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Best Free iPad Apps
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This is a multi-page article. To quickly find what you want, either:
- Check out the Page Index above, or
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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
best, top, free, ipad, iphone, ipod, ios, apple, mobile, smart, phone, smartphone, tablet, app, apps, applications, software, freeware
- Article type:
- Review,
- PC Freeware,
- User contributed lists,
- 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
Jojoyee, consider adding Jetpack Joyride . Game of the Year 2011 for iPad and iPhone. :-)
Gamasutra Mobile Game of 2011 - TUAW Best iPhone Game of 2011 - UGO iOS Game of the Year - George.J Mobile Game of the year :-)
A good choice George J. Added to the list.
I have been looking all over for a simple music notation app in which I can just jot down musical ideas on manuscript paper by clicking on lines or spaces on a screen and drawing the notes, or by playing notes on a virtual keyboard or even using the text keyboard and having notes appear on MS paper, or by dragging notes to the paper right on the screen. Does anyone know of anything like this?
How about PaperPort Notes? http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/paperport-notes/id476134017
It takes my dictation nicely. Navigation and editing does take some getting used to.
Vic
A good recommendation Vic. It now makes the list go up to 100 apps.
My cellphone messages route to my email as AMR files when I'm travelling. I use Pazera Audio Extractor to convert to MP3 so I can listen to them at my convenience without the expence of calling home. Is there something similar as an iPad APP that converts audio files to other audio files??
CloudOn is only available in North America and a couple of other places. Do you have a second choice office suite that is universally available.
The classsic pinball game on your list is not free
Oops it looks like the app has turned commercial but now we have another choice "Pinball HD Collection" on the list. Thanks for pointing out Wolf.
I'm guessing that after a month waiting there isn't a 2nd best Office suite type App.I'll take a look elsewhere.
It appears that 'Secure my Privacy' and 'Omnicalc' are no longer free.
Thanks and both are now delisted.
Where is Flipboard? It's great for RSS.
Flipboard is better than Pulse for much persons.
Jojo, I majored in mathematics and I highly recommend Hicalc Calculator as the best calculator on iOS, after comparing many other competitors. The free version lacks some features like base converter and statistics, but its scientific calculator is the most powerful I have seen. I have not found another calculator which can calculate differential, integration, evaluation, summation, product, and even find root for a function! It can be very helpful for learners of calculus. It supports complex number as well. It has many finance formulas inside. Well I don't think I can enumerate all of its features... Just give a try.
Thanks for your comment John III. Flipboard was added under the Social Networking category. It's now reclassified.
Very good suggestion wyf88. It's now added to the list.
WordFeud is now iPad compatible.
A good choice Geert. Added to the list.
For RSS I would have to recommend FeedlerRSS as a nicer cleaner RSS reader more akin to Google Reader which is my preferred style. I found that the other readers didn't really support syncing with Google Reader very well, but this one does.
Wheee! Just found this site and love-love you already! In advance: thanks so much for all you have here. Wonderful. :-)
I'm really excited about the Dish Remote Access update; released today for the iPad 3. I've been excited to see my HD movies on the beautiful retina display, and it's finally here. I got turned on to some really cool features on the iPad 3 from a high tech buddy of mine who also works with me at Dish. It's amazing how far we've come as a society in such a short amount of time. wyf88, I second your recommendation that Hicalc Calculator is the best out there right now; I’m using it currently and have no plans on changing.
Lovely recommendation
Another good app is www.jumblemyfriends.com
It lets you create a jumble word of your facebook friends. Very addictive.
Flex:Player fell over after the latest update a few days ago and now doesn't recognize anything but MP4 files on the iPad even though iTunes will show all the missing video. It might be a good idea to have second best options listed.
I recommend this Timeline Eons app, a graphic representation of the entire natural and human history:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/timeline-eons/id433352152?mt=8&ls=1
Pocket says its not available in Australia?
There are no email applications listed. I was looking for better email app for ipad.
Have tried to find live wallpaper for my iPad. Love the koi one on android but can't find similar one for iPad.
Hi,
I just came across this site and found very useful. Thanks for keeping good work and sharing the apps list categorically.
I am looking for apps to manage the files/apps/cookies on my new ipad. (to keep my ipad clean from the junk files and know which apps is consuming how much space).
Appreciate your support in advance.
Dragon Tear is my favorite rpg game. Try this new game out https://itunes.apple.com/app/dragon-tear/id589367593?ls=1&mt=8