Procreate review

Procreate is the drawing app many illustrators use for sketches, lettering and finished artwork, and it earns a place on a design list for that reason, not as a full layout or vector tool. It ships with over 300 brushes that can be edited in Brush Studio, and QuickShape, StreamLine and Drawing Assist help with clean lines and shapes. Layers support full blend modes, and Page Assist turns the iPad into a multi-page sketchbook for comics or concept decks. It can also paint on 3D models in USDZ and OBJ formats. Every piece records a time-lapse of how it was made. The price is $12.99 once in the US App Store, with no subscription. The limits are clear: it runs only on iPad, its output is pixels rather than vectors, and there are no templates or layout tools, so most designers finish Procreate artwork in another app.

Who it is for

Illustrators who draw with Apple Pencil and want to pay once.

Price

$12.99 one-time purchase in the US App Store, with no subscription.

Procreate Sketch. Paint. Create. $12.99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 10, 2026.

Key features

• Over 300 brushes, customizable in Brush Studio
• QuickShape, StreamLine and Drawing Assist
• Layers with full blend modes, selections and effects
• Page Assist for comics and multi-page sketchbooks
• Painting on 3D models in USDZ and OBJ formats

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: One-time price with no subscription
• Strength: Designed around Apple Pencil and touch
• Strength: Time-lapse replay of every artwork
• Weakness: iPad only, with no Windows or Mac version
• Weakness: Raster-based, so not suited to logos or scalable print graphics
• Weakness: No layout or template tools for marketing work

Key facts

• US App Store price: $12.99 once
• Platform: iPad
• Brushes: Over 300
• 3D formats: USDZ and OBJ

Where it ranks

Procreate is No. 10 in our Best Graphic Design Software verdict.