While Sidecar is Mac-only, Astropad has a Windows version in development called Project Blue. If you want to customize pressure input, you’ll need to pay for the subscription. These allow you to create your own set of gestures for oft-used functions like undo or paste, which can speed up your workflow immeasurably. Unlike Sidecar, Astropad doesn’t “add” an external display, it simply allows you to interact with whatever is on your primary display while in use. For drawing this fortunately doesn’t matter too much.Īstropad Studio provides access to some really useful features like an on-screen keyboard, external keyboard support, and Magic Gestures. One major drawback to Astropad is that it relies purely on display mirroring. Wireless performance can be a bit hit and miss, so wired is recommended for serious work or especially busy networks.
Astropad relies on a companion app running on your Mac and can connect via USB or wirelessly.
Astropad has been optimized for use with the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil, and this is the best way to use the app. You can use the Apple Pencil or simply draw with your finger or a cheap capacitive stylus ( but not a smart third-party stylus). That includes the second-gen iPad mini, original iPad Air, fifth-gen iPad, and any model of iPad Pro. You only need a 2013 Mac model running OS X El Capitan (10.11) or newer, with support for iPads running iOS 9.1 or later. Unlike Sidecar, Astropad has much broader support in terms of hardware.
Astropad now has two tiers: a one-off $30 purchase that includes core functionality, and a $12/month (or $80/year) subscription plan that includes many more features. It first appeared in 2015, long before Sidecar existed, bringing graphics tablet-like functionality to anyone with a compatible Mac and an iPad. Perfect for: Mac users who don’t meet the requirements for Sidecar, and Windows users.Īstropad is the original iPad drawing tablet app. Astropad Standard / Studio ($30 or $12 per month) Astropad If you have a compatible iPad and Mac, you can set Sidecar up right now under System Preferences > Sidecar. A lack of customization could be frustrating to some users who would prefer more control over the UI or pen pressure settings. There are shortcuts around the outside of the screen that allow you to quickly undo, use modifier keys like Command and Option, and access app-specific shortcuts. Sidecar is well-optimized, reliable, and compatible with supported Macs at a system level. Drawing is possible using the Apple Pencil in Mac apps that already support stylus input, including Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. One of the best things about Sidecar is that you can use it as a proper second display, rather than just mirroring what’s on-screen. You’ll also need to be using the same Apple ID on both devices, and be within 30 ft (10 meters) of your Mac for wireless to work. Sidecar with the 2016 MacBook Pro, 2016 MacBook, 2018 MacBook Air, 2017 iMac or 2015 Retina iMac, the iMac Pro, 2018 Mac mini, and 2019 Mac Pro or later. Speaking of the Mac, you’ll need a fairly recent model that’s running macOS Catalina or later. You can use it wirelessly or plug it directly into your Mac using the USB cable that came with it, which means you can power your tablet while you work on it.
Since Sidecar is a first-party solution, it generally works very well (especially compared to some third-party alternatives). You can find out which iPad you have under Settings > General > About. It works with the iPad Pro, third-gen iPad Air, fifth-gen iPad mini, or sixth-gen iPad or newer. Sidecar is Apple’s attempt at turning the iPad into a second display for use with compatible Macs. Perfect for: Mac users with a recent model iPad and Apple Pencil. Certain apps may work better than others with your particular hardware or preferred creative apps, so testing is essential here to avoid disappointment. Lastly, all of these apps were designed to work with the Mac first and foremost, which means Windows support isn’t as mature. Things like nearby wireless interference or lots of network activity can slow wireless performance down so a stress test may be in order. Make sure you fully test wireless performance if you intend to rely on it.
Confirm that your solution works with your preferred creative apps, whether that’s free tools like Inkscape and GIMP or professional apps from Adobe or Affinity.
Before you sign up for a subscription or pay a one-off fee, make sure you thoroughly test the full set of features. With the exception of Sidecar (Apple’s own free solution), all of the products listed below have some sort of free trial.