The best iPad screen protectors for digital artists combine solid protection for your tablet with an enjoyable drawing experience. The last thing that you need is a great big scratch on your brand new iPad, but if you're using your Apple tablet specifically to sketch and jot notes, there are a range of iPad screen protectors to chose from, and we've outlined the best ones below.
Though we've chosen a range of price points for our list, we still think it's worth spending a little bit more to get the best iPad screen protector – after all, even the most expensive screen protector costs more than a new iPad. Some screen protectors, like our number one choice, PaperLike, provide more 'bite'. That is, slight friction, making digital drawing feel more like working on paper. There are also screen protectors that provide a blue light filter, which can help ease the strain on your eyes during long sessions. We've covered the best iPad Pro screen protectors as well as ones for iPads and iPads Air, wherever possible.
In each case, we've noted what materials the screen protectors are made from, what finish they offer and which of the various iPad generations each product is compatible with. For more accessories for your tablet, see our guides to the best iPad keyboards and the best iPad stands.
The best iPad screen protectors
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The best iPad screen protector for artists
Materials: Polyethylene Terephthalate
iPad compatability: iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad, iPad mini
Finish: Matte
+ Has a paper feel
+ Anti-glare finish
+ Good support
This is our favourite of all the best iPad screen protectors out there. Paperlike provides easy use, solid protection, and a wonderful drawing experience, all in one. 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 it performed when we tested it. Read more in our full Paperlike review. CB rating: 4.5/5
The best glass iPad screen protector
Materials: 9H tempered glass
iPad compatability: iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad, iPad mini
Finish: Gloss
+ Easy to fit
+ Tough tempered glass
+ Incredibly clear
- May interfere with Apple Pencil
Spigen's Glas.tR EZ Fit is incredibly easy to fit. This tempered glass protector comes with its own foolproof installation kit to make positioning it correctly a breeze. Plus you get extra scratch and drop resistance and an oleophobic coating to see off greasy fingerprints, too. Read our full Spigen Glas.tR EZ Fit iPad screen protector review. CB rating: 4/5
The best light blocking iPad screen protector
Materials: Tempered glass
iPad compatibility: iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad 10.2, iPad mini
Finish: Gloss
+ Powerful blue light filter
+ Easy application
+ Broad compatibility
- Comparatively expensive
The Ocushield Screen Protector, available for most iPads as well as rival tablets 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, too and we found it easy to fit with the included applicator. CB rating: 4/5
Superior screen protector for the iPad Pro 12.9
Materials: Tempered glass
iPad compatibility: iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad 10.2, iPad mini Finish: Gloss
+ Fits around the front camera
+ Good quality glass
+ Affordable price
- Doesn't fit pre-2018 models
If you have a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, amFilm's Glass Screen Protector is both a good and a very affordable screen option. Its carefully shaped design fits neatly around the selfie camera, so Face ID still works fine. The premium-grade tempered glass is resistant and we found it does a good job of protecting the screen from scratches. Overall, it's crystal clear and feels like it should last. CB rating: 3.5/5
The best cheap iPad Pro screen protector
Materials: Thermoplastic Polyurethane
iPad compatibility: iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad
Finish: Gloss
+ Great price
+ Installation kit included
+ Does the job
- Not the best protection
The Olixar screen protector should effectively prevent scratching and damage from drops, bumps, and scrapes while retaining touch sensitivity. It features an oleophobic coating to reduce fingerprints and smudges, and we didn't notice any effect on the clarity of the display. It comes with an installation kit to help you position it without dreaded air bubbles and a two-year guarantee. CB rating: 4/5
The best iPad screen protector for privacy
Materials: Plastic
iPad compatibility: iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad
Finish: Matte
+ Excellent privacy screen
+ Removable and washable
- Little physical protection
- Expensive
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. We reckon it could be a good option if you're worried about entering sensitive data on your iPad when you're in a public place. Just note that it doesn't actually offer a great deal of physical protection for your iPad. CB rating: 3.5/5
A cheaper alternative for a paper-like feel
Materials: Polyethylene Terephthalate
iPad compatibility: iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad
Finish: Matte
+ Great value
+ Paper-like feel
+ Reduces glare
- Can be awkward to fit
If you're looking for a budget alternative to the Paperlike screen protector (number one on our list), the ESR Paper-Feel is significantly cheaper, especially given that 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 writing and drawing on paper pretty well, and it's also nicely fingerprint-resistant. CB rating: 3.5/5
The best iPad screen protector for the iPad mini
Materials: 9H tempered glass
iPad compatibility: iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad, iPad mini
Finish: Gloss
+ Ideal for iPad mini
+ Tough for tempered glass
+ Affordable price
- Not rugged
The iPad mini isn't as well served when it comes to screen protectors as some of the larger devices, but Ailun's screen protector is available for it, however, and we found it to be an excellent option. Made from 9H tempered glass, it offers great scratch and drop resistance, and it has an oleophobic coating to repel oils. 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. CB rating: 3.5/5
A cheap iPad Pro screen protector for a paper feel
Materials: Polyethylene Terephthalate
iPad compatibility: iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad
Finish: Matte
+ Paper-like feel
+ Good price
+ Easy to fit
- May degrade screen clarity
If you want to give your iPad Pro 12.9 inch more of a paper texture at a bargain price, the JETech Write Like Paper screen protector is another budget alternative to the Paperlike. It gives your iPad a more paper-like feel and reduces glare while also making your screen more scratch- and fingerprint-resistant. Bear in mind, though, that JETech warns the protector can affect the clarity of the screen. CB rating: 3/5
Which is the best iPad screen protector?
The best iPad screen protector for you will depend on what you want it for. If you're going to carry your iPad in a case or sleeve and simply want a little extra protection against scratches, then you could get away with one of the cheapest iPad screen protectors like the Olixar Screen Protector.
However, if you think you're going to use it a lot without a case or sleeve and want extra confidence – particularly if you have one of the more expensive iPads, then you might want to invest in some more heavy duty protection such as the ZAGG InvisibleShield Glass Screen Protector.
Artists and illustrators, or indeed anyone who is going to use a stylus a lot on an iPad might have other requirements than simply protecting the screen, wanting a surface that will enhance their experience with the stylus. For that we recommend Paperlike, at number 1 in our list of the best iPad screen protectors, because it actually improves the feel of writing and drawing on the tablet.
Related articles:
- The best iPad stylus
- iPad Pro vs iPad Air: which Apple tablet is right for you?
- The best iPad for drawing
