Thought Starters

Astropad vs Duet Display vs Air Display

When researching apps to use the iPad Pro as a graphics tablet, many artists consider Astropad, Duet Display, and Air Display. While Duet Display and Air Display are primarily intended to use your iPad as a second monitor, Astropad was designed to turn the iPad into a professional graphics tablet. The chart below outlines the specific qualities of each program so that you can make an informed decision!

 DUET DISPLAY PROAIR DISPLAY 3ASTROPAD STUDIO
Works with Mac✓✓✓
Works with PC✓✓ 
Pressure sensitive✓✓✓
USB connection✓✓✓
Wifi connection ✓✓
Pinch to pan/ zoom✓✓✓
Second display✓✓ 
Keyboard support ✓✓
Touch Bar support✓  
Custom shortcuts  ✓
Stroke preview line  ✓
Hover simulation  ✓
Custom pressure curves  ✓
Undo/ redo gestures  ✓
Free trial  ✓

You can learn more about Astropad Studio features here.

To read about how artists are using Astropad in their workflows, check out our Artist Showcase series.