A subscription is required to use Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for iPad, but the Mac versions of these apps have remained one-time purchases. For now…
- On May 23, 2023, Apple released iPad versions of its Final Cut Pro non-linear video editing app and the Logic Pro music creation software.
- Both apps are free to download but require a monthly ($5) or yearly ($49) subscription. Thankfully, a one-month free trial is available, so you have plenty of time to see if these apps suit you before subscribing.
- In the meantime, Mac versions of Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro haven’t embraced the subscription model and still cost $300 and $200, respectively.
Download Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for iPad
Use the following links to download Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for iPad:
The iPad-only apps require at least an iPad with the A12 Bionic chip and iPadOS 16.4. You can read our announcement article and Apple’s press release for a quick rundown of the key features. For further information, visit these URLs:
Each app offers a free one-month trial that gives you full access to all the features.
To start your trial, download Final Cut Pro or Logic Pro on your iPad and sign up for a monthly or yearly subscription with your Apple ID. Remember to cancel your subscription to avoid being charged after your free trial expires.
Check out Apple’s support document for additional tidbits pertaining to Final Cut Pro for iPad. And while we’re at it, Apple also published another support document outlining the steps to download a demo project from within the Final Cut Pro iPad app, which will let you explore all the features.
Work on projects across platforms
Apple said earlier that Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for iPad “deliver the ultimate mobile studio,” but don’t expect feature parity between the iPad and Mac versions.
For example, you can export projects created in Final Cut Pro for iPad for use in the Mac version of the app, but you cannot import video projects started on a Mac into the iPad version of Final Cut Pro. Well, at least you can import projects from iMovie for iOS to Final Cut Pro for iPad.
Thankfully, Logic Pro for iPad can open projects created in GarageBand for iOS.
Delivering additional features to make the Mac and iPad versions of Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro fully compatible is going to take time, assuming feature parity is technically possible in the first place.
Fingers crossed for feature parity
Pros would benefit significantly if they could freely roam between desktop and mobile when working on video and music projects. But don’t bet on it—it took Apple several years to bring its iWork iOS office apps into parity with their Mac siblings.