Procreate Alternatives for iPad, Desktop and Android
Procreate is the best $12.99 you can spend on an iPad, and its one-time price is the thing people love about it. The catch is the platform: iPad only, no desktop version, no Android.
If you are not on an iPad — or you want your painting files to follow you to a desktop — these are the alternatives that cover that gap, each with the part it does worse.
The alternatives, and where each one falls short
Krita — Free
The best free painting app on desktop, with a brush engine comparable to Procreate’s and full tablet support.
Where it falls short: Photo editing is a secondary concern, and large canvases can get unstable.
Clip Studio Paint — Subscription
The industry standard for comics and manga, with powerful inking, tones and panel tools.
Where it falls short: Subscription pricing now, which is a harder sell than Procreate’s one-time price.
Procreate Dreams — One-time purchase
Procreate’s own animation companion — 2D animation with the same brush engine and one-time pricing.
Where it falls short: Still iPad-only, so it inherits the platform limit it was meant to answer.
Adobe Photoshop — Subscription
The full desktop editor with generative AI retouching — everything Procreate is not.
Where it falls short: Subscription only, and far heavier for sketching.
At a glance
| Tool | Pricing | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| Krita | Free | Photo editing is a secondary concern, and large canvases can get unstable. |
| Clip Studio Paint | Subscription | Subscription pricing now, which is a harder sell than Procreate’s one-time price. |
| Procreate Dreams | One-time purchase | Still iPad-only, so it inherits the platform limit it was meant to answer. |
| Adobe Photoshop | Subscription | Subscription only, and far heavier for sketching. |
Which one should you pick?
- Desktop painting, free: Krita — professional brush engine, no cost.
- Comics and manga: Clip Studio Paint — inking and panel tools built for it.
- 2D animation on iPad: Procreate Dreams — same engine, one-time price.
- Full desktop editing: Adobe Photoshop — generative AI and print standards.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free Procreate alternative?
Krita is the one to name: free, open source, desktop, with a brush engine that competes with Procreate’s. On Android, Infinite Painter and ibisPaint are the usual picks, but neither is in the same class.
Can I use Procreate files in other apps?
Procreate exports PSD, so files move to Photoshop and Clip Studio Paint, but layers with complex blend modes or clipping masks can shift.
Is Clip Studio Paint worth it over Procreate?
For comics and manga, yes — the inking and panel tools are genuinely better. For sketching and illustration, Procreate’s one-time price is the better deal.
Every tool here is listed in the full directory, each with its own page and drawbacks. See also the other alternatives guides and the open source swaps.