iPad Pro has often been hailed as a laptop alternative, and while I do question this claim, the iPad Pro does offer unique possibilities. For example, procreate is probably the most potent and overall best drawing app for the iPad. It offers an exhaustive set of brushes, advanced layer blending, unique filters, 100 undo/redo strokes, auto-saving while you draw, and much more. So why do you need to Procreate alternatives?
Because there are two problems, proCreate is a paid app (onetime cost of $9.99) with no free trial to test drive it. And, although the company does offer the less powerful Procreate Pocket for the iPhone, what if you want to Procreate on Android or Windows? Here are some Procreate alternatives for not just Windows and Android but also iPad Pro.
Is it the Android Procreate version?
What is the app that’s like Procreate to be used on Android? Autodesk SketchBook It is very similar to Procreate in an intuitive user interface and a wide variety of tools.
What devices are compatible with Procreate?
Procreate, the latest version is available on these iPad models:
12.9-inch iPad Pro (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and the 5th generation)
11.5″ iPad Pro (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation)
10.5-inch iPad Pro.
9.7-inch iPad Pro.
iPad (8th generation)
iPad (7th generation)
iPad (6th generation)
iPad (5th generation)
Do you need to draw well for Procreate?
If you’re not able to draw, you can utilize Procreate. Procreate is a great tool to learn how to improve your drawing abilities. Procreate is ideal for artists at all levels, from novice to expert. If you’re a novice, Procreate will improve along with your progress.
Procreate Alternatives
1. Autodesk SketchBook
Best for – Professionals who need advanced tools
Autodesk is a renowned name when it comes to designing and modeling software suites. They are well known for AutoCAD solutions, a platform that changed the face of many industries.
Like Procreate, Sketchbook also features a pen-friendly interface. One can use colors, brushes, mirror images, and draw other form factors. Other notable options include the ability to store images and progress automatically. However, unlike Procreate, which has 128 brushes, each with 50 customizable settings for every brush, SketchBook doesn’t have that many brushes, and the maximum size of brushes is also relatively small.
Interoperability is impressive as users can export images into multiple formats, including PSD. Adding to that, users can also choose the resolution of the images, and they also get a pen option. The software is capable of detecting false hand pressure allowing you to sketch quickly.
Pros:
A fully-featured version of SketchBook is now free
An exhaustive collection of professional tools at your disposal
Cons:
The learning curve is steep as compared with Procreate
Requires users to be familiar with the desktop version of the Autodesk Sketchbook
Availability: Android, iPad, iOS, Windows
Price: Free
Download Autodesk Sketchbook: iPad
2. ArtRage
Best for – Old fashion Artists who would like to draw oil painting and watercolor
As I was conversing with an artist friend, he casually remarked how tough it was to shift to a digital platform for creating art forms. However, if you prefer the old-fashioned drawing style, you will like ArtRage as a Procreate alternative.
The best thing about ArtRage is that it tries to mimic actual paint as naturally as possible. So you can even mix colors as you do with actual paint. Other important features include tools to keep track of wetness, thickness, and lighting direction.
Pros:
The most natural experience of using the digital medium to create art
Intuitive interface
Cons:
Lack of advanced tools
Sluggish occasionally
Upgrading costs money
Availability: Android, iPad, iOS, macOS, and Windows
Price: $79
Download ArtRage: macOS and Windows
3. Adobe Photoshop Sketch
Best for – artist who likes to use Photoshop’s brush features
I love that Photoshop Sketch was designed to create digital art, unlike Photoshop, a do-it tool. Of course, if you like to use Photoshop’s brush features, you will like using Sketch even more. But you don’t need to know Photoshop to use it.
The best thing about the app is seamless Adobe product integration. For example, you can import all the brushes you have used in Photoshop or export your artwork to Photoshop and Lightroom. It’s also a vector-based program, so resulting files are smaller in size, making it easier to share.
It’s one of the best Procreate alternatives on the market right now.
Pros:
A Focussed app with accurate tools
UI and UX are well-designed
14+ different brushes to choose from
Cons:
Not available on Windows
Scarce third-party app/plugin
Lack of image editing tools
Availability: macOS, Android, and iOS
Price: Free
4. Krita
Best for – artist looking for a free, open-source Procreate alternative for digital painting
Krita focuses on offering the most natural sketching experience in a digital medium. It offers comics and textures, and the default brushes should be more than enough for creating any art. Krita also allows users to customize the brushes if need be. In addition, it has a color wheel and an integrated reference panel. Being open-source, the developers of Krita have always lent an ear to the community and been very swift when it comes to adding new features.
Availability: macOS, Windows, Linux, and iOS
Pros:
Tailor-made for artists
Focus on quintessential
Open-source
PSD editing supported
Cons:
Interface lacks intuitiveness
Lags occasionally
No Android support
Price-Free/Open Source
5. Tayasui Sketches
Best for – people looking to draw small doodles and simple sketches
Tayasui Sketches is a simple Procreate alternative that will help the artists draw on tablets and macOS. The cornerstone of the tool is an array of artist tools, including pencils, pens, erasers, and brushes. The layout of the tool also deserves a special mention. Other advanced features include the Fill Transfer function that will help you fill based on the created pattern. Furthermore, the Fill Transfer function will also help you create overlapping effects without separating colors.
I want to mention that the Sketches free version feels inadequate for all the sketching needs, and if you are a professional, it is better to chip in for the Pro Version. That apart, you can also try the Pro Version free for an hour, which should help you make up your mind.
Availability: macOS, iOS, and Android
Pros:
Functional and clutter-free
Inexpensive
Cons:
Limited brushes
Cannot change the size of the canvas
Layers are offered only on the Pro version
Price: Free/$1.99
6. Concepts
Concepts is a vector drawing app, which means it’s more suited for precision measurement drawing than freehand sketches. Like procreate, you have access to brushes, layers, etc. However, what separates it from the rest is various payment options that let you purchase different tools as upgrades. The free version gets you a handful of brushes and layers. You can get the Essentials pack for a onetime price of $9.99 or get everything for $4.99 per month.
Availability: Windows 10, iOS, and Android
Pros
Infinite canvas
Flexible add-ons
Cons
Steep learning curve
Price: Free/$9.99 or $4.99 per month
7. PaintTool Sai
Not all of us want to draw and sketch, but some of us also want to fill our creations with colors. PaintTool Sai is a drawing and painting tool with a flat and easy-to-use UI but many valuable tools. The fact that Japanese developers developed it should be enough to tell you it supports manga and anime.
It is more suitable for beginners who are just getting their feet wet and looking to learn.
Availability: Windows
Pros:
Beginner-friendly
Easy to use
Pressure support
Cons:
Limited tools and scope
8. Corel Painter
Corel Painter is a great drawing and painting tool and a perfect Procreate alternative that is often used to reproduce the effects in the real world in digital form. There are several brushes, tools, and textures to choose from. In addition, there are color options like water paint, oil paint, and more to give you various options to choose from.
The UI is customizable, which is cool because you can now remove options you don’t need or want to be bothered with.
Availability: Windows, macOS
Pros:
Hundreds of brushes
Multiple tools
Customize UI
Different types of paint
Cons:
None
9. Adobe Illustrator Draw
Even though it is the perfect Procreate alternative, Adobe Illustrator Draw is one of the less popular apps from the same team that gave us Photoshop and Lightroom. Built from the ground up for smartphones and tablets, it is a drawing tool that makes natural paper or canvas drawing a breeze. You will need an Apple Pencil or a stylus to get the most out of Illustrator Draw.
Pros:
Vector brushes
Customizable toolbar
Layers
Creative cloud
Connect with Photoshop, Lightroom, Behance
Cons:
None
Wrapping Up: Procreate Alternatives
We have curated some of the best Procreate alternatives to help you get on board with digital sketching. That being said, we realise that it is the artists’ personal choice at the end of the day. Therefore, the utility of the features is subjective, and we hope that this list will help you zero in on the best sketching app.
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