Notes & Writing
- Bear (iOS 15+) — The best third-party notes app on iOS 15. Markdown-based, tag organisation, iCloud sync, beautiful typography. Free tier usable; Pro is £1.49/month. The go-to replacement for Notion-style note storage.
- Apple Notes (built-in) — More capable than most people realise. Checklists, tables, images, sketches, iCloud sync, rich text. Free and already on your device.
- iA Writer (iOS 15+) — Focused Markdown writing app. One-time purchase (£49.99). Best for long-form writing with distraction-free mode.
- Notability (iOS 14+) — Handwriting and typed notes with audio recording. Best for iPad + Apple Pencil workflows.
Tasks & Organisation
- Things 3 (iOS 15+) — The best task manager on iOS, full stop. Projects, areas, tags, deadlines, repeating tasks. £9.99 one-time purchase. Syncs across iPhone and iPad.
- OmniFocus 3 (iOS 14+) — The power-user task manager. More complex than Things 3 but more flexible. Subscription or one-time purchase available.
- Reminders (built-in) — Apple's Reminders app on iOS 15 is genuinely good for basic task lists. Smart lists, sharing, subtasks. Free.
- Todoist — Check current iOS minimum; has historically supported older iOS. Full-featured to-do app with project/label/filter system.
Calendar & Time
- Fantastical (iOS 14+) — The best calendar app for iOS. Natural language input ('meeting with John tomorrow at 3'), week and year views, task integration. Free tier useful; Premium unlocks all features.
- Apple Calendar (built-in) — Solid and free. Integrates with iCloud, Google, and Exchange calendars. Gets the job done without spending anything.
💡 The built-in apps are better than you think. Apple Notes, Reminders, and Calendar on iOS 15 are genuinely capable. Before paying for third-party alternatives, spend a week using only the built-in apps — many people find they cover 90% of their needs.
Developer & Technical Tools
- Working Copy (iOS 15+) — Full Git client. Repositories, commits, branches, push/pull. Free for basic use; Pro for push and file provider.
- Scriptable (iOS 14+) — JavaScript automation for iOS. Build widgets, scripts, and automations with direct iOS API access. Free.
- SSH Files — Secure ShellFish (iOS 14+) — SSH terminal and SFTP file manager for connecting to remote servers. Essential for server management from an iPad.
Document Handling
- Toolbox for Word (iOS 12+) — Full Word document editing. Works on iOS 15, handles .docx files, compatible with OneDrive and Dropbox.
- PDF Expert — Check iOS minimum. Leading PDF editor for iOS — annotation, form filling, editing.
- Files (built-in) — iOS 15's Files app handles iCloud Drive, third-party cloud storage, and local files. More capable than it looks.
What's Gone
Apps that have moved past iOS 15 and are no longer available on older devices:
- Notion — iOS 16+. Use Bear or Apple Notes.
- GoodNotes 6 — iOS 16+. GoodNotes 5 may still work if installed.
- Craft — iOS 16+. Bear is a strong alternative.
- Microsoft 365 (Word/Excel/PowerPoint) — iOS 16+. Use Toolbox alternatives or the web versions in Safari.
Our verdict
iOS 15 has lost Notion, GoodNotes 6, and Microsoft 365, but Bear, Things 3, Fantastical, and Notability cover most workflows. The built-in Apple apps (Notes, Reminders, Calendar) are better than their reputation suggests. For developers, Working Copy and Scriptable remain strong iOS 15 tools.
Browse all productivity apps for iOS 15
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Browse productivity apps →Also see: Best note-taking apps for iOS 15 · Apps that dropped iOS 15 support · iPad Pro 2015–2017 — for power users