iPad glass was never made for handwriting. So we fixed it.
A small frustration sparked an idea for Jan, one that could bring the natural feel of handwriting back to the iPad.
The promise that fell short
Your iPad was great for everything except what creatives and notetakers loved most: writing and drawing. Even with the Apple Pencil, strokes slipped, lines wandered, and the glass never gave you the tactile cue that sparks flow.
Paperlike brought that feeling back. A little texture. A little drag. A huge difference. With control restored, writing and drawing became less of a fight and started feeling natural, steady, and satisfying.
Making tech feel better
Great tools shouldn’t get in your way. They should help you land every line with confidence. That little bit of grip, the hint of drag, the subtle resistance that tells your brain, “this feels right.”
At Paperlike, “feel” isn’t a finishing touch. It’s the product. We obsess over the little things that make your tools feel just right; the textures, materials, and details that let every product work seamlessly with how you create, work, and get things done. From our patented Nanodots® tech to the way a case fits in your hand, everything is built to bring more control, clarity, and comfort to your workflow.
Tech should feel better in your hands, as natural and familiar as putting pen to paper.
How a small idea became a small giant
Every big shift starts with a small idea.
Ours grew into a Small Giant, shaped by a team, a company, and a brand dedicated to making digital tools feel precise, controlled, and natural for everyone who writes, sketches, and creates on an iPad.
Now, more than 2.4 million creators around the world rely on Paperlike, from students and artists to designers, teachers, entrepreneurs, and professionals.
The breakthrough
Paperlike began with a simple question. What if writing and drawing on the iPad could feel more natural? The answer took shape on Kickstarter, where thousands of backers helped bring the first Paperlike to life. Their support showed that creators everywhere wanted the same thing. Tools that feel good to use. That early momentum helped us open our own online store so people could get Paperlike directly and start creating with confidence.
The first big leap
Word traveled fast. Before long, Paperlike became the screen protector everyone held up as the paper-feel standard. People tested it against every new option that appeared, and the excitement spread through early collaborations with digital creators. Reviews, videos, and comparisons kept showing up online. All of it pointed to the same thing. This little idea was turning into something that truly resonated.
The innovation era
The first Paperlike was a great start, but it also showed us where we could grow. iPad users wanted the same texture and control with better screen clarity. So we teamed up with materials experts in Switzerland and started experimenting. The result was our patented Nanodots® surface for Paperlike 2.0. As the tech improved, our team and reach grew with it, and by 2021, more than one million people were creating with Paperlike by their side.
Where we are now
Since 2022, Paperlike has grown from one screen protector into a thoughtful lineup of tools that make working, drawing, and creating on iPad feel just right. We launched Paperlike™ 3, teamed up with Adobe and Goodnotes, hit the pages of Rolling Stone and The Strategist, and made our way into stores in more than 40 countries.
All of this growth follows one guiding idea. Digital tools should feel good in your hands, and the work should feel better because of it.
The future of feel
For nearly a decade, we have obsessed over how things feel in your hands. That means rethinking the small details so precision, clarity, and durability come together in a way that makes your iPad workflow feel more natural. Our goal is simple. Build tools that create a smooth path between analogue and digital so your ideas can move exactly the way you intend.
Co-Creating the iPad Experience
With more than 2.4 million creators and doers using our products, and insights coming from our retail partners and the brands we look to for inspiration, we learn something new every day about what people need. We test, refine, and improve each product with real users in mind, and every new version is built to feel better, work smarter, and help your ideas come to life.
Your Work Matters
With nearly 1,000 partnerships in place, we’re working with creators, ambassadors, and influencers who share ideas, practical tips, and tools that help people do their best work on iPad. Every conversation, every insight, helps us make Paperlike better for the people who rely on it.
Tools for Every Space
From educators to architects, we help people across creative, educational, and professional fields make the most of their iPads so they can reach their goals with confidence. No matter the space, we want the experience to feel intuitive, comfortable, and ready for whatever comes next.
Paperlike reviewed
“I was skeptical when I first tried it, but now it’s difficult to go back… Once it’s on there, it’s 🤌.
“If you're craving a more natural writing and drawing experience on iPad, nothing will get you closer than Paperlike 2.1.
“It [Paperlike] also makes a case that feels better than Apple’s Folio.
“Our top choice for artists, Paperlike significantly improves the stylus experience by adding a real paper-like friction to your iPad's screen.
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