That day has come, and I can’t wait to get back to using my Apple Pencil. Here are some of the best Apple Pencil apps that have nothing to do with sketching or drawing. Many creative apps work with the Apple Pencil, but you don’t have to be an artist, musician, or designer to use them. Here are the best apps for Apple Pencil many people might enjoy and use and top applications to unleash creativity on Mac & iPad.
Best Pencil Apps
Adobe Comp CC
The Apple Pencil is a match made in heaven for Adobe Comp CC. If you have never tried any Adobe iOS apps, this is where you should start. Especially if you have an Apple Pencil. Comp CC is a wireframing and mockup tool that can simplify a designer’s life.
Completely compatible with the Creative Cloud suite of apps for iOS and for PC/Mac. Adobe Comp CC will give you a chance to take advantage of the Apple Pencil, as few apps will. Plus, like all the Adobe mobile apps, it’s free, even without a CC subscription.
PDF Expert: Top Apple Pencil Apps
Sometimes you need to sign something important on a deadline. Sometimes you may need to make notes on a document for work to send back. PDF Expert is one of those Apple Pencil apps that lets you take full advantage of why you bought it in the first place.
More than just signing and annotating. PDF Expert gives you complete control of editing the PDF files. So you won’t have to worry about returning to your computer to do it in Acrobat. And with the Apple Pencil, it’s just like writing in a notepad. Only it’s way more relaxed. Here are the best apps for Apple Pencil many people might enjoy and use and top applications to unleash creativity on Mac & iPad.
uMake
Not just for mockups, uMake is a CAD app that lets you unleash your Apple Pencil. Using the stylus (and yes, we’ve established it’s more than that), you can 3D model almost anything. One of the most valuable aspects of uMake is that while it’s mobile and powerful, you can export your files so they can be 3D printed or edited further on desktop apps.
You don’t have to worry about the mobile version is less powerful or incapable of accomplishing your tasks. And with the Apple Pencil, you can do it on your lap from anywhere.
Pixelmator: Top Apple Pencil Apps
Sure, there is a free Adobe Photoshop CC app on the App Store, and it’s perfect. Of course. But when talking about Apple Pencil apps, you should look at Pixelmator instead.
The app is optimized for use with the Apple Pencil and is highly reviewed on the App Store. You can do so much with it that even if you’re not an artist or photographer, you’ll be able to figure out how to beautify your photos in no time. Here are the best apps for Apple Pencil many people might enjoy and use and top applications to unleash creativity on Mac & iPad.
LiquidText
LiquidText does a lot in a very unassuming package. While it’s a PDF editor and notes app at its heart, you shouldn’t look at it as simply that. It’s more of a suite of tools that you can use to keep yourself productive no matter what you’re doing.
From mind-mapping and “ink links,” as the developers call them, to full search across multiple documents (which isn’t typical among mobile apps), the Apple Pencil in your hand will get a workout. Just be sure to stretch your fingers occasionally from all the fun you and your pencil are having.
Pigment
First, let’s discuss an Apple Pencil art app that isn’t for drawing. The Pigment is a coloring book app. Adult coloring books are still popular for a good reason: they’re relaxing, and you can work on your creativity even if you can’t draw a straight line.
One of the significant differences that Pigment has over other apps on the market is that it’s not a touch-to-color app. You don’t default to a paint bucket tool and fill an entire space with a single color because you color with brushstrokes. You can use your finger, too, but the Apple Pencil takes off the whole app. Here are the best apps for Apple Pencil many people might enjoy and use and top applications to unleash creativity on Mac & iPad.
Apple Notes: Top Apple Pencil Apps
We can’t discuss Apple Pencil apps without mentioning the default Notes app with iOS. If one app were made with the Apple Pencil in mind, it’s this one.
While it doesn’t have quite the power of Notability, it’s pretty darn close. Like everything else Apple does, it’s polished, clean, and easy to use. You won’t feel like you must spend money on a premium app; if you’re not a power note-taker, you probably won’t have to. Give it a shot to see what you think before opening up Apple Pay.
Affinity Designer
Affinity Designer is a vector graphics editor, and if you want to load up on top-notch Apple Pencil apps, you can’t go wrong with this one from Serif Labs. It has a $0 price tag, which some folks balk at for an iPad app, but the similar desktop software is far more expensive.
And that’s the thing: there is similar desktop software. Affinity Designer is every bit as functional as the majority of vector design apps out there. It is a premium product, but your Apple Pencil will thank you if you’re willing to pay for it.
Concepts
You cannot deny how beautiful Concepts is from the moment you boot it up. As a sketch app, you cannot do any better. Your Apple Pencil will let you create when, how, and wherever you want. While sketching and drawing is its primary task, you shouldn’t consider that a simple feat.
The features that accompany the app are top-tier, too. You will appreciate SVG exports directly from Concepts, unlimited layering, and an infinite canvas so that you won’t feel confined, even though you’re working on an app. The download is free, but there are in-app purchases that you can opt into when you realize you need a specific feature or tool.
DocuSign
The name gives this one away. It lets you sign documents. Your Apple Pencil enables you to give an actual signature, which you can’t quite get with your finger.
For business purposes, sending and receiving electronic signatures within the app is essential when it matters. It’s not fancy or flashy, but DocuSign is worth a download if you’ve got an Apple Pencil. And even if you don’t, too.
Notability
Notes apps are the bread to design apps’ butter with the Apple Pencil. And Notability truly stands out in the field. While it doesn’t offer the PDF manipulation of various other apps, it does what it does well. It takes notes. It lets you annotate things.
And the Apple Pencil should feel like a natural extension of the app. You do get an essential document and photo manipulation, but that is a nod back to the note-taking ability you get. Crops, sketches, and different pens and markers make this one a sure thing if you’re willing to shell out a tenner.
Conclusion
New Apple Pencil apps pop up on the App Store all the time. I’ll soon try out other coloring apps, such as Recolor. And if you have any other suggestions for apps that work particularly well with Apple Pencil, I’d love to hear them in the comments.
