or night. Backlit laptop-like keys with 3 adjustable levels of brightness lets you achieve maximum productivity anywhere.
• FRONT AND BACK PROTECTION - Light and durable case with secure magnetic latch keeps iPad Pro closed and safe from bumps, scratches and spills. Viewing Angles: Fixed Type Mode: 58 degrees and View Mode: 10 degrees
• CHARGE AND STOW APPLE PENCIL (2ND GEN) - Charge Apple Pencil (2nd gen) with the case on. When you're done writing, store Apple Pencil inside keyboard case and use the magnetic latch to keep it closed and secured in transit.
• 3 MONTH BATTERY AND RELIABLE BLUETOOTH - Take keyboard anywhere without worrying about short battery life. Lasts 3 months on a single charge based on 2 hours daily use. Enjoy easy one-time Bluetooth setup to connect iPad Pro and keyboard case.

I’ve written and published dozens of articles for newspapers, magazines, and online publications including, Forbes and Lifehacker. I’m also a best-selling non-fiction author, a trained journalist, and a copywriter.

I regularly update this roundup as iOS and its app ecosystem evolves. I test new iPad apps and tools by writing drafts of articles, book chapters, and blog posts on an iPad Pro, iPhone 11, and iMac. Along with other writers, I also compare each app in terms of price, functionality, and ease of use.

The Final Word on the Best Writing Apps for iPad

In the end, you can find many different iPad writing apps. If you’re looking for the best writing apps for iPad, then these apps might be able to help you expedite your writing process. Find one on the App Store and start writing!

I use an Apple iPad Pro to occasionally write short articles on the go. It’s comparable to writing on a laptop, and it’s gotten easier now that the latest iPad keyboard includes a trackpad. That said, I still prefer editing larger projects on iMac as I can tab between windows faster. Writing on an iPad using only the screen is harder however.

if you can afford it, I’d recommend buying the 12.9 inch iPad Pro. The screen looks fantastic and it’s a joy to use. If budget is an issue or you expect to travel, opt for the 11 inch. That said, you can easily write using an iPad Air.

You can easily use an iPad to write the first draft of a book using one of the apps in this article paired with a keyboard. However, for self-editing a book, I’d recommend using a computer or laptop and a Mac app, as it’s more efficient when working with multiple manuscripts and feedback from an editor.

Yes, they are, assuming you buy a keyboard. An iPad is portable. It’s also ideal for a minimalist distraction-free writing environment meaning you can take it with you and write wherever, whenever. Just remember to buy a keyboard by Logitech or Apple.

Best Grammar Checker Tools

Best Note-Taking Apps

Best Book Writing Software

Best Essay Checkers

Best Writing Apps for Android

The Best Writing Tools

Best Writing Apps for Apple Pencil

Bryan Collins is the owner of Become a Writer Today. He's an author from Ireland who helps writers build authority and earn a living from their creative work. He's also a former Forbes columnist and his work has appeared in publications like Lifehacker and Fast Company.

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A practical guide to writing on the iPad

Apple didn't design the original iPad for writing. It was a device for reading or viewing media, not creating it. Over the years it has become a great portable writing tool. Many writers find it is better than a laptop.

Here we look at why the iPad could be the best option for you. We examine which iPad or keyboard to choose and outline the best iPad writing app.

On this page:

Why is the ipad a great writing tool, which ipad should you choose for writing, ipad keyboards, magic keyboard, smart keyboard folio, magic keyboard folio, smart keyboard for ipad, writing on an ipad with apple pencil, pencil-based note taking apps, goodnotes 5, keyboard-based writing apps, apple pages, microsoft word for ipad, microsoft word for the web, google docs, collabora office, markdown editors, recommendations: ipad writing apps.

From the outset it was clear the iPad could do more than display media.

It has evolved to the point where it can do everything a laptop can. Today’s iPads can be better than laptops for many creative tasks.

The iPad has clear advantages for people who need to write:

Long battery life . Sure, you can find laptops that will go the best part of a day between charges. Apple's MacBooks with the M1 or M2 processor sip electricity. You'll struggle to find a Windows laptop which beats an iPad for battery life.

Measure-for-measure, an iPad will last longer between charges than a conventional computer.

Focus . While you can now open side-by-side screens or use Stage Manager, iPadOS lends itself to doing one thing at a time. There is no clutter. With the iPad you can focus on writing without other apps distracting you. Turning off notifications and concentrating is easier. This is why you can see the iPad as the closest modern equal to a portable typewriter.

Portable . The iPad is more portable than any laptop. It can go places laptops don’t. The iPad Air weighs in at 460 grams. It will fit in a large pocket. The iPad Mini weighs 300 grams and is smaller again.

Robust . There are no moving parts on an iPad. No hinges. This makes it more robust than a laptop.

Work while standing . You can work on an iPad when you are standing. It is possible to type on the screen keyboard using your thumbs. I’ve done this at stand up press conferences and while waiting in queues to board planes. This means you can write in more places, more often. Yes, you can do that on a phone, but it’s not the best writing experience. It is not easy to write standing up with a laptop. The same applies if, say, you are sitting in a cramped cramped on a crowded flight or in a train. At a pinch you can tap out words holding the iPad in vertical or portrait mode when there’s no room for a keyboard. Being able to use the taller portrait orientation is an overlooked bonus. There are subtle ergonomic problems with writing across a wide screen. A wider column makes errors harder to spot. A narrow width is easier to proof-read. If you write words to print on paper, the display mirrors how your words will look on the finished document. In my experience, the smaller iPads work better when you are standing, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is more unwieldy.

Great screens . iPads have glorious, well-lit high resolution screens. Higher resolution means your eyes don’t tire as fast. You can work for longer stretches and concentrate for longer. Y

No waiting . An iPad is always ready to go the moment you switch on. Yes, modern laptops can do the same, but you can always start writing in seconds on an iPad.

You don’t need a high-end iPad for writing. Apple sells the 9th generation iPad with a 10.2 inch screen for NZ$649. It has everything you need to write. It is powerful enough to handle almost every writing app and has a screen you’ll have no trouble living with.

Likewise, the iPad mini, New Zealand prices start at NZ$1000, will fit in a pocket and can handle basic writing tasks. An iPad mini is realistically the smallest practical device for serious writing while on the move.

Writing on an iPad Pro with a suitable keyboard is not that different from writing on a laptop. The larger screen is easier to read than other iPads, especially if you have poor eyesight, but they all display your text clearly.

If writing is your focus, your model choice will determine which keyboards you can use. If use an Apple Pencil for note-taking, the iPad model determines your choices.

iPads come with a range of storage options. Upgrading storage isn't practical, which means you need to be careful when buying.

Base level iPad storage options start at 64GB. Smaller models can store up to 256GB, although the iPad Pro goes all the way to 2TB of storage.

By 2023 standards, 64GB is not a lot of storage. You can get by, but the moment you decide to keep music or video libraries on your iPad you'll bump up against limits.

Go with the 256GB model if your budget can stretch that far. At the time of writing that will add NZ$300 to the device price. Often you'd do better trading down to an iPad with more storage than buying a more powerful device that runs out of storage.

It's easy to overbuy storage on an iPad Pro. You are unlikely to need 2TB unless you need to keep vast amounts of video and audio files with you all the time. A 512GB model will be enough for most iPad Pro buyers. Remember, you can offload rarely used files to cloud services.

Consider other tasks when choosing Given you can use every iPad for writing, let the other tasks you plan for the device determine your choice.

Even when you add a keyboard, iPads are smaller, lighter and more portable than most laptops. Apple’s MacBook Air gets close. The nearest non-Apple competitor would be a Microsoft Surface tablet.

If money is no object, you can choose the iPad that you find comfortable to read. If it is an object, pick the iPad you can afford.

Do I need a Sim-card iPad?

Few writers need Sim-card equipped iPads that can connect to cellular networks.

You’ll find Wi-Fi is available in many of the places where you will want to write. Where it isn’t, you can tether your iPad to your phone and connect that way.

Tethering works with both iPhones and Android phones. The experience is better and smoother if you have an iPhone, but don’t get hung up on this point, it isn’t a deal breaker. Android phones work fine.

Cellular adds around NZ$220 to the price of a Wi-Fi iPad. Spend the money saved on storage or a better keyboard.

A keyboard isn’t essential if you own an iPad. You can do a lot without one and there is always the Apple Pencil and handwriting recognition . Apple’s new Scribble feature can change the way you think about your iPad .

But this post is about writing on an iPad. A keyboard makes that easier.

There is no shortage of iPad keyboards to choose from. Any iPad will work with any Bluetooth keyboard, but only a handful of keyboards are made to fit exactly to each iPad model.

When you buy an iPad, chances are someone will attempt to sell you a keyboard as an add-on. It makes sense to buy the keyboard at the same time. If the salesperson is knowledgeable, they can help you get the right keyboard for your iPad. They can also help you get the one that suits you best and let you look closer at your options.

Apple keyboards are the obvious choice. But not always and not for everyone. Choose the keyboard you feel comfortable with. That’s from both an ergonomic point of view and from a budget point of view.

Whether you choose an Apple keyboard or an alternative, match it with your iPad. Keyboards double up as protective covers. A better fit means better protection. This sounds obvious, but I've come across people who run into trouble with the wrong iPad keyboard.

The other thing to watch is that not every Apple iPad keyboard is available for every model. Buying at the same time as the iPad from a retailer who knows what they are doing can save you problems later.

At NZ$620 a pop, Apple’s Magic Keyboard is an expensive, Rolls Royce option. You can use it for writing on an iPad Air or an iPad Pro. It doesn't fit the less expensive iPad models.

It’s a good keyboard but it is not perfect.

You might expect that when you use it at a desk or on a flat surface it differs from the laptop keyboard experience.

That's not the case. The top part, that's the iPad, is heavier than the keyboard. Together, the iPad plus Magic Keyboard, weigh more than a MacBook Air .

There are two hinges, the second one allows you to adjust the viewing angle.

The keys are excellent for typing. I'm a touch typist and can run into problems with some tablet keyboards. This one is touch-typeable from the moment it's opened. Keys are backlit, something that doesn't happen on the less expensive Apple keyboards. And there is a touchpad, which works exactly as you'd expect.

The Apple Smart Keyboard Folio is a less expensive alternative. There are models for iPad Pros and iPad Airs. Prices start at NZ$390.

This is the keyboard I choose when I’m on the move. It has the best balance of function and price. Again, it gives the iPad a laptop feel. Yet it is more flexible and feels less robust than the Magic Keyboard.

It doesn't offer backlighting and there is no trackpad. My Smart Keyboard Folio is now coming up to four years old and is showing signs of wear and tear. It doesn't last anything like as long as the iPad.

If you have a 10th generation iPad, not the Pro, not the Air, then the NZ$530 Magic Keyboard Folio is the top choice. It's not as flexible for positioning as the iPad Magic Keyboard, but the keys and the trackpad are as good. I found it easy to touch type.

Apple's Smart Keyboard is compatible with the iPad, 3rd generation iPad Air and 10.5 inch iPad Pro. Prices start at $320. It's the most basic Apple iPad keyboard, but covers all the bases and gets the job done. I found it harder to adapt my touch-typing technique to the Smart Keyboard, but got there soon enough.

Not all Apple keyboards are available for all iPads. If you buy a more expensive iPad, you'll need a more expensive Apple keyboard.

A word of warning. Apple iPad keyboards flex more than you might expect if you are typing on your lap. When used this way they are not as solid as laptops.

Logitech iPad keyboards

Beyond Apple's own keyboards, Logitech is the best alternative. You could argue some models are better than their Apple equivalents.

There's a wide range to choose from. Again, different keyboards work with different iPad versions. The difference between Apple and Logitech keyboards is price. You can save up to a third of the price for similar functionality.

On the whole Logitech keyboards work as well as Apple models. All keyboards mentioned here double as protective covers for iPad screens. Logitech keyboards do this a little better than Apple's keyboards. The Logitech keyboard plus iPad combinations are thicker than the Apple ones and the function keys differ.

Brydge makes hard shell keyboards that turn your iPad into a laptop. You end up with something that feels like a MacBook. I haven't seen the recent Bridge keyboards, but when I borrowed one for review, it was heavier than Apple's. The keys were smaller. Of all the keyboards mentioned here I found the Brydge keyboards harder to type on. Yet they could be perfect for you.

All keyboards designed to work with iPads offer a degree of protection. That’s important if you are mobile. iPads are not fragile. Yet once you start moving the potential for dropping them or other damage increases.

Sometimes I use a first generation Apple Bluetooth keyboard and a mStand tablet from Rain Design to hold the iPad. It’s a simple and elegant approach. There are many other options. Any store that sells iPads will have a selection.

As mentioned earlier, you can write on an iPad using an Apple Pencil and handwriting recognition. There are two Pencils, Apple calls them the first and second generation models.

Which one you can use depends on your iPad model. Each iPad only supports one Pencil generation. The first generation Pencil costs NZ$200 and the second costs $280.

The main difference between generations is how the Pencil charges. The second generation Pencil is flat and magnetised on one side. It connects to the side of the iPad for charging.

First generation Pencil charge through the blunt end, which looks clumsy, but works fine in practice. On the down side, you have to remove the cap and it is easy to lose that cap. The older Pencil was round, which means it can roll off a table or desktop, the flat side on the second generation Pencil stops that from happening

Apple's free Notes app comes with every iPad. It's great for taking short handwritten notes and has text recognition built in. It's a good place to try the Pencil before spending money on a third-party app.

To use immediate handwriting recognition in Notes chose the pencil tool marked with an A.

The alternative is use another pencil tool, then highlight and choose to convert the word.

Both approaches are fast on even a modest iPad. The technology is forgiving, I have terrible handwriting and it gets about 95 per cent of what I write.

GoodNotes is a great third-part alternative to Apple Notes. It uses a notebook metaphor. You can write a limited number of notes in one of three "notebooks" for free, then you need to pay a one-off US$15 for unlimited use. Paying also unlocks the handwriting recognition feature.

Text recognition is as fast as on Apple Notes and, without extensive testing, the accuracy appears to be on a par with Apple's.

GoodNotes is a better choice than Notes if you plan to use your iPad more for handwriting than typing. There's a strong search feature and note organisation and sharing is a strength. It won the Apple 2022 iPad App of the Year award.

GoodNote's main competitor is Notability from Ginger Labs. You can download the app for free but that doesn't include handwriting recognition and only allows a limited number of edits. To get the full app you need to buy an annual subscription.

Ginger Labs is coy about the price of the subscription, you don't get to see the price until you install the app. I don't like that.

The price appears to change from country to country. When I checked on my iPad, the subscription was $21, although it isn't clear if that is NZ dollars or US dollars. Either way that makes Notability more expensive than Goodnotes. The price is hard to justify.

Noteful is like Goodnotes and Notability, but doesn't have handwriting recognition.

In use, there's a delicious minimal user interface. The app uses the notebook metaphor. It offers something called "layers". That's an idea familiar to people who use photo editing or graphic design software. Searching for notes is harder work in Noteful than in its rivals.

Like Ginger Labs, the company is coy about disclosing its price until you have the app loaded on your iPad. You need to pay a one-off US$5 to unlock all the features, which is reasonable, but transparent pricing would be better.

If you have a Microsoft Office subscription, OneNote is an option. It has good basic handwriting recognition. But it is more clumsy than the alternatives and impractical for anything more than the shortest phrases.

There's a wide range of word processors, text editors and other writing apps for iPad. You'll recognise the names of a few, they are iPad versions of popular apps for PCs and Macs. This guide is not comprehensive, but it covers the important options and the ones you are likely to come across.

Pages is not the best-known, the most popular or the perfect writing tool, but comes free with every iPad and Mac. It's the iPad writing app you'll see first.

It is part of Apple's own productivity software suite: iWorks. Alongside Pages, iWorks includes Numbers, a spreadsheet and Keynote, a presentation manager.

Apple and everyone else describes Pages as a word-processor, which is true. Yet unlike other word-processors, Pages focuses on page design.

In a sense it sits somewhere between Microsoft Word and Adobe InDesign although it has far fewer features than both. That said, you could write and layout a print magazine or a book with Pages.

Page design works better than you might expect on an iPad. While you'll get better results with a large screen iPad Pro, working on an 10-inch iPad is possible. Pages is ideal, a better bet than Word or Docs, if you plan to create Apple Books or PDFs.

Apple's Pages could be all the word processor you need. It will open documents created with Word or Google Docs and you can send Pages documents in the Word format. Round trips work fine almost all the time. I've seen problems with earlier versions of Pages, not with the current Pages 12.

You can deal with corrections and Track Changes between Word and Pages documents.

Presenter mode

There’s one Pages feature I love, even if it is not my first choice for writing on the iPad. Presenter Mode turns the iPad into an autocue. When I’m on a long radio broadcast, presenting live or doing similar work I use it as a prompt.

Pages has better cloud support than Word, but you will need an Apple iCloud account to make use of this. While Pages' online collaboration is superior to Word, Google Docs is better again.

Apple's Pages templates are better than Microsoft's basic Word templates. If you are new to word processing, Pages is easier to learn and master. That said, if you have learned Word elsewhere, there may be some unlearning to do before you get on top of Pages.

Pages isn't the best writing tool for everyone. Yet it is a solid option that is free and simple. At the very least, you should give it a try before spending money on another iPad writing app.

Microsoft's Word is good on an iPad. If you know Word from a laptop or desktop, Windows or MacOS, you'll be immediately at home.

All the important features for everyday folk are here. The app is the most feature rich iPad word processor. Word power users might miss advanced features, they are not the target market.

Add a decent keyboard to your iPad and the Word experience is on a par with that laptop or desktop. I'd argue the experience is better. Because there are fewer features the user interface is less cluttered, easier to navigate.

While the interface will be familiar and easy to use if you know Word, it won't challenge newcomers. There are points where it doesn't act like other iPad apps, especially when storing or retrieving files. Then there are the needy messages from Microsoft

Microsoft designed Word on the iPad to work with its own OneDrive cloud service. The chances are you'll need a Microsoft subscription to use the app and storage comes as part of that subscription. It's possible to access files stored on the iPad or in iCloud direct from Word, but that's not the first choice. Microsoft has added an impressive array of alternative cloud storage choices.

Another way Word departs from the standard iPad user interface is the way it relates to the keyboard. There are keyboard shortcuts you may know from the Mac or PC that work, others don't. You'll find out with practice.

Word remains the most feature rich and complete iPad word processor. If you use Word on a laptop or desktop it will be familiar. The interface doesn't always act like a standard iPad app, but there's nothing that is likely to be a barrier for most people.

The app is a free download. The software remains free if your iPad's screen is smaller than 10.1 inches. Beyond that you'll need a Microsoft 365 licence. A one person licence is NZ$120 a year, prices are different overseas. It covers you on up to five devices including tablets and conventional computers. The 365 Family licence at $165 a year means up to six people can use the software.

If you need Word to work on your iPad at home, check if your employer or place of study has a licence you can use.

Word isn't the right iPad writing app for everyone. If you already use it or know it, it can make sense to stick with what you know. For many users it offers far more than you might need or want to pay for.

If you love Office or Word, but are on a tight budget, there's a free web version of Office that works fine on an iPad. It's had other names over the years. These days Microsoft calls it ' Office '.

There are ways the web version of Office is like Google Docs. Like Google Docs, it stores your finished documents online. In this case Office uses Microsoft OneDrive, not Google's cloud storage. Microsoft Office online can't handle files larger than 2GB. This is not going to trouble anyone unless documents contain embedded media.

Microsoft's web version of Office has fewer features than the PC or Mac version. It is closer to the iPad version. The user interface is distinct from both the PC and the iPad versions. You will need a live and consistent internet connection to use the online app. In practice you'll notice more lag than when writing on the other Word apps. This has little to do with connection speed. I tested on a gigabit fibre connection and the latency was the same as on a slower connection.

The online version will open any file format supported by the desktop Word app. Saving to the OneDrive cloud is automatic. There are tools for sharing documents with colleagues. If sharing is important to you, Google Docs does this better.

You can use Google Docs two ways on the iPad. It will work as a web app in your iPad's Safari browser or you can download and install the free iPad app. You'll get a better experience using the browser version, you need a decent internet connection for that. If you want to use Google Docs offline there is an iPad app, but it's mediocre compared with the other options on this page.

The free online version of Google Docs is almost identical to the version in the paid-for Google Workspace. New Zealand prices for Google Workspace start at NZ$9 a month for a plan with 30 GB of storage. A version with 2 TB of storage is a heft NZ$18 a month. This is more expensive than Microsoft Office. The most noticeable difference between the free and paid versions of Google Docs is that it is harder to create templates in the free version.

Google built Docs for online work. It is the best option if you collaborate on documents with remote colleagues. It's less powerful than Office and has fewer features than most of the other choices listed on this page. Getting started is easier, but you can rub up against limitations.

Things get tricky when you have large documents. The app is fine for up to a couple of thousand words. It starts to slow down as the file grows and would be slow if you were editing an entire book.

One downside is there can be problems if you lose your internet connection or you want to work offline, say while on a flight. The Google Docs iPad app helps, it can store documents in the iPad's memory. You have to sign into a Google account before using the app online or offline. This can be tricky, in the past I've found myself logged out while offline and unable to use the app.

I recommend using Google Docs if you already use the app elsewhere or if you work with others using the app. Otherwise you can do better elsewhere.

Collabora Office is a promising mobile open source document editing suite based on LibreOffice . It's compatible with Microsoft Office and works with the Open Document Format. There's iPad app and an online version. The app is free for "testing", a subscription std US$20 a year.

My 2021 Collabora Office review warns the software wasn't ready for everyday use and that it jars with iOS. Both remain true. There are fewer bugs and the software is more stable, but it is hard going. You'd need to be an open source devotee to choose it, and people who feel that way are less inclined to use an iPad.

Markdown is a markup (yes that does sound odd) language used to format text with simple codes. Type a single hash # character at the start of the line for a top level head, two hashes means second level head and so on. It takes seconds to learn, a day to master.

This approach leaves formatting that is easy for humans to read. You can create Markdown using a text editor. Markdown editors will show you how your formatting looks in a finished document. You can send finished Markdown documents direct to WordPress or Ghost blogs. Markdown editors usually let you convert them into other word processor formats.

It's possible to start writing on your iPad using IA Writer, make edits on an iPhone using a text editor and finish on, say, a desktop using Byword.

On one level there is nothing fancy or complicated about IA Writer . That's its attraction. You can start laying down words within minutes.

In recent years the app's developers have added more features. Yet it retains its simple user interface. It hides that added complexity from sight until you need it. Many users never will.

The minimal interface lets you focus on putting words on the screen. Coupled with the iPadOS, it becomes the closest thing you can get to an old school typewriter and paper.

One feature you may find useful is the style checker which helps improve your writing. It looks for clichés, fillers or redundancies but leaves it up to you to do anything about them.

In the past Writer forced you to store documents in an iCloud or Dropbox account. Now you can save them on your iPad, a better idea if you ever work away from an internet connection.

IA Writer’s price continues to climb faster than inflation. When I first bought the software I paid NZ$3. It was a promotional price when the app was in its infancy. Today the software costs NZ$50. If you buy the iPad version, you can use it on an iPhone at no extra cost. Buying the MacOS version will set you back another $50. It remains good value, but is no longer something you can afford and then discard if it doesn't work for you. Luckily there are free trial versions.

Byword is a great alternative to IA Writer on the iPad. It has a much lower NZ$10 price, which makes it a bargain. Byword has the same minimalist user interface.

Like IA Writer, Byword co-operates with blogs like WordPress or Medium and plays nice with Evernote. If anything Byword is simpler to use and easier to learn than its main rival.

Byword can look better on an iPad screen than IA Writer. You can choose the font and the size of your type.

Unlike IA Writer, which gets constant attention and new features, Byword has changed little in close to a decade. This doesn't have to be a bad thing, the app is stable and does what it sets out to do without fuss.

Scrivener (NZ$24 in the App Store) sits at the opposite end of the writing app spectrum from Markdown editors like IA Writer or Byword.

Markdown editors hide complexity. Scrivener is about providing the all the complexity a writer needs in one place.

In a sense, Microsoft Word is a more appropriate point of comparison. Although in practice the gulf between Scrivener and Word is as wide as the gulf between it and IA Writer.

In a sense, Microsoft Word is a more appropriate point of comparison than the Markdown editors. Although in practice the gulf between Scrivener and Word is as wide as the gulf between it and IA Writer.

If anything Word requires even more work to master than Scrivener. People don't notice that effort because they pick up the complexity of Word almost by osmosis. It can take years, often starting at school.

Switching to Scrivener means doing all that learning in a matter of days or weeks. It's a steep learning curve. You may find it rewarding if your brain thinks in the right way. I'm afraid it doesn't work for me.

Literature and Latte, the company behind Scrivener, built it for ambitious writing jobs. There are tools to help, such as a cork board for keeping notes. You can attach the parts of your project to a single file and even colour code them making them easier to navigate.

Because Scrivener is complex, users tend to have a few windows open as they work. This lends itself to a large screen on the desktop. No doubt there will be Scrivener fans reading this who love the app running on a small MacBook. Yet, I'd argue the app works best with a larger screen.

Which brings up to the iPad version of Scrivener. Why might you choose it? The iPad app is feature rich although it doesn't include everything in the desktop version, although it does include the cork board.

Literature & Latte's marketing suggests the iPad app complements the desktop app. You might use it when working away from your desk or in the field researching. It allows you to push on while on an airplane flight or a train journey. To this end, everything you do on the iPad syncs with your desktop project.

I suspect, but don't know, that few people use the iPad app without also using Scrivener on the desktop. If it sounds like something you need, try the free desktop download first before buying the app.

Ulysses uses the same Markdown formatting as iA Writer and Byword. It adds more word processor-like features. This sounds contradictory. Yet it marries a minimalist look and feel with background complexity. You’ll either love it or it will bewilder you.

Like Scrivener, Ulysses - the company shares the app's name - pitches its software at people working on complex projects. And like Scrivener it also caters for people writing smaller articles. It has tools to help you publish direct to popular blog sites.

The Markdown in Ulysses is somewhat non-standard. You may struggle at first moving to the app after using another Markdown editor. If you haven't used Markdown before, this won't be an issue.

At first look, Ulysses is pretty where Scrivener's cluttered look is ugly. It doesn't take long before Ulysses can become as cluttered.

Tools like the goal display telling you how many words you still need to write can be both a distraction and a source of demotivation.

The elephant in the room with Ulysses is its price. The app is a free download. A subscription costs NZ$11 a month or $75 a year which is expensive for what is, at core, a Markdown editor with trimmings.

Most apps with a similar functionality have a one-off price. The desktop version of Scrivener has a one-off price of NZ$100.

A family licence for Microsoft Office that includes Word, other apps and storage for up to six people is NZ$165. You can run the software on iPads, laptops, desktops or phones.

The NZ$75 Ulysses subscription allows you to use both the desktop and iPad versions

If Ulysses is right for you and gels with your thought processes, the price is a bargain. You'll recover it in no time. Otherwise, do your wallet a favour and consider everything else first.

Other writing apps

Wordprocessors, Markdown editors and text editors are not your only options. A handful of iPad users choose to write documents using Bear . It's a flexible note-taking app that blurs the distinction between a notes app and an editor. Another option is Evernote , although it is more about note-taking, less about writing. Simplenote is a free alternative.

• Take the path of least resistance. If your employer or school pays for a Microsoft Office or Google Workspace account, use it. You won't have to pay anything, there should be support and you won't have to learn how to use an alternative.
• Otherwise, look at Apple Pages first. It's free, works well on the iPad's touch screen and Apple designed it with the entire ecosystem in mind. It should have all the features you need. Best of all, you can start writing in Pages on your iPad and switch to working on an iPhone or Mac without missing a beat.
• If you are coming from another writing tool, take time to adjust to Pages. It's worth the effort and you'll save money that might be better spent elsewhere.
• An alternative strategy is to choose radical simplicity. Markdown editors like IA Writer or Byword let you focus on your words in the most efficient way possible. Disclosure: this is what I do.
• Invest time and money finding the keyboard that works best for you. While it's easy to buy devices online, it pays to go to a store and try keyboard options before parting with any cash.

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Best Writing Apps for iPad

Showing 64 writing apps that match your search.

Unload your thoughts by creating a personal layout with notes, links and media in a second to visualize your creative process and move forward faster.

Platforms: Mac, Windows, iPhone, iPad, Android, Online, PC

Best for: Note-taking, Journal, Blog, Essay, Story, Book, and Free

Website: https://xtiles.app/en

Base price:

Premium price:

★★★★ Performance

★★★ Features

★★★★★ Accessibility

Also rated 4.9 ★ on Capterra

A focused environment where you can write freely. With iA Writer, you can gain unparalleled insight into your writing structure, detect superfluous words and clichés, and navigate through your documents and notes with ease.

Platforms: Mac, iPhone, iPad, Windows, Android, Chrome, PC

Best for: Drafting, Book, Story, Poetry, Journal, Essay, and Blog

Website: https://ia.net/writer

★★★ Performance

Also rated 4.0 ★ on PC Magazine

The best outlining app for your best work. Where brilliant ideas are captured, fleshed out, and realized.

Platforms: Online, Android, iPhone, iPad, Windows, PC

Best for: Outlining, Book, Story, Blog, Essay, and Free

Website: https://dynalist.io/

★★★★ Accessibility

Also rated 4.2 ★ on Google Play

Learn more about Reedsy Studio .

Rhymer's Block

A real-time rhyme suggestion engine offering color-coded rhyme highlighting, the ability to save your work to the cloud, the power to embed SoundCloud jams into your notes, customizable visual layouts, and more.

Platforms: Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android

Best for: Drafting, Poetry, and Free

Website: https://www.rhymersblock.com/welcome

★★★★★ Performance

★★★★ Features

★★★ Accessibility

Also rated 4.8 ★ on the App Store

Apple’s App of the Year with over 15 million downloads and 200,000 5-star ratings globally, Day One has reinvented journaling, letting you record your life as you live it. Securely save audio, video, photos, notes, and more wherever you are, whenever you want.

Platforms: iPad, Mac, iPhone, Android

Best for: Note-taking, Journal, and Free

Website: https://dayoneapp.com/

Werdsmith turns your iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch into a powerful writing studio that inspires you to write. With features to motivate you and help you break through writer‘s block, you‘ll find yourself writing more than ever.

Platforms: iPad, Mac, iPhone

Best for: Drafting, Book, Story, Poetry, and Free

Website: https://werdsmith.com/

★★ Accessibility

Also rated 4.7 ★ on the App Store

Bear is a beautiful, flexible writing app for crafting notes and prose.

Platforms: Mac, iPhone, iPad

Best for: Note-taking, Drafting, Book, Story, Essay, Blog, and Free

Website: https://bear.app/

Also rated 4.3 ★ on the App Store

Apple Pages

Pages is a powerful word processor that lets you create stunning documents, and comes included with most Apple devices. And with real-time collaboration, your team can work together from anywhere, whether they’re on Mac, iPad, iPhone, or a PC.

Best for: Drafting, Book, Essay, Journal, Poetry, Story, Blog, and Free

Website: https://www.apple.com/pages/

Also rated 3.6 ★ on the App Store

Remember everything and tackle any project with your notes, tasks, and schedule all in one place.

Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Windows, Android, Mac, Online, Chrome, PC

Best for: Note-taking, Outlining, Book, Essay, Journal, Poetry, Story, Blog, and Free

Website: https://evernote.com/

★★★★★ Features

Also rated 4.4 ★ on the App Store

Notes are just the beginning. Create and annotate anything, from study guides to storyboards. We've got an intuitive, minimal interface for you to start in seconds.

Best for: Note-taking, Book, Story, Journal, and Free

Website: https://notability.com/

WPS Office is a lightweight, feature-rich comprehensive office suite with high compatibility. As a handy and professional office software, WPS Office allows you to edit files in Writer, Presentation, Spreadsheet, and PDF to improve your work efficiency.

Platforms: Mac, Windows, Android, iPad, iPhone, PC

Website: https://www.wps.com/

Also rated 4.0 ★ on TechRadar

The Brainstormer

A tactile tool to randomly combine a plot, a subject and a setting or style, the Brainstormer can provide that elusive moment of inspiration for writers, painters, or any kind of creative endeavour.

Platforms: iPhone, iPad

Best for: Brainstorming, Book, and Story

Website: https://www.tapnik.com/brainstormer/

Also rated 3.5 ★ on the App Store

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4 Reasons Why the iPad Pro Is an Awesome Writing Tool

Since I installed iPadOS 15 beta on my iPad Pro , I’ve been using it more wholesomely for writing tasks.

I’m doing that right now, in fact.

This isn’t the first time I’ve used the iPad Pro as my primary writing tool. When I first bought the Magic Keyboard, I installed Ulysses and transitioned fully from the Mac to the iPad for blogging duties.

It was a superb experience that was only halted by the arrival of the brilliant M1 MacBook Air.

Alas, I’ve now returned to the 12.9” iPad Pro and made it my main writing tool. This is partly to test out iPadOS 15, but also to remind myself of why I enjoyed it so much last time.

Here’s what I’ve discovered.

I’m afraid that you do need the Magic Keyboard to turn your iPad Pro into the ultimate writing tool.

This isn’t a cheap accessory. Add it to your iPad (Pro or otherwise), and it takes the device into midrange – even expensive – laptop territory.

For me, though, the Magic Keyboard is key to this experience. I know you can technically pair any Bluetooth keyboard and trackpad to the iPad, but Apple’s is the most elegant, hassle-free implementation, and that means a lot when you just need to get some words down.

So, take a deep breath, add it to your cart, and let’s get serious about writing on the iPad.

Here’s what you’ll experience.

1. Permanent focus mode

One of the best things about the iPad from a productivity standpoint is that it primarily offers a single app view.

Yes, you can now run two apps side-by-side and even have a third floating over the top, but even that experience is refreshingly uncluttered compared to macOS and Windows.

The dock vanishes. The bar at the top of the screen featuring the time, date and battery percentage is tiny. Notifications can be silenced with a couple of taps. There’s no such thing as a random window or error pop-up from the OS.

It’s what I like to call ‘permanent focus mode’.

If you’re a writer, this is vitally important and means you can focus on the words, rather than being distracted by a noisy operating system.

2. The keyboard

Yes, it’s expensive, heavy and made of a curiously unsatisfying material, but the Magic Keyboard has one killer feature: the keyboard itself.

This is subjective, yes. And, yes , I have fallen in love with mechanical keyboards of late.

But there’s something about this Magic Keyboard. Apple has struck a superb balance between key travel, resistance, feel and key size. I’ll take a slightly thicker, heavier case in exchange for that experience any day of the week.

As with any keyboard, the sonics also play a big role, and it scores highly there, too.

I love typing on this thing. It won’t be for everyone, and I recommend you try it before you buy, if possible, but I’m a huge fan of the iPad’s Magic Keyboard.

3. Battery superpowers

The iPad’s battery life has always been one of its crowning glories. Fiercely protected by Apple, it never suffers at the hands of new features or capabilities.

If you’re a writer, this is extremely good news, because you probably won’t put the iPad through its paces. Not much computing horsepower is required to help a flashing cursor make its way across the screen, and if you’re conservative with your screen brightness, the iPad will easily get you through a day of writing without ever thinking about a charging point.

4. That intangible iPad magic

I could have left this list at three. But I had to include this one – even though I’m not entirely sure how to define it.

There has always been something about the iPad. Apple prides itself on adding the word ‘Magic’ to several of its accessories, but if there’s one device that really deserves that moniker, it’s the iPad.

For years, I’ve attempted to work the iPad more wholesomely into my business, and while it often feels rather shoehorned and crippled by the frustrating lack of pro apps , getting work done on this device always feels a bit special.

There’s something about grabbing your iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard, throwing it into a backpack and heading to the coffee shop. It feels good. But I have no idea why.

Mind you, there doesn’t have to be a reason for this. If a piece of tech just makes you feel good while using it, you’ve invested well. That’s absolutely how the iPad Pro feels when I make it my designated writing machine; I look forward to using it.

If you’re a writer and haven’t delved into the world of the iPad for your craft yet, I seriously recommend giving it a go.

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The best writing apps for the iPad

If you’re looking for a portable device that can also be used as a writing station, well, the humble iPad is a great choice. While it’s still lacking in some respects, Apple has bridged the large gulf that previously existed between iPads and laptops, adding a variety of features in iPadOS that help to turn your tablet into a laptop substitute. So whether you’re using the entry-level iPad  or the top-of-the-line iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard , you can get a good writing experience out of your device.

Google Docs (free)

Microsoft word (subscription), ulysses (subscription), scrivener ($20), jotterpad (free/subscription), werdsmith (free/subscription), compo (free), shortly: a.i. writing assistant (free).

But you’ll also need a good writing app to really take advantage of iPadOS’s additional writing oomph. The perfect writing app for you depends on what you need and what you’re using it for. So whether you’re jotting down an assignment, your idea for a bestselling novel, an award-winning screenplay, or anything else, here are some of the best writing apps for the iPad.

Although iPadOS’s keyboard isn’t bad, you’ll want a keyboard to really take your writing to a new level. Check out our list of the best iPad keyboards to see the best keyboards for you.

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This wouldn’t be much of a list without the Google Suite’s writing app. Google Docs may lack the crazy features of some of the other options on this list, but Docs has everything you need for most basic writing tasks, including full formatting, support for images, and spell checkers. But the real strength lies in its online nature. It’s completely free, but despite that, you’ll get instant syncing so you can work on your document at the same time as other people and see edits and additions in real time, and it can import from and export to pretty much every format you’ll possibly need. While it’s a bit bare if you’re writing a novel or a screenplay, this is the ultimate note-taking tool, and one of the best completely free options available.

It’s the classic app we all know and love, and probably the program we all immediately think of when anyone says “word processor.” Word comes with a number of templates for different styles of document, handles images, and has a full formatting toolbar to boot. Word is effectively Microsoft’s answer for Google Docs — except you have to pay for it. Regardless of that, if you already have an Office subscription, Word is a strong option with support for importing from and exporting to many formats, cloud-based storage, and real-time editing with collaborators, plus the advantage of being the word-processing program of choice for many professional editors.

The first app in this list to really push itself to “writers,” rather than people who just need to write, Ulysses is a strong contender for the app for serious writers. You can keep almost anything in Ulysses, including your screenplay, novel notes, a to-do or shopping list, or even your blog’s latest post. There is a strong spelling and grammar checker, it syncs up with the MacOS version of Ulysses, and it can even export as an e-book. Unfortunately, you won’t get this for free, and Ulysses requires a subscription to work. It’ll set you back $6 a month, with discounts for year-long plans — but if you’re serious about writing, Ulysses is a good investment.

Possibly the most powerful single tool for writing, Scrivener is one of our favorite writing apps. It costs an upfront $20, which is a lot of money for an iOS app, but for that price you get a solid writing platform, a place to keep all your research (including images), notes on characters or locations, and a useful “corkboard”-style view for your chapters, which allows you to view everything at a glance, or even move individual chapters around easily like you would on a real corkboard. It exports to e-book and other popular formats, and syncs up with the MacOS version — though you’ll need to buy that too . Still, even with those added costs, Scrivener is the real deal.

Jotterpad’s aim is to provide a writing app without the distractions of a traditional word processor, and it does this extremely well. The interface is simple and extremely streamlined, but even with that, it’s not lacking in features. You’ll find all the usual additions, including Markdown, Fountain, a spell checker, and more. There’s even a rhyming dictionary. You can start up your document as a novel, screenplay, blog, or editorial piece, and you can jump between Jotterpad on different devices, thanks to its syncing. However, you’ll need a subscription to access most of the features on offer, including cloud syncing. A year’s subscription will cost you $30 a year.

Writing should be addictive. At least, that’s what Werdsmith believes, and it has the tools to hopefully inspire you to make writing a part of your daily routine. It uses writing tracking and daily goals to push you into keeping up a streak and jotting words down every day. Heck, it even has an Apple Watch word-counting app. If you struggle to keep writing, this may be the iPad writing app for you. Other than that, it has a decent number of features, including novel or screenplay writing tools and cloud syncing to keep your work current. There is a subscription, but it’s purely to allow you to work on more than a set number of documents at once, for $5 a month.

Compo is a brutally simple writing experience that aims to deliver a quick, easy way of writing down whatever’s on your mind. While some other apps may want you to set up a project and a template before you start, Compo just opens a blank page and lets you at it. Although it’s something more of a note-taking app, it’s certainly good enough for more heavy-duty writing tasks. You can share your writings on a number of different services and social media sites, and it syncs up with iCloud as well.

We’ve left the, well, weirdest until last. Shortly is a writing app with a difference — it has another tiny writer caged inside it, who learns from your writing and pens their own additions to your story when asked. All right, so it’s really an A.I., but Shortly’s writing assistant is actually pretty good, and it’s the perfect tool for getting over a small writer’s block. Using your past pennings as a template, it’ll take the reins and type away, adding new ideas and story turns you might not have thought of. While it’s unlikely to finish your story for you, it’s a great way to get the creative impulses firing up again. Worth a download and a try, even if you’re using another app.

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Whether it’s time to trade in an old phone or add a new line to your phone plan, shopping the best phone deals can save you a few bucks along the way. All of the heavy hitters among the best phones have deals going on right now, including Samsung Galaxy S24 deals, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra deals, Google Pixel 8 deals, and even iPhone 15 deals. But there are way more phones out there than that, and may of the best phone deals come from phones with a slightly lesser known name and phones that may be a generation old with still a lot to offer. With so much to consider, we thought we’d chip in and bring all of the best phone deals right to you. Reading onward you’ll find phone deals from Nokia, OnePlus, Motorola, Google, Samsung, and Apple, as well las some information on which of the best phone deals might make the most sense for you.

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According to 9to5Mac, Apple has significantly changed its repair and standard warranty policies — potentially resulting in higher repair costs for iPhones and Apple Watches.

The policy change pertains to “single hairline cracks.” In the past, this type of problem was covered by the standard warranty for these products. However, it is now being treated as “accidental damage,” with customers being required to pay for the repair.

Best iPad Pro notetaking app of 2024

Leave the pen and paper at home with one of the best note-taking app choices around

Best overall

Best all-purpose, best for handwriting, best advanced, best general, how we test.

The best note-taking apps for the iPad Pro make it simple and easy to manage and set up notes and documents on your iPad.

1. Best overall 2. Best all-purpose 3. Best for handwriting 4. Best advanced 5. Best general 6. FAQs 7. How we test

Although Apple provides its own Notes app with the iPad, that app only provides basic note-taking functionality. If you want to start managing files and folders and including multimedia options, you'll need to look for something different.

Luckily, there are other note-taking applications developed specifically for use on the iPad Pro which provide more advanced options. This can be especially useful when the iPad Pro has long been promoted as a useful productivity tool.

Therefore look to the third-party software we feature below to extend its use and application for a range of business purposes, as well as provide value and purpose for general consumers.

Google Workspace : Collaboration + productivity apps There are many different office software suites but Google Workspace formerly known as G Suite remains the original cloud one and one of the best business office suites, offering a huge range of features and functionality that rivals can't match. Try it free for 14 days .

A particular advantage that the best note-taking apps offer is multimedia feature management, so you don't just have to work with text but can also add in images, video, and audio. These apps work across the range of iPads .

Below then we list what we think are the best note-taking app for iPad devices currently available.

We've also feature the best iPad deals .

The best iPad Pro notetaking apps of 2024 in full:

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

1. Evernote

Our expert review:

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid.

For those looking for a note-taking platform that works with their iPad Pro, but also Android devices, Evernote straddles the two mobile platforms with ease.

Evernote is a great app to collect multiple inputs, including images, text notes, recorded messages, and clippings of web pages - all in one file for storage and collaboration. They can then be accessed via the iPad Pro, Android, or a PC though the web browser interface for ease of workflow. Also, a further boon is that the notes are searchable.  

The iOS app is free, and offers in-app purchases. However, the free product is restricted to syncing only two devices, and uploads are limited to just 60MB per month. Step up to the Premium tier to sync all your devices, gain a more generous 10GB of uploads in a month, as well as the additional features of live chat support, and offline access to your notes. Alternatively, for collaborations, there's a business plan with increased limits and additional features. 

Read our full Evernote review .

• ^ Back to the top

2. Notability

Notability from Ginger Labs, is an excellent, general purpose note-taking app for the iOS platform. It has won multiple awards over the last several years.  

This app allows the user to combine multiple inputs, including typing, sketching, handwriting and photos, in a single place. 

Notability supports the editing and exporting to PDF, and supports many other document file formats. Files are synced to iCloud and users can share files with other users via email, and cloud-based services including AirDrop, Google Drive and Dropbox. 

The app also supports multiple other features including simultaneous audio recording and the conversion of handwriting and math equations to text.

The app is free to use, but you can unlock additional features and functionality with a monthly or annual subscription.

Overall, Notability is an extremely versatile app which can be used for more than just taking notes. And, when you do take notes with this app, Notability makes it easy to export and share your notes to other software platforms and people as required. 

3. GoodNotes

Those who want to use their iPad Pro to easily take handwritten notes should check out GoodNotes. With the focus on handwriting, this app makes it easy to enter complex mathematics and chemical formulas that can border on the impossible via a traditional keyboard.

The GoodNotes approach can also be used to annotate PDFs, plus you can search handwritten notes and convert handwriting into text. The notes are also synced via iCloud, and can be backed up to your choice of cloud providers, including Dropbox, Google Drive, or Box.  

The app is free to use, but limits you to 3 notebooks. To unlock unlimited notebooks, document import, and handwriting recognition, there's a one-time fee.

For note-takers with needs that go beyond the basic, Nebo can handle the challenge. While plenty of note-taking apps allow text to be entered, Nebo can also easily structure notes, allowing you to add paragraphs, titles and bullet lists for organization.

It also handles ‘rich content,’ such as diagrams, sketches (with different colors and pen widths), flow charts, and formulas, letting you integrate them into the document. Once completed, documents can be exported in a variety of formats, including Word, PDF, and even HTML.  

Nebo is available for multiple platforms, including Windows 10 , Android, and of course iOS.

Whink is an iOS app that is equally at home taking notes via handwriting, as it is with text. Whether you prefer to write with a stylus, type text, or draw with a finger, Whink makes the process as simple as using real paper.

Other media can be added and incorporated including photos, diagrams with colors and “perfect geometric shapes”. Documents can also be marked up, and it supports multi-tasking so notes can be taken while reading another document (we have witnessed folks walking around with two tablets to accomplish this feat when it is not supported).  

Also consider these note-taking apps:

The success of the iPad and iPad Pro mean there are a lot of apps available for similar functions, and note taking is no different. Different apps focus on different areas, such as just text, rich text editing, including images, sketching images, and even integration with other platforms. We'll consider additional options which take the simple idea of making notes and expand on it:

Zoho Notebook is a powerful app for taking notes, editing text documents (such as Word or PDF files), adding images or creating sketches, spreadsheets, and even including audio recordings - all in the same note file. This makes it particularly versatile, and all saved files are synced your devices in the cloud. Even better it's free, and there are no ads.

OneNote may be a Microsoft production, but it's a full-featured digital notepad for the iPad Pro and other iOS devices. Aside from the fact that it has a lot of functionality - and it's free - it also integrates with Microsoft Office, which could be a big plus for a lot of people.

PDF Expert isn't anywhere near as comprehensive as the above programs for working with text. Instead, it's focused only on working with PDF files, not least annotating, highlighting, or signing them. It's only a simple feature-set, but PDF Expert does it well. It's frequently cited as the best app for working specifically with PDF files. 

Bear is a decent note-taking app for people who use an iPhone, iPad, or Mac computer. Thanks to the user-friendly interface, using the app is an enjoyable experience. The relative affordability is also something we commend.

Which iPad Pro notetaking app is best for you?

When deciding which iPad Pro notetaking apps to download and use, first consider what your actual needs are. For example, are you planning to keep your notes mostly as plain text notes, or do you need to add media to them? Additionally, do you need to use your notes in other software such as Microsoft Word? Are you happy to just save locally or in the cloud? In such instances, you will need to look at the features to see whether the app satisfactorily answers such questions or not.

To test for the best iPad Pro notetaking apps we first set up an account with the relevant software platform, then we tested the app to see what sort of features and tools were available for our notes. We also looked to see if we could export our notes to other platforms, and also share them with other users. The aim was to push each software platform to see how useful its basic tools were and also how easy it was to get to grips with any more advanced options.

See how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar .  

Additionally, you might like to take a look at the best free iPad apps.

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50 Of The Best Writing Apps For The iPad

What Are The Best Writing Apps For The iPad?

by TeachThought Staff

The best writing apps for iPad, like any concept of ‘best,’ is subjective and further based on need and circumstance.

Are you a poet drafting when inspiration strikes? A student taking notes and writing essays? A novelist that usually uses a desktop, but needs their new iPad Pro to do work on the go?

While the idea of writing more than a few hundred words on an iPad may seem crazy, using the iPad as a powerful portable writing tool allows you to take advantage of inspiration whenever and wherever it strikes. And with iPad screens now approaching 13″ and capable of supporting USB connections to enable standalone keyboards, it’s easier and more comfortable than ever to draft a masterpiece while away from your desk with the help of an app, an iPad, and a good idea.

1.   Ulysses

Developer Description : A pleasant, focused writing experience combined with effective document management, fast syncing and flexible export make Ulysses the first choice for writers of all kinds.

2.  Byword

Developer description: Draft a blog post, write that story or complete a school report wherever you are. Use Markdown to format text with easy keyboard shortcuts, subtle syntax highlighting, word counters with live update, and much more.

3.  1Writer

Developer description: 1Writer provides a distraction-free writing environment. You can create and edit plain text or Markdown files. It does have many features including inline Markdown preview, word count, dark theme, TextExpander support, insert photo, an extra keyboard row, and many more.

4.  Scrivo Pro for Scriveners & Writers

Developer description: You have a story to tell, article to publish, class notes to take, whether it’s today’s journal entry, tomorrow’s thesis or a future bestseller novella. Scrivo Pro can help you organize your writing, research, generate ideas, and remove distractions so you can focus on the most important thing: writing.

5. Hanx Writer

Developer description: Hanx Writer, created by Tom Hanks, recreates the experience of a manual typewriter, but with the ease and speed of an iPad.

6.  StorySkeleton

Developer description: Ideas strike wherever you are. Be prepared with StorySkeleton, the best story-mapping and organizational tool for iPad and iPhone. Create the structure for your project with StorySkeleton’s snappy and finger-friendly interface.

7.  Storyist

Developer description: Storyist is a powerful writing environment for iOS that lets you create, review, and revise your work wherever inspiration strikes.

8.  Story Planner

Developer description: The outline is one of the most powerful weapons for a writer. Now you can easily outline your stories wherever you are thanks to Story Planner, the best story-mapping and organizational stories tool ever.

9.  Scrivener

Developer description: Tailor-made for creating long manuscripts, Scrivener banishes page fright by allowing you to compose your text in any order, in sections as large or small as you like. Got a great idea but don’t know where it fits? Write when inspiration strikes and find its place later. Grow your manuscript organically, idea by idea.

10.  Textilus Pro Word Processor

Developer description: Textilus Pro is a great word processor app for students and business people, also being excellent for writing reports, papers, blog posts, journals or ebooks! Textilus Pro can help you organize your research, generate ideas, and remove distractions so you can focus on the most important thing: writing.

11.  Verse – Write Poems, Song Lyrics and Compositions

Developer description: Write poems, song lyrics, haikus or even odes and more with Verse for iPad and iPhone.

12.  MLA Writer – MLA Style Writing Tool

Developer description: View, edit and create MLA documents with MLA Writer. MLA Writer is the first step for a modern Writing tool for iPad and iPhone that aims to support 100% the standard MLA style. MLA (Modern Language Asociation) specifies guidelines for formatting manuscripts and using the English language in writing.

13.  Guided Essay Writer

Step-by-step guided essay-writing directions written by a college English professor and includes explanations and examples to help you write a college-level essay including the following: introduction paragraph, supporting paragraphs, and conclusion paragraph. Includes essay-writing tips to help write a successful, organized essay.

14.  Outline

Developer description: Notes with more creative freedom and better organization. Captured at any spot on a page and draggable around the place, organized in the world’s most natural hierarchy, and synced across devices with your favorite cloud. Freedom but clear structure.

15.  Pages

Developer description: Pages is the most beautiful word processor you’ve ever seen on a mobile device. This powerful word processor helps you create gorgeous reports, resumes, and documents in minutes.

16.  Werdsmith

Developer description: Werdsmith turns your iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch into a portable writing studio, so you can write any time, any place. Hundreds of thousands of writers rely on Werdsmith to capture their ideas and work on their novels, screenplays, stories and articles.

17.  Unblock

Developer description: Say goodbye to writer’s block. Unblock makes writing easy, with professionally designed writing exercises to get you through even the toughest obstacles.

18.  Editorial

Developer description: Editorial is a plain text editor for iOS with powerful automation tools and a beautiful inline preview for Markdown, TaskPaper, and Fountain documents.

19.  Daedalus Touch

Developer description: Daedalus Touch is the first truly next-gen text editor on iOS. No file lists, no folders, no documents in the classic sense – just paper stacks and an infinite amount of sheets. You navigate by standard gestures, all perfectly mapped and matched to the tasks at hand.

20.  Write for iPad

Developer description: Writing. Automated Dropbox/iCloud Syncing. Markdown. Fastest Sharing. Beautiful Design.

21.  Chapters

Developer description: Chapters lets you create and manage multiple notebooks, each fully searchable and with its own settings. Keep a travel journal, a photo log, a notebook about ongoing work projects, and your own personal diary in one app.

22.  PrintCentral Pro

Developer description: The Ultimate File Management, Transfer and Print solution for the iPad. Print to ALL printers (Not just AirPrint Printers). View, store & print email, documents & PDFs, all major cloud servers, attachments, photos, contacts & web pages. Convert documents and images to PDF files.

23.  Writer

Developer description: The Perfect App For Writers. Notes + Recordings + Photos + Reminders Perfect for Writing books, stories, poems, reports, novels, and more. Type, record, or type while recording/playing, also add in photographs and capture everything.

24.  GoodReader

Developer description: The amazing 4th edition of GoodReader app is a universal app for all your iOS devices to read and annotate PDFs.

25.  Chronicle

Developer description: Take note of life with Chronicle, a simple journaling app that offers more than bound sheets without overcomplicating the writing experience. Focused writing. Multiple photos per entry that you can move, resize, rotate – your words flow around them.

26.  miTypewriter for iPad

Developer description: This is your typewriter on iPad. Features: – Realistic typewriter on your iPad – Email by image or text – Backspace key to erase type – Fonts (Old Typewriter / American Typewriter) – Keyboard layouts (QWERTY, QWERTZ, AZERTY, and QZERTY) – Colors (Red/Black ink ribbon).

27.  iA Writer

Developer description: iA Writer is designed to provide the best digital writing experience: Keep your hands on the keyboard and your mind in the text.

28.  Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Developer description: Get America’s most useful and respected dictionary, optimized for your iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. This is the best iOS app for English language reference, education, and vocabulary building.

29.  Smart Whiteboard HD

Developer description: This is an extremely simple Whiteboard that is convenient for your work, life and study.

30.  Page: English Grammar & Spell Checker + Translator

Developer description: Ginger’s writing app offers you a better way to write in English. Get everything you need to quickly compose high-quality text that amplifies your message, everywhere you write. Tap into Ginger’s powerful editing tools to quickly review your text for any grammar, spelling and punctuation issues with the world’s leading proofreader.

31.  StoryBoard

Developer description: With StoryBoard, you can create interactive, visual stories. Stories can be written, and then words can be replaced with sets of pictures. When your story is finished, it becomes an interactive activity.

32.  Characterize

Developer description: Characterize is the perfect creator tool for writers, role-players, storytellers, and anyone who needs to come up with original characters on the fly. Pulling from an extensive database of names and vital statistics, Characterize can generate literally quadrillions of new characters!

33. Microsoft OneNote

Developer description: Capture your thoughts, discoveries, and ideas with OneNote, your very own digital notebook. With OneNote you can seize that moment of inspiration, take your class notes, or track that list of errands that are too important to forget. Whether you’re at home, in the office, or on the go, your notes go with you.

34. Microsoft Word

Developer description: Now Word documents look better than ever on your tablet and phone. When you edit or create documents, you can be confident they will look exactly how you want across PC, Mac, tablet and phone. Word has the familiar Office look and feel along with an intuitive touch experience, so you’ll be up and running in no time.

Note: On iPhone, iPad Air, and iPad mini, the core Word experience, including viewing, creating, and editing documents, is free. Or unlock the full Word experience with a qualifying Office 365 subscription. On iPad Pro, you need Office 365 to create and edit documents.

35. A Novel Idea

Developer description: A Novel Idea is the premier tool for plotting your story and recording bursts of inspiration. Use its simple interface to create your characters, locations, scenes, and novels and then link them together to create your story’s plot. Use the Idea feature to quickly jot down your creative sparks.

36. Penultimate

Developer description: Penultimate combines distraction-free, natural handwriting and sketching with the power of Evernote’s sync and search. Take class or meeting notes, journal your thoughts, or outline your next big idea—in the office or on the go.

37.  Thesaurus Rex by Dictionary.com

Developer description: Thesaurus Rex by Dictionary.com revolutionizes the thesaurus for the first time in 160 years. We’ve added modern content and synonyms for new words such as epiphany & stakeholder, plus 30,000 more new entries. Works offline.

38. SoundCurtain

Developer description: Sound Curtain is a unique application that masks distracting noise by automatically adapting its volume, pitch and tone in response to the noise around you.

39.  Notability

Developer description: Students, teachers, and business professionals use Notability daily to take notes, sketch ideas, annotate PDFs, mark-up photos, record lectures, provide audio feedback and more. It is uniquely designed for each device to provide the best note-taking experience at school, at home, and at work. And with iCloud, your notes are always up to date.

40. Write or Die

Developer description: Unless you’ve got a deadline looming it’s difficult to find the impetus to keep writing. Write or Die aims to address this difficulty and help you hack your writing process and get your words out. It’s a new kind of writing application that provides consequences for distraction and procrastination. As long as you keep writing, everything is fine, but if you become distracted, there are customizable consequences.

41. MyScript Nebo – Note Taking for Apple Pencil

Developer description: Structure your notes using titles, paragraphs, and bullet lists. Add interactive diagrams, editable equations, freeform sketches, and annotate pictures. Finally convert your captured ink to a digital typeset document on demand. Nebo documents can be shared as text. Powered by MyScript Interactive Ink – Work better with your Apple Pencil!

42. Creative Writer

Developer description: An endless source of writing ideas, words, prompts and sentences for your writing sessions. Millions of text segments analyzed and clustered into 7 powerful predictive models: Prose (best-selling novels), Dialogues (movies, TV series), You & Me, Lyrics (popular songs, RAP), Romance, Classics (Shakespeare, Goethe, Joyce, Kafka, Proust, Dostojevski, and others) and Quotations.

43. Lists for Writers

Developer description: Lists for Writers is a great addition to any writer’s toolbox. Helpful to both novice and expert writers alike, this app delivers list after list of prompts and ideas for your brainstorming sessions: names, character traits, plot lines, occupations, obsessions, action verbs, and much more

44. Rory’s Story Cubes

Developer description: 9 cubes, 54 images, over 10 million combinations and infinite stories. Shake to roll the cubes. Create a story using all 9 face-up images.

45. Creative Writing Prompts

Developer description: Get more than 1,000 starting lines and creative writing prompts to inspire you and give you ideas for improving your creative writing. Great for students, amateur writers, or professionals who want to free write often.

46. Writing Challenge: Creative Prompts for your Story

Developer description: With Writing Challenge you will enjoy a game with creative prompts to spark your inspiration and master free writing.

47. The Brainstormer

Developer description: The Brainstormer is kindling for creative minds. A tactile tool to randomly combine a plot, a subject and a setting or style, the Brainstormer provides a moment of inspiration for writers, painters, or any creative mind. Combat creative block, spark new ideas and summon up quick subjects for doodling, sketching or journaling.

48. Forest: Stay focused, be present

Developer description: Forest provides an interesting solution to beat your phone addiction. You can plant a seed in Forest. In the following time, this seed will gradually grow into a tree. However, if you cannot resist the temptation and leave this app to check Facebook or play a game, your tree will wither away. With this interesting mechanism, the sense of achievement and responsibility will drive our users to stay away from their phone with no pain.

49. Evernote

Developer description: Let Evernote change the way you organize your personal and professional projects. Dive in: take notes, create to-do lists, and save things you find online into Evernote. We’ll sync everything between your phone, tablet, and computer automatically.

50. Ink On – Track word counts, writing time and days in the chair – Inked Voices

Developer description: Write with your favorite tool, be it Word, Scrivener, or another platform. Track your progress in Ink On. Whether you prefer to set goals by project, overall, or both, Ink On has you covered.

What apps do you use when taking your writing on the road? Leave a comment sharing your tips and tricks below or join the conversation on our Facebook page .

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How-To Geek

How to take handwritten notes on your ipad using the apple pencil.

Purchased an Apple Pencil with your new iPad? Forget your notebooks and take digital handwritten notes right on your iPad. Here's how.

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Apple pencil compatibility, how to take handwritten notes on ipad using notes app, alternative note app options.

The Apple Pencil is a versatile tool for your iPad. Not only can you use it for (virtual) drawing, painting, or coloring, you can also take notes and doodle. Here's how to take handwritten notes on your iPad.

Apple Pencil is available in two different models. The first-generation Apple Pencil comes in a round shape and was first introduced with the original iPad Pro. It also includes a Lightning connector under a cap for charging.

Here's a list of all iPads that support the first-generation Apple Pencil at the time of writing:

• iPad Air (3rd generation)
• iPad mini (5th generation)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st or 2nd generation)
• iPad Pro 10.5-inch
• iPad Pro 9.7-inch
• iPad (6th generation)
• iPad 10.2 inch (7th generation)

The second-generation Apple Pencil is quite a bit smaller, with a single flat edge. It now magnetically latches on to the edge of the iPad Pro and charges wirelessly.

The accessory is only supported on the following iPad Pro models with Face ID (again, at the time of writing):

• iPad Pro 11-inch (2018 and 2020 models)
• iPad Pro 12.9 inch (2018 and 2020 models)

It's quite easy to get started taking notes on your iPad as you don't even have to download an app. Simply use the built-in Notes app on your iPad.

Open the "Notes" app on your iPad and create a new note. From there, tap on the Expand button to make the note full-screen.

Now, you can tap the tip of your Apple Pencil on the screen to enter the handwritten notes mode. You'll see drawing tools appear at the bottom of the screen.

The canvas is now yours. You can doodle, write, or type anything in the note. When you're taking notes with the Apple Pencil, use your finger to swipe up and down.

From the drawing tools, the first is the Pen tool. Tap on it to see the option for the thickness of the nib and the transparency. You can do the same thing for the next two tools which are Marker and Pencil.

If you have the second-generation Apple Pencil , you can double-tap on the Action button to switch to the Eraser. You can also customize the Action button to switch to the last used tool instead.

Related: How to Change the Double-Tap Action on Apple Pencil for iPad Pro

The fourth tool is the Eraser. Tap on it to turn your Apple Pencil into an eraser. Move your Apple Pencil over anything that you want to erase.

The fifth tool is a Lasso-style selection tool. (Photoshop users might be familiar with it.) Once the tool is selected, you can circle over elements to select them. Once selected, you can use your finger to move them around. This can be a good way for you to move a doodle to a different place.

The last tool in the set is the Ruler. After you select it, you'll see a large ruler show up in the note area. You can use two fingers to move the Ruler and to change the angle.

Move your fingers around and you'll see that the ruler snaps to certain angles like 45 degrees, 90 degrees, and so on. Once you've used the ruler, tap on the icon again to get rid of it.

On the right edge, you'll see a color picker. You'll see five common colors that you can pick from, or you can tap on the color picker icon to choose from all available shades.

Now that you know all the tools, go ahead and start writing using your Apple Pencil.

Once you're finished writing, there's a nice hidden gem for you to discover. Apple Notes app has a handwriting recognition feature built-in. So, as long as your handwriting is legible, Apple should be able to recognize and index them.

This means that you can search for text inside your handwritten notes. To test it out, go to the "Search" field, and try to find something from your handwritten note.

Plus, you don't even need to unlock your iPad to start taking handwritten notes. Just tap on your iPad's lock screen with your Apple Pencil. This will create a new blank note that you can start writing in. Later, you can unlock your iPad to save the note.

You can customize the feature in the Settings app by going to Notes > Access Notes From Lock Screen section.

Write Neatly Using Lines and Grids

When you start using the Notes app to take handwritten notes, you'll realize that your handwritten notes are quite haphazard. There's one way to make things neat and tidy. When you first create a blank note, tap on the Share button. It will show a single "Lines & Grids" option. (You'll also find the option in the Share sheet. )

From the pop-up, select the kind of lines or grid layout that you want.

This will now become the background of your note, making it much easier to write in straight lines.

The Apple Notes app is a good place to get started with handwritten notes on the iPad, but if you want more features, you'll have to look at one of the many third-party apps on the App Store. Here are our recommendations.

GoodNotes 5 ($7.99)

GoodNotes 5 is the most versatile notetaking app when it comes to Apple Pencil. You can customize virtually every single part of the handwritten notetaking interface. You can switch between different pen styles and scrolling direction. You can add shapes, images, and text to the note. The app comes with a myriad of templates, and there's a feature that lets you zoom in to a particular part of the page.

Notability ($8.99)

Notability is a popular notetaking app among students. It lets you record audio, type out notes, and take handwritten notes, all in a single interface. Plus, it can sync audio along with your notes, which is handy during revision time. You can also import and annotate PDFs and work on two notes side-by-side.

If you have an iPad Pro and a newer Mac, you can connect your iPad to your Mac and turn it into a fully functional secondary display and drawing tablet (with Apple Pencil support) using the new Sidecar feature in macOS Catalina and iPadOS.

Related: How to Use Your iPad as an External Mac Display With Sidecar

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A practical guide to writing on the iPad

The iPad is a great tool for writers. For many professional and part-time writers it is a better option than a laptop.

In this feature we’ll look at why the iPad could be a better option for you. We’ll examine which model iPad to choose, explore keyboards and outline writing applications.

You don’t need an expensive high-end iPad model for writing. The standard NZ$569 (mid-2020 prices) iPad has everything you need. It’s powerful enough and has a screen you’ll have no trouble living with.

Write on any iPad

Writing is an undemanding application for a computer or a tablet. It barely skims the surface of a device’s capabilities. That said, you need enough computing power for the screen to keep up with fast typing and to display crisp, readable text.

Every 2020 iPad meets that standard including the iPad mini. Indeed, every iPad from the last five years will do the job and do it in style.

When I’m away from my desk, I use a top-of-the-range 12.9-inch iPad Pro for writing. It has far more power than I need to put down words, in my case I use the extra grunt other applications.

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Apple could have designed the iPad with journalists like me in mind. They are more portable than even the slimmest, lightest laptop. Their batteries tend to last hours longer than most laptops. And they do a good job of hiding complexity.

It’s no trouble to pull out an iPad and work on in a cafe, on an airplane tray-table, or, at a pinch, on your lap. Sure this is true of a good laptop, but it is more so with the iPad.

Why is the iPad a great writing tool?

When Apple launched the first iPad it pitched the tablet as a media consumption device. It was clear early on that it could do more. Today’s iPads are better than laptops for many creative tasks.

When it comes to writing the iPad has many advantages:

• It has long battery life. Sure, you can find laptops that will go 12 hours between charges. Yet, measure-for-measure, an iPad will last longer between charges than a conventional computer.

This is why the iPad is the closest modern equivalent to a portable typewriter .

• Portable. The iPad is more portable than any laptop. It can go places laptops don’t.
• One aspect of the iPad’s portability is that you can work on it even when you are standing.It’s possible to thumb type on the screen keyboard while your are standing. I’ve done this at press conferences. I’ve done this waiting in queues to board planes.
• This means you can write in more places, more often. Yes, you can do that on a phone, but it’s not the best writing experience.  It is not easy to write standing up with a laptop.
• The same applies if, say, you are sitting cramped on a crowded plane flight. At a pinch you can tap out words holding the iPad in vertical or portrait orientation when there’s no room for a keyboard.
• Being able to use the taller portrait orientation is an often overlooked bonus.There are subtle ergonomic problems with writing across a wide screen. This tends to make errors harder to spot. A narrow width is easier to proof-read.  If you are writing words to print on paper, the screen orientation more closely mirrors how your words will appear on the finished document.
• iPads have glorious, well-lit high resolution screens. Higher resolution means your eyes don’t tire as fast. You can work for longer stretches and retain concentration for longer.
• No waiting. An iPad is always ready to go the moment it is switched on. Yes, modern laptops can do the same, but you can always start writing in seconds on an iPad.

Pick an iPad, any iPad

iPads range in size. The smallest is the iPad mini, with a 7.9-inch display. That’s roughly 200 by 135mm. At the other end of the scale the 12.9-inch iPad Pro display measures 280 by 215mm. It has more than twice as much screen.

The Mini weighs 300g. That’s roughly the weight of two phones. The larger size iPad Pro is 640g, about half the weight of a laptop with the same size display.

Even when you add a keyboard, iPads are smaller, lighter and more portable than almost every laptop. The nearest non-iPad competitor would be a Microsoft Surface tablet.

If money is no object, you can choose the iPad that you find comfortable to read. If it is an object, pick the iPad you can afford.

Cellular or not?

Few people need the models that include cellular phone technology for connecting to the net.

You’ll find Wi-Fi is available in many of the places where you will want to write. Where it isn’t, you can tether your iPad to your phone and connect that way.

This works with both iPhones and Android phones. The experience is better and smoother if you have an iPhone, but don’t get hung up on this point, it isn’t a deal breaker.

Cellular adds around $220 to the price of a Wi-Fi iPad. The other option that adds to the price of an iPad is storage.

iPad storage

While you don’t need a huge amount for storage for written documents, you may want to store music, other audio, photographs and video. These are all storage hungry.

There is a terabyte storage option for the iPad Pro. This adds NZ$900 to the price of the base 128GB model. It will be overkill for many readers. I have a huge music collection, store audio and video files and struggle to fill a 512GB iPad. That size of storage will add roughly NZ$500 to the base price.

The exact amount of storage you need should take into account what other devices you own. If you have a computer and an iPad, then you won’t need to splurge on a lot of storage. Likewise, if you can offload files that you don’t need all the time to an external drive, you can save money.

One thing you must be aware of is that it is near impossible to upgrade iPad storage. It’s a decision you need to get right before you buy.

Based on my experience, I’d suggest you should budget for at least 256GB of storage and consider buying 512GB. That’s the amount I have on my own iPad, it has enough headroom for me to never worry about running out of space.

iPad keyboard considerations

A keyboard isn’t essential if you own an iPad. You can do a lot without one and there is always the Apple Pencil and handwriting recognition .

But this is all about writing on an iPad. A keyboard is always going to make that easier.

There is no shortage of iPad keyboards to choose from. Any iPad will work with any Bluetooth keyboard.

When you buy an iPad, chances are someone will attempt to sell you a keyboard as an add-on. Apple’s iPad keyboards are the most straightforward choice, although your choice should be down to what you find comfortable. That’s both from an ergonomic point of view and from a budget point of view.

Magic Keyboard

At NZ$550 a pop, Apple’s Magic Keyboard is an expensive, Rolls Royce option. It’s good, when you use it at a desk or on a flat surface it is little different from a laptop keyboard experience.

The $320 Apple Smart Keyboard Folio is less expensive. It’s the one I choose for when I’m on the move. It has the best balance of function and price. Again, it gives the iPad a laptop feel. Yet it is more flexible and feels less robust than the Magic Keyboard.

Then there’s the NZ$260 Apple Smart Keyboard.

Not all Apple keyboards are available for all iPads. One aspect of the Apple keyboards that you might see as a negative is that they flex more than you might expect if you are typing on your lap. When used this way they are not as solid as laptops.

Two third-party brands to consider are Logitech and Brydge. You can save a few dollars when compared to Apple prices. Brydge makes hard shell keyboards that turn your iPad into something laptopesque.

When I looked there were a dozen Logitech iPad keyboards. The range covers all iPad models.

All the keyboards that are made to work with iPads offer a degree of protection. That’s important if you are mobile. The devices are not fragile, but once you start moving about the potential for dropping them or doing other damage increases.

Keyboards a matter of personal taste. I touch type and find there’s a huge variation in what works for me. The only way you can be certain is to have a quick test drive before buying. It may make sense to shop online for an iPad, I recommend you visit a physical store before choosing a keyboard.

Much of the time I use a first generation Apple Bluetooth keyboard and a mStand tablet from Rain Design to hold the iPad. It’s a simple and elegant approach.

Buying an Apple Pencil can be confusing. There are two models. The one you buy depends on your iPad model.

It’s not realistic to use a Pencil for long writing jobs. They are great for jotting quick notes when on the move. My regret is that I can’t use shorthand to write with an Apple Pencil.

File the Apple Pencil under nice to have rather than essential . Although there are people who say they can’t live without them. It’s a good thing to ask someone to buy you as a present.

Writing apps

There are iPad versions of two best-known writing apps: Microsoft Word and Google Docs. While they may be all you need, there are a wealth of alternatives that may suit your needs better than the juggernauts.

It’s controversial, but I argue Word is a better experience on the iPad than on a Windows or Mac computer. It’s stripped back and has an elegance that’s hidden on a conventional computer.

If your iPad has a screen smaller than 10.1-inches, Word is free.

Otherwise you can buy Word for the iPad as part of any Microsoft Office subscription. If you use the software at work, or on a computer, you may already have a licence.

A Microsoft Office licence costs around NZ$130 a year, although you can find deals.

There is a web version of Microsoft Word, which is handy if you need the software in a hurry and don’t have the app loaded.

One Word drawback is that it doesn’t dovetail as neatly into the Apple-iPad world as many other writing tools. You are pushed towards using Microsoft OneDrive instead of iCloud or Dropbox.

Likewise, when you try to mail a Word document, the software assumes you want to send it using Outlook, not the stock iPad Mail app.

Google Docs

Google does something similar with Google Docs on the iPad. You can use the app in its familiar web-based version. When you open a document, say from Google Drive, there’s an option to download and install a Google Doc iPad app.

If you don’t choose to download, opt to open the document in Safari, a second pushier screen pops up asking you a second time. Never forget that installing a Google app gives the company permission to spy on your iPad.

Google Docs works fine on a browser on the iPad. I’m hard-pressed to see any difference in the user experience when compared with Docs on a laptop or desktop computer. If you are all in with Google, the app might make more sense. Otherwise, stick with the web version.

While Microsoft Word has collaboration features, Google Docs is a better choice if you work with others to build documents. Better, not foolproof. 

Apple Pages

Apple’s own Pages word processor is included as standard with every iPad. It could be all the word processor you need. It will open documents created with Word or Docs and you can send Pages documents in the Word format.

As the name hints Pages is more page design oriented that Word or Google Docs. This works better than you might expect on an iPad, although you will need a larger screen to make the most of it. Pages is ideal, a better bet than Word or Docs, if you plan to create Apple Books or PDFs.

There’s one Pages feature I love, even if it is not my first choice for writing on the iPad. Presenter Mode turns the iPad into an autocue. When I’m on a long radio broadcast, presenting live or doing similar work I use it as a prompt.

Every writer has their favourite apps. Different writing tools perform different functions. What works best for you depends on what writing you do and what you are familiar with.

For my everyday work the best writing app is iA Writer . It may not suit you. iA Writer is not a word processor, it is a text editor. That means it’s a barebones writing app with few features. You can download it from the App Store for NZ$30.

iA Writer uses Markdown . This is a way of formatting text without lifting your hands from the keyboard. It takes minutes to learn and can speed up writing.

Byword is a good NZ$6 alternative to iA Writer. The developers neglected the app for a while, but are now back on the job.

Other writing apps

Two other apps worth considering are Scrivener and Ulysses. I’m not familiar with either beyond testing them both many years ago.

Scrivener, NZ$19 in the App Store, sells as a writing tool to help novelists. That means it has database features to help track characters and other novel elements.

Fans swear by the app. It goes in the opposite direction to where I want to go with writing on my iPad. That is, it adds complexity.

Ulysses has the same Markdown formatting as iA Writer and Byword, but adds a lot of word processor-like features. This sounds contradictory, but it marries a minimalist look and feel with background complexity. You’ll either love it or be bewildered by it.

The app is a free download, you can test it without paying. After that it costs NZ$11 a month or $92 a year to use. That makes it expensive if you don’t expect to tap into its complexity.

You aren’t restricted to using an app made solely for writing. Many general applications include editors that may serve your purposes.

There are iPad users who write everything in the Notes app that comes as part of the iPad operating system.

Tools like Evernote are popular with iPad writers. Bear is another app that comes up in conversations about writing on the iPad. It is more a note-taking app than a text editor, but it covers all the bases. Simplenote is a free alternative.

Bill Bennett

Freelance journalist.

Auckland-based Bill Bennett writes technology and business stories that are directly relevant to New Zealand readers. His emphasis is on telecommunications, but he also covers other aspects of technology and business. You can find his features in the New Zealand Herald and hear him regularly on RNZ Nine to Noon and the NZ Tech Podcast. Bennett's The Download Weekly newsletter is published every Friday. You can sign up for it here . If you want to support his work, you can make a donation to his PressPatron account .

Contact Bill Bennett

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iPad Pro vs Microsoft Surface: A tablet showdown for writers and artists

Last week, I took a trip to the offices of our sister site, Windows Central with my iPad Pro and Pencil. I hadn't used the Surface tablets to draw on since the original Surface premiered in 2012, and was very curious to compare the new Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book with Apple's tablet.

First, let me get this out of the way: This isn't a comprehensive review of either iPad nor Surface. In this comparison, I'm looking at both tablets as artist and writing tools, testing pen-related activities and the software that supports them. If you want speed tests and more comprehensive deep dives of how each works as a computer, you'll want to read WC's reviews of the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book , and our iPad Pro review .

The specs (that matter)

Both the Surface Pro 4 and the Surface Book are marketed as whole computer replacements, and as such, have the capacity for an impressive amount of power—power that rivals MacBook Pro standards. The iPad Pro, in contrast, has an impressive amount of power for a tablet device, but it can't compete against 16GB of RAM or a Core i7 processor.

When it comes to using either device as a sketchpad/writing platform, however, I don't really care about 60FPS gaming possibilities: I want long battery life, smooth interaction with the tablet's stylus of choice, fast brush rendering in artistic apps, and comfort on my lap and in my arms. My ideal tablet should work in tandem with my desktop computer, rather than replace it entirely.

If your goal is to do all your artistic work on your laptop—no desktops allowed—then the Surface is going to be a lot more appealing to you. If you're looking for something to replace to your laptop and work alongside your desktop powerhouse, the iPad Pro is a much more compelling option.

If you want a desktop replacement: Surface Book

If you want a laptop or second screen replacement: iPad Pro

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In terms of weight, the iPad Pro comes in at the lightest of the three tablets (unsurprisingly, given its lack of additional chips), at 1.57 pounds (1.59 if you have the Wi-Fi and Cellular model). The Surface Book sans keyboard is a few ounces heavier at 1.6 pounds, though if you attach its keyboard base, be prepared for a whopping 3.34 pound total; the Surface Pro 4's base model comes in at the heaviest of the three tablets at 1.74 pounds.

As I picked up all three tablets sans their keyboard options, there wasn't a noticeable difference in weight, but I do prefer the overall feel of the iPad in both landscape and portrait mode. The tablet feels much more well-balanced, even when holding it with a thumb and forefinger by a corner; in contrast, both Surface models feel much more weighty when held lightly in one hand. All are pretty comfortable when writing or drawing sitting down.

If you plan to carry your tablet in-hand: iPad Pro

If you plan to use it chained to a desk or in a lap: Three-way tie

Battery is a big deal here: The Surface Pro 4 and iPad Pro have pretty comparable battery life, packing a 38.2 and 38.5-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery, respectively and promising 9-10 hours of battery life. (Buy a more powerful Surface, however, and expect that battery estimation to go down.) The Surface Book's a different story altogether: It stores most of its battery in that gigantic keyboard. Detach to use as a tablet, and you're looking at just 3-4 hours of battery life.

I didn't do extensive battery testing on the Surface or Surface Book, so I'm taking Microsoft at its word on battery life (and for more on that, you can always visit Windows Central ). In my personal experiences with the iPad Pro, the tablet's had incredible battery performance—I've regularly been getting 14 total active hours without recharging when sketching, writing, and listening to music.

If you want great battery life on the go or at a desk: iPad Pro / Surface Pro 4

If you work a lot at your office or don't mind the extra weight: Surface Book

Software differences

No surprises here: Tablets made by Microsoft and a tablet made by Apple are going to run different operating systems, and offer different program compatibility.

The Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book run both Microsoft's Windows 10 tablet operating system and the full desktop version of Windows 10: This means that you can switch from Microsoft's touch-designed environment to the full desktop workflow of Windows 10—and all the awkwardness that comes with small touch targets designed for pointers. Despite not-ideal interactivity, this does mean that you can run full desktop applications on the tablets—like Adobe's Creative Suite.

The iPad Pro, in contrast, is limited to running iOS (though it can also be used very effectively as a second screen for your desktop computer with apps like Astropad and Duet Display . As such, the iPad is primarily limited to programs available in the iOS App Store.

I will say this, however: The traditional version of Photoshop may not exist, but don't discount non-Adobe apps. There are a ton of great photography and graphics applications hiding away that can do just as much as what you might use Photoshop and Illustrator for, if not more. On the sketching side, apps like Paper make for the best unlimited sketchpad you could want; more pro-level apps like Procreate , Pixelmator , Sketch Club , uMake , and others provide high-quality canvases, layers, vector tools, 3D modeling, and export to Adobe-compatible formats like PSD.

I doubt an iPad fits in every creative professional's software workflow right now, but it's worth an investigation. Do you really need the full power that Photoshop or Illustrator offers, or do you mainly use brushes, vectors, layers, and repair tools?

If you do want that pressure-sensitive sketching experience in Photshop, you can turn your iPad Pro into a pressure-sensitive second screen for your desktop Mac—with or without wires!—using Astropad . Astropad currently supports the Pro and Pencil in beta, offering pressure-sensitive drawing with almost no latency between iPad and Mac, thanks to smart refresh tricks from the developers.

Officially, there's been around a half-second delay in my past tests between lines made with the Pencil and when they appear in Photoshop. Astropad combats this, however, by providing a native pink "guide" line on the iPad as you draw: This guide line is as fast as native sketching in Notes or Paper or Procreate, and it tricks your brain into not seeing the latency while you draw.

If you need Adobe apps on your device no matter what: Surface Book

If you want to end up in an Adobe app but do initial work on your device: iPad Pro

If you want a Cintiq-like second screen experience for your Mac: iPad Pro

The Pen and Pencil

Both tablets have their own distinctive stylus: for the Surface, it's the black, blue, or silver Pen; for the iPad, it's the white-and-silver Pencil.

Unlike the Pencil, the Surface ships with the Pen—you don't have to buy one separately, though you can upgrade your older Surface tablet's pen for $60. Microsoft acquired N-Trig and its active pen technology last year, and used it to upgrade the Pen significantly for the Pro 4 and Surface Book. For those not in the know, N-Trig's secret sauce is much like Wacom's—a combination of pen input with an integrated digitizer and controller built into the tablet.

The Pen now sports 1024 levels of pressure—similar to an entry-level Wacom tablet—and offers multiple pen tips to draw with. (In my tests, those tips seemed to be based solely around artist drawing comfort, rather than changing the line style or width of the Pen.) It connects to the Surface Pro 4 via Bluetooth, is powered by a sole AAAA battery, and attaches to the tablet with magnets for easy (ish) storage. Oh, and there's a small slender button and an eraser, though I didn't take much advantage of either while drawing.

Apple's Pencil contrasts in a number of different ways. It ships separately from the iPad, for $99. It uses a very different technology than either Wacom or N-Trig, relying on the iPad's refresh rates, special software, and internal chips within the Pencil to get the most accurate line. Apple hasn't stated any official pressure levels for the Pencil, nor has it even made an indication that it wants to use that metric to compare the Pencil with the Surface or Wacom pen technology.

There's just one tip currently shipping with the Pencil—a hard rubber pencil-like nib—though you get a spare in the box, and there's no digital eraser, pen clip, magnetic storage, or extra buttons to be found. And the Pencil needs no batteries: Instead, it charges using a built-in Lightning Connector.

Given the Pencil's extra cost and lack of extra bells and whistles, it's easy to write it off and declare the Surface Pen the better tool on looks and outward function alone. But 90 percent of a stylus's job is drawing and writing, and this is where the Pencil dominates.

The Surface Pen feels like pretty much every Wacom or N-Trig pen before it has felt: plastic and click-click-clicky. It's a motion artists have gotten used to over years of digital drawing, but it doesn't come close to the natural drawing experience on paper. The Pencil, while still not a true replacement for the texture of paper and pen, is much more solid in your hand—its weight, length, and balance feels right for this sort of tool. It doesn't eliminate the "drawing on glass" feeling, but the nib is much more muted on the glass surface, and pressing into the screen feels much more natural than it does with the Surface Pen.

Did I notice not having an eraser and extra buttons? Honestly, no. Like Rene, I haven't worked with a built-in eraser for drawing or writing since grade school—and even on my Wacom, the eraser was clunky. It also encourages me to use actual art techniques when I do digital pencil drawings—shading with lighter greys and whites to remove strokes rather than using a blunt (and, honestly, very digital in its execution) eraser.

Similarly, buttons remind me that I'm drawing digitally: I'd much rather physically touch or swipe on the surface to undo. Gestures make undoing a stroke feel like brushing away charcoal fragments; pen button clicks are much harsher—and worse, easier to trigger accidentally.

I didn't miss the eraser on the Pencil. But I quickly missed the Pencil's tilt-to-shade technology when drawing on the Surface. It, above all else, makes the Pencil feel natural in a way the Surface Pen does not. Digital artists have become accustomed to relying on the same tiny nib for all tools, whether we're using inks, pencils, big brushes or little. With tilt-to-shade, the Pencil isn't just a dumb-but-pressure-sensitive tool: It reacts to your movements on the digital paper in the way styluses of old just can't. It's a glimpse of the future.

Is the Pencil more expensive and more limited? Absolutely. But to me, both of those were the right calls: The Pencil is the best digital stylus I've ever used by a mile. Apple's unique take on pressure-sensitive drawing makes it feel different and more comfortable than the Surface Pen or a Wacom stylus, and tilt-to-shade is a very comfortable way to color and enhance drawings. And while Lightning port charging looks odd, I vastly prefer not having to stress out looking for a AAAA battery if my stylus runs out of power while on the road.

If you like eraser nibs and Wacom-style pens: Surface + Surface Pen

If you want a better drawing and writing experience: Apple Pencil + iPad Pro

The writing and drawing experience

During my tests, I used a few different programs on the Surface and iPad Pro. I wanted to compare the company's entry-level drawing apps, so my initial round of tests were done in Fresh Paint on the Surface, and Notes on the iPad Pro.

I also took a look at the Adobe experience on both platforms: On the Surface Book, that meant Photoshop Express; on the iPad Pro, I tried both Adobe Sketch and Astropad while running Adobe Photoshop on a MacBook Pro

You can see my full tests below. If I were to do these again today, I'd probably have added OneNote, as well, since the app is available on both platforms.

Don't want to watch the video? Here's the skinny: Both tablets are great at writing and drawing, but the iPad Pro edges out for me in terms of overall experience.

Writing and drawing is about as precise on both the Surface and iPad Pro, though I did find that writing in small letters was much more comfortable and readable on the iPad. Overall, the tests were mostly draws (no pun intended): You're going to get a pretty good result whatever tablet you use.

But if you care just as much about process as results, the Surface may let you down. The tablet's insistence on hovering cursors (a default holdover from the mouse-based Windows environment) in many of its apps is frustrating—it doesn't feel nearly as natural as working directly on the screen. I don't want to see where the pointer is, because I should trust that both pens are going to be precise and mark where I'm pressing. While you can disable this setting, it's still odd that Microsoft makes it the default when it has a pretty precise engine in place.

As I mentioned in the stylus section above, Microsoft's tablet reminds me a lot of digital drawing experiences past. It feels like a Cintiq—which is awesome for those looking for that Cintiq experience—but again, that's a continuation of the old guard. Not a reinvention for the better.

In contrast, the iPad Pro and Pencil is a step forward in drawing technology. There are no pressure ratings, because the stylus just works the way you want it to. It's more comfortable to draw with: There's no faux pointer showing where your pen's cursor is because you just don't need it. And when it comes to default apps, Notes just smokes Fresh Paint. Even with a more limited color palette and tools, the app looks so much more natural.

If you need to work in the full version of Photoshop or Illustrator on your tablet and you're used to the Cintiq-style experience, the Surface is going to win out. Adobe's apps are scattered to the winds on the iPad, and their tools, while great, are limited. But the iPad Pro is a great excuse to step forward and embrace digital drawing both on the go and at your desk, especially if you work in tandem with a more powerful desktop computer. (Unlike iOS's Astropad, the Surface Pen won't work with pressure sensitivity if you run a second monitor app on your Surface Pro or Surface Book.)

If you're comfortable with the old Cintiq-style experience: Surface Pro or Surface Book

If you want a more natural digital drawing experience: iPad Pro

What should you get?

This brings us to the big question: Which tablet is the right one for you? Ultimately, it's going to be the one you enjoy working with and that meets the requirements you need for your artwork or writing.

The Surface Pro and Surface Book are great machines, and I don't begrudge anyone in the art community for picking one up. If you want something that's going to act as your primary computer while on the road or at home, the Surface line has a lot going for it. The Pen feels like a Wacom-style tool, and you can get incredibly precise lines and strokes when you write with it. And you can use any desktop apps natively, which can be a huge boon for your workflow.

Where the Surface fails, however, is where the iPad Pro shines. The Pro may not be as powerful but has better battery life, a more natural-feeling stylus, superior entry-level apps, and is an outright joy to draw with. It's a digital sketchbook and idea machine, and you can hook it up to your desktop Mac using third-party software to get a very close approximation of a true Cintiq drawing experience.

To borrow an oft-quoted metaphor, the Surface Pro and Book are the trucks in the drawing tablet world—great, reliable machines that revere and model themselves after digital sketching tablets of old. The iPad Pro is the upstart electric car—it may not be as full-featured as the Surface, but it doesn't need to be to achieve its goal. It wants digital drawing to feel as fun and energetic as drawing in a real sketchbook, and it does.

Right now, there are going to be artists who still need or want trucks for their daily drivers, and that's fine. And if you have a Surface Pro already, I don't think you need to trash it and go running for an iPad. It's an excellent tablet for drawing and writing as-is. But for me, the iPad Pro's drawing experience is so obviously the way of the future that—at the very least—trying one is a no-brainer.

○ Apple Pencil 2 Review ○ Apple Pencil: The Ultimate Guide ○ Apple Pencil Hand-Drawn Review ○ How to learn to draw and write with Apple Pencil ○ Best drawing apps ○ Best handwriting apps ○ Best Apple Pencil accessories ○ Best cases for Apple Pencil 2

Serenity was formerly the Managing Editor at iMore, and now works for Apple. She's been talking, writing about, and tinkering with Apple products since she was old enough to double-click. In her spare time, she sketches, sings, and in her secret superhero life, plays roller derby. Follow her on Twitter @settern.

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can you write college papers on ipad

can you write papers on ipad

Posted on Dec 1, 2012 10:13 AM

Posted on Dec 1, 2012 8:25 PM

Pages for iPad supports headers, footnotes, numbering, etc. Pages for iPad is very advanced in what you can use it to create. This link shows some features

http://help.apple.com/pages/ipad/1.6.2/#tan72488da0

I've used this app to write tons of papers, case studies and lab reports. There are other apps available in the App Store for the people that refuse to give up microsoft's way of life.

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Dec 1, 2012 8:25 PM in response to jr9618

Dec 1, 2012 1:58 PM in response to jr9618

jr9618, you can definitely write papers using the iPad. I use Apple's Pages app. If you are a student, say goodbye to lugging your laptop to class, the iPad does it all. If you are accustomed to typing on the iPad, a keyboard won't be necessary. I have had an iPad since the iPad 1st gen, you get used to typing on the screen and your speed picks up. I stopped using my Apple bluetooth keyboard long ago. Enjoy!

Dec 1, 2012 10:21 AM in response to jr9618

If you have a word processing app, sure. and may/may not need a keyboard (depends on how well you type on the on screen keyboard.

I use documents to go but there are plenty of other word processing apps out there

Dec 1, 2012 10:35 AM in response to jr9618

You can but it would be slow using the on-screen keyboard. Much easier if you get a bluetooth wireless connected keyboard. Then you would have to be able to print from the iPad, or transfer the file to your computer.

 Cheers, Tom 😉

Dec 1, 2012 2:39 PM in response to jr9618

I think the answer depends on the type of papers you need to write. There are a variety of word processing apps but most do not support footnotes, end notes, the easy creation of indexes or complex formatting like chapters and subsections. For complex formatting you'll need to use a computer.

Smart Script in iPadOS 18 will clean up your handwriting when using an Apple Pencil

Apple announced at WWDC 2024 on Monday that iPadOS 18 will include a new “Smart Script” feature that will clean up your handwriting when using an Apple Pencil to write in Notes.

With Smart Script, Apple says it’s making handwriting your notes even smoother and straighter. The feature improves the appearance of your writing as you write by using on-device machine learning to recreate your handwriting from your notes. You’ll see your own handwriting, just smoother and more legible.

The feature will also quickly fix mistakes so you can stay in your writing flow.

You can paste text into Notes to have it appear in your own handwriting. If you need to add to something you have already written, you can tap and hold with your Apple Pencil to create more space. If you want to erase something, you can just scribble over it.

Apple also announced on Monday that it would be bringing the Calculator app to iPad .

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I Hope These 2 iPad Pro Features Make It to the iPhone

Commentary: A thinner design and better camera for scanning documents could really come in handy on the iPhone.

Some of the 2024 iPad Pro's new features would be a great fit for the iPhone, especially the Pro Max model. 

With its powerful M4 processor and compatibility with new accessories like the Apple Pencil Pro , Apple is hoping its new pair of iPad Pros will be compelling enough to lure you away from your PC or Chromebook. But some of the iPad Pro's new features would feel right at home on the iPhone, specifically future iPhone Pro or Pro Max models.

The 2024 iPad Pro's exceptionally thin design and upgraded document scanning capabilities feel like a perfect match for the iPhone. While it's true that the iPad Pro is being positioned as a portable and powerful work device, our smartphones are with us all the time -- making lightweight designs and the ability to capture receipts and other important documents on the go feel all the more important.

Read more: WWDC 2024 Live Blog

There's a precedent for new features arriving on the iPad Pro before trickling down to the iPhone. The 2020 iPad Pro gained a LiDAR scanner in March 2020 before that technology arrived on the iPhone 12 Pro later that year. Back in 2016, the 9.7-inch iPad Pro was the first to get Apple's True Tone display for improving white balance, which made its way to the iPhone 8 lineup and iPhone X the following year. Apple's ProMotion tech that dynamically adjusts the screen's refresh rate for smoother scrolling is another example of a display improvement that debuted on the iPad Pro in 2017 before landing on the iPhone 13 Pro in 2021. 

Apple should continue that tradition by bringing newer iPad Pro features to the iPhone as well. 

Read more: The Best and Worst Times to Buy a New iPhone

Why these features belong on future iPhones

The new iPad Pro is Apple's thinnest yet.

The new iPad Pro is Apple's thinnest product ever, according to the company. With the 13-inch model measuring just 5.1 millimeters in thickness, it's slimmer than the 8.25mm iPhone 15 Pro and the even sleeker 7.3mm iPhone SE by a large margin.

There's a case to be made that thinness matters more in the iPad Pro since it reduces the system's overall bulk when paired with keyboards and covers. But given that we carry our phones everywhere and reach for them 144 times per day, according to Reviews.org , such a dramatic reduction in thickness would go a long way. 

It could also make the larger iPhone 15 Pro Max feel less cumbersome, perhaps winning over shoppers that may have passed on it before because of its heft. At a time when just about every other smartphone maker is exploring foldable devices , a dramatically slimmer look could put Apple's iPhone design back in the spotlight.

The same could be said for the document scanner. Apple's new iPad Pro models use artificial intelligence to identify documents in the camera app and reduce shadows by snapping multiple photos at once and stitching the scan together. If you're anything like me, your phone is your primary tool for saving receipts during work trips and sharing photos of restaurant bills with friends when deciding how to split the cost. 

While it may not be the most exciting camera upgrade, it's certainly a practical one. Data from business-to-business research firm Aberdeen Strategy & Research mentioned in a 2023 blog post indicates that 30% of employees have a smartphone just for work purposes, and 68% of employees use an iPhone, perhaps suggesting there may be more demand for an improved iPhone document scanner than expected. 

Apple seems to know that people use their iPhones for digitizing and sharing documents, as evidenced by the addition of Live Text in 2021, which recognizes text in photos so that you can copy-and-paste handwritten notes and more. An improved document scanner like the one on the new iPad Pro would be a great companion to this capability. 

Like the iPad Pro's aforementioned superthin design, the document scanner also seems like a strong fit for future iPhone Pro Max models in particular. Apple's larger size Pro iPhones are known for having the company's top-of-the-line cameras, so it would make sense to see it gain a photography-oriented tool like this. The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max's cameras already have an adaptive True Tone camera flash like the new iPad Pros. So if Apple were to bring this upgraded document scanning to the iPhone Pro Max, perhaps it could do so through a software update. 

Will these changes actually come to future iPhones?

Apple's WWDC conference will give us a peak at what's next for the iPhone's software. 

Apple never discusses new products and updates before it's ready to officially announce them, meaning we won't know what to expect from future iPhones until they arrive. But Apple is holding its Worldwide Developers Conference keynote on June 10, which is where the company announces new software features for its iPhone lineup. 

Apple's next update, expected to be called iOS 18 , will bring a flurry of new AI-infused features to the iPhone, according to Bloomberg . There haven't been any mentions of the iPad Pro's document scanner coming to iOS 18 specifically. But the report does mention that Apple's update will focus on AI-driven features that are useful in everyday scenarios, and the iPad Pro's document scanner would seemingly fit that description. 

We won't know what Apple has up its sleeve when it comes to new iPhone hardware until September, which is when the company traditionally introduces its new smartphones. There's some reason to believe Apple may indeed be working on a slimmer iPhone, although we may not see it until 2025. Analyst Jeff Pu has reported that Apple may have an iPhone 17 Slim in the works, according to 9to5Mac , and a report from The Information also indicates a thinner iPhone may arrive next year. 

Apple's iPhone lineup has changed a lot over the years, particularly when it comes to the Pro and Pro Max models. Exploring a paper-thin design and improving the camera's functionality in practical ways could help Apple further distinguish its pro-level phones from the standard iPhone. 

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The best ipad pro case: magic keyboard, smart folio or both.

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The Smart Keyboard turns the iPad Pro into a laptop

The new 13in iPad Pro is an absolute beast of a device, but it can’t be left unprotected. Apple has two official cases for the iPad Pro 13in: the Magic Keyboard and the Smart Folio. Which should you choose? The answer you may not want to read is both.

I’ve bought both cases for my new iPad Pro 13in (yes, all with my own money) and I’ll explain their strengths and weaknesses below to help you decide if you can live with just the one.

iPad Pro 13in Magic Keyboard

There's a new row of shortcut keys on the Smart Keyboard

The Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro 13in is a fabulous accessory—and so it should be for the $349 Apple charges for it.

This keyboard is as good as a MacBook Air’s. You’ll have no problem getting up to full typing speed on it and its firm base means you can sit the keyboard on your lap and type. Just be careful, as it is easier than I’d like to tip the entire device backwards when it’s resting on your lap, particularly if you prod the touchscreen.

Luckily, you shouldn’t need to prod the screen all that much with the Magic Keyboard attached because Apple has worked wonders with the touchpad controls in iPadOS. Given that these controls have basically been crowbarred into a touchscreen operating system, it’s incredible how natural they feel, as if iPadOS was always designed to be controlled with a mouse, like macOS. You could even access your Mac from your iPad Pro and effectively turn it into a MacBook.

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The increased size of the touchpad on the Magic Keyboard makes it even easier to perform multi-finger gestures, such as swiping left or right with three fingers to move between open apps.

Another new addition to the Magic Keyboard is the row of shortcut keys above the numbers, making it easy to adjust brightness, activate Siri or control the volume on the iPad. The backlighting on the keyboard is another nice touch, especially in dimly lit rooms or plane cabins. (The person in the next seat may not thank you for tapping away at night, mind.)

So why would you need anything other than the Magic Keyboard as a cover for your iPad? Well, first there’s the weight. At 665g, it weighs more than the iPad itself.

Worse, however, is its lack of flexibility. Unlike the Smart Keyboard Folio, which Apple isn’t offering for the 13in iPad Pro, you can’t fold it behind the screen. It can only be used in laptop configuration. That’s not great if you’re reading a book on the sofa or playing a game on the touchscreen. Of course, you can detach the iPad Pro from the Smart Keyboard for those activities, but then you’re constantly pulling it in and out of the case.

It’s also not ideal when you’re using the iPad to, say, watch Netflix on an area with limited space such as a bedside cabinet or even those plane trays. The base is obviously quite wide and deep, like a laptop computer’s, meaning you may struggle to fit it easily into the space. The last thing you want is your expensive iPad dangling over the edge of a surface, which is why I reluctantly also opted for an...

iPad Pro 13in Smart Folio

The Smart Folio can be used as a stand

Yes, it’s another $100, but the Smart Folio is the case my iPad Pro now spends the majority of its time in. It’s very lightweight (300g) and adds barely anything to the thickness of the device, making it much more comfortable to hold in pure tablet mode.

It automatically switches the device on/off when you open/close the case, and you can fold it back around the rear of the iPad and use it as a stand when watching movies or TV shows. A stand that takes up much less space than the Smart Keyboard, especially when used in the more upright configuration (shown below).

This configuration has a very small footprint

The iPad Pro does wobble a little if you prod the screen when using the Smart Folio as a stand in the upright configuration, so don’t get too heavy handed, as it wouldn’t take brute force to knock it backwards.

My other slight durability fear is the edges of the case. Previous Folio cases from Apple have frayed at the edges over time, as the bonded rubber comes apart. I fear the same could happen here.

Best iPad Pro 13in Case Verdict

There’s no point choosing between the two cases as they perform very different functions. The Smart Keyboard is superb for getting work done and using the iPad Pro as a pseudo laptop. The Smart Folio is great for the sofa, when you’re noodling around with apps and games.

It’s irritating (to put it mildly) that you need to spend more than $400 to get official iPad Pro cases that cover all scenarios, and maybe a third-party folio keyboard will prove a better and much cheaper compromise option for some owners. But if you suck it up and decide to go for both, I doubt you’ll come to regret it.

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Can Apple Rescue the Vision Pro?

The $3,500 “spatial computing” device has gathered dust on my shelf. Can tweaks and upgrades save it from obsolescence?

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By Kevin Roose

Reporting from Cupertino, Calif.

When I first got my hands on an Apple Vision Pro early this year, it felt like magic.

I loved the $3,500 “spatial computing” headset, even though I couldn’t really figure out what it was for. For weeks, I took it everywhere, enduring judgmental glares (or were they jealous stares?) from colleagues at the office, strangers at coffee shops and fellow passengers on airplanes. I even used the Vision Pro in the back seat of a self-driving Waymo car, which I believe qualifies me for some kind of “Mr. San Francisco” award.

But novelty fades, and today I barely use the Vision Pro at all. Every few weeks, I strap it to my head to do some focused writing, or watch a movie in bed while my wife sleeps. Otherwise, it sits on a shelf collecting dust.

Apple hasn’t released sales figures, but analysts’ estimates suggest that the device has been a flop, selling fewer units than expected. Social media isn’t buzzing with videos of enthusiastic “Vision Bros” wearing their headsets in public, as it was in the days after the device’s release. Some early adopters returned their Vision Pros for refunds, and lightly used headsets are selling for as little as $2,500 on resale websites.

When I took a casual poll of other Vision Pro owners I know — mostly journalists and tech workers — I learned that few of them were using theirs, either.

“Haven’t touched mine in a month,” one friend texted. “It’s a shame, I was so bullish.”

At its annual developer conference on Monday, Apple announced a few new features for the Vision Pro, including a new version of its VisionOS operating system, new gesture controls and a way of turning old photos into 3-D “spatial photos” that can be viewed on the device. Apple also said it would soon begin selling the Vision Pro in countries including China, Japan and Britain.

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Using iPad Pro for university level essay writing.

How does it function with this task and using referencing softwares?

Apple is about to make major generative AI news; here’s how I’ve been using AI so far

In a few hours, we’ll learn what Apple has in mind for an AI-infused version of iPhone software. We expect AI to deliver quality-of-life improvements to iOS over the next year. In recent history is any indication, AI will advance such that iOS 19 and iOS 20 are as influenced by AI as iOS 18. We’ll see.

In the meantime, I want to set a marker for how generative AI is working for me prior to Apple’s anticipated contribution.

ChatGPT and Claude

85% of my AI usage consists of ChatGPT on the Mac. First as a pinned tab in Safari, then as a first class Mac app.

ChatGPT is the first app I’ve positioned between Finder and Safari. I think that’s because of how it changes my relationship to the web, especially Google Search.

Another 10% of usage happens on ChatGPT for iPhone, especially ChatGPT Voice in hands-free situations. Anthropic’s Claude, another large language model-powered AI, has the other 5%.

I keep Perplexity installed on my iPhone, but I’m not convinced that I need it with premium ChatGPT. I’m aware of Google’s AI, but not its current name.

And I subscribe to X Premium (to avoid rate limits on the Mac app), but I have not invested time with Grok. Perhaps Grok gives X a reason to revive its Mac app.

Anyway, back to AI.

A large language model doing sophisticated text prediction shouldn’t be good at math on its own. Neither am I. But ChatGPT is capable of recognizing when a conversational response isn’t enough. Using natural language input, ChatGPT detects when analysis is required.

Here’s a real world example. My best friend won a Cybertruck for free. He wanted to sell his Tesla Model 3 to me. I suggested a 36-month payment agreement between us, and he agreed. Simple enough.

However, his auto loan had 19 monthly payments remaining. Plus we wanted to include insurance coverage, registration, the extended warranty, and a little APR.

Explaining this in those words to ChatGPT gave us a dynamic payment plan that met all of those needs while showing its work. I’m certain that my friend could have crunched the numbers, but I appreciated being able to present the terms myself.

I’ve also use ChatGPT for setting realistic financial goals, creating budgets, and educating myself more on financial literacy. I value the conversational nature without burdening someone else.

Many think of having essays written for you when ChatGPT and writing are discussed. But I’m not inviting AI to replace me. Instead, my focus has been on using generative AI to sharpen my skills.

I enjoy and appreciate writing as a form of communication and storytelling such that I’ll never ask ChatGPT to write a first draft for me.

Instead, I prompt ChatGPT to be my second set of eyes on what I actually write myself. I use the Mac app Rocket Typist to expand the text shortcut ;edit into this:

Any spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors? If so, concisely list in bullets, please:

Then I paste in a sentence, paragraph, or full text of my writing. I’ve been writing on 9to5Mac for 11 years and counting. Still, it’s a bit nerve-racking to push publish knowing that readers around the world will consume it.

ChatGPT has helped mitigate that anxiety, making publishing more enjoyable. If I were specifically tased with copy editing text, I would similarly use generative AI as a tool to sharpen my skills.

I also use ChatGPT to quickly answer queries that come up as I’m writing a story. The trick, for me, is to treat the results like Wikipedia. Never rely on the text that it returns. Instead, use it as a signal for where to point your own research. This narrowing feature certainly keeps me on my train of thought more than anything.

Lastly, and perhaps most profound personally, is how I use ChatGPT for health. Specifically, my mental health.

I spend an hour with my therapist every other Monday morning. This greatly helps navigating life as a single father of two children under age 12. My goals are always simple: process experiences, assess my perspective, and celebrate each milestone.

With permission, I record each session with Voice Memos on my iPhone. Afterwards, I transcribe the text on my MacBook Air using the audio file and MacWhisper. Then I use a series of prompts to take my therapy session further.

• Can I show you the transcript of my latest therapy session? I'd like to take more from the session.
• What are some things I should focus on before my next session in two weeks?
• Any feedback about the kind of person I am?
• What are some actionable items for this week?
• Any constructive criticism to provide based on the transcript?
• What about blind spots to consider? Should I be thinking about something that I didn't bring up? Something that isn't top of mind but that healthy, functioning adults think about?

Top comment by RDLink

I love that feeling every time someone at work shows me an example of the "amazing work saving efficiency benefits" of AI by forwarding some document they've asked it to write for them. Then they remind me that what it wrote can't be trusted, and they've basically just showed me a party trick that isn't really much better than a Google search.

Someone should be tased with the job of figuring out this paradox...

I find that these prompts help fuel reflection, provoke new ares of thinking, and provide closure to a given period. I value having a defined endpoint and not getting lost of the depths in introspection.

More generally, ChatGPT has also been useful for prioritizing tasks and making decisions.

Analysis paralysis is real. ChatGPT helps. The trick for me? ChatGPT shows its work. Just like with natural language math prompts, ChatGPT provides reason to how it sorts tasks and suggests decisions.

These use cases and many more have amplified the usefulness of my iPhone and Mac. I’m eager to see what integrating generative AI at a system level does for Apple.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:

Zac covers Apple news, hosts the 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcast, and created SpaceExplored.com.

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