Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchOutbyte Driver Updater · freeOne free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.
Scan My Drivers Free →ThatPainter is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More
Paper is still one of the most inviting iPad apps for visual thinking. It gets you from a fleeting idea to a sketch, handwritten note, storyboard, mood board, or rough composition with very little friction. But it is not the best all-purpose notes app, PDF annotator, or professional illustration tool.
For painters, designers, students, writers, and anyone who thinks visually, Paper’s appeal is its sketchbook-like simplicity. For searchable lecture notes, large research archives, recorded classes, or finished digital art, apps such as Goodnotes, Notability, Procreate, or Concepts are usually better fits.
What happened to Paper by FiftyThree?
The app originally known as Paper by FiftyThree is still available, but its current U.S. App Store listing calls it Paper: Sketch, Draw & Create and identifies Evernote Corporation as the developer.
It is currently listed as a free download with in-app purchases for iPhone and iPad. The listing describes sketching, drawing, painting, collage, photo import, page composition, journals, and synchronization. It also reports more than 30 million users and an approximately 4.6-star rating from roughly 72,000 ratings, though marketplace figures and features can change.
#1 Best Overall
- WHY IPAD — The 11-inch iPad is now more capable than ever with the superfast A16 chip, a stunning Liquid Retina display, advanced cameras, fast Wi-Fi, USB-C connector, and four gorgeous colors.* iPad delivers a powerful way to create, stay connected, and get things done.
- PERFORMANCE AND STORAGE — The superfast A16 chip delivers a boost in performance for your favorite activities. And with all-day battery life, iPad is perfect for playing immersive games and editing photos and videos.* Storage starts at 128GB and goes up to 512GB.*
- 11-INCH LIQUID RETINA DISPLAY — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display is an amazing way to watch movies or draw your next masterpiece.* True Tone adjusts the display to the color temperature of the room to make viewing comfortable in any light.
- IPADOS + APPS — iPadOS makes iPad more productive, intuitive, and versatile. With iPadOS, run multiple apps at once, use Apple Pencil to write in any text field with Scribble, and edit and share photos.* iPad comes with essential apps like Safari, Messages, and Keynote, with over a million more apps designed specifically for iPad available on the App Store.
- FAST WI-FI CONNECTIVITY — Wi-Fi 6 gives you fast access to your files, uploads, and downloads, and lets you seamlessly stream your favorite shows.
That ownership and product history matters. Old Paper reviews accurately describe the original FiftyThree-era interface, but they cannot establish today’s pricing, compatibility, synchronization, export behavior, or feature set.
The core Paper experience
Paper’s defining feature is not a huge tool library. It is the feeling that the canvas comes first.
In the original experience, controls were intentionally hidden. You could reveal tools with a swipe from the bottom, move between pages with horizontal swipes, and pinch a page closed to return to the journal or page overview. The design reduced visible interface clutter and made rough work feel acceptable.
That approach suits visual ideation better than formal document creation. A page can become a handwritten list, a diagram, a thumbnail sketch, a photo collage, or a mixture of all four. The app’s current listing continues to emphasize this combination of drawing, collage, image import, and journal organization.
The historical iMore review praised the natural behavior of Paper’s drawing tools, while noting that page-navigation gestures could sometimes be mistaken for drawing gestures. That is useful context for the original interaction model, but current gesture behavior should be checked on the version installed today.
What is Paper best for?
Paper is strongest when the objective is to capture and develop an idea rather than produce a polished final document.
Rank #2
- WHY IPAD — The 11-inch iPad is now more capable than ever with the superfast A16 chip, a stunning Liquid Retina display, advanced cameras, fast Wi-Fi, USB-C connector, and four gorgeous colors.* iPad delivers a powerful way to create, stay connected, and get things done.
- PERFORMANCE AND STORAGE — The superfast A16 chip delivers a boost in performance for your favorite activities. And with all-day battery life, iPad is perfect for playing immersive games and editing photos and videos.* Storage starts at 128GB and goes up to 512GB.*
- 11-INCH LIQUID RETINA DISPLAY — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display is an amazing way to watch movies or draw your next masterpiece.* True Tone adjusts the display to the color temperature of the room to make viewing comfortable in any light.
- IPADOS + APPS — iPadOS makes iPad more productive, intuitive, and versatile. With iPadOS, run multiple apps at once, use Apple Pencil to write in any text field with Scribble, and edit and share photos.* iPad comes with essential apps like Safari, Messages, and Keynote, with over a million more apps designed specifically for iPad available on the App Store.
- FAST WI-FI CONNECTIVITY — Wi-Fi 6 gives you fast access to your files, uploads, and downloads, and lets you seamlessly stream your favorite shows.
- Brainstorming and mind maps
- Rough painting or drawing studies
- Storyboards and comic thumbnails
- Product, interface, or character concepts
- Mood boards and visual journals
- Handwritten lists and informal planning
- Annotating imported images
- Mixed pages containing writing, photographs, and sketches
- Capturing fleeting ideas before they disappear
For a painter, Paper can work especially well as a digital thumbnail book. You can block out compositions, test arrangements, collect reference images, and make quick color or value notes without opening a full professional painting environment.
Drawing and painting tools
Paper should be understood as a sketching and ideation app, not a replacement for a full digital painting studio.
Its advantages are speed, low visual clutter, approachable tools, easy color use, and page-based organization. Those qualities make it pleasant for rough compositions and visual exploration. The app encourages iteration because a page does not feel as formal or consequential as a finished canvas.
Its limitations become clearer when a project demands precision or extensive editing. Compared with Procreate, Paper offers a less expansive professional art environment. Procreate is better suited to advanced brush control, detailed painting, complex layers, and finished illustration. Paper is often better suited to the first ten minutes of an idea.
Paper may also be less comfortable for very large technical diagrams or artwork requiring extensive layer manipulation. Export formats, editability, and the treatment of imported images should be verified in the current version rather than assumed from historical reviews.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsApple Pencil support
According to Evernote’s current stylus support page, Apple Pencil works in Paper without additional setup on compatible iPad Pro devices. Exact compatibility can depend on the iPad, Pencil model, and supported iPadOS version, so check the live App Store requirements before installing on an older tablet.
Rank #3
- WHY IPAD — The 11-inch iPad is now more capable than ever with the superfast A16 chip, a stunning Liquid Retina display, advanced cameras, fast Wi-Fi, USB-C connector, and four gorgeous colors.* iPad delivers a powerful way to create, stay connected, and get things done.
- PERFORMANCE AND STORAGE — The superfast A16 chip delivers a boost in performance for your favorite activities. And with all-day battery life, iPad is perfect for playing immersive games and editing photos and videos.* Storage starts at 128GB and goes up to 512GB.*
- 11-INCH LIQUID RETINA DISPLAY — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display is an amazing way to watch movies or draw your next masterpiece.* True Tone adjusts the display to the color temperature of the room to make viewing comfortable in any light.
- IPADOS + APPS — iPadOS makes iPad more productive, intuitive, and versatile. With iPadOS, run multiple apps at once, use Apple Pencil to write in any text field with Scribble, and edit and share photos.* iPad comes with essential apps like Safari, Messages, and Keynote, with over a million more apps designed specifically for iPad available on the App Store.
- FAST WI-FI CONNECTIVITY — Wi-Fi 6 gives you fast access to your files, uploads, and downloads, and lets you seamlessly stream your favorite shows.
A current review should specifically check:
- Palm rejection while writing or drawing
- Stroke latency and pressure sensitivity
- Tilt behavior, if supported by the hardware and app
- The eraser workflow
- Whether finger navigation conflicts with Pencil input
- Apple Pencil USB-C, second-generation, and Pro compatibility
- Support for double-tap, squeeze, and hover where applicable
These are hands-on behaviors, not facts that can safely be inferred from the App Store description.
Do not buy the old Pencil by FiftyThree expecting modern integration. Evernote says support for that hardware was discontinued in 2019, although it may continue to function as a passive stylus. It is legacy hardware, not a recommended current accessory.
Is Paper good for handwriting and notes?
Yes, for short and visual notes. Paper works well for handwritten brainstorming, personal journals, free-form lists, and pages where layout matters more than searchability.
It is a weaker choice for long-term information management. The current listing does not position Paper around audio recording, handwriting recognition, OCR-heavy retrieval, mathematical conversion, or advanced PDF workflows. It may therefore disappoint users who need to search years of lecture notes or maintain a large academic archive.
| Use case | Paper’s fit |
|---|---|
| Visual notes and diagrams | Excellent |
| Short handwritten notes | Very good |
| Personal journaling | Very good |
| Long typed documents | Weak |
| Heavy PDF annotation | Weak |
| Audio-linked lectures | Not its focus |
| Searchable research archive | Usually a poor fit |
Paper Pro and current pricing
Paper is listed as free with in-app purchases. The app’s paid tier, Paper Pro, is documented by Evernote and managed through Apple’s subscription settings; see the Paper Pro support page for subscription and refund guidance.
The exact current U.S. price, included tools, trial terms, export restrictions, synchronization limits, and any lifetime option should be checked on the live App Store listing on the day you subscribe. Historical coverage reported individual tools at $1.99, but that was the older FiftyThree-era model and should not be presented as current pricing.
Rank #4
- WHY IPAD — The 11-inch iPad is now more capable than ever with the superfast A16 chip, a stunning Liquid Retina display, advanced cameras, fast Wi-Fi, USB-C connector, and four gorgeous colors.* iPad delivers a powerful way to create, stay connected, and get things done.
- PERFORMANCE AND STORAGE — The superfast A16 chip delivers a boost in performance for your favorite activities. And with all-day battery life, iPad is perfect for playing immersive games and editing photos and videos.* Storage starts at 128GB and goes up to 512GB.*
- 11-INCH LIQUID RETINA DISPLAY — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display is an amazing way to watch movies or draw your next masterpiece.* True Tone adjusts the display to the color temperature of the room to make viewing comfortable in any light.
- IPADOS + APPS — iPadOS makes iPad more productive, intuitive, and versatile. With iPadOS, run multiple apps at once, use Apple Pencil to write in any text field with Scribble, and edit and share photos.* iPad comes with essential apps like Safari, Messages, and Keynote, with over a million more apps designed specifically for iPad available on the App Store.
- FAST WI-FI CONNECTIVITY — Wi-Fi 6 gives you fast access to your files, uploads, and downloads, and lets you seamlessly stream your favorite shows.
Before paying, confirm what is included in the free version and whether the features you actually need—such as particular tools, export actions, or synchronization—are behind Paper Pro. If you make an accidental purchase, Apple subscription management and refund procedures apply.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Paper compared with the alternatives
Apple Notes
Apple Notes is the better choice for free, built-in capture, searchable text, scans, document storage, and Apple ecosystem integration. It supports basic sketches and handwriting, but Paper offers a more deliberate sketchbook experience and a more visually focused creative environment.
Goodnotes
Goodnotes is better for structured notebooks, templates, planners, PDF markup, handwriting combined with typed content, backups, and large organized collections. Its listing also describes infinite-canvas whiteboarding, iCloud synchronization, and third-party backups. Check Goodnotes’ current pricing page for regional plans and prices.
Choose Paper instead when the main priority is a minimal, expressive sketchbook rather than a document system.
Notability
Notability is the stronger option for lectures, PDF annotation, audio recording, transcription, and conventional study notes. Its current features and iPadOS requirements should be confirmed in the live listing. Paper is more attractive when audio, transcripts, and academic retrieval are irrelevant.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallProcreate
Procreate is the better tool for finished digital paintings, professional illustration, sophisticated brushes, and advanced artwork. Paper is quicker and less intimidating for loose concepts, thumbnails, and visual notes.
Best Value
- WHY IPAD PRO — iPad Pro with the Apple M5 chip delivers extraordinary performance for effortless productivity on a stunning display. Take on pro workflows with Neural Accelerators for AI and a redesigned iPadOS with game-changing capabilities.*
- PERFORMANCE AND STORAGE — iPad Pro with M5 brings next-generation speed and the power of on-device AI to all your tasks.* Featuring up to 2TB of storage, 16GB of memory, and Neural Accelerators for next-level AI performance.*
- IPADOS — Run pro apps and get more done with iPadOS 26 with Liquid Glass design and game-changing capabilities.* With an intuitive and flexible windowing system, you can control, organize, and manage your workflows like never before.
- APPLE INTELLIGENCE — Apple Intelligence is the personal intelligence system that helps you communicate, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly with groundbreaking privacy protections at every step.*
- 13-INCH ULTRA RETINA XDR DISPLAY — The world’s most advanced display, featuring extreme brightness, precise contrast, ProMotion, P3 wide color, and True Tone.* Nano-texture display glass available in 1TB and 2TB configurations
Concepts
Concepts is better for infinite-canvas thinking, technical diagrams, precision layouts, layers, PDF support, and cross-platform workflows. Its free tier includes basic tools, five layers, unlimited drawings, paper and grid types, and basic JPG export, although regional pricing and features can change.
| If you need… | Choose… |
|---|---|
| Fast visual idea capture | Paper |
| Searchable, organized notebooks and PDFs | Goodnotes |
| Recorded lectures and transcripts | Notability |
| Finished digital illustration | Procreate |
| Infinite technical canvases | Concepts |
| Free Apple-integrated notes | Apple Notes |
Who should use Paper?
Choose Paper if you want:
- A minimal interface that gets out of the way
- A digital sketchbook or visual journal
- Fast brainstorming with handwriting and drawings
- Pages that combine images, notes, and sketches
- A welcoming place for unfinished ideas
Choose another app if you need:
- Searchable handwriting or OCR
- Large structured notebooks
- Serious PDF annotation
- Audio recording or lecture transcription
- Advanced layers and professional painting tools
- Infinite technical canvases
- Strong cross-platform access
- Robust local file ownership and export
For many people, the most practical setup may be Paper for visual capture plus a separate notes or storage system for information that must remain searchable and easy to retrieve.
Buyer checklist before installing or subscribing
- Check the current App Store iPadOS requirement against your iPad.
- Confirm that your Apple Pencil model is supported.
- Review the live Paper Pro price and renewal terms.
- Verify which tools are free and which require payment.
- Test export and determine whether exported pages remain editable or become flattened files.
- Confirm how login and synchronization work before deleting an older Paper installation.
- If you have a historical FiftyThree or WeTransfer library, verify access before changing devices.
- Test offline access if you expect to work while traveling or without a connection.
- Try a multi-page journal and an image-heavy page before committing to a large project.
- Do not purchase the discontinued Pencil by FiftyThree as a new primary stylus.
Verdict
Paper remains compelling because it makes visual thinking feel immediate. It is more expressive and sketchbook-like than Apple Notes, less formal than Goodnotes or Notability, and much simpler than Procreate or Concepts.
Recommended Free Tools
That simplicity is also the boundary of its usefulness. Paper is not the best universal iPad notebook, research archive, lecture tool, or finished painting application. It is best understood as a beautiful, low-friction place to get an idea onto the screen before deciding what that idea should become.
For visual brainstorming, rough sketches, mixed-media pages, and creative journaling, Paper is an excellent choice. For structured study or professional production, choose the app built around that workflow instead.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
