The LeapPad Ultra comes with eleven apps included in the initial purchase price. Some of these apps are pre-loaded on the tablet, whilst others will need downloading using WiFi.
Other than those initial included apps, there do not appear to be any apps that are currently available for free, although this can change. Although free apps are always nice, the extra effort that goes into making the LeapFrog apps educator-approved, and the lack of any in-app transactions or advertising, results in apps that usually have to be paid for.
There are also the app bundles, where a number of apps can be purchased together, as well as the reduced price App of the Week, which is one app that is available every week at a discount.
It is advisable to make the most of offers such as the Labor Day discount which occur throughout the year, when there are discount codes available that can be used to purchase the apps with a decent reduction in the price.