While the iPad is undoubtedly the all-conquering best tablet range right now, without the best iPad apps it’s basically just a souped-up Chromebook.
Nobody wants that – so we’re here to help you, whether you want the best iPad Pro apps to make use of the Apple Pencil, the best iPad mini apps to work on a smaller screen or just something to reivigorate your time with a tablet.
We’ve spent hundreds of hours testing the best free and paid-for iPad apps, and have helpfully split them into multiple categories on the following pages to let you browse for what you actually need.
Of course, if you need a better iPad, our list of the best iPads around is there for you too – but if you’ve just been given a new tablet, then these are the titles that you need to be checking out – starting with our favorite new app this month.
Oh, and if you’re looking for something fun, then we’ve also rounded up the best iPad games you can download right now.
iPad app of the week: CARROT Weather (free + IAP)
CARROT Weather marries forecasts and snark from a human-hating AI. Alongside weather symbols on a nice day, it’ll pipe up with the likes of “Make the most of this nice weather that I generated for you. Or else.” Friendly!
But beyond that gimmick, CARROT Weather is a dazzling app. A robust and powerful layout customization engine means you can make it your own. A modern design gives you a sidebar on iPad, or the means to fill the entire display in landscape – a rarity in weather apps. The iPad version therefore feels considered, and not an afterthought.
This doesn’t come cheap. The free download is feature-limited and you’ll need an annual subscription ($19.99/£19.49/AU$32.99) to unlock the good bits. But it’s worth it to get the best weather app on iPad.