Apple’s iPads come equipped with productivity tools like Notes, Calendar, and Reminders, but if you’re looking to expand your productivity and organization, there are plenty of apps available to help.
Initially designed for streaming content and web browsing, iPads have evolved into versatile devices capable of handling a wide range of personal, work, and school-related tasks. As a result, there are numerous apps designed to help create a centralized hub for organizing your life or minimizing distractions to stay focused on daily responsibilities.
We’ve compiled a list of some of the best productivity apps available on the App Store.
GoodNotes
GoodNotes is one of the most popular iPad apps, especially for those who enjoy handwritten notes using an Apple Pencil. It allows users to combine handwritten and typed text on a single page, along with images, stickers, and doodles. You can create digital notebooks with blank or ruled paper for notes, planners, and checklists. GoodNotes also allows you to export entire notebooks or specific pages as PDFs. While it may not offer the advanced features of apps like Procreate for detailed drawing, it’s great for quick sketches and diagrams. Audio recording features are also available, syncing your notes with audio, and AI-powered tools help summarize your notes. The app offers three free notebooks, with a subscription of $9.99 per year or a one-time payment of $29.99 for unlimited notebooks.
TickTick
If you find the iPad’s default Reminders app lacking, TickTick is a more advanced task management tool that helps organize both personal and professional tasks. It syncs across devices and integrates with calendar apps, enabling you to create checklists, set recurring tasks, upload attachments, and collaborate with others. You can also track habits, set reminders for emails, and use the “pomo timer” based on the Pomodoro Technique for focused productivity intervals. TickTick offers free usage, with a premium plan costing $3.99 per month or $35.99 per year for additional features like more reminders, lists, and tasks.
Forest
Forest takes a unique approach to productivity by gamifying the process. When you need to concentrate, you plant a virtual tree in the app, which grows as you stay focused. If you leave the app before the timer ends, the tree will wither. Forest also lets you set “Allow Lists” for productivity-focused apps like email or word processing. Over time, your virtual forest grows, creating a visual representation of your productivity. You can earn coins that contribute to planting real trees through the nonprofit Trees for the Future. Forest costs $3.99 for download, with in-app purchases available to enhance your forest and plant trees faster.
Notion
Notion is a versatile productivity app for taking notes, managing tasks, and organizing workflows. It combines calendars, task lists, and notes into a single platform, allowing integration with tools like Slack and Dropbox. Notion’s customization options are one of its key strengths, making it adaptable for personal, work, or academic use. If you need templates for travel planners, product roadmaps, or other workflows, Notion has you covered. Its AI features help generate content and turn large amounts of data into actionable insights. Notion offers a free plan, with paid options starting at $8 per month for small teams and $15 per month for businesses. AI functionality is free for the first 20 responses, after which it costs $10 per member per month.
Crouton
Crouton is ideal for organizing recipes and meal planning, helping simplify cooking and grocery shopping. It allows you to import recipes from websites or scan physical cookbooks, creating a centralized recipe library. You can plan weekly meals and generate grocery lists based on your chosen recipes. Crouton also includes a built-in timer to track time-sensitive recipe steps. Sharing recipes with friends and family is easy, whether to suggest meals or recommend new dishes. Crouton offers basic features for free, with a premium subscription of $14.99 per year for unlimited recipes and additional features.
Freedom
Freedom focuses on blocking distractions to help users stay focused and productive. You can initiate a Freedom session to block distracting apps and websites across all your devices for a specific period. Whether you want to block social media or productivity-draining apps, Freedom ensures that they remain off-limits during your focused work sessions. You can schedule sessions, set recurring blocks, and even listen to calming background sounds like city noise or nature sounds to enhance concentration. Freedom costs $3.99 per month and includes productivity tips to promote digital wellness.
Notability
Notability is a popular note-taking app that supports handwritten notes, text, audio recordings, and sketches. It’s ideal for students, professionals, and hobbyists alike. With Notability, you can search handwritten notes, annotate documents, and work on two notes side by side. It also features AI-powered note summaries and personalized quizzes to test your knowledge. Notability is free to use, with a $4.99 monthly subscription for additional features such as math conversion, audio transcription, and unlimited note storage.