If you’re looking to test your creativity, there are a number of iPad apps that can help you get started. Although the iPad started as a simple device that could be used to stream content or browse the web on the go, Apple has actually turned its iPads into powerful machines that can be used to do things like creating digital art and editing videos.
We’ve compiled a list of the best iPad art apps available on the App Store.
Before we dive in, it’s important to note that while Adobe’s creative apps are generally the top choices for creating on the iPad, this list won’t include them because they’re already so popular. Instead we’re focusing on lesser-known apps that you might want to know about and try.
A lake
Not all art apps have to include a blank page staring back at you. Lake takes a more relaxed approach, allowing you to color images hand-drawn by independent artists using over 700 colors and a selection of brushes.
If you want to let your imagination run wild, you it can be color and draw on a blank canvas. You can also write down your thoughts in a color journal.
The app is great for people who are just getting started with exploring their creativity or for those who just want a moment to de-stress. You don’t have to be creative to use it, either; there is no penalty here for drawing outside the lines.
The pool offers free access to a limited number of images. To access the full catalog of images and features, you’ll need to pay a monthly subscription fee of $9.99.
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Give birth
Procreate is one of the most popular drawing apps for the iPad, and for good reason. The app allows you to create digital drawings, sketches, and illustrations using a variety of different types of brushes. Procreate is easy to use and includes built-in touch controls, and a simple interface.
The app supports high-resolution canvases up to 16K by 8K on compatible iPad Pros. It also allows you to create storyboards, GIFs, animatics, and simple animations. Also, you can import image files like JPG, PNG, and TIFF. Procreate includes several features designed to help you during the creative process on your iPad, such as QuickShape, StreamLine, Drawing Assist, and ColorDrop — tools that handle the heavy lifting so you can focus on the fun part.
When you’re done creating your piece, you can relive your artistic journey with the app’s time-lapse “Replay” feature — an incredibly satisfying way to watch your work come together — and share the 30-second clip on social media.
You can access Procreate for a one-time fee of $12.99.
LumaFusion
LumaFusion is a great video editing app if you’re ready to graduate to iMovie. The app has many easy-to-use features that make it perfect for aspiring videographers or indie filmmakers on a budget.
With LumaFusion, you can create multi-layered editing with 4K ProRes and HDR media. You can add different effects, choose from multiple transitions, and record voice-overs. The app allows you to create multi-layer headers and import fonts and images. Plus, you can fine-tune the sound with Graphic EQ, Parametric EQ, Voice isolation, and more.
The app allows you to create projects with various aspect ratios, including 16:9 landscape, 9:16 portrait, square, widescreen film, anamorphic, and more.
LumaFusion is available for a one-time fee of $29.99. You can also purchase additional features, such as multicam editing and the ability to export your project to Final Cut Pro for Mac.
Canva
Canva offers an easy-to-use platform that allows anyone to create visual content, even without graphic design experience. You can use it to create presentations, infographics, videos, websites, social media posts, and more with over 250,000 templates.
Canva includes tools for editing images, personalizing content with logos and graphics, adding audio, and cropping and speeding up video.
The platform also has a series of AI features designed to simplify the creative process. For example, you can enlarge an image using “Magic Switch” or turn ideas into images with “Magic Media.”
Canva is free but offers a $12.99 monthly subscription if you want unlimited access to its AI features, premium templates, and more.
Affinity Designer 2
Affinity Designer 2 is a design application that combines vector design, pixel-based texture, and retouching into one platform. Perfect for professional illustrators, web designers, game developers, and other creators.
The app allows you to create graphics, branding, logos, icons, UI/UX designs, typography, posters, labels, flyers, stickers, concept art, digital art, and more. It supports Apple Pencil precision, pressure sensitivity, and tilt functionality.
Affinity Designer 2 includes touch controls to speed up your workflow, and lets you customize keyboard shortcuts. You can also do things like create your own custom font and zoom in over 1,000,000% for ultimate precision.
You can access the app for a one-time fee of $18.49.
Concepts
Concepts is a great app to test your ideas and try out designs. You can use the app to draw plans, make notes and mind maps, and draw storyboards and designs.
The app includes Nudge, Slice, and Select tools that allow you to easily change any part of your drawing without redrawing it. The app includes realistic pens, pencils, and brushes that flow by pressing and tilting.
Concepts gives you access to scale and measurement tools that calculate real-world dimensions, and includes a toolbar or toolbar that you can customize to your liking.
The basic features of the app are free. Concepts offers a $4.99 monthly subscription if you want access to additional features, such as the ability to create your own brushes and premium editing tools.
Tayasui Sketches
Tayasui Sketches is a great drawing and painting app that is easy to use. It has several different features such as a realistic watercolor brush, digital acrylic brushes, the ability to mix two colors to get the perfect shade, gradient and depth tools, and more.
The app allows you to multitask by opening another app and dragging documents and files between the two. There is also a “Zen Mode” that allows you to create without distraction.
You can also upload your own photos to include in your creations. Tayasui Drawings allows you to save your creations in custom folders.
The basic features of Tayasui Sketches are free. The app offers a $2.99 monthly subscription that unlocks unlimited layers, new brushes and markers, an expanded brush editor, the ability to back up your drawings, and more.
Dudel Draw
Dudel Draw is a little different from the other apps on this list: It’s designed to unleash your creativity by giving you a new shape every day that serves as a starting point for drawing more.
These everyday shapes vary from basic geometric forms to more complex and abstract designs. Also, you can test your creativity further by choosing to view the shape from all angles with the app’s “browse” and “rotate” features.
You can also enter your friends in the art for some fun competition by comparing your different creations each day. Dudel Draw gives you a great way to sharpen your artistic skills, challenge yourself to create something new every day, and simply express yourself.
Dudel Draw is available for free.
Sketchbook
Sketchbook is an easy-to-use application for sketching, drawing, and painting. The idea of the app is to make it as if you are drawing on paper, as the digital brushes and pens behave like the real thing.
The app’s interface is simple and allows you to pull out palettes and tools to make it easier to focus on drawing.
You can customize the brushes by adjusting the size, brightness, flow, and more to match your personal style. There is also a “predictive stroke” feature that helps smooth the lines of your drawing.
Sketchbook is available for free, but you can unlock premium features for a one-time payment of $2.99. Premium features include the ability to import additional brushes and color palettes, adjust the size of your canvas after you’ve started working, export multiple canvases or an entire album as a PDF, and more.
This story was first published in December 2024 and is updated regularly with new information.
