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Best Free iPad Apps
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Read this article in Chinese
This is a multi-page article. To quickly find what you want, either:
- Check out the Page Index above, or
-
View everything as one huge page by clicking here
.
The iPad has become one of the most successful tablet computers in the market since the device was launched by Apple in April 2010. As it runs the same mobile operating system, iOS, as the iPhone, most apps designed for the iPhone would work on the iPad. If optimized, they work even better on the larger screen of the iPad.
In Apple’s App Store, there are now more than 700,000 commercial and free iOS apps available for download. But here at Gizmo’s Freeware, we only select the best from the free ones running in full screen on your iPad, while iPhone apps running on the iPad in 1x or 2x mode are excluded from this list.
To install the apps on your device, you might use one of the following ways.
Quick Access to App Store:
- In iPad's browser, tap a program title on this iPad app list to go the App Store, tap the "FREE" button and then the "INSTALL APP" button. Or
- In PC's browser, click a program title on this iPad app list to go to iTunes Preview and click "View in iTunes", then download the program within iTunes and sync to your iPad.
This plus sign is attached to the logo of an app which is designed for or compatible with iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. See also Best Free iPhone Apps.
This list of Best Free iPad Apps now includes 128 apps in 82 categories. To read brief descriptions of the applications, click a page number or a category icon below.
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Page 1. What's New / Summary
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Page 2. Home and Office
Best Free Office Suite for iPad - CloudOn
Best Free E-Book Reader for iPad - Stanza | iBooks | Kindle
Best Free Comic Book Reader for iPad - Comics | ComicFlow
Best Free Alarm Clock for iPad - Nightstand Central Free
Best Free Notepad and Notebook for iPad - Evernote | Springpad | Bamboo Paper | PaperPort Notes
Best Free Reminder / To-do List for iPad - Astrid Tasks/To-do List | Remember The Milk
Best Free Dictionary and Thesaurus for iPad - Dictionary.com | Merriam-Webster Dictionary HD
Best Free Encyclopedia for iPad - Wikipedia Mobile | Wikipanion for iPad | Fotopedia Heritage
Best Free Genealogy or Family Tree for iPad - Ancestry
Best Free Translator for iPad - Google Translate | iTranslate
Best Free Cooking Tools for iPad - Epicurious Recipes & Shopping List
Best Free Calculator for iPad - HiCalc - Calculator for iPad | PCalc Lite
Best Free Unit and Currency Converter for iPad - Units | myConvert Lite | XE Currency
Best Free Voice Recognition for iPad - Dragon Dictation
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Page 3. Image Tools
Best Free Photo Gallery for iPad - The Guardian Eyewitness
Best Free Image Editor for iPad - Snapseed | Adobe Photoshop Express | Pixlr-o-matic
Best Free Paint Program for iPad - DrawCast
Best Free Image Generator for iPad - Absolute Vintage Studio Lite
Best Free Doodle Pad for iPad - Doodle Buddy
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Page 4. Multimedia
Best Free Media Player for iPad - flex:player
Best Free Radio Broadcasting for iPad - TuneIn Radio
Best Free Multimedia Streaming Software for iPad - VLC Streamer Free
Best Free Music Recognition for iPad - SoundHound
Best Free Video Sharing for iPad - YouTube
Best Free Music Video Catalog for iPad - VEVO HD
Best Free Movie Resource for iPad - IMDb Movies & TV
Best Free Computer Piano for iPad - Virtuoso Piano Free 2 HD | Magic Piano
Best Free Music Creation Software for iPad - Beatwave
Best Free Drum App for iPad - Drums XD FREE
Best Free Video Maker for iPad - Video Star
Best Free Flip Book Animation for iPad - LED Studio HD Free
Best Free Remote Control for iPad - Remote
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Page 5. Disk, File, Desktop & System
Best Free File Manager for iPad - FileApp
Best Free Online Backup for iPad - Dropbox
Best Free Wallpaper App for iPad - Cool Wallpapers HD & Retina Free
Best Free System Monitor for iPad - System Status Lite | Activity Monitor Touch Free
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Page 6. Security and Privacy
Best Free Password Manager for iPad - LastPass Tab Browser
Best Free Private Library for iPad - Private Photo Vault
Best Free Device Tracker for iPad - Find My iPhone
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Page 7. Internet, eMail & Network
Best Free Web Browser for iPad - Dolphin Browser HD | Chrome | Opera Mini | Terra Browser
Best Free Instant Messaging for iPad - imo instant messenger
Best Free Social Network for iPad - Facebook | Google+ | Twitter
Best Free Voice Over Internet Protocol for iPad - Skype for iPad
Best Free News Reader or Feed Aggregator for iPad - Flipboard | Pulse News | Zite | Feeddler RSS Reader
Best Free Bookmark Manager for iPad - Pocket
Best Free Web Search for iPad - Google Search
Best Free Navigation for iPad - Google Earth | Waze social GPS traffic & gas
Best Free Weather Monitoring for iPad - The Weather Channel Max for iPad | Weather HD Free
Best Free Remote Access Software for iPad - TeamViewer HD
Best Free Wi-Fi Finder for iPad - Wi-Fi Finder
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Page 9. Personal Development
Best Free Talks and Lectures for iPad - TED
Best Free Articles and Answers for iPad - HowStuffWorks for iPad
Best Free Science Knowledge Network for iPad - Science360 for iPad
Best Free Astronomy Software for iPad - Planets
Best Free Quiz Tool for iPad - Evernote Peek
Best Free Story Book for iPad - Toy Story Read-Along
Best Free Workout Tracker for iPad - Action Burn
Best Free Medical Reference for iPad - Medscape | WebMD
Best Free Menstral Cycle Tracker for iPad - iPeriod Free for iPad
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Page 10. Games
Best Free Action Game for iPad - Fruit Ninja HD Lite | NinJump HD | Hungry Shark - Part 1 HD | iStunt 2 HD - Insane Hills | SoulCraft | Critical Missions: SWAT Lite
Best Free Physics Game for iPad - Angry Birds HD | Angry Birds Rio HD | Cut the Rope HD Free
Best Free Simulation Game for iPad - Smurfs' Village | ATC Mania
Best Free Shoot 'Em Up for iPad - Boomblastica
Best Free Running Game for iPad - Temple Run | Jetpack Joyride
Best Free Match-2 Puzzle for iPad - Flow Free | Trainyard Express
Best Free Match-3 Puzzle for iPad - Fire Ball | Mr Giggle 2 HD Lite
Best Free Jigsaw Puzzle and Creator for iPad - Jigsaw Jumble
Best Free Sliding Puzzle for iPad - Mouse
Best Free Word Game for iPad - Wordfeud | Words With Friends HD Free | 4 Pics 1 Word
Best Free Card Game for iPad - Solitaire | FreeCell Free | Hearts Multiplayer HD
Best Free Computer Mahjong for iPad - Mahjong Towers Touch HD
Best Free Computer Chess for iPad - Chess.com | Stockfish Chess
Best Free Chinese Chess for iPad - Action Chinese Chess Free
Best Free Music Game for iPad - Tap Tap Radiation
Best Free Sudoku for iPad - Sudoku Joy
Best Free Reversi for iPad - Reversi HD *
Best Free Backgammon for iPad - Backgammon Gold
Best Free Pinball for iPad - Retro Pinball
Best Free Air Hockey for iPad - Air Hockey Gold
Best Free Breakout Game for iPad - Breakout Boost
Best Free Billiards and Pool Game for iPad - Pool Break Lite
Best Free Casual Game for iPad - Talking Ben the Dog
- The Best iPad Tips and Tricks
- Best Free iPhone Apps
- Best Free Android Apps
- Best Free Software for Mac OS
- Best Free Online Applications and Services
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- PC Freeware,
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- Desktop & GUI,
- Disk & File Utilities,
- Home & Office,
- iOS - iPad,
- Educational,
- Games and Diversions,
- Image View and Edit,
- Internet, Email & Messaging,
- Multimedia (CD, DVD, Video, Audio),
- Networking & File Transfer,
- System and Performance Info,
- System Utilities,
- Software list
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Comments
Best free word game for the iPad: "Words with friends HD Free"?
True if English is your native language. But what about other languages?
I'm from Belgium and my native language is Dutch. I've been searching for word games in my own language for ages. (At least it feels like that ;-)
Then, some weeks ago, I stumbled upon the app "Wordfeud" (http://itunes.apple.com/nl/app/wordfeud/id428312806).
Currently it allows you to play the word game in English, French, Spanish, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish.
Against random opponents or friends from your contact list.
On the iPhone or iPod Touch. But also on the iPad: run it in 2x-mode and then zoom out to see the whole board on your screen. The board and the tiles are nicely (not just 2x) rendered.
It's an app I open every time I take my iPad in my hands.
Best free "international" word game for the iPad? Wordfeud! (Ad supported)
WordFeud is now iPad compatible.
A good choice Geert. Added to the list.
boombastica is a new game that is free for iPad: http://itun.es/iBc4DZ
A good suggestion Jesse Lindsley. This game has now joined the list.
Absolute Vintage Studio appears to not be free now
Thanks GranK for your feedback. It now has a free Lite version with the basic features unchanged except that the paid version has more choices for frames and different human bodies. Updated now on the list.
unfortunately Stanza doesnt work with iOS 5, and since amazon purchased it, it doesnt appear that there is any kind of update on the horizon...it was quickly my favorite ereader on the ipad, but sadly it seems it is no more...
Snooker club is no longer free. Thought I'd let you know. :)
Thanks Lisa for the info. It's now removed and replaced with another on the list.
Chess apps: I consider Stockfish to be the best free app, at least for non-beginners. Nice interface, very good playing strength, no ads, no encouraging for buying a "Pro" version. Good for analysis of positions you can set up. Chess.com is good, but you are often encouraged to upgrade.
Good suggestion Dlira. Added Stockfish Chess to the list.
For best free card games category you should also include "FreeCell Free" it's made by the same maker as Solitaire on your list - MobilityWare.
It's been my favourite game on Windows and now I have it on the iPad as well.
Definitely a good suggestion Damir. Added this card game to the list.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/zeppelin-air/id455756068?mt=8
I enjoyed your recommendations and have downloaded a number of them for my iPad. Thanks for the suggestions, but I have one question--the vast majority of the replies on your recommended conversion site stated that the conversions were incorrect. I did not download this site but wonder why you would recommend any conversion site that does not perform accurate conversions.
Please explain.
You're welcome Barak.
The conversion app "Units" has the advantage of converting more units than other free apps I came across. So far I've noticed that its conversion to sq yard has a bug and let's see if it can be fixed in the next version.
As an alternative, I've added to the list another converter "myConvert Lite" which is quite fast and handy to use but fewer units are available in the free version.
[Update 1: The developer of Units answers that the issue with square yards has been corrected and an update submitted to Apple. Expect a new version to come.]
[Update 2: The app Units has been updated to version 2.1.2, with the "Square Yards" value corrected in the "Area" section.]
I suggest that the best free e-book reader is Kindle, followed by Stanza, certainly not iBooks. Also consider the Google Books app, not as good but also free.
You may find this of interest:
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/123d-sculpt/id446119510?mt=8
Enjoy!
A very good chance for getting it now especially when it's free for a limited time only.
Breakout Mania is a bad link and does not show up in the App Store.
Perhaps the name changed?
Thanks for pointing out and it's now removed from the list to avoid confusion.
FYI: I noticed that the Best Free Match-3 Puzzle "Zuma Seasons" has been renamed to "Jungle Seasons"
Thanks for the info Geert. The app name and the new file size were updated in the review.
Believe it or not, but the name changed again!
Now it is called iZumas
Can't believe it. The good thing is that the App ID remains the same and the link still works.
This game is quite close to the popular game Zuma, and looks like it tries to get a name which is close but can't be the same, and in a short while we've seen this: Zuma Seasons > Jungle Seasons > iZumas...
If you play online games, this is one of the Zuma games you can play for free Zuma deluxe online, flash based, running on other platforms than iOS.
The best free match 3 puzzle iZumas once again changed name: now it's called 'Fire Balls'.
If you can reach 59999 points in exercise mode, you get the full version for free. But that score is insanely high imo, if not impossible. Moreover, how do you manage to get more points?
Anyway, I would call it 'the most name changing free match 3 puzzle'.
Updated in the list and thanks for the info. Usually you can get higher scores by matching more balls in a shot, getting chained explosions through gaps of other balls, or consecutively matching balls with every shot.
Just to confirm that if you reach 59999 points in exercise mode, you indeed get the full version of Fire Ball for free. (Maybe you should add that in the description)
My son just did it. ;-)
"Consecutively matching balls with every shot" seemed to be the key to success.
Good suggestion Geert. I have added that in the description as I also got the full version free after reaching 62,028 points in exercise mode :)