Freeform is one of the latest apps that Apple has added to its ecosystem., offering a new way to work with ideas, organize projects, and collaborate with others in real time. Halfway between a digital whiteboard and a creative productivity tool, this app stands out above all for its versatility and how it adapts to different work stylesIn this article, we are going to see How to use Freeform on your iPhone, how you can start using it and what advantages it offers for your daily life.
Available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, Freeform offers new ways to understand the organization of visual and textual content.From planning a trip to designing an interface, this tool offers numerous possibilities to explore.
What is Freeform and why should you use it?
Freeform is a collaborative digital whiteboard where you can add images, notes, drawings, links, PDF documents, and almost any type of file you can think of. The most notable thing is that everything is organized freely, without space or linear structure restrictions, making it an ideal tool for visually inclined people or those who need to express ideas in an unconventional way.
The application works synced with iCloud, so once you create a whiteboard on your iPhone, you can open it and continue working on your iPad or Mac without losing any changes. This automatic syncing is perfect for projects that require mobility or are developed across multiple devices. For more details on what you can find in Freeform, you can check out This article on Freeform.
Requirements and initial configuration
To start using Freeform, you need to have iCloud enabled and make sure your device is up to date with iOS 16.2 or higherThe app comes pre-installed on compatible devices, but if you can't find it, you can download it for free from the App Store.
Once opened, make sure you have iCloud sync enabled. To do this, go to Settings > iCloud > See All and enable the Freeform option within apps that save data to iCloud. Enabling this option is key if you want to keep your whiteboards synced across your Apple devices. If you need more information about iOS features, you can visit This guide on iOS 18.
How does Freeform work?
The app is designed as an infinite space where you can freely drop, move, and rearrange elements. There are no limits of space or orientation, allowing ideas to flow freely. You can work with text, images, freehand drawings, shapes, links, documents, and much more, all on a single board.
Freeform adapts perfectly to multiple work styles and methodologiesYou can use it for visual brainstorming, to organize charts, or to establish visual relationships between concepts using arrows and lines. You can even import PDFs, add notes, and share the results with your colleagues. To learn more about using drawing tools in your projects, visit This article on adding text and figures.
Practical uses of Freeform on iPhone
Personal organization
One of the most common uses of Freeform on the iPhone is as tool to organize ideas and tasks creativelyUnlike linear apps like Notes or Reminders, Freeform allows you to organize information visually and flexibly. This is ideal for:
- Plan a trip: You can attach maps, itineraries, images of places to visit, hotel or restaurant links, and bring it all together on a single board.
- Design a personal project- From sketches to text snippets or inspirational links, everything can be combined visually.
- Organize events: prepare a family reunion, a party or a wedding, with ideas, collaborators and tasks to be performed.
group collaboration
Freeform is not only useful individually. Collaborating with other people in real time is one of its great strengths.You can share a whiteboard with multiple people and work together simultaneously, which is very useful for creative projects or distributed work teams. If you're interested in creating visual content, you can find similar tools at This article on Image Playground.
While you work, you can see where the others are on the board and follow their movements. If someone is presenting a design proposal, you can follow them to see exactly what they see. This feature requires an internet connection and works in real time.
In addition, you can activate the participant cursors to easily identify each person and their location on the board. Tapping on their name will take you to the area where they're working, and if you want to follow their view, you can do so by tapping their avatar and selecting "Follow." It's like being in the same room, but on your iPhone.
Educational and professional tool
Freeform also finds its place in educational and professional settings. Its use extends to situations such as:
- Layout a book or magazine: You can create different design proposals, compare page styles, insert diagrams or illustrations, and make collaborative decisions.
- Develop the plot of a story: perfect for screenwriters or writers, as you can add characters, visual references, chapter outlines, and even fragments to organize things.
- Sketch interfaces or prototypes: Ideal for designers, it allows you to draw menus, buttons and navigation flows for applications, as well as attach design assets.
Advantages over other tools
What makes Freeform special is its ability to blend very diverse elements into a single space. Text areas can coexist with images, drawings, documents and links without breaking coherence.It is this freedom that makes it easier to work more fluidly and less constrained.
Compared to apps like Notes or the iWork suite, Freeform shines especially in non-linear thinking scenariosWhen it comes to outlining, jotting down ideas, reorganizing concepts, or collaborating visually, few rivals can compete in the same category.
How to share and collaborate from your iPhone
Sharing a whiteboard from Freeform on iPhone is very simple. Just open an existing whiteboard, tap the share button, and select the people you want to collaborate with. You can do this via Messages, Mail, AirDrop, or by copying the link to send it via another means.
Once they accept the invitation, Shared whiteboards allow simultaneous editing and show each member's movements in real time. You can follow a colleague during their presentation, which greatly facilitates remote meetings or collaborative development.
During this mode, you can't select or edit content, as you'll be seeing exactly what the other person is seeing. To stop following, simply scroll, zoom in, or simply tap the "Stop" button.
Tips to get the most out of Freeform
- Organize your content using colors and shapes: This way you can distinguish different types of information and make the board more legible.
- Don't be afraid of the initial mess: Freeform is designed to let ideas flow, you'll have time to organize them.
- Insert links and documents to centralize all information in one place, without having to jump between apps.
- Collaborate while on a FaceTime call: ideal for group creative sessions, as if you were around a physical whiteboard.
As you delve deeper into Freeform, you'll see how adapts to the style of each userMore schematic people can use lines and containers to organize everything, while those who prefer to work in a rough way will find complete freedom to experiment.
Freeform has quickly become one of those apps you didn't know you needed, but that changes the way you work once you start using it. The combination of visual flexibility, collaboration in real time y sync between devices It's much more than just a notes app. Whether you're organizing your day, collaborating with a team, or shaping a new creative project from scratch, Freeform on iPhone is a powerful tool.