25 Apps and Games Every iPad Owner Should Download

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Bear is a beautiful writing app that's arguably the best of its kind. It features powerful editing and markup tools wrapped in a sleek, clutter-free interface. The iPad app also supports multidevice syncing via iCloud, so you can continue your work on an iPhone or Mac. Bear is free to install. For $15 per year, you can access a Pro variant with more editing tools and features.

More: 11 Travel Apps That Take the Stress Out of Vacation Planning

$19.99

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Affinity Photo is an incredibly capable image editor, optimized to work on the 120Hz ProMotion display of the new iPad Pro models. With an intuitive interface, a vast selection of editing tools, and support for all major image formats, Affinity Photo will let you achieve pro-grade edits on the go.

More: All the Reasons Why We Love the New iPad Pro

$4.99

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If you are an avid online shopper (like most of us), or you ship packages often, you need to give this app a try! Deliveries will help you keep tabs on all packages you've sent, or expect to receive, using a beautiful and intuitive interface. The iOS app is compatible with all major shipping and delivery services, including FedEx, UPS, and USPS, among others.

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This mobile-friendly installment of the legendary Assassin's Creed video game franchise impressed us with fun, yet challenging gameplay, as well as beautiful graphics. The game looks particularly awesome on the latest iPad Pro — you can enjoy smooth gameplay at up to a rather captivating 120 frames per second.

More: All the Reasons Why We Love the Latest iPad Pro

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Ever wonder how noise-canceling headphones work? What about the inner workings of an espresso machine? JigSpace will allow you to learn about them, as well as a plethora of other cool and useful things, with your iPad, in augmented reality. The beautifully designed app has a rich library of objects and experiences to explore.

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Having a password manager is essential in this day and age, and 1Password is among the best options for Apple users. The iPad app will safeguard all your passwords and other sensitive information, and even send you a notification if your data has been compromised. The app requires a subscription, though you can give it a try for a month before making a decision.

$1.99

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The iPad-exclusive Color Splash allows you to add flair to your photos by easily editing sections of them in black and white, thus allowing colors of your choosing to pop out. Of course, the reverse process is also possible. The app has an intuitive interface, which makes creating great-looking images a breeze.

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This full port of the ultra popular strategy game is one of our favorite picks for Apple iPad owners. As expected from the popular gaming series, Sid Meier's Civilization VI has beautiful graphics and immersive gameplay you'll become obsessed with in no time. You can experience your first 60 in-game turns for free. Enabling the full game will cost you $20 as an in-app purchase.

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A great pick for avid music aficionados, djay will transform the iPad into a powerful DJ platform with a sleek interface and powerful tools. The app will work with both your personal media library and Spotify. You can access Pro-grade DJ features and tools via a monthly subscription. The latter is available as an in-app purchase.

$7.99

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GoodNotes 4 is another great app for taking notes and annotating PDF documents. You can choose the color of your digital paper, as well as the design of your notebooks. There's even an option to search for handwritten notes. The app has been tuned to work exceptionally well with the Apple Pencil.

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Apple's own iMovie is one of the most powerful video editors available for iOS. The app offers a host of editing tools and creative effects, multitouch support, and the ability to easily share your finished projects. If you own an iPad Pro or iPad Air 2, you can save your videos in 4K resolution.

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MindNode 5 is yet another great-looking app that allows you to visualize and organize all your ideas about any project in a perfectly laid out, easy-to-read interface. You can easily link ideas and export completed tasks in multiple formats. It's a powerful tool with multiple useful applications in your daily life.

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Pigment is another iPad favorite that allows you to battle stress by coloring illustrations just like you would in a real book. There are multiple coloring tools to choose from, as well as hundreds of pages to unleash your creativity on (more are available via in-app purchases). It works great with the Apple Pencil.

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A gorgeous puzzle game that looks great on a large screen, Mekorama puts you in charge of navigating a cute little robot through mechanical dioramas. There are 50 levels to play through, so hours of entertainment are guaranteed. Curiously, the developer offers Mekorama for free with the option to pay if you love it.

$9.99

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Procreate is widely considered to be the most capable painting and illustration app available for the iPad. Best suited for the Pro models and their Apple pencil, the app offers a plethora of tools, a powerful layering feature, and more sharing options than one can possibly need. A must-have for both beginner and advanced sketch artists.

$9.99

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Another iOS favorite, Notability is a simple, yet incredibly capable app for taking notes and annotating PDF documents. An excellent tool for both students and teachers, the app can take advantage of the multitasking capabilities of the iPad and allow you to easily take notes while reading.

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Adobe's Photoshop Sketch allows you to draw art and export it as a PSD file to other productivity apps made by the company. There are multiple drawing tools to pick from, as well as support of a host of stylus options headed by Apple's own pencil. Optional cloud storage for your creations is available as an in-app purchase.

$4.99

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A sequel to one of the most iconic mobile games to date, Monument Valley 2 will let you solve puzzles and explore amazing architectural worlds, while listening to a soothing, ambient soundtrack. The must-have game has gorgeous graphics, which are tailor-made for an iPad screen.

$5.99

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GoodReader is a powerful tool that allows you to manage your files just like you would on your laptop, as well as to edit multiple document formats. The app allows you to sync files with multiple devices via iCloud, as well as secure them with Touch ID or Face ID.

$4.99

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Pixelmator is arguably the most powerful alternative to Photoshop for macOS, and this is its mobile version. A massive amount of photo-editing and sharing options, graphic design tools, and a cool full-featured painting app make this a must-have for iPad users. The price includes all features, so there's no need to worry about in-app purchases.

$4.99

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The Room: Old Sins is a simply phenomenal puzzle game that allows you to explore a vast world and interact with just about every object in it. Perfectly suited for the large display of the iPad, the app also delivers a sound experience that's as engaging as its visuals.

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This app will turn your iPad into a source of inspiration for your next home renovation by offering you access to millions of high-resolution interior and exterior photos, curated in various categories. You can annotate images before sharing them with friends and family, shop for products, and even connect with professionals to help you achieve your goals.

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Felt is a sleek app that lets you send physical copies of the cards you have personally crafted on your iPad to your favorite people, co-workers, or someone you want to thank. You can choose from original designs or opt to upload your own photos.

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If you're using your iPad or iPad Pro on public Wi-Fi networks often, you need SurfEasy VPN in your life. By creating a virtual private network with bank-grade encryption, SurfEasy VPN will ensure that your app and online activity is guarded at all times.

$6.99

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This is a mobile gaming classic that'll not only let you channel your inner creator, but also allow you to explore realms made by other gamers. Depending on the mode you choose, Minecraft: Pocket Edition can deliver casual or seriously challenging gameplay.