Every iPad owner should consider getting one of the best iPad screen protectors to protect their expensive new tablet, but it's especially important for digital artists to ensure an enjoyable drawing experience with screen clarity.
We've tested several iPad screen protectors, trying them out when drawing with Apple Pencil as well as for general use, and have selected our favourites below, indicating which type of user they are most suited to. We've considered price, ease of installation, features and protection to help you make an informed choice.
The best iPad screen protectors
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Materials: Microscopic nano-texture
Finish: Matte like-paper
This is our overall best iPad screen protector for digital artists. Our reviewer gave this a strong 10/10 for its excellent drawing feel, and described it as a must-have for anyone who loves drawing on paper but wants to go digital. It also comes with two hard metal nibs for the Apple Pencil. Read more in our full Rock Paper Pencil review.
Materials: Polyethylene Terephthalate
Finish: Matte
This one is another favourite for artists, providing easy use, solid protection, and a wonderful drawing experience. Made with (and by) design professionals and artists, this protector is designed to give your iPad the feel of paper under your stylus – and that's exactly how it performed when we tested it. Read more in our full Paperlike 2 review.
Materials: 9H tempered glass
Finish: Gloss
Spigen is one of the best manufacturers on the market, and this screen protector is incredibly easy to fit with its foolproof installation kit. Plus you get extra scratch and drop resistance and an oleophobic coating to see off greasy fingerprints, too. However, it may interfere with your Apple Pencil. Read more in our full Spigen review.
Materials: Polyethylene Terephthalate
Finish: Matte
If you're looking for a budget alternative to the Paperlike screen protector, the ESR Paper-Feel is significantly cheaper, and you get two protectors in the pack. It's not quite the same paper-like feel, but ESR's specially-treated surface does simulate the feeling of pen on paper pretty well, and it's also nicely fingerprint-resistant.
Materials: Tempered glass
Finish: Gloss
The Ocushield Screen Protector is a tempered glass construction that filters out a lot of blue light. This makes it easier and more comfortable to use your iPad at all times of day. It's a solid, multi-functional screen protector in general, and we found it easy to fit with the included applicator.
Materials: Tempered glass
Finish: Gloss
If you have a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, amFilm's affordable Glass Screen Protector is our favourite iPad Pro screen protector. Its carefully shaped design fits neatly around the selfie camera, so Face ID still works fine. The premium-grade tempered glass is resistant and does a good job of protecting the screen from scratches. Overall, it's crystal clear and robust.
Materials: Polyethylene Terephthalate
Finish: Matte
If you want to give your iPad Pro 12.9 inch more of a paper texture, the JETech Write Like Paper screen protector is another budget Paperlike alternative. It also reduces glare while making your screen more scratch- and fingerprint-resistant. JETech does warns the protector can affect the clarity of the screen.
Materials: Plastic
Finish: Matte
The Belkin Screenforce True Privacy provides a privacy screen so that anyone looking over your shoulder sees nothing but darkness, but looking at the screen directly, everything is perfectly visible. It's great if you're worried about entering sensitive data in public, but doesn't offer a great deal of physical protection for your iPad.
Materials: 9H tempered glass
Finish: Gloss
Ailun's screen protector is great for the iPad mini. Made from 9H tempered glass, it offers great scratch and drop resistance, has an oleophobic coating to repel oils and it's very well-priced too. The package comes with two guide stickers for fitting, along with a wet wipe, a dry wipe and a dust absorber.
