Design, program and write: iPad Pro is made for professionals. That doesn’t apply to all apps. In this article we therefore list 12 great iPad Pro apps for professional users.
Overview: 12 Pro apps for the iPad Pro
Not all apps from the App Store are optimized for the iPad Pro 2020. With its fast A13X processor, smooth and front-filling screen and new Magic Keyboard, Apple’s professional tablet is a true desktop replacement. Of course you still need some good apps. This list will get you started.
1. Procreate
Procreate regularly wins prizes and is loved by creatives. The excellent illustration app is packed with features, settings and ways to get what you have in mind ‘on paper’. There’s really no point in listing all the possibilities in Procreate.
However, herein lies the danger of the excellent app. For the budding artist, Procreate can look quite intimidating. The creative app is made especially for the iPad and not just transferred from the Mac. Anyone who seriously wants to work with her/his creativity should not skip Procreation.
2. Affinity Designer
For those who cannot get used to Procreate, Affinity Designer is a great alternative. This app is perfect for people who want to design illustrations, logos, icons and/or complete websites. Of course you can also get started with typography and print projects.
Like Procreate, Affinity Designer was created with the iPad in mind. The Apple Pencil in particular comes in handy. You can zoom in conveniently with the pen, for example, and switching between vector and raster is also easy. Affinity Designer has been awarded with an Apple Design award, among other things.
3. Adobe Photoshop / Pixelmator
When you think of graphic design, you probably think of Photoshop. The app has become so well established that the verb photoshopping is in the dictionary. Photoshop should therefore not be missing from this list of iPad Pro apps.
The application is especially useful for post-processing photos, removing beauty flaws and accentuating certain elements. You need an Adobe subscription for the full Photoshop experience. Those who prefer to pay a one-time amount to edit photos will probably end up with Pixelmator, an excellent Photoshop alternative.
4. AutoCAD
Like Photoshop, AutoCAD is also a trusted name in the world of professional apps. Unlike Photoshop, this application is made for technical purposes. For example, you can create floor plans, 3D designs and blueprints on your iPad Pro. Unfortunately, AutoCAD’s mobile app isn’t as powerful as the desktop version, but it still packs enough to work on the go.
5. Astropad
Astropad turns your iPad Pro into a drawing tablet for your Mac. This makes the app ideal for people who want to use the power of their computer, but do not have a separate drawing tablet (from Wacom, for example) at home. Astropad can handle most creative apps, including Pixelmator. You must sign up for a subscription to use the app. Fortunately, you can try Astropad for free for 30 days.
6.Jump Desktop
Jump Desktop lets you work remotely on your Mac. The app sets up a secure connection between your iPad and Mac(Book), after which you can get started anywhere in the world. It is extra nice that Jump Desktop can also handle mice since iOS 13 and iPadOS. This way you can, for example, edit files on the other side of the world that are stored locally on your Mac in the Netherlands.
7. LumaFusion
If you want to edit professional videos on her/his iPad Pro, you will soon find LumaFusion. The editor has a traditional layout in which all tracks are clearly arranged. You can then edit scenes, paste fragments together and add effects.
The operation is especially nice, because you can perform all actions with your Apple Pencil (or finger). So you just drag effects to the right track. However, LumaFusion is not cheap, but for those who want to edit professional videos, the price tag is justifiable.
8. Ulysses
Do you spend a lot of time writing texts for your work? Ulysses is a great writing app for iPhone that is also recommended for iPad. Besides the fact that you can of course write ‘normal’ texts, it is also possible to divide large pieces of text into chapters, for example. That way you can work on large projects in a clear manner. It is also nice that you can publish articles directly on well-known platforms, including Medium and WordPress.
9. Code Editor
You may know Coda from the Mac, but you can also program websites on the iPad (Pro) with this app, for example. The split screen view is especially nice: place Coda on the left and open a tab in Safari on the right. This way you can immediately see which changes you make. Coda works with almost all known programming languages ​​and is very extensive. The iPhone app is also well put together.
10. Textastic
Another excellent programming app is Textastic. This application is ideal for writing code and can handle the grammar (syntax) of more than 80 languages. You can also link Textastic to well-known cloud storage services such as Dropbox and Google Drive, so that you never lose your work. Of course, just like Coda, the app has split screen view. There is also a dark mode.
11. Nebo
Nebo is a great note-taking app for the iPad Pro. When you take notes with Apple Pencil, your handwriting is automatically converted to text. Made a mistake? Then scribble over the misspelling to erase the word. You can also create drawings, diagrams, lists and more with Nebo.
12. Notes Shelf
Noteshelf is an alternative to Nebo. This note-taking app works in much the same way, but has a few nice extras. Noteshelf, for example, takes into account how much pressure you apply to the Apple Pencil. It is also nice that the app ignores, for example, your palm if it leans on the screen while taking notes. And do you want to listen back to audio and take notes at the same time? That is also possible with Noteshelf.
Made for the iPad Pro 2020
Of course, the above apps work best on the iPad Pro 2020, which was unveiled last March. The tablet for professional users has a dual camera lens, just like the iPhone 11. There is also a special LiDAR depth sensor. This opens the door to a range of augmented reality applications. Read more about the powerful tablet on the iPad Pro 2020 overview page, or use the comparator below to find the best deals.