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Procreate alternatives

Top Photo Editing like Procreate

The most popular alternative to Procreate is Krita, which has a free version. Other great alternatives to Procreate are Adobe Photoshop, Affinity, Adobe Illustrator, and Pixelmator Pro.

Most alternatives to Procreate are in the Photo Editing category, compared here by price, platform and features.

Procreate alternatives
AllFreeOpen source
6 apps

All Procreate alternatives

  1. Krita

    Krita is a free, open source digital painting program developed by the KDE community for illustrators, comic artists, concept artists and texture painters. It offers customizable brush engines, a brush stabilizer, layers and masks, a wrap-around mode for seamless textures and frame-by-frame 2D animation. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, with a version for Android tablets and Chromebooks.

    8 Krita alternatives

    Pros

    • Free, open source painting app with powerful brush engines
    • Brush stabilizer and wrap-around mode for seamless textures
    • Frame-by-frame 2D animation built in

    Cons

    • Not designed for photo editing
    • Can be demanding on hardware with large canvases
    • No version available for iPad
    Cost / License
    FreeOpen source
    Categories
    Photo EditingGraphic Design
    Platforms
    WindowsMacLinuxAndroid
    Features
    AnimationDigital paintingLayersPlugins & extensions
    Visit websiteMore about Krita

  2. Adobe Photoshop

    4.5(94.4K) · App Store

    Adobe Photoshop is a professional image editor used for retouching, compositing, graphic design and digital painting. It combines layers, masks, adjustment layers, Camera Raw processing and a large plugin ecosystem with Firefly-powered tools such as Generative Fill and object removal. It runs on Windows and macOS, with web, iPad and iPhone versions that sync through Creative Cloud.

    12 Adobe Photoshop alternatives

    Pros

    • Industry standard for retouching and compositing
    • Generative Fill and object removal powered by Firefly
    • Vast ecosystem of plugins and tutorials

    Cons

    • Subscription only, which adds up over time
    • Steep learning curve for beginners
    • Demanding on hardware with large files
    Cost / License
    Free trialProprietary
    Categories
    Photo EditingGraphic Design
    Platforms
    WebWindowsMaciPhone
    Features
    Background removalDigital paintingImage generationLayersPlugins & extensionsRAW photo editing
    Visit websiteMore about Adobe Photoshop

  3. Affinity

    Affinity is a professional creative app from Canva that merges the former Affinity Designer, Photo and Publisher into one program with vector, pixel and layout workspaces. It is free to download for Windows and macOS, while its optional Canva AI tools require a paid Canva plan. It suits designers who want an alternative to Adobe subscriptions and can import PSD, PDF and IDML files.

    12 Affinity alternatives

    Pros

    • Free download combining vector, pixel and layout workspaces in one app
    • Imports PSD, PDF and IDML files from Adobe workflows
    • Professional tools without a mandatory subscription

    Cons

    • Canva AI tools require a paid Canva plan
    • Smaller plugin and training ecosystem than Adobe’s
    • Imported Adobe files can need manual adjustments
    Cost / License
    FreemiumProprietary
    Categories
    Graphic DesignPhoto Editing
    Platforms
    WindowsMac
    Features
    Digital paintingLayersNon-destructive editingRAW photo editingVector editing
    Visit websiteMore about Affinity

  4. Adobe Illustrator

    Adobe Illustrator is a desktop vector editor used by designers to create logos, icons, typography, illustrations and print artwork that scale to any size. It offers precise pen and shape tools, multiple artboards, many plugins and tight integration with Photoshop, InDesign and other Creative Cloud apps, plus Firefly features such as text-to-vector generation. An iPad version is also available.

    11 Adobe Illustrator alternatives

    Pros

    • Industry-standard vector tools for logos, icons and print artwork
    • Tight integration with Photoshop, InDesign and Creative Cloud
    • Large plugin ecosystem and Firefly text-to-vector generation

    Cons

    • Subscription-only, with no perpetual license
    • Steep learning curve, especially the pen tool
    • Can be resource-heavy on large, complex files
    Cost / License
    Free trialProprietary
    Categories
    Graphic Design
    Platforms
    WindowsMaciPhone
    Features
    Image generationLayersPlugins & extensionsVector editing
    Visit websiteMore about Adobe Illustrator

  5. Pixelmator Pro

    4.4(561) · Mac App Store

    Pixelmator Pro is an image editor designed for macOS that brings photo editing, retouching, illustration and graphic design into one app. It offers non-destructive layer-based editing, RAW processing and machine learning tools for upscaling, denoising, background removal and automatic enhancement. Pixelmator was acquired by Apple in 2024, and the app is sold on the Mac App Store.

    9 Pixelmator Pro alternatives

    Pros

    • Native Mac design with a clean interface
    • Machine learning tools for upscaling, denoising and background removal
    • Combines photo editing, painting and vector design

    Cons

    • No version for Windows or Linux
    • Fewer plugins and pro integrations than Photoshop
    Cost / License
    PaidProprietary
    Categories
    Photo Editing
    Platforms
    Mac
    Features
    Background removalLayersNon-destructive editingRAW photo editingUpscalingVector editing
    Visit websiteMore about Pixelmator Pro

  6. GIMP

    GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a free, open source image editor used for photo retouching, image composition and digital artwork. It offers layers, masks, selection tools, a wide range of filters and scripts and plugins in Python or Script-Fu. GIMP 3.0 added non-destructive filters and a refreshed interface, and it is a common Photoshop alternative for people who want to avoid subscriptions.

    12 GIMP alternatives

    Pros

    • Free, open source and available on Windows, macOS and Linux
    • Layers, masks, filters and scripting in Python or Script-Fu
    • Non-destructive filters since version 3.0

    Cons

    • Interface and workflows differ from Photoshop, which slows switchers
    • Fewer AI and generative tools than commercial editors
    Cost / License
    FreeOpen source
    Categories
    Photo Editing
    Platforms
    WindowsMacLinux
    Features
    AI image editingDigital paintingLayersNon-destructive editingPlugins & extensions
    Visit websiteMore about GIMP

Procreate vs its alternatives at a glance

Pricing, platforms and the key features of Procreate, compared with its most popular alternatives.

Procreate vs its alternatives at a glance
AppPricingPlatformsAnimationDigital paintingLayersOffline mode
ProcreatePaidiPhone
KritaFreeOpen sourceWindows, Mac, Linux, Android
Adobe PhotoshopFree trialWeb, Windows, Mac, iPhone
AffinityFreemiumWindows, Mac
Adobe IllustratorFree trialWindows, Mac, iPhone
Pixelmator ProPaidMac

Procreate alternatives: frequently asked questions

What is the best alternative to Procreate?

The most popular alternative to Procreate is Krita: Free and open source painting app for illustrators and concept artists. Other great alternatives are Adobe Photoshop, Affinity, Adobe Illustrator, and Pixelmator Pro.

Is there a free alternative to Procreate?

Yes, 3 alternatives are free or have a free plan, including Krita, Affinity, and GIMP.

Is there an open source alternative to Procreate?

Yes, 2 open source alternatives are listed, including Krita and GIMP.

Is Procreate free?

No, Procreate is a paid app.

Compare Procreate with its alternatives

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