The Surface Pro is one of the best laptops you can buy, but it’s also a really great tablet. The problem is that the apps available in the Windows Store aren’t very good.
This is a list of the best apps for Surface Pro 2019 (and other Surface devices), so you’ll have everything you need to get work done and play on your new device.
Table of Contents
Best Apps For Surface Pro 2019
Loads of cool apps for Surface devices can be downloaded from the Microsoft Store app store or elsewhere online. However, from the various Windows 10 stock and cryptocurrency price apps to the numerous photo and video editors, it can be hard to sort through all of the software listings and find the best Surface app for each task. It doesn’t have to be though. Here are 14 of the best apps for Surface Laptop, Surface Pro, Surface Go, and other Microsoft Surface devices worth downloading and checking out.
01
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Best Surface App for Instagrammers: Instagram
Instagram Stories in the Windows 10 Instagram app.
What We Like
Instagram Stories look great in this app and shine when projected to a larger screen.
Most of the main features seen on the mobile apps can be found here.
What We Don’t Like
Lack of support for uploading content.
No Windows 10 Live Tile support.
Due to a renewed effort by Instagram to update their Windows 10 app with a better UI and more functionality, the official app is now one of the best ways to consume Instagram posts on a Microsoft Surface. This app lets you like, comment, and share posts made by others. You can also search the social network for more content, and access your messages.
The Instagram app doesn’t support the uploading of posts but this can still be done on Windows via the Facebook Creator Studio website.
The highlight of the Windows 10 Instagram app is its support for Instagram Stories, which look significantly better when viewed on a Surface screen as opposed to on a smaller mobile device. In addition to the video being larger, several stories are now displayed at the same time, giving you more control over what you watch next as opposed to just blindly swiping like before.
Download For:
Windows
02
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Best Microsoft Surface App for Print Publishing: Affinity Publisher
Windows 10 Affinity Publisher on Surface.
What We Like
All of the tools professionals need to design print and digital layouts.
No subscriptions or paid upgrades required.
What We Don’t Like
This Surface app can look intimidating but Affinity does provide a lot of free tutorials to help beginners get started.
Affinity Publisher is a fully-featured app designed for creating, editing, and publishing content both in print and on the web. It can be used for throwing together basic pamphlets and posters, though it also boasts a massive range of professional-grade tools for producing some genuinely stunning book covers and magazine layouts as well.
Unlike its rival, Adobe InDesign, which requires a recurring paid subscription, Affinity Publisher is fully unlocked after its initial purchase, which makes it a much cheaper option for Surface owners expecting to use it for years to come. It also receives free updates on a very regular basis and doesn’t pressure users into buying a new version every year or so.
Download For:
Windows
03
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Best Microsoft Surface App for Crypto Trading: Crypto Chart
Windows 10 Crypto Chart cryptocurrency app on Surface.
What We Like
Live updates of all major cryptocurrency prices in a streamlined format.
Cryptocurrency price alerts are easy to set up and manage.
What We Don’t Like
Portfolio feature can be a hassle if you buy crypto on a regular basis.
News feed doesn’t support stories by mainstream publications.
Crypto Chart remains one of the best finance tracking apps for Surface users dedicated solely to Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, and other cryptocurrencies. The app, which is completely free, supports price tracking of all major cryptocurrencies and displays them in a simple graph format that’s easy to understand and manage.
Crypto coin prices can be viewed over a variety of time periods while the portfolio feature lets anyone manually enter their purchases to track in one place. One particularly useful tool is the price alert which can be used for staying up-to-date on a coin’s price. Just set the coin and the target price point and you’re alerted within the Windows 10 Action Center whenever the price increase or decrease happens.
Download For:
Windows
04
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Best Windows Surface App for Stock Market Tracking: MSN Money
Windows 10 MSN Money app on Surface.
What We Like
A comprehensive collection of stock, currency, and market tracking tools.
The built-in mortgage and currency calculators are easy to use and convenient.
What We Don’t Like
No global or international setting for the news content.
MSN Money is an all-in-one finance app that tracks stocks, currencies, funds, and global markets in addition to curating a collection of the latest industry news. By default, it displays the assets currently attracting the most attention on its front page but it also lets users add their own custom stocks that can be tracked via the Watchlist tab.
More information on individual stocks can be viewed by tapping their names within the app. You can also pin individual assets to your Windows 10 Start Menu as tiles that display the latest price changes and related news. Need to calculate a mortgage or convert some currency? The MSN Money app’s built-in calculators can do both.
Download For:
Windows
05
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Best Surface App for Writing: Word
Microsoft Word on Surface Pro.
What We Like
Word can be used for basic and professional writing tasks.
Lots of free templates for every project imaginable.
What We Don’t Like
Microsoft 365 subscriptions can be expensive for casual Surface users.
When it comes to writing on your Surface, it’s hard to beat Microsoft Word. This classic word processor app can be used for jotting down some basic notes or for writing an entire novel with specific formatting requirements. It really is a writing app for everyone.
Microsoft Word features built-in spelling and grammar tools, support for collaboration with friends or colleagues, and an absolutely massive library of templates ranging from restaurant menus and pamphlets to wedding invitations and business cards. You can get Microsoft Word as part of a Microsoft 365 subscription, which also gets you other useful apps like PowerPoint and Excel. A free online version of Microsoft Word is also available.
Download For:
Windows
06
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Best Surface App for Streaming on Twitch and YouTube: OBS Studio
OBS Studio streaming app on a Surface running Windows 10.
What We Like
Supports all major streaming platforms.
Lots of advanced features for experienced streamers.
What We Don’t Like
The interface is a bit intimidating for beginner streamers.
UI isn’t optimized for touch controls.
OBS Studio is one of the most popular apps for live streaming and screen recording from a Surface device and it’s also one of the best. It’s free to use and contains almost everything you need to create a broadcast and send it to all of the major streaming platforms such as Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, and even Twitter.
Stream layouts can be created from scratch within OBS Studio or imported from a third-party service such as StreamElements. There’s also support for multiple webcams, microphones, and other media sources which means you can make your broadcast as simple or as complex as you like.
Download For:
Windows
07
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Best Surface App for Audio Editing: Audacity
Windows 10 Audacity audio editing app.
What We Like
Lots of professional audio editing tools for podcasters and musicians.
Audacity is free to download and requires no premium upgrades.
What We Don’t Like
The UI is too small to use with touch controls or stylus.
When it comes to editing sound files on a Surface, it’s hard to beat Audacity. This audio editing app launched way back in mid-2000 and has garnered an incredibly large and loyal userbase over the years due to its ease of use, continued support, and long list of tools. It’s also completely free to download and use.
Before you download and use Audacity, be sure to review its privacy policy to ensure you’re comfortable with its terms.
Audacity is frequently used by podcasters to edit and save episode recordings on Windows computers and tablets though it also boasts loads of other features as well that have made it a kind of all-in-one sound editing app. Audacity can remove background noise from a recording. Audacity can also record a phone call on your computer.
Download For:
Windows
08
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Best Windows Surface App for Video Editing: DaVinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve video editing app on Windows 10.
What We Like
Professional video editing software that’s completely free to use.
Support for modern film features such as HDR and 3D audio.
What We Don’t Like
A bit too complex for casual users looking to just shorten a holiday video.
By default, DaVinci’s UI text size is very small on a Surface, but this can be adjusted.
DaVinci Resolve is a powerhouse video editing app for editing both small clips and major film projects. It supports all of the usual editing functions for importing, trimming, and manipulating footage and also boasts a wide variety of transition and title tools as well.
Impressively, most of the video editing features found in expensive Adobe software packages can be found in DaVinci Resolve for free. The only major downside is that its UI appears incredibly small on a high-resolution Surface screen but this can be fixed in under a minute by changing some Windows 10 settings.
To make DaVinci Resolve’s text larger on your Microsoft Surface, right-click its desktop shortcut, click Properties > Compatibility > Change high DPI settings > Override high DPI scaling behavior and select System (Enhanced).
Download For:
Windows
09
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Best Surface App for Audio Books: Audible
Windows 10 Amazon Audible app on Surface.
What We Like
All content can be downloaded for offline listening.
Large icons make it easy to use with touch controls.
What We Don’t Like
The built-in shop feature often doesn’t work.
The lack of Live Tile support is disappointing.
Amazon’s official Windows 10 Audible app is a necessary download for Surface owners who consume a lot of audiobooks from Amazon. Once logged in, the app syncs all of your Audible purchases and listening from the cloud so you can seamlessly continue listening from where you left off on your smartphone or tablet.
As with the mobile Audible apps, this version for Microsoft Surface also lets you send audiobooks to friends, create clips to post on social media and download files to listen to when offline. The built-in store can be a bit buggy but this isn’t generally an issue as you can always buy an audiobook from the Amazon website in a web browser. Any purchase made on the web appears within the app moments later.
Download For:
Windows
10
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Best Microsoft Surface App for Podcasts: Spotify
Windows 10 Spotify music streaming app.
What We Like
Massive selection of podcasts in every genre imaginable.
Podcasts can be downloaded for offline listening.
What We Don’t Like
Spotify Premium is needed to download podcast episodes.
The UI can be confusing at first.
Spotify is one of the best platforms for discovering and publishing podcasts with its absolutely massive library of shows for pretty much every demographic and interest. The company’s Surface app features almost all of the features found on the Spotify iPhone and Android apps and is actually easier to use thanks to its focus on basic menu links instead of the mobile apps’ confusing filter system.
Another improvement over the mobile versions is the social feature on the right side of the app that displays what your Facebook friends are listening to in real-time. Songs and podcasts can be downloaded to your Windows 10 device for offline listening, though this functionality is limited to Spotify Premium members only.
Download For:
Windows
11
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Best Surface App for Reddit: Legere
Legere Reddit app on Windows 10.
What We Like
Easier and faster to use than the official Reddit website.
Ability to scroll comments while also browsing a category is a game-changer.
What We Don’t Like
Very easy to get lost after exploring several links.
There are many third-party Windows 10 Reddit apps but Legere is the best. Browsing Reddit can often be intimidating given the number of links and menus on the official website but this app streamlines the experience with a spacious layout and the ability to scroll through three columns of content simultaneously.
Legere supports a number of Windows 10 features such as Live Tiles, Windows Timeline, and background notifications. It can be used whether you’re logged into Reddit or not. It also supports multiple Reddit accounts, which is a boon for those sharing a Surface with others.
Download For:
Windows
12
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Best Windows Surface App for Exercising: Fitbit Coach
Windows 10 Fitbit Coach app.
What We Like
Good selection of free workouts of varying difficulties.
Easy to track workout history and personal progress.
What We Don’t Like
Need to be online to start each session.
There are quite a few cool apps for Surface owners interested in getting fit but few have the polish of the Fitbit Coach app. This beautifully designed Windows 10 fitness app features a massive library of individual exercises that are mixed and matched to create a solid library of workout sessions of varying intensities and themes.
The Fitbit Premium subscription from the main Fitbit app unlocks all paid features in Fitbit Coach.
The real highlight is the Programs feature that generates dynamic sessions based on your own feedback after each workout. Found the burpees too hard? Fitbit Coach asks you to do less next time. Too easy? The app adds more. Around a fifth of the workouts are completely free, which should be enough for most, though a $9.99 monthly subscription to Fitbit Premium unlocks the rest.
Download For:
Windows
13
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Best Streaming App for Surface: Netflix
Netflix app on a Windows 10 Surface.
What We Like
Most episodes and movies can be downloaded on your Surface.
Massive selection of films, shows, and documentaries in multiple languages.
What We Don’t Like
You need to pay extra if you want to view Netflix content in 4K.
The Windows 10 Netflix app gives you full access to the streaming service’s massive library of cartoons, movies, TV series, and documentaries. Content can be streamed on your Surface via the app while online or downloaded for viewing when offline.
windows pen apps
The future of Windows is in your hands, and it’s a pen. By expanding the Windows Ink feature of its OS and making stylus input a highlight of its Surface laptops, Microsoft has enabled an entire ecosystem of pen-friendly programs. Feel free to get creative and productive with these 10 great pen-enabled apps from the Windows Store, but just make sure to calibrate your pen beforehand for the best results.
Fused
Fused
Fused makes it simple to stitch together double-exposure compositions with anything from family photos to panoramic videos. The whole interface is touch-friendly, so a pen will definitely help with fine-tuning the plethora of customization options.You will have to pay to get rid of the watermark, but all of the technical tools are free to experience firsthand.
Plumbago
Plumbago
From Microsoft’s experimental Garage group, Plumbago is a note-taking app with a creative flair, and supports multiple notebooks with up to 25 pages in each. Interaction is purely pen-based, with drawing, highlighting and selection features front and center in a stylish, radial menu.
Sketchable
Sketchable
Sketchable gives serious artists true freedom of expression by including a wide variety of brushes and drawing tools. Top features include a layering system, two different blending modes, and support for all screen sizes and resolutions, including 4K. Die-hard Surface aficionados will be pleased to find built-in support for the Surface Dial.
FluidMath
FluidMath
Although it is pricey, this app could be a huge help to students who want to digitize their math education. Fluid Math detects hand-drawn numbers, symbols, operators and variables with reasonable accuracy, and can also solve expressions or create graphs on the fly. Students can quickly toggle between modes for writing math equations and annotations, all of which can be moved around on the infinite canvas or be resized to create more compact layouts.
Drawboard PDF
Drawboard PDF
This PDF-creation app allows users to easily draw diagrams, jot down notes or add other files straight into a document. Its excellent and accurate pen support offers a smooth writing experience, while a minimalist menu and compact pen selection tool will help users focus on the content at hand.
StaffPad
StaffPad
StaffPad is ideal for creating and annotating entire symphonies with the flick of a wrist. Among its impressive features are a composer assistant, deep pen and touch integration, and a virtual orchestra for playing back musical creations. If you want to take your creations to the concert hall, StaffPad can also print entire compositions or specific sections of your masterpiece in a convenient format.
Fresh Paint
Fresh Paint
Fresh Paint is one of the best drawing apps available in the Windows Store, thanks to its array of distinctive paper textures, brushes, pens and pencils. Artists can choose to start from a completely blank slate, manipulate photos or work off of a preset design. Some of the coolest features include a virtual fan, which masks the existing creation to prevent further edits, and a color-mixing palette for creating new shades.
The New York Times Crossword
The New York Times Crossword
If you want the full experience of The New York Times Crossword without the hassle of carrying around the physical copy of the paper, this pen-enabled app has you covered. You can complete puzzles much as you would with a regular pen and paper. In our tests, the app’s handwriting recognition proved reasonably accurate. For access to the full puzzle or any archived ones, you’ll need a subscription to the Times, but the app does feature a free mini puzzle on a daily basis.
Zen: Coloring book for adults
Zen: Coloring book for adults
Coloring books have undergone a high-tech revival and are no longer just for children. With an entire tier of free pages and others available for purchase from a variety of categories, Zen offers entertainment for hours. Intended for a more relaxed creative experience, its paint fill tools and range of brushes are both accurate and intuitive with a pen.
Nebo
Nebo
Another note-taking app, Nebo, takes inspiration from OneNote with an infinite canvas and resizable handwritten text. Innovative features include drawing shortcuts for headings, highlighting, bolding or bulleting any sections of notes, in addition to support for equations and diagrams. The app also includes options to export notes into more versatile PDF, Word and HTML formats.
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