If writer’s block has you racking your brain, don’t stress – the iPad offers an arsenal of writing apps to get your creative juices flowing. Whether you’re crafting a novel, blogging, or jotting down quick notes, there’s an app tailored to your writing needs.
In this list, we’ve curated the 15 best iPad writing apps for planning, drafting, and editing your next magnum opus or simply capturing fleeting ideas. From distraction-free environments to handwriting recognition and organization tools, these apps provide the features and mobile user experience writers need to be productive.
Let your inner muse run wild with these versatile writing apps designed specifically for iPad. Read on to unlock your next story using the digital tools at your fingertips. Your future bestseller awaits!
How to Choose the Best Writing App for iPad
The iPad is a great device for writing on the go, but with thousands of writing apps available, it can be difficult to choose one that suits your needs. Here are some key factors to consider when choosing a writing app for iPad:
● Purpose – What do you primarily use the application for? Options like Microsoft Word and Google Docs are great for general writing and word processing. Apps like Ulysses and iA Writer offer distraction-free modes for creative writing.
● Features – Determine which features are must-have features and which are must-have features. Word and character counts, markdown support, file management and organizational tools are a must for many. Additional features like Hemingway mode, collaboration options, publishing integration, etc. may also be useful.
● Sync – If you use multiple devices, you’ll want an app that lets you seamlessly sync documents between your phone, tablet, and desktop. Know compatibility before choosing.
● User Interface – Look for an app with an intuitive, uncluttered interface that helps you focus on writing. Fullscreen or distraction-free modes are invaluable.
● Apple Pencil Integration – Makes sure the app is optimized for use with the Apple Pencil. Look for pressure and tilt sensitivity, palm rejection, and lag-free input.
● Price – Paid apps like Scrivener for iOS are powerful, but free apps like Google Docs or iA Writer offer a lot of value for free. Figure out your budget.
● Reviews – Check out user reviews and ratings in the App Store for candid feedback on how the app meets real-world writing needs. This can reveal useful insights.
We test a few of the top contenders to see which iPad writing app really fits your individual needs and workflow. continue reading.
Best Writing Apps for iPad
- Microsoft Word – Robust word processor and document editor. Works across devices and platforms.
- Google Docs – Free and collaborative word processor that stores files in the cloud.
- Pages – Apple’s own full-featured word processor with beautiful templates.
- iA Writer – Distraction-free writing app with focus modes and markdown support.
- Danger Note – Overcome writer’s block
- Bear – Notes app with tagging, formatting, and exporting options to craft writing.
- Scrivener – Feature-packed app tailored to long manuscripts and ebooks.
- Byword – Simple, intuitive interface that makes it easy to just write. Markdown compatible.
- Simplenote – Fast, barebones note-taking app great for drafts and quick writing tasks.
- Drafts – Quickly capture text, dictation, and notes then export to other apps.
- Noteshelf – Fluid note-taking and annotation with Apple Pencil optimization.
- GoodNotes 5 – Robust PDF annotation and notebook capabilities. Apple Pencil friendly.
- Microsoft OneNote – Digital notebook for gathering ideas, research material, and outlines.
- Notability – Great for gathering ideas and organizing manuscripts into notebooks.
- Google Keep – Quickly jot down notes and lists that sync across your devices.
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word is the quintessential word processor and document editing app. Available as part of Microsoft 365, it enables you to create, edit, review, and share documents from your iPad. Key features include robust tools for formatting text, inserting tables/charts/images, collaborating in real-time, scanning and OCR, built-in design templates, support for adding comments and edits, and seamless file syncing across devices. The touch-friendly interface is optimized for Apple Pencil and keyboard use. Word provides the most fully-featured word processing experience on iPad for all your document creation and editing needs.
● Powerful editing and formatting tools
● Real-time collaboration capabilities
● Thousands of professionally designed document templates
Price: Free download, requires a Microsoft 365 subscription ($69.99/year)
Google Docs
Google Docs is a free, web-based word processor that enables real-time collaboration. You can create, edit, share, and store documents online from your iPad. The minimalist interface helps you focus on writing.
● Document creation and editing tools
● Voice typing and customizable keyboards
● Built-in Google Search for research
● Commenting and suggesting modes
● Version history tracking
● Add-ons to boost productivity
● Real-time collaboration capabilities
● Seamless access across devices
Price: Free
Pages
Pages is Apple’s own full-featured word processor designed specifically for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It makes it easy to create beautiful documents from custom templates or from scratch.
● Robust document creation and editing tools
● Library of professionally designed templates
● Adds tables, charts, images seamlessly
● Review and track changes capabilities
● Seamless syncing across Apple devices
● Optimized for Apple Pencil and keyboard
● Focus mode minimizes on-screen controls
Price: Free (with optional Pages conversion extension subscription – $9.99/month)
iA Writer
iA Writer is a distraction-free writing app designed for focus and simplicity. It provides only the essential writing tools to enable concentration on your words.
● Minimalist interface without extra menus or buttons
● Focus modes for distraction-free writing
● Customizable fonts, colors, and themes
● Markdown formatting support
● File management and organization features
● Syncs across iOS and desktop apps
● Exports finished manuscripts in various formats
Price: $29.99 (iOS app)
Danger Note
Wish you could just push a magic button to overcome writer’s block? Danger Notes is about as close as it gets.
This unique writing app forces your creativity into high gear with its self-destructing notes feature. You set a timer, start writing, and if you stop for too long, your text disappears. As a fellow minimalist writer, I love how it motivates constant flow. No time for procrastination!
● Self-destructing notes spark ideas
● Timers keep you writing non-stop
● Defeats writer’s block
● Minimalist and easy to use
Price: $2.99
At only $2.99, Danger Notes provides an arsenal of tools to defeat every writer’s enemy. Try it today to see your most brilliant ideas appear as if by magic!
Bear
Are you a writer who’s always jotting down random notes, ideas, bits of research? Do you find it hard to keep everything organized? Bear offers the perfect solution.
This flexible writing app lets you capture notes and snippets of text quickly, then categorize them with hashtag keywords. It’s like having a supercharged digital notebook optimized for a writer’s needs.
● Fast note taking capabilities
● Intuitive hashtag organization
● Markdown support and themes
● Syncs between Apple devices
● Notes can be exported
Price: Free (Premium $1.49/month)
Whether brainstorming a new blog post or outlining a novel, Bear gives writers an ideal place to capture and develop thoughts. Try it today to supercharge your workflow!
Scrivener
Blank page. Blinking cursor. If writer’s block has you stuck, Scrivener is here to rescue your masterpiece.
Scrivener is the innovative writing software that provides a robust toolkit for planning, structuring, organizing, writing, and editing long or complex documents like novels, screenplays, and research papers.
Designed for lengthy manuscripts, Scrivener enables you to write in sections, track revisions, export in various formats, and compile pieces into a finished draft. It provides tools tailored for storyboarding, outlining, character building, and structuring narratives. With its deep organizational and production features, Scrivener helps unleash your creativity.
● Comprehensive outlining and storyboarding capabilities
● Write in sections then compile into drafts
● Track changes and export in multiple formats
● Templates for characters, plots, settings
● Syncs across iOS and desktop devices
Price: $19.99
Bring your book or screenplay vision to life with the robust toolkit Scrivener provides. Download it today to start organizing your masterpiece!
Byword
Words not flowing? Byword is your streamlined writing companion.
Byword provides a clean, distraction-free writing interface so you can focus on your words. It’s the ultimate minimalist Markdown editor made for Mac, iOS, and the web.
● Minimalist interface to avoid distractions
● Markdown support with preview
● iCloud sync between Apple devices
● Publish documents online
● Customizable themes and font sizes
Starting at $11.99
Unclutter your writing space with Byword – a simple but powerful app that melts away the block and helps your ideas flow. Download it now!
Simplenote
Words not flowing? Byword is your streamlined writing companion.
Byword provides a clean, distraction-free writing interface so you can focus on your words. It’s the ultimate minimalist Markdown editor made for Mac, iOS, and the web.
● Minimalist interface to avoid distractions
● Markdown support with preview
● iCloud sync between Apple devices
● Publish documents online
● Customizable themes and font sizes
Starting at $11.99
Unclutter your writing space with Byword – a simple but powerful app that melts away the block and helps your ideas flow. Download it now!
Drafts
Ideas strike at the most random times. Drafts makes capturing thoughts simple.
Drafts allows fast drafting of text, notes, and voice dictation, with easy exporting to other apps for later refinement.
● Quickly jot text, lists, voice dictation
● Create reusable templates
● Export to variety of apps -hashtag organization system
● Encrypted passcode protection
Price: $4.99
When inspiration hits, open Drafts and seize the moment. The fastest way to grab those fleeting ideas on the go. Download now!
Noteshelf
Do you miss the satisfaction of pen flowing across paper? Noteshelf brilliantly recreates the natural writing and sketching experience on your iPad. With its support for effortless Apple Pencil input along with versatile organization tools, Noteshelf offers the best of both analog and digital notes.
Noteshelf provides a fluid note-taking space that truly mimics the haptic joy and creative freedom of handwriting on paper. But it leverages the power of iPad and Apple Pencil for easy organization, editing, sharing and syncing of notes. Noteshelf bridges the gap between the familiarity of physical notebooks and the utility of digital writing apps for iPad.
● Natural Apple Pencil writing feel
● Paper styles mimic different notebooks
● Handwriting recognition and search
● Simple organization and navigation
● Sync notes across cloud services
Price: $9.99
Bring back the pleasures of paper note-taking digitally with Noteshelf. The most natural handwriting and sketching app yet. Download today!
GoodNotes 5
Taking notes a chore? GoodNotes makes it a pleasure again.
GoodNotes provides advanced digital notetaking tools to recreate the pen and paper experience on your iPad, with powerful organization features. The app feels natural like an analog notebook, while offering the benefits of search, sharing, auto-backups and more.
● Smooth Apple Pencil writing feel
● Realistic paper textures mimic notebooks
● Easy organization with dividers
● Audio recording while note taking
● Password protection for privacy
Price: $7.99
Bring back the joy of writing with a real pen and paper – digitally. GoodNotes helps you rediscover the pleasures of taking notes on your iPad. Download today!
Microsoft OneNote
Got a million thoughts but no place to organize them? OneNote is the solution.
OneNote is Microsoft’s digital notebook app that provides robust tools for gathering, organizing, sharing, and syncing notes across devices. It works like a freeform digital binder, allowing you to capture ideas, research, meeting notes and more using typing, scanning, or handwriting on iPad.
● Flexible digital notebook format
● Type, handwrite, scan, or clip anything
● Sync notes across desktop and mobile
● Collaborate in shared notebooks
● Password protect sensitive notes
Price: Free (Microsoft 365 subscription optional for premium features)
Never lose a great idea again. OneNote enables you to capture all your thoughts in one searchable place. The ultimate digital note taking app.
Notability
Love handwritten notes but hate paper clutter? Notability combines the best of both worlds.
Notability is a powerful iPad note taking app that lets you write, draw, annotate, and organize notes with the ease of pen and paper. It leverages Apple Pencil and iPad capabilities for easy searching, editing, sharing, and syncing too.
● Natural handwriting with Apple Pencil
● Make drawings, diagrams, annotations
● Audio recording to sync with notes
● Organize notes into subject notebooks
● Share notes and collaborate with others
Price: $11.99
Notability merges the familiarity of handwritten notes with the power of digital organization and editing tools. The future of iPad note taking apps.
Google Keep
Always forgetting grocery lists and to-do items? Google Keep remembers for you.
Google Keep is a free note-taking and list-making app that makes capturing quick thoughts and notes a breeze. Optimized for brief notes, lists, voice dictation, and sharing, Keep helps you stay organized on the go.
● Quickly jot text, lists, voice notes
● Set reminders so you never forget
● Color categorization for notes
● Syncs automatically across devices
● Collaborate and share notes
Price: Free
For frictionless capture of notes, lists, and ideas, Keep simplifies your workflow. The clutter-free note taking app for mobile and web.
Conclusion
With the array of powerful writing apps available, the iPad provides the perfect digital canvas for writers. Core capabilities like syncing, handwriting recognition, and exporting make these versatile apps productive for any writing project.
Whether you’re drafting long-form fiction, blogging, or jotting quick notes, there is an iPad app tailored to your workflow. No more losing ideas or struggling with writer’s block.
Download a writing app that inspires your style and start creating on the iPad’s blank page. Your next story is waiting to unfold!
