With recent software and M chip updates, Apple’s iPad has become a go-to sketching device for many designers. Here are five of the best iPad apps for putting down those first lines of a killer design
Procreate for iPad 
Cost: £12.99 one-off payment
Procreate comes stocked with artist tools from the off: with a library of over 100 customisable brushes, and the opportunity to import more, and is powered by Valkyrie, the 64-bit painting engine.
While traditionally more focused on painterly styles than the other options featured here, recent updates include animation and even time-lapsing for TikTok-ready content.
The up to 16k by 8k high-resolution canvases are compatible with iPad Pros, and the intuitive interface is made for iPad and Apple Pencil. It’s designed to get the best performance from the iPad, offering 120fps on supported devices, while gesture controls make common functions a breeze, letting you get on with the creativity.
Fresco for iPad 
Cost: Adobe Creative Cloud with all apps costs £85.08 per month for the first year
If you want one app (and one payment) for all your creative needs, Adobe Fresco might be the way to go. Available as part of a Creative Cloud subscription, which offers an abundance of tools and increasingly makes for a seamless workspace.
Specifically tailored to the iPad and Apple Pencil, the breadth of abilities it offers, like brush variety, motion tools, and seamless integration with Photoshop and Illustrator, along with the platform’s familiarity, means that many designers will be comfortable using it straight away.
Affinity Designer 2 
Cost: Free
Now free after its acquisition by Canva, Affinity Designer 2 is packed with features optimised for sketching for iPad. Sensitive to pressure, tilt and angle, Affinity makes use of the Apple Pencils’ full power and precision.
The app offers all the expected sketching tools along with unlimited artboards, customisable shortcuts for a seamless workflow and pan and zoom at 120fps. There are also tools for creating logos, stickers, and flyers. Affinity packs a lot into a free app.
Sketchbook Premium 
Cost: £2.99 one-off payment
Formerly of Autodesk, Sketchbook is purpose-built for sketching and known for its elegant and distraction-free interface to keep you focused on creativity.
With the ability to import and export brushes, its smooth lines are assisted by an array of rulers and tools to help you attain accuracy, while vertical, horizontal, and radial symmetry tools can speed up the process of getting ideas down faster.
A pared-back free version is available to download so you can try before you buy, although many of the features are behind the premium paywall.
Clip Studio Paint Pro
Cost: 30-day free trial, then £3.79 per month
Hailed as excellent for comic strip creation and animation, Clip Studio Paint gives artists with a less traditional sketching style an option for iPad. CSP has an unlimited number of brushes, a large range of artist-made materials, and access to official tutorials.
The app supports the pressure-sensitivity of the Apple Pencil to get the most out of the tool. The 30-day free trial means you can explore all the features before committing to a monthly payment.
| Procreate for iPad | £12.99 one-off payment |
| Adobe Creative Cloud | £85.08 per month |
| Affinity Designer 2 | Free |
| Sketchbook Premium | £2.99 one-off payment |
| Clip Studio Paint Pro | £3.79 per month |
