The best iPad screen protectors to look after your screen and make drawing and sketching a nicer experience.
2
Spigen
EZ Fit Tempered glass IPad screen protector
3
Ocushield Anti Blue Li...
5
amFilm
Glass Screen Protector for 12.9-inch iPad Pro
6
Ailun
Tempered Glass screen protector for IPad
7
JETech
Write Like Paper screen protector for IPad
8
Olixar
Screen Protector for IPad
9
Belkin
True Privacy screen protector for IPad
(Image credit: Chloe Bovia via Unsplash)
With one of the best iPad screen protectors, you can add an extra little layer of insurance against an absolute nightmare scenario. After all, iPads these days are expensive things, especially the top-end iPad Pro and iPad Air models, and the last thing you want is for one of those gorgeous Liquid Retina XDR displays to get dented, scratched or damaged.
While iPads may not be knocked about as much as phones, an iPad screen protector can also offer other benefits – for example, allowing you to get more "bite" on the screen with the Apple Pencil, providing a drawing experience more akin to actual physical paper (remember that?). Some also provide a blue light filter, mitigating the negative effects of staring at the screen for hours on end.
There are a lot of iPad screen protectors out there, some from more reputable manufacturers than others. We've only picked out trusted names for this guide, so while there are screen protectors at a variety of price points, we're confident that all of them are worth their price tags. We've used a combination of our own hands-on review experience and other customer reviews to make our picks, and have been sure to pick screen protectors to fit all sizes and shapes of iPad (take a look at our list of the iPad generations if you're losing track of which one's which). Each iPad screen protector has been assessed each in terms of material quality, durability, feel on the screen and value.
For artists and designers, the Paperlike screen protector a our number one spot is likely to be the best pick, as it's been designed specifically to complement the Apple Pencil (or one of the best Apple Pencil alternatives) for a superior drawing experience. But there are plenty of other options out there, like the blue light-filters Ocushield, or the fingerprint-proof Spigen Glas.tR EZ Fit, so it's worth taking a look through to see which protector catches your eye.
The Apple Pencil's a wonderful tool but for creatives but drawing on the iPad's glass surface feels rather false and strange compared to working on real paper or on a (far more expensive) graphics tablet. If that sounds familiar to you, the Paperlike screen protector may be what you want. Made with (and by) design professionals and artists, it's created to give the feel of paper under your stylus – and that's exactly how we felt it performed when we tested it.
The surface is filled with tiny microbeads that give just the right amount of friction, or bite: enough to feel what you're doing, but not so much that it takes its toll on our Apple Pencil's tip. It's the best way to protect your iPad while also taking your digital art up a notch. We felt it was like an upgrade for our iPad.
The best iPad Air screen protector for pain-free fitting
Specifications
Materials: 9H tempered glass
iPad compatibility: iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad, iPad Mini
Finish: Gloss
Reasons to buy
+
Easy to fit
+
Tough tempered glass
+
Incredibly clear
Reasons to avoid
-
May interfere with Apple Pencil
If the thought of applying an iPad screen protector makes you worry about getting it slightly wrong and ending up with a wonky fit or an air bubble trapped underneath, Spigen's Glas.tR EZ Fit screen protector is the solution. This tempered glass protector gives you extra scratch and drop resistance and an oleophobic coating to see off fingerprints, and it comes with its own foolproof installation kit to make positioning it correctly is a breeze.
(Image credit: Ocushield)
03. Ocushield Anti Blue Light Screen Protector
The best iPad screen protector for blocking blue light
Specifications
Materials: Tempered glass
iPad compatibility: iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad 10.2, iPad Mini
Finish: Gloss
Reasons to buy
+
Great value
+
Paper-like feel
+
Reduces glare
Reasons to avoid
-
Can be awkward to fit
If you're looking for a cheaper alternative to the Paperlike, the ESR Paper-Feel is about half the price, and you get two protectors included, which sounds like a pretty sweet deal. It's not quite the same lovely feel that you get with the Paperlike, but the specially-treated surface does simulate the feeling of writing and drawing on paper fairly well, and it's also nicely fingerprint-resistant.
(Image credit: amFilm)
05. amFilm Glass Screen Protector
A decent screen protector for the iPad Pro 12.9
Specifications
Materials: 9H tempered glass
iPad compatibility: iPad Pro 12.9
Finish: Gloss
Reasons to buy
+
Fits around the front camera
+
Good quality glass
Reasons to avoid
-
Doesn't fit pre-2018 models
If you want a good but very affordable screen protector a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, this is a very good option to consider. It fits neatly around the selfie camera, so Face ID still works fine and the premium-grade tempered glass is resistant and does a good job of protecting the screen from scratches. It's crystal clear and feels like it should last. It's compatible with the Apple Pencil and also has an oleophobic coating that reduces fingerprints and smudges.
It's certainly good value. The kit includes two screen protectors, dust removal stickers, wet and dry wipes, and a squeegee to help remove bubbles. Just note that this is compatible with the iPad Pro 12.9 2021, 2020 and 2018 versions, but it won't fit earlier generations.
(Image credit: Ailun)
06. Ailun Screen Protector
A fantastic iPad mini screen protector.
Specifications
Materials: 9H tempered glass
iPad compatibility: iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad, iPad Mini
Finish: Gloss
Reasons to buy
+
Ideal for iPad Mini
+
Tough tempered glass
+
Dirt cheap
The iPad Mini makes for a delightful pocket-sized drawing tool, but it's not as well served when it comes to screen protectors, which is a bit of a shame because its portability means it's more likely to come up against the sort of daily punishment that your phone has to withstand. There is one great option, though, in the form of Ailun's screen protector. Made from 9H tempered glass, it offers excellent scratch and drop resistance. It has an oleophobic coating, and it comes at an impressively cheap price.
A cheap iPad Pro screen protector for a paper feel.
Specifications
Materials: Polyethylene Terephthalate
iPad compatibility: iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad
Finish: Matte
Reasons to buy
+
Paper-like feel
+
Good price
+
Easy to fit
Reasons to avoid
-
May degrade screen clarity
The JETech Write Like Paper screen protector is another budget alternative to the Paperlike. It's made from high-quality matte PET film, which gives your iPad a more paper-like feel and reduces glare while also making your screen more scratch- and fingerprint-resistant. It's also easy to fit without ending up with air bubbles. Just one thing to bear in mind is that JETech warns the protector can affect the clarity of the screen. If you want to give your iPad Pro 12.9 inch more of a paper texture at a bargain price, that might be worth the sacrifice.
(Image credit: Olixar)
08. Olixar Screen Protector
The cheapest iPad Pro screen protector we can find.
If you're looking for the cheapest possible iPad screen protector for your 12.9in iPad Pro, you're unlikely to find better than this. The Olixar screen protector is designed to prevent scratching and damage from drops, bumps, and scrapes while retaining touch sensitivity. It features an oleophobic coating to reduce fingerprints and smudges, and it won't affect the clarity of the display. It comes with an installation kit to help you position it without dreaded air bubbles, and it also comes with a two-year guarantee.
Finally, here's the perfect screen protector for anyone who wants to prevent passers-by from sneaking a peek at their work. The Belkin Screenforce True Privacy doesn't offer a great deal of physical protection for your iPad, but it does provide a privacy screen so that anyone looking over your shoulder sees nothing but darkness. Unlike other screen protectors, the Belkin is designed to be removed when you don't need it (after all, it's not something you're going to want to use all the time), and it's washable too.
Beren Neale is the deals editor at Creative Bloq. After editing several creative and design magazines - including the graphic design mag Computer Arts - he found his home on the biggest global art and design website, helping digital creatives get the best deals on the kit that they need.
