- 10 iOS Business Programs Topping Apple’s App Store
- Paid: Scanner Pro
- Free: Adobe Reader
- Paid: Documents Unlimited for iPad
- Free: GoToMeeting
- Paid: Documents to Go Premium
- Free: Documents Free
- Paid: Office Reader
- Free: Facebook Pages Manager
- Paid: Splashtop 2 Remote Desktop
- Free: Microsoft Office Web Apps for iPad
10 iOS Business Programs Topping Apple’s App Store
By Don Reisinger
Paid: Scanner Pro
The most popular paid iPad business application, Scanner Pro is a highly functional program for any professional. The app allows users to quickly snap a photo of a document and then save it digitally as a PDF. The app then lets users share the files via email, Dropbox, Evernote or Google Drive. The document can also be printed from within the app. It’s a nice value for $2.99.
Free: Adobe Reader
Reading and marking up PDFs on iOS requires some extra help for power users. That’s why Adobe Reader is so popular. The free app allows users to access PDFs, mark them up with highlights and underlines, and then share them with others. Although there are many PDF-friendly apps out there, Adobe Reader is still tops.
Paid: Documents Unlimited for iPad
Documents Unlimited might carry some sticker shock, costing customers $4.99, but it’s truly worth the price. The app allows users to create Office documents and fully edit them as if Word were sitting in front of the user. The app’s developers are, as of this writing, offering a deal on the app, which is why it costs $4.99. Typically, it costs $19.99. So, act fast.
Free: GoToMeeting
Citrix GoToMeeting is a free app that will come in handy for those who engage in conference calls. The app includes full GoToMeeting features, including screen sharing, and also boasts the ability to have video chats. GoToMeeting isn’t for everyone, of course, and there are other conferencing apps out there, but for those invested in Citrix applications, it’s a must-have.
Paid: Documents to Go Premium
Documents to Go Premium has been a popular iOS app for a long time in the App Store’s business section. That’s likely due to its expert handling of Office document creation and editing, as well as its support for cloud-based storage solutions. Be aware, though, that Documents to Go Premium is a little on the pricey side, coming in at $16.99.
Free: Documents Free
Looking for a free app that can do some of the things in Documents to Go Premium or Documents Unlimited, but doesn’t carry the hefty price tag? Go for Documents Free. The app is essentially the third-party alternative to iWork and doesn’t have the same high-end features as the paid versions. However, it does have limited support for Office documents, and since it’s free, it’s worth checking out.
Paid: Office Reader
Surprise, surprise: another Office-compatible app has made the list. Office Reader is one of the most popular Office-ready applications, featuring the ability to edit Word documents, create spreadsheets and fill in forms. Interestingly, it also includes freehand writing for adding signatures to documents. The app usually costs $5.99, but is being offered at a discounted rate of $3.99 for a short period of time.
Free: Facebook Pages Manager
Since the corporate world relies so heavily upon Facebook to promote businesses, it’s perhaps no surprise that Facebook Pages Manager has proven popular. The app allows for administrators who monitor and manage multiple Facebook accounts to access them all in one spot. The app is essentially the mobile version of Facebook’s own administrator panel in the browser-based Pages, and it works quite well. Plus, it’s free.
Paid: Splashtop 2 Remote Desktop
Splashtop 2 Remote Desktop, a $9.99 app, has done a fine job of differentiating itself in the competitive remote-desktop business. The app allows users to access both Windows and Mac machines from their iOS device, and control them just as if they were sitting in front of the machines. For $9.99, it’s a great value, considering TeamViewer and other high-end solutions can cost so much more.
Free: Microsoft Office Web Apps for iPad
Microsoft’s free Office Web Apps for iPad is one of the most popular business apps for iPad owners. The app allows for full access to the cloud-based version of Office, though it’s worth noting that the program requires the latest update of Office 365 for business. Still, it’s a nice way to have easy access to corporate documents, and it works quite well. However, since Microsoft just recently changed the name on Office Web Apps to Office Online, this app’s name might change soon.