Procreate Alternatives (2026): 10 Apps Compared

Procreate is the drawing app that made the iPad a serious art tool, and plenty of people love it. But it only runs on Apple devices, so if you use Android, Windows or a Mac without a tablet, or you simply want to see what else is out there, you've got more choice than you might think.

Here are ten Procreate alternatives in no particular order, sorted alphabetically. I've mixed smaller and independent apps with a couple of well-known names, and every description comes from each app's own website and directory listings. If you're drawing for your business rather than for fun, my guide on where to get free illustrations for commercial use is worth a look too.

Procreate alternatives side by side

In the free plan column, Yes means the app's own site or store listing shows a free version, free app or open-source download. Trial only means there's a free trial but no ongoing free way to use it. Free versions usually limit things like layers, canvas size or export types, so read what's included.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Adobe Fresco	Drawing and painting app	Natural-feeling brushes on tablets and Windows	Yes
Clip Studio Paint	Illustration and comics app	Line art, comics and animation everywhere	Trial only
Concepts	Infinite-canvas sketching app	Vector sketching and planning ideas	Yes
ibis Paint X	Mobile drawing app	Quick drawing on phones and tablets	Yes
Infinite Painter	Painting app	Realistic painting on iPad and Android	Yes
Krita	Open-source painting program	Digital painting on a free open-source app	Yes
Linea Sketch	iPad sketching app	Simple sketching on iPad	Yes
MediBang Paint	Illustration and manga app	Manga, comics and cloud-saved artwork	Yes
Rebelle	Natural media painting software	Watercolour and paint effects on desktop	Trial only
Tayasui Sketches	iPad drawing app	Traditional-media brushes on iPad	Yes

Ten drawing and painting apps to try instead of Procreate

Adobe Fresco

Best for: Illustrators who like realistic oil and watercolour brushes and already use other Adobe apps for their design work.

Clip Studio Paint

Best for: Artists making comics, manga or detailed line work across phone, tablet and computer who want to try before committing.

Concepts

Best for: Designers and planners who sketch ideas on an endless canvas, with strokes they can edit afterwards.

ibis Paint X

Best for: Phone and tablet artists who want a large brush set and a community to share their drawings with.

Infinite Painter

Best for: Painters on iPad or Android who want a full set of brushes and a free version without ads or watermarks.

Krita

Best for: Illustrators and concept artists who want a serious painting program with no licence and a large community.

Linea Sketch

Best for: iPad users who like a clean, fast sketchbook for roughing out ideas with Apple Pencil.

MediBang Paint

Best for: Comic and manga creators who want one app across Windows, Mac, iPad, iPhone and Android.

Rebelle

Best for: Painters who love the look of wet paint and watercolour and work on a Windows or Mac computer.

Tayasui Sketches

Best for: Beginners and casual sketchers who'd like pencil, pastel and watercolour brushes that feel familiar.

What to look for in a drawing and painting app

Brushes get all the attention, but the day-to-day feel of an app depends on a handful of other things. These are the points worth checking before you settle.

• Your device. Check the app runs on the tablet, phone or computer you own, and whether it supports a stylus with pressure sensitivity.
• Brush feel. Look for a brush set that suits your style, whether that's ink, pencil, watercolour or airbrush, and whether you can make your own.
• Layers and canvas size. Free versions often cap these, which matters for detailed or print-sized work.
• Export options. Make sure you can save in the file types your clients and printers ask for.
• Animation and comics tools. Handy if you plan to make moving drawings or multi-page stories.
• Syncing. If you draw on more than one device, check how files move between them.

Things to settle before you give up Procreate

• Which of my brushes and canvases do I need to keep, and can I export them in a form the new app can open?
• Am I drawing for fun, for clients, or to sell prints and products?
• Do I need the app on a phone, a tablet and a computer, or just one?
• Will a free version cover a full project, or will its limits get in the way?
• Do I want realistic paint effects, clean line art, or quick sketches?
• How much time do I want to spend learning a new set of gestures and menus?

Matching a drawing app to the work you do

• Sketchbook-style apps suit quick ideas, mood boards and rough layouts, especially if you draw on a tablet during meetings.
• Full painting programs suit illustrators who build finished artwork with layers, textures and detailed brushes.
• Comic and manga apps suit anyone telling stories across panels and pages, with tools for speech bubbles and page layouts.
• Natural media software suits painters who want the look of wet paint and paper without the mess.
• Infinite-canvas tools suit designers who plan, diagram and think visually more than they paint.

If you're building a creative business, my page on how to build a freelance portfolio covers how to show your drawings to potential clients.

Moving your artwork into a new drawing app

• Export your finished pieces as high-quality image files before you do anything else, so nothing is trapped in one app.
• If you use layered files, check which formats the new app can import and test one file first.
• Recreate your most-used brushes by looking for similar settings rather than expecting an exact match.
• Learn the new gestures on a small sketch, not on a client project.
• Keep your old app on the device for a while, in case you need to reopen an older file.

Common drawing app errors

• Choosing on brush count alone and ignoring how the app handles layers, export and syncing.
• Assuming a free version has no limits. Some cap layers, canvas size or export types.
• Forgetting that artwork made from someone else's brushes, photos or reference may carry rules about reuse.
• Trying five apps at once and never getting good at any of them.
• Ignoring file safety. Back up your artwork somewhere other than the device you draw on.

The case for a smaller drawing app

Smaller and independent apps often focus on one thing, whether that's comics, watercolour effects or a simple, fast sketchbook. They can feel less crowded than a giant program and often have a friendly community around them.

Before you rely on one, check it's still being updated, that it runs on your device, and that its free version or trial is clear on its own site. If design vocabulary trips you up when you read about these apps, my guide to key graphic design terms will help.

Do you make a drawing or painting app? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

Choosing your next drawing app

Pick two apps that fit your device and the kind of work you do, whether that's sketches, comics or paintings. Draw the same small piece in each, check you can export it the way you need, and keep the app that makes you want to pick up the pen again.

Frequently asked questions

What is the closest thing to Procreate?

A tablet-first painting app with a large brush set, layers and stylus support is the closest match. If you want something for a computer, a full painting program may suit you better.

Is there a free alternative to Procreate?

Yes. Several apps on this page have a free version or are open source. Layer counts, canvas sizes and export types vary, so check each app's own site.

Can I draw on an Android tablet or a Windows computer?

Yes. Many drawing apps run on Android, Windows or both, so you aren't tied to Apple devices. Check the platform list for each app.

Can I move my Procreate artwork into another app?

You can export finished pieces as image files, and some apps can open layered files. Test one file first before you move your whole library.

Do I need a stylus to use these apps?

Not strictly, but a stylus makes drawing much more natural, and pressure sensitivity changes how brushes behave. Check which styluses each app supports.