Best Vetted Alternatives to Procreate

K

Krita

Alternative to Procreate

SecurityB

8.4/10

Rep Score: 910 Saves

Open SourceDesktop Application

Plays nice with

GitHubGitLabSlackDiscordFigma

Best forBudget-conscious illustrators and concept artists

Free and open source; optional paid versions may exist on some app stores depending on platform.

Summary

Open-source digital painting application built for illustrators, concept artists, and animators, with a strong brush engine and customizable workspace.

Why Switch

Teams switch from Procreate to Krita when they need a free, open-source painting app with a powerful brush engine and strong desktop platform support.

Pros

🟢Powerful brush customization and painting tools
🟢No license cost, strong community support

Cons

🔴Less polished mobile/tablet experience than Procreate
🔴Can feel complex for beginners

0 builders switched

Go to Krita

K

Krita

Alternative to Procreate

SecurityB

8.4/10

Rep Score: 910 Saves

Open SourceDesktop Application

Plays nice with

GitHubGitLabSlackDiscordFigma

Best for

Budget-conscious illustrators and concept artists

Cost

Free and open source; optional paid versions may exist on some app stores depending on platform.

Summary

Open-source digital painting application built for illustrators, concept artists, and animators, with a strong brush engine and customizable workspace.

Why Switch

Teams switch from Procreate to Krita when they need a free, open-source painting app with a powerful brush engine and strong desktop platform support.

Pros

🟢Powerful brush customization and painting tools
🟢No license cost, strong community support
🟢Available on major desktop platforms

Cons

🔴Less polished mobile/tablet experience than Procreate
🔴Can feel complex for beginners
🔴Performance and tablet support vary by platform

0 builders switched

Go to Krita

Affinity Designer

Alternative to Procreate

SecurityB

8.4/10

Rep Score: 900 Saves

SubscriptionProfessionalDesktop app with optional iPad supportProprietary, perpetual license

Best forFreelancers, small studios, and cost-conscious design teams

One-time perpetual license; no required subscription. Optional bundle pricing available through Affinity/Canva offerings.

Summary

Professional vector design and illustration software for macOS, Windows, and iPad, positioned as a lower-cost alternative to Adobe Illustrator for branding, UI, and print work.

Why Switch

Teams switch from Procreate to Affinity Designer when they want precise vector and raster design tools without an ongoing subscription.

Pros

🟢Strong vector editing and typography tools
🟢One-time purchase appeals to cost-conscious teams

Cons

🔴Not as deeply integrated into enterprise Adobe workflows
🔴Smaller ecosystem of plugins and third-party resources

0 builders switched

Go to Affinity Designer

Affinity Designer

Alternative to Procreate

SecurityB

8.4/10

Rep Score: 900 Saves

SubscriptionProfessionalDesktop app with optional iPad supportProprietary, perpetual license

Best for

Freelancers, small studios, and cost-conscious design teams

Cost

One-time perpetual license; no required subscription. Optional bundle pricing available through Affinity/Canva offerings.

Summary

Professional vector design and illustration software for macOS, Windows, and iPad, positioned as a lower-cost alternative to Adobe Illustrator for branding, UI, and print work.

Why Switch

Teams switch from Procreate to Affinity Designer when they want precise vector and raster design tools without an ongoing subscription.

Pros

🟢Strong vector editing and typography tools
🟢One-time purchase appeals to cost-conscious teams
🟢Good performance on modern hardware
🟢Widely used by freelancers and small studios

Cons

🔴Not as deeply integrated into enterprise Adobe workflows
🔴Smaller ecosystem of plugins and third-party resources
🔴Some advanced Illustrator-specific features may be missing

0 builders switched

Go to Affinity Designer

CS

Clip Studio Paint

Alternative to Procreate

SecurityC

6.4/10

Rep Score: 900 Saves

SubscriptionProfessionalDesktop and Mobile ApplicationProprietary Subscription or Perpetual License

Best forComic artists, inkers, and animation-focused illustrators

Paid software with subscription and perpetual-license options depending on platform and plan.

Summary

Professional illustration, comic, and animation software widely used by artists for detailed drawing, inking, and panel-based workflows.

Why Switch

Teams switch from Procreate to Clip Studio Paint when they need advanced inking, comic panel tools, and a broader feature set for illustration and animation.

Pros

🟢Excellent inking, line stabilization, and comic tools
🟢Broad feature set for illustration and animation

Cons

🔴Interface can feel dense and less intuitive
🔴Some features are gated by plan or platform

0 builders switched

Go to Clip Studio Paint

CS

Clip Studio Paint

Alternative to Procreate

SecurityC

6.4/10

Rep Score: 900 Saves

SubscriptionProfessionalDesktop and Mobile ApplicationProprietary Subscription or Perpetual License

Best for

Comic artists, inkers, and animation-focused illustrators

Cost

Paid software with subscription and perpetual-license options depending on platform and plan.

Summary

Professional illustration, comic, and animation software widely used by artists for detailed drawing, inking, and panel-based workflows.

Why Switch

Teams switch from Procreate to Clip Studio Paint when they need advanced inking, comic panel tools, and a broader feature set for illustration and animation.

Pros

🟢Excellent inking, line stabilization, and comic tools
🟢Broad feature set for illustration and animation
🟢Large user base in professional art communities

Cons

🔴Interface can feel dense and less intuitive
🔴Some features are gated by plan or platform
🔴Not as streamlined as Procreate for quick sketching

0 builders switched

Go to Clip Studio Paint

AF

Adobe Fresco

Alternative to Procreate

SecurityC

5.8/10

Rep Score: 880 Saves

SubscriptionEnterpriseCloud-Native / SaaSProprietary Subscription

Plays nice with

GoogleGitHubSlackTeamsFigma

Best forTablet-first illustrators already using Adobe tools

Subscription-based; included in some Adobe Creative Cloud plans, with standalone paid plans available.

Summary

Digital painting and drawing app from Adobe focused on vector and raster brushes, illustration, and stylus-based sketching on tablets and desktops.

Why Switch

Teams switch from Procreate to Adobe Fresco when they want live brushes, vector support, and tighter integration with Adobe Creative Cloud workflows across iPad and Windows.

Pros

🟢Excellent brush engine with live brushes and vector support
🟢Strong integration with Adobe Creative Cloud workflows

Cons

🔴Requires ongoing subscription cost
🔴Less beloved for pure sketching workflow than Procreate by some artists

0 builders switched

Go to Adobe Fresco

AF

Adobe Fresco

Alternative to Procreate

SecurityC

5.8/10

Rep Score: 880 Saves

SubscriptionEnterpriseCloud-Native / SaaSProprietary Subscription

Plays nice with

GoogleGitHubSlackTeamsFigma

Best for

Tablet-first illustrators already using Adobe tools

Cost

Subscription-based; included in some Adobe Creative Cloud plans, with standalone paid plans available.

Summary

Digital painting and drawing app from Adobe focused on vector and raster brushes, illustration, and stylus-based sketching on tablets and desktops.

Why Switch

Teams switch from Procreate to Adobe Fresco when they want live brushes, vector support, and tighter integration with Adobe Creative Cloud workflows across iPad and Windows.

Pros

🟢Excellent brush engine with live brushes and vector support
🟢Strong integration with Adobe Creative Cloud workflows
🟢Cross-device support on iPad and Windows

Cons

🔴Requires ongoing subscription cost
🔴Less beloved for pure sketching workflow than Procreate by some artists
🔴Heavier ecosystem than a lightweight standalone app

0 builders switched

Go to Adobe Fresco

CP

Corel Painter

Alternative to Procreate

SecurityC

6.1/10

Rep Score: 760 Saves

SubscriptionEnterpriseDesktop ApplicationProprietary Perpetual License or Subscription

Best forDigital painters seeking traditional media simulation

Commercial software with perpetual licensing and upgrade pricing; may also offer subscription options.

Summary

Longstanding digital art application designed to emulate traditional media with advanced brush simulation for painters and illustrators.

Why Switch

Teams switch from Procreate to Corel Painter when they prioritize highly realistic natural-media brush simulation and deep texture control over a lightweight sketching workflow.

Pros

🟢Best-in-class natural media simulation
🟢Deep brush and texture controls

Cons

🔴Can be expensive relative to alternatives
🔴Interface and workflow may feel dated to some users

0 builders switched

Go to Corel Painter

CP

Corel Painter

Alternative to Procreate

SecurityC

6.1/10

Rep Score: 760 Saves

SubscriptionEnterpriseDesktop ApplicationProprietary Perpetual License or Subscription

Best for

Digital painters seeking traditional media simulation

Cost

Commercial software with perpetual licensing and upgrade pricing; may also offer subscription options.

Summary

Longstanding digital art application designed to emulate traditional media with advanced brush simulation for painters and illustrators.

Why Switch

Teams switch from Procreate to Corel Painter when they prioritize highly realistic natural-media brush simulation and deep texture control over a lightweight sketching workflow.

Pros

🟢Best-in-class natural media simulation
🟢Deep brush and texture controls
🟢Established brand in digital painting

Cons

🔴Can be expensive relative to alternatives
🔴Interface and workflow may feel dated to some users
🔴Less mobile-friendly than Procreate

0 builders switched

Go to Corel Painter