It comes with Safari, FaceTime, and Maps already installed. With iPadOS 26 bringing improvements like Apple’s Liquid Glass interface, smarter multitasking, and ChatGPT-powered Apple Intelligence, your iPad can now replace many laptop functions.
Spend an hour downloading the wrong ones, bloated apps with aggressive paywalls, clunky interfaces that don’t support multitasking, or tools that promise everything but deliver frustration, and it becomes clear why some people regret their purchase.
The App Store is overflowing with options, but most aren’t worth the time or storage space. What follows cuts through the noise: 10 essential apps that work right now in 2025. These are the best free apps for real-world use, no subscriptions required for basic features, no bloatware cluttering the home screen.
Why These Apps Matter More Than Apple’s Built-In Options?
Apple gives you Safari, Notes, and Photos right out of the box. Apple’s apps live only in Apple’s world. Use a Windows laptop at work? Good luck accessing your Safari bookmarks. Your iPad Notes won’t sync there either. The Apple ecosystem locks you in. They work on your iPad, your Android phone, your work computer.
Freedoesn’t mean cheap or limited. Many of these best free apps offer full features without charging you a cent. No trial periods. No watermarks. No upgrade to premium popups blocking basic tools.
The right apps can turn your iPad into a productivity powerhouse, creative studio, or mini, computer BGR. But you need iPad apps that actually work across your whole life, not just your Apple devices.They connect to services Apple ignores. They give you features Apple charges extra for.
1. Bitwarden – Your Password Manager That Works Everywhere
Apple offers a password manager through iCloud Keychain, its access is limited to the Apple ecosystem. Bitwarden works across all major platforms BGR. That means your passwords follow you to Windows, Android, Linux, anywhere.The free version includes unlimited passwords across unlimited devices, with AES-256 bit encryption, salted hashing, and PBKDF2 SHA 256 App StoreApp Store.
It supports two factor authentication and autofill for usernames and passwords App Store.Create your master password (make it strong). You use your work laptop during the day. With iCloud Keychain, your work laptop is locked out. With Bitwarden, all your secure passwords work everywhere.
2. Google Drive – Extra Storage That Plays Nice With Your iPad
Google Drive relieves pressure from iCloud and integrates with Gmail, Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, letting you work on the go BGR. You get 15GB free.The iPad app is optimized for multitasking, supporting split screen and drag and drop BGR. The app includes a built, in scanner to scan and upload documents directly from your iPad camera Hardly Hamilton. The document saves as a PDF in your Drive folder.
Offline access capability allows you to access and edit files even when not connected to internet MultCloud. Mark files as available offline before your flight. Work on them at 30,000 feet. Having backup cloud storage matters more than you think. Need to share a large file with someone on Android? Google Drive works for them too.
3. VLC Media Player – Play Any Video File Without Converting
If you’ve ever downloaded a video only to find your iPad won’t play it, VLC Media Player is the solution. Powerhouse app handles virtually any video format, MKV, AVI, FLV, and dozens more, without requiring time, consuming conversions. Better yet, with iOS 26’s new default app settings, you can set VLC to automatically open video files from the Files app, eliminating the need to manually import each time.
VLC shines when playing downloaded movies and TV shows with multiple audio tracks and subtitle options. You can stream directly from Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, or your home NAS via SMB, FTP, or UPnP/DLNA protocols.
The playback controls offer impressive flexibility. Adjust speed from 0.25x to 4x for lectures or tutorials, use the gesture controls to skip forward or adjust volume with simple swipes, and even enable audio boost for quiet videos.
4. Notability – Note-Taking That Actually Works With Apple Pencil
Notability transforms your iPad into the ultimate note taking device, especially when paired with an Apple Pencil. The app’s palm rejection technology is remarkably accurate, you can rest your hand naturally on the screen while writing without accidental marks, creating a pen and paper experience that feels completely natural.
Switch seamlessly between the pencil tool for handwriting, highlighter for emphasis, typed text for speed, and audio recording for context. The audio syncing feature is particularly brilliant: record a lecture or meeting while taking notes, and Notability links the audio to what you wrote at each moment.
It analyzes your notes to automatically generate summaries, practice quizzes, and flashcards, turning your handwritten lecture notes into interactive study materials without extra effort. Free version provides solid functionality for casual users, the premium subscription unlocks unlimited note storage and advanced organizational features for power users who live in their notes daily.
5. DuckDuckGo Browser – Private Browsing Without the Tracking
Safari offers privacy features, it doesn’t block all third party trackers, and websites can still collect behavioral data through various loopholes. The difference becomes immediately apparent when you browse. Open the same news site in Safari and DuckDuckGo side by side, and DuckDuckGo’s tracker counter will reveal dozens of blocked attempts to follow you around the web.
Shopping sites, social media widgets, and advertising networks constantly try to build profiles about your interests, DuckDuckGo stops them automatically.The browser also forces HTTPS encryption whenever possible, protecting your data on public WiFi networks where eavesdropping is common.
Use DuckDuckGo for sensitive activities banking, medical research, shopping for surprises or anytime you don’t want your browsing habits monetized. Safari works fine for casual browsing, but DuckDuckGo ensures your digital footprint remains yours alone.
6. CapCut – Video Editing Made Simple and Free
CapCut has rapidly become the go to video editor for iPad users who want professional results without the complexity or cost of premium apps. Whether you’re a complete beginner creating your first TikTok or an experienced creator producing YouTube content, CapCut delivers powerful tools wrapped in an intuitive interface and remarkably, the free version includes no watermarks.
The app truly shines for quick social media edits. Import clips from your camera roll, trim them with simple gestures, and apply transitions with a single tap. Adding music is effortless thanks to the built, in library of licensed tracks, or import your own audio files. Layer text, stickers, and filters to match your style, then use keyframe animation for more advanced motion effects when you’re ready to level up.
CapCut is optimized for the iPad’s larger screen, making precision editing comfortable with tools that would feel cramped on a phone. When exporting, select your target platform TikTok, Instagram, Reels, YouTube and CapCut automatically adjusts resolution and aspect ratio for optimal quality.
7. Libby – Free Books and Audiobooks From Your Library
Libby transforms your iPad into an all access library, letting you borrow thousands of ebooks and audiobooks completely free using just your library card. Since your local library already pays for digital copies, you can enjoy bestsellers and new releases without guilt or subscription fees it’s a service you’re already funding through taxes.
Download Libby, search for your library by name or location, then enter your library card number and PIN. Browse by genre, search specific titles, or explore staff recommendations. Libby syncs your reading progress across all devices, so you can start a book on your iPad and continue seamlessly on your iPhone during your commute.
8. Delta – Retro Gaming on Your iPad (Legal and Free)
Delta brought legal retro gaming to iOS in 2024, and the iPad version transforms your tablet into the ultimate portable arcade. Transfer them to your iPad via the Files app, AirDrop, or cloud storage, then import them into Delta with a simple tap. Connect a PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch Pro controller via Bluetooth, and you’ve got console quality gameplay on your iPad’s gorgeous display.
The save state feature is transformative pause any game at any moment and resume exactly where you left off, even mid level.Advanced features include fast forward for grinding through repetitive sections, cheat code support for classic Game Genie codes, and custom controller skins that adapt the on, screen layout for different games and iPad sizes.
9. Apple Journal – The Free Journaling App Apple Finally Made
Apple Journal finally arrived on iPad in 2025, two years after its iPhone debut, and it’s become the journaling app many users didn’t know they needed. Starting a daily journaling habit becomes effortless with Journal’s intelligent prompts. These contextual nudges help overcome the dreaded blank page syndrome that stops many journaling attempts.
Attach photos directly from your library, include location data to remember where meaningful moments happened, or simply write text entries.The interface stays minimal and distraction free, focusing on getting your thoughts down rather than overwhelming you with formatting options.
Privacy is paramount entries are end to end encrypted, and you can lock the app with Face ID or a passcode.For anyone who tried expensive journaling apps only to abandon them after the free trial Apple Journal proves that sometimes the best solution is the simplest, most integrated one.Retry
10. Spotify – All Your Music and Podcasts in One Place
Spotify remains the gold standard for music and podcast streaming, offering millions of songs and shows completely free on your iPad ads included, but fully functional. The iPad app takes full advantage of the larger screen, making browsing your library and discovering new content far more enjoyable than on a phone.
Navigation feels effortless thanks to Spotify’s sophisticated algorithms working behind the scenes. Your Daily Mix playlists automatically group songs by mood and genre based on your listening habits, while Discover Weekly introduces you to artists you’ve never heard but will probably love. Creating and managing playlists is intuitive drag and drop songs, reorder tracks with ease, and share collections with friends.
Subscribe to shows so new episodes appear automatically, bookmark specific episodes into custom playlists for later, or create a queue mixing music and podcasts for your perfect listening session. The premium tier removes ads and enables offline downloads, the free version delivers everything you need to enjoy unlimited music and podcasts making Spotify an essential iPad app regardless of your budget.
Wrap Up, Your iPad, Supercharged
These 10 apps transform your iPad from a capable device into an indispensable powerhouse. You get bulletproof password security with Bitwarden, triple the free storage with Google Drive, and universal media playback with VLC.
Create polished videos with CapCut, take intelligent notes with Notability, and browse privately with DuckDuckGo. Read unlimited books through Libby, play classic games with Delta, journal your thoughts with Apple Journal, and stream endless music with Spotify.
Download these apps first and set them up properly connect your library card to Libby, integrate Google Drive with Files, pair your controller with Delta. Then explore the App Store for specialized tools matching your specific needs, whether that’s advanced photo editing, fitness tracking, or professional creative work.
