Procreate review

Procreate is the top pick for anyone who draws on an iPad. It costs $12.99 once on the US App Store, and Savage Interactive states plainly that there are no subscriptions. The app ships with over 300 handcrafted brushes covering pencils, inks, charcoal and painterly textures, and each one can be rebuilt in Brush Studio or replaced with downloaded packs. QuickShape snaps rough strokes into clean shapes, StreamLine smooths lines, and Page Assist turns the app into a multi-page sketchbook for comics and concept decks. It can also paint texture maps onto 3D models in .USDZ and .OBJ formats and export them for games or AR. Canvases reach 16k by 8k pixels on compatible iPad Pro models, and every artwork records a time-lapse replay. The limits are clear: it runs only on iPad, there is no desktop or Android version, and there is no trial before you buy.

Who it is for

iPad and Apple Pencil artists

Price

$12.99 one-time purchase on the US App Store, iPad only.

Procreate Sketch. Paint. Create. $12.99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 14, 2026.

Key features

• Over 300 handcrafted brushes, each editable in Brush Studio
• Canvases up to 16k by 8k on compatible iPad Pro models
• QuickShape, StreamLine and Drawing Assist for clean lines and shapes
• Paints on 3D models in .USDZ and .OBJ formats
• Page Assist for comics, graphic novels and concept decks

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: One payment of $12.99 with no subscription
• Strength: Built for iPad and Apple Pencil, according to Savage Interactive
• Strength: Records a time-lapse replay of every artwork
• Weakness: iPad only; there is no Windows, Mac or Android version
• Weakness: Sold exclusively through the App Store
• Weakness: No free trial or free tier

Key facts

• Price: $12.99 one-time
• Platform: iPad (Procreate Pocket for iPhone)
• Brushes: 300+ included
• Max canvas: 16k by 8k on compatible iPad Pro

Where it ranks

Procreate is No. 1 in our Best Digital Art Software verdict.