8 best Alternative of Procreate

 

1. Adobe Fresco

Since its debut in 2019, Adobe Fresco (review here) has become one of the more impressive drawing apps for the iPad. Built with the power of the Adobe Photoshop painting engine, it offers some of the best brushes and capabilities for drawing, painting, and animating on the iPad.

You'll find that the app offers a host of fun features that will make you feel like a pro right away, especially if you're already familiar with the Adobe program suite from the desktop.

Fresco is equipped with 150 brushes by default, and there are plenty more that you can install without ever leaving the app.

In Fresco, Adobe also offers a unique feature called live brushes, which utilizes AI to realistically mimic the flow and texture of wet oil and watercolor paint in real time.  It’s one of the most real-to-life painting experiences out there, and definitely something you won’t want to miss.

One of the major differences between Fresco and its competitors is its natural ability to integrate with other Adobe products.  Creative Cloud users can pass work between Fresco and Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator since Fresco offers both vector and raster capabilities.

That kind of seamless functionality makes Fresco a major contender for Adobe fans who want to work inside a dedicated workspace while on the go.

Coolest features

• Vector and raster capabilities. Open your Adobe Fresco files in Illustrator and Photoshop for iPad or desktop.

• Live brushes. Create using realistic watercolor and oil brushes on a digital canvas.

• Motion and path animation. Great for adding animation and motion in a beginner-friendly way to transform your artwork.

Main limitations

• Limited brushes for free users. The free version of the app gives you access to hundreds of brushes but not the full library of premium brushes.

• Limited brush importing. Third-party brush formats and files from other apps aren't compatible, so be mindful of this if you're not already using Adobe programs.

• No pen tool for editing vector brush strokes. While you can use vector brushes, you won't be able to fine-tune points on your stroke paths within the Fresco app.

Important details

• App type: Pixel- and vector-based.

• Pricing: Free, with paid plans starting at $9.99/year; 30-day free trial.

• Compatibility: iOS, PC.

2.Linearity Curve

If you're a beginner who wants to vectorize your work, Linearity Curve (formerly known as Vectornator) is for you. It's a comprehensive graphic design program that lets you create vector art and assets.

Simple in its presentation, you'll find tools at the top left and right and a single toolbar on the left-hand side. This makes it feel clean, organized, and user-friendly.

All of the tools you’d expect from vector-based programs are there, such as the Pen Tool and Node Tool, without having to worry about how to use advanced features. If you ever get stuck, you can press and hold any tool to learn more about it or even take a quick in-app tutorial.

In Curve, all your artboards have their own set of layers that will change as you choose new active artboards, which adds to its exceptional functionality. It also comes loaded with thousands of design templates, icons, and a free photo library.

As you can see, Curve can still do a lot, even though it’s a free app. Creating a Linearity account will help you keep all of your work synced and available across your iOS devices. If you want to see how it stacks up to other vector apps, check out our comparison article.

Coolest features

• Color-coded Pen tool. Makes it easy to tell where your paths start and end, which is nice for beginners.

• In-app tutorials. Great for beginners who want to learn more about vectorizing their work and the tools and features in the app.

• AI tools. Use AI-powered tools like Background Removal and Auto Trace to speed up your workflow.

Main limitations

• No raster brush support. As a vector-based app, Linearity Curve isn't a program that can read or use raster brushes.

• No brush importing. You can't expand your brush set, which can leave you feeling limited in how you can create.

Important details

• App type: Vector-based.

• Pricing: Free.

• Compatibility: iOS, Mac.

3. Sketchbook

Want a fun medium between Adobe Fresco and Procreate? Autodesk Sketchbook is a great all-around creative app that offers a lot of functionality for a low price.

Sketchbook allows you to create in a way that feels authentic to traditional materials. This is reflected in the brushes and their advanced customization options. And this is much more than just a sketching app, as there are over 15 categories of brushes to choose from.

You can edit not only the brush size, but also the size of the brush when you apply heavy or light pressure, which gives artists more control over their strokes. Under Advanced Settings, you can edit your brush texture by importing different  files that alter the overall look of your brushes.

The interface is clean and simple to navigate in order to put the focus on your work. If you’re more of a beginner to digital art, you’ll enjoy using this app.

With the premium version of the app, you’ll also have access to additional downloadable assets, from color palettes and textures to brush packs. Use these to inspire your work and to expand how you create within the Sketchbook app.

Coolest features

• Realistic brush tools. A variety of traditional art studio brush textures and effects.

• Advanced customization. Brush tools can be customized with precision for size when applying heavy or light pressure.

• Curve ruler. Great for drawing and creating unique guidelines on a curve.

Main limitations

• No pre-made grid lines. Without grids, you'll have to create your own guidelines to make sure your work is straight.

• No brush importing for free users. You can't expand your brush set unless you upgrade, which can leave you feeling limited in how you can create.

• No brush smoothing setting. The lack of a smoothing feature for your line work can make drawing smooth lines challenging if you have a less-than-steady hand.

Important details

• App type: Pixel-based.

• Pricing: Free; $1.99/one-time purchase for premium features.

• Compatibility: iOS, Mac, Android, PC.

Affinity Designer for iPad

Affinity Designer for iPad (review here) is an impressive app with a number of capabilities, including vector and raster brushes. To achieve this, you'll need to switch modes or Personas to give yourself access to the correct toolset.

But it really goes beyond being simply a drawing and painting app. It's also great for graphic design, UX, UI, print projects, and more. Using its type tool is a lot of fun because you can access advanced typographic settings for OpenType or OTF files that other iPad apps don't typically support.

Because Affinity Designer for iPad is so robust in its capabilities, it does have a steeper learning curve than other apps on this list. However, if you're a user coming from a similar program like Adobe Illustrator, you'll probably find the UI easier to navigate.

This isn't to say that Affinity Designer does everything. It's a part of a creative suite for graphic design with two other Affinity apps, Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer, which are similar to Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

For less than $20, you can access this professional design software without having to worry about a subscription.

Coolest features

• Vector brush tool. Gives a unique texture quality to your vector brushes.

• Vector and raster capabilities. You can use both modes of creation in the same piece.

• Layer effects. Go beyond blend modes to add effects like 3D, Bevel/Emboss, Glows, and more to your work.

Main limitations

• Learning curve. With its robust capabilities and huge brush selection, learning Affinity Designer for iPad can be challenging for a beginner to digital art.

• Slight lag when drawing. Affinity Designer is a powerful app, but depending on your device specs and the effects in your piece, your stroke speed can sometimes slow down.

Important details

• App type: Pixel- and vector-based

• Pricing: $18.49/one-time purchase; 30-day free trial.

• Compatibility: iOS, Mac, PC.

4.Linea Sketch

Linea Sketch is a simple and intuitive app. Your active tools and layers are easy to identify through icons and arrows. The unique fill tool feature instantly creates a filled shape as you draw your strokes.

The brushes available for free users don’t feel too limiting, as they feature a great range of textures and tool types. However, upgrading through an in-app purchase to enable the text tool feature and remove the watermarks when you export your artwork is worth it.

 

If you struggle with choosing colors for your artwork, you'll find Linea Sketch's themed Color Sets helpful. You can also create your own color palettes and easily import photos into your document.

Another fun feature that’s included, called ZipShape, lets you create perfect shapes instantly by simply drawing and holding briefly on your shape. Once you've got your shape, you can transform, rotate, or lock it in place.

There's even an option to livestream from the app to YouTube, which isn't common for many of the drawing apps on this list. iCloud syncing is automatic from Linea Sketch, making it simple and convenient to keep on top of your creations.

Coolest features

• Textured paper. Includes 7+ different realistic paper texture backgrounds.

• Custom color palettes. Access a variety of color sets to get you started with coloring your artwork.

• ZipShape. Great for creating instant shapes for transforming in the app.

Main limitations

• No text tool for free users. You won't be able to use any custom type in the app without a premium subscription.

• Limited brush selection for free users. Access to the brushes will be limited without a premium subscription.

• Watermarked exports for free users. You'll have a Linea Sketch watermark whenever you save your work without a premium subscription.

Important details

• App type: Pixel-based.

• Pricing: Free; $29.99/one-time purchase for premium features.

• Compatibility: iOS, Mac.

 

5.Medibang Paint

Into drawing manga and comics?  Medibang Paint comes loaded with helpful comic templates, making creating panels fast and easy. They do this with tools like their Panel Layout tool and helpful manga tutorial series.

This app offers a straightforward drawing experience for its users to enjoy no matter what kind of art they like creating.

You can draw and paint with over 150 brushes, including airbrushes, pencils, pens, and more.

 

Medibang also allows artists to enjoy the benefits of drawing on the go without needing to worry about having an internet connection. You'll have extra peace of mind that your work will be safe thanks to their Automatic Backup feature.

While the app is available for free, a benefit of upgrading includes a library of downloadable materials, fonts, and more to enhance your drawing experience. This is an art app that's not just for doodling, but for creating whatever you can imagine.

And if you're truly resistant to an upgrade, you can enjoy free drawing with premium tools in exchange for watching short ad breaks.

Plus, Medibang’s broad platform compatibility makes the app a great option for use on iOS devices and various other operating systems.

Coolest features

• Custom rulers and grid settings. Choose from a variety of rulers and grids to create the perfect setup for your artwork.

• Context bar. This will explain all active tools and their functions, which is perfect for beginner and advanced users alike.

• Variety of layer options. You can use effects like halftone, stencil, mask, and 8-bit on your layers.

• In-app backup gallery. You'll have access to all of your documents with timestamps for easy recovery.

Main limitations

• In-app ads for free users. You'll have banner ads on the screen and ads that play occasionally if you aren't a premium user.

• Limited cloud storage for free users. Medibang Paint offers cloud storage with your premium subscription from $2.99/month.

• Limited brush library for free users. You won't have access to the full brush set if you aren't a premium user.

Important details

• App type: Pixel-based.

• Pricing: Free; from $2.99/month for premium features and 20 GB of cloud storage.

• Compatibility: iOS, Android, Mac, PC.

6.Clip Studio Paint

Clip Studio Paint has proven itself to be a powerful program for painting, drawing, comics, and animation. You can use it to create everything from storyboards to detailed digital paintings. And part of what makes Clip Studio Paint instantly unique is its desktop UI interface.

While you're in the iPad app, you'll feel comfortable navigating the toolbar along the top of the screen. This is great for artists who are familiar with working in desktop art programs like Adobe Photoshop.

Additionally, the menu drop-downs are where you'll realize just how much you can do within the app. Projects can be set up for animation, illustration, comics, webtoons, and more.

 

To avoid feeling overwhelmed by its extensive capabilities, I'd suggest starting with basic functions and exploring its tutorial and tips archive.

Clip Studio Paint is a solid option for artists looking for an app that can do it all, with an impressive brush set and unique iPad features. You can get started in the app with a free trial to see if it's for you. If you need help figuring out which license and plan are right for you, check out their recommended plan test.

Coolest features

• Animation timeline and tools. Bring your drawings to life with advanced animation capabilities.

• Raster and vector brushes. Create with textured pixels or sleek and smooth vectors in the same document.

• Classic desktop UI. You'll enjoy a desktop document setup similar to working on a computer.

• 3D modeling support. Clip Studio Paint comes loaded with over 100 models for you to use.

Main limitations

• Layer types don't change your toolset. You'll have to memorize and get comfortable navigating the app to find the brushes that you can use for vectors or raster layers.

• Limited brush compatibility. You can only use Clip Studio Paint brushes or Photoshop brushes in the app.

Important details

• App type: Pixel and vector-based.

• Pricing: 30-day free trial; from $4.49/month.

• Compatibility: iOS, Android, Mac, PC.

To avoid feeling overwhelmed by its extensive capabilities, I'd suggest starting with basic functions and exploring its tutorial and tips archive.

Clip Studio Paint is a solid option for artists looking for an app that can do it all, with an impressive brush set and unique iPad features. You can get started in the app with a free trial to see if it's for you. If you need help figuring out which license and plan are right for you, check out their recommended plan test.

Coolest features

• Animation timeline and tools. Bring your drawings to life with advanced animation capabilities.

• Raster and vector brushes. Create with textured pixels or sleek and smooth vectors in the same document.

• Classic desktop UI. You'll enjoy a desktop document setup similar to working on a computer.

• 3D modeling support. Clip Studio Paint comes loaded with over 100 models for you to use.

Main limitations

• Layer types don't change your toolset. You'll have to memorize and get comfortable navigating the app to find the brushes that you can use for vectors or raster layers.

• Limited brush compatibility. You can only use Clip Studio Paint brushes or Photoshop brushes in the app.

Important details

• App type: Pixel and vector-based.

• Pricing: 30-day free trial; from $4.49/month.

• Compatibility: iOS, Android, Mac, PC.

7.Tayasui Sketches

Looking for an app with a small but mighty toolset?

Tayasui Sketches is a great app to get you started with creating digital art on the iPad without an overwhelming amount of tools or features. The minimal and sophisticated design of the interface makes the drawing experience feel premium (even if you're a free user).

And, although this is an iPad app, you can still use keyboard shortcuts in the program if you have one in your setup. It's a great way to get more out of your drawing tablet and a happy medium between having your desktop or laptop.

 

The brushes have realistic textures and you can add patterns instantly to your work. It's a great option for users who are beginners or transitioning from Adobe programs like Photoshop.

And, after over ten years as an app on the iPad, it's sticking to what it does best: Giving users an authentic feeling to the work they can create in the app. From the paper backgrounds to the brushes, the realism is stunning.

Coolest features

• Realistic brush and paper textures. Choose from a number of paper textures for your background and see how your strokes transform.

• Pattern maker. Using the cutter tool you can add patterns in large areas of your canvas instantly.

• Color mixing and blending. You'll be able to blend your strokes in a realistic way.

• Zen mode. Give yourself a focused full-screen mode to reduce onscreen distractions.

Main limitations

• Limited brush selections for free users. You won't have access to all of the brush settings without a premium subscription.

• Limited layers. You won't be able to use multiple layers within a document without a premium subscription.

• No brush importing. You can't expand your brush set within the app.

Important details

• App type: Pixel-based.

• Pricing: Free; $7.99/one-time purchase for premium features.

• Compatibility: iOS, Android, Mac.

8. Artstudio Pro

Want an all-in-one app for your drawing and your photos?

Artstudio Pro gives you this with drawing, animation, and photo editing capabilities. You can customize the app around your preferences, from brush favoriting to choosing the tools in your toolbar.

Don't need the photo editing tools? Hide them to keep your most essential tools at your fingertips. You can also restrict the app from making accidental strokes or functions through the convenient Pencil Only mode. Once you're ready to use gestures again, just tap the icon to deactivate it.

 

If you choose to upgrade, you'll have a large library of hundreds of assets available to expand your creativity. And, for a one-time purchase, you can say goodbye to any limitations to layer count, canvas size, and more.

If photo editing is a feature you think you'll be using a lot, you're in luck. You can edit your photos using filters, healing, and stamp tools similar to those you'd find in Photoshop and Affinity Photo.

Coolest features

• Brush favorites menu. Have your most used brushes ready to use in an easy-to-access favorites panel.

• Frame-by-frame animation. Add elements to your document to create animations that you can playback and preview.

• Light photo editing features. You'll be able to manipulate and retouch photos with tools like burn and clone.

Main limitations

• Limited layer count for free users. You can only use one layer in your document if you're a free user.

• Limited export formats for free users. You can only export to JPG if you're a free user, and you can't export animations at all.

• Limited document size for free users. To enable large canvas sizes and resolutions, you'll have to upgrade.

Important details

• App type: Pixel-based.

• Pricing: Free, $9.99/year or $39.99/one-time for premium features.

• Compatibility: iOS, Mac.