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Procreate alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Procreate: iPad only, and raster only, no true vector tools. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Procreate, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Krita currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Krita logoKritaOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +14 of 466.5
2Clip Studio Paint logoClip Studio PaintPaidNoWindows, macOS, iOS +13 of 362.6
3Linearity Curve logoLinearity CurveFree plan + paidNomacOS, iOS3 of 359.6
4Adobe Illustrator logoAdobe IllustratorPaidNoWindows, macOS, iOS3 of 357.2
5Affinity logoAffinityFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS0 of 044.8
  1. Krita logo

    1. KritaTop pick

    Best for: Illustrators and concept artists who want a free, full-featured painting app

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, Android

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Procreate

    Free, open-source painting app for desktop and Android.

    Pros

    • Free and GPL-licensed
    • Excellent brush engines and drawing assistants
    • Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android

    Cons

    • Not built for photo editing
    • Can slow down on very large canvases
    • No iPad version
    Visit Krita Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Krita a good Procreate alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026krita.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux, Android
    Checked Oct 25, 2026krita.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Android
    Google Play builds
    Checked Oct 25, 2026krita.org(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Clip Studio Paint logo

    2. Clip Studio Paint

    Best for: Comic, manga and webtoon artists who need panels, tones and clean line art

    PaidWindows, macOS, iOS, Android

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Procreate

    Strong comic and illustration tools on iPad and desktop.

    Pros

    • Excellent line art and pen stabilisation
    • Comic tools such as panels, balloons and tones
    • Perpetual licence available on desktop

    Cons

    • Crowded interface with a learning curve
    • Mobile and tablet versions need a subscription
    • New features on desktop need the update pass
    Visit Clip Studio Paint Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Clip Studio Paint a good Procreate alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Perpetual licence
    Windows and macOS
    Checked Oct 25, 2026clipstudio.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Plan platforms
    iPad, Android, iPhone, Windows, macOS
    Checked Oct 25, 2026clipstudio.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Editions
    PRO and EX
    Checked Oct 25, 2026clipstudio.net(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Linearity Curve logo

    3. Linearity Curve

    Best for: Mac and iPad users who want approachable vector design without Illustrator's complexity

    Free plan + paidmacOS, iOS

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Procreate

    Vector illustration on iPad and Mac.

    Pros

    • Friendly interface built for Mac and iPad
    • Apple Pencil support and native Apple silicon app
    • Pairs with Linearity Move for animation

    Cons

    • No Windows or web version
    • Fewer professional print features
    • Advanced exports need a paid plan
    Visit Linearity Curve Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Linearity Curve a good Procreate alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Pro price
    $8/month billed annually ($10 monthly)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026linearity.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan
    Yes, essential features
    Checked Oct 25, 2026linearity.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    iPad and Mac
    Checked Oct 25, 2026linearity.io(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Adobe Illustrator logo

    4. Adobe Illustrator

    Best for: Professional designers and agencies who need the vector format clients and printers expect

    PaidWindows, macOS, iOS

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Procreate

    Professional vector drawing, including on iPad.

    Pros

    • Industry-standard file format and workflows
    • Deep vector, type and print tools
    • Works closely with Photoshop, InDesign and Adobe Fonts

    Cons

    • Subscription only, no perpetual licence
    • Steep learning curve for newcomers
    • Expensive compared with Affinity or Inkscape
    Visit Adobe Illustrator Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Adobe Illustrator a good Procreate alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Free trial
    7 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adobe.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Refund window
    Cancel within 14 days for a full refund
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adobe.com(opens source in a new tab)
    iPad app
    Included with most Illustrator plans
    Checked Oct 25, 2026adobe.com(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Affinity logo

    5. Affinity

    Best for: Designers who want professional vector, photo and layout tools without an Adobe subscription

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS

    44.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Procreate

    Free desktop app for vector, pixel and layout work.

    Pros

    • Free for individuals with no subscription
    • Vector, pixel and layout tools in one app
    • Opens PSD, AI and IDML files with layers

    Cons

    • AI features need a paid Canva plan
    • Requires a Canva account to use
    • No iPad version yet after the merger
    Visit Affinity Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1515
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Affinity a good Procreate alternative?

    Verified facts

    0 of 0 verified

    No sourced facts yet.

The best Procreate alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Krita logo

Best Procreate alternative for most people

Krita

Free, open-source painting app for desktop and Android.

Krita logo

Best Procreate alternative for a free option

Krita

Free, open-source painting app for desktop and Android.

Linearity Curve logo

Best Procreate alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Linearity Curve

Vector illustration on iPad and Mac.

Krita logo

Best Procreate alternative for open source

Krita

Free, open-source painting app for desktop and Android.

Clip Studio Paint logo

Best Procreate alternative for Mac

Clip Studio Paint

Strong comic and illustration tools on iPad and desktop.

Adobe Illustrator logo

Best Procreate alternative for Windows

Adobe Illustrator

Professional vector drawing, including on iPad.

Krita logo

Best Procreate alternative for Linux

Krita

Free, open-source painting app for desktop and Android.

Clip Studio Paint logo

Best Procreate alternative for iPhone and Android

Clip Studio Paint

Strong comic and illustration tools on iPad and desktop.

Photopea logo

Best Procreate alternative for working in the browser

Photopea

Free browser-based editor for photo touch-ups.

Procreate alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Procreate?

Krita ranks first right now. Free, open-source painting app for desktop and Android. Clip Studio Paint and Linearity Curve follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Procreate?

Yes. Krita (open source), Linearity Curve (free plan + paid), Photopea (free plan + paid) and Affinity (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Procreate?

Yes: Krita.

Which Procreate alternatives work on Linux?

Krita runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from Procreate?

The complaints we hear most: iPad only; raster only, no true vector tools; not suited to layout, UI or photo retouching.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Procreate, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.