Got a new tablet for Christmas? Here's the best apps to download

Apps are what makes technology exciting. They can transform a tablet into something personal, delivering customised user experiences that only you can truly enjoy.

Aside from the obvious big names, like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, there are a lot of apps out there that are worth giving a spin. Below follows our pick of the bunch for the new tablet user:

iPad

For the artist - Paper

Hands down the best possible way to show off your iPad screen, the Paper app has long been a favourite since we learned of its existence. Simple, yet hugely powerful, the drawing capabilities Paper has on offer are truly astounding.

Open the app and you're offered a simple set of journals that you can fill with drawings, complete with some examples of what is possible when using Paper. You use your finger and a choice of pens, to draw.

It sounds fairly uninspired, but it's the incredible accuracy and realistic recreation of brush strokes that transforms Paper into something exciting. A definite download for those with a bit of an artistic tendency.

For the cook - Great British Chefs

An app we have stuck by with throughout our time using tablets, Great British Chefs is one of the best laid out, most in-depth apps you can possibly get when it comes to cooking.

Filled with recipes, instructions, videos and beautifully shot photographs, it will instantly replace any cookbook in a kitchen. Better still though, the tuition it offers as you cook along makes it much easier to put together more impressive recipes.

For the filmmaker - Replay video editor

Apple's app of the year is also one of our all-time favourite applications currently available. One of the things Replay does best is make it easy to edit high-quality video.

We all know that filming with a tablet is a total faux pas, but fear not, Replay is going to take the edge off things by turning out top-quality edits almost instantly. Simple layout and easy to use edits make this the ideal alternative to iMovie. It also means you won't ever need to hook your iPad up to your computer if you just fancy making a posh family movie.

For the gamer - Monument Valley

Beautiful to look at - and mind-bogglingly tough towards the end - Monument Valley draws on Escher-inspired environments that task you with solving puzzles to move your character forward.

It's a title that shows off what mobile gaming is all about. Monument Valley is simple to look at, yet infinitely challenging and with a very clever twist on traditional gameplay styles. Well worth a download simply if you want something pretty to show off on your iPad screen.

For the organisation obsessive - Wunderlist

Truly one of the iPad's greatest organisational tools, Wunderlist is about putting everything you need in one place. It transforms your tablet into the ultimate personal assistant, populating it with easy to curate lists and documents.

The real trick though is that these are shareable, so you can work with others to put something together. The lists can be as detailed as you want, and the app creates an inbox for each person to show and share information with.

Android

For the artist - PicsArt Photo Studio

PicsArt is one the most popular free photo editing apps. It's designed to work on both mobiles and tablets, and offers users the ability to unleash their creative potential.

The app offers simple but powerful tools for users to edit images, with the ability to apply filters, annotate their images and create collages. It also has an integrated social network which allows budding artists to share their masterpieces.

The app is free to download, but it costs £3.82 to remove the adverts.

For the cook - Look & Cook

Look & Cook is a 'foolproof' cooking guide where every step of the cooking process is thoroughly explained and demonstrated.

The full app contains 52 step-by-step guides, from pasta salad to ribeye steak. The app is free to download and includes 26 guides to get you started. Users can pay £1.61 for the premium guide, which includes an additional 26 recipes.

For the filmmaker - Zoe

HTC's Zoe app offers a wonderfully simple take on video editing. It allows users to select pictures and video from their device which the app then uses to automatically create a slideshow.

Zoe lets users select the theme and music, and once it's complete, the slideshow can be shared across the internet. Currently, the app is only available on HTC phones and selected Samsung and LG devices, but HTC plans to make it compatible with all devices running Android 4.4 and over.

For the gamer - The Wolf Among Us

The Wolf Among Us is a five-part title from award-winning game developers Telltale Games. Fairytale characters are being murdered in New York and you, the Big Bad Wolf, are tasked with solving the mystery.

It's a mature, gritty game where every decision you make has consequences. The first episode is completely free, so it's well worth a download to determine if you want to continue - we'll bet you can't help yourself.

For the organisation obsessive - Trello

Trello is a powerful organisation app which is flexible and simple to use. The app allows users to collate checklists and to-do lists as well as photos and videos.

Trello works by creating boards to organise everything you're working on, with the ability to invite colleagues, friends or families to work together.