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Art · head to head

ARCore vs Procreate

ARCore logo

ARCore

Art

Google's platform for building AR experiences

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Procreate logo

Procreate

Art

Digital illustration app made for iPad

From
$12.99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only ARCore has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: ARCore aRCore limited to Android 7.0+, excluding older Android devices; Procreate iPad-only application with no desktop version for Windows or macOS
  • They diverge on capability: ARCore covers Motion tracking, Procreate covers Digital painting.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ARCore and Procreate actually diverge.

Attributes where ARCore and Procreate differ
AttributeARCoreProcreate
Starting priceFree$12.99/one-time
Pricing modelfreeUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsAndroid, iOS, WebiPad
CategoryUnknownArt
Founded19982010

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in ARCore

  • Motion tracking
  • Environmental understanding
  • Light estimation
  • Depth API
  • Unity
  • Unreal
  • Android Studio
  • Ar support

Only in Procreate

  • Digital painting
  • Brush library
  • Layer management
  • Selection tools
  • Time-lapse recording
  • Apple Pencil
  • iPad Pro
  • Cloud services

Both cover

  • Ios support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

ARCore

  • VR Gamingnot Procreate
  • AR Marketingnot Procreate
  • Virtual Trainingnot Procreate
  • 3D Visualizationnot Procreate
  • Immersive Experiencesnot Procreate

Procreate

  • Digital illustrationnot ARCore
  • Concept artnot ARCore
  • Character designnot ARCore
  • Educational artnot ARCore
  • Hobby drawingnot ARCore

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

ARCore

  • ARCore limited to Android 7.0+, excluding older Android devices
  • Requires integration with game engines or frameworks for most applications
  • Cloud anchors rely on internet connectivity for shared AR experiences
  • Performance varies significantly across different Android device capabilities

Procreate

  • iPad-only application with no desktop version for Windows or macOS
  • Requires Apple hardware investment (iPad and Apple Pencil)
  • Cannot export to cloud storage natively, limiting cross-device workflows
  • High upfront cost when accounting for required iPad hardware

Pricing, plan by plan

ARCore

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full SDK
    • Cloud Anchors
    • Geospatial API

Procreate

$12.99/one-time
  • Procreate$12.99/one-time
    • 200+ brushes
    • Unlimited layers
    • Advanced blending modes
  • Procreate Pocket$5.99/one-time
    • iPhone version
    • Touch-optimized interface
  • Procreate Dreams$19.99/one-time
    • Animation tool
    • Frame-by-frame animation

Which should you pick?

Choose ARCore if

  • You need motion tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Android, iOS, Web.
  • You also want environmental understanding.
ARCore review

Choose Procreate if

  • You need digital painting.
  • You work on iPad.
  • You also want brush library.
Procreate review

Questions people ask

Is ARCore or Procreate better?
Neither clearly leads. ARCore starts at Free and Procreate at $12.99/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ARCore or Procreate?
ARCore has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for ARCore and $12.99/one-time for Procreate.
Does ARCore or Procreate run on more platforms?
ARCore runs on Android, iOS, Web. Procreate runs on iPad.
Can I use ARCore for free?
Yes. ARCore has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Procreate starts at $12.99/one-time.
What is ARCore best used for?
ARCore is most often used for vr gaming, ar marketing, virtual training, 3d visualization. Of those, vr gaming and ar marketing are not what Procreate is typically brought in for.
What can ARCore do that Procreate cannot?
ARCore covers Motion tracking, Environmental understanding, Light estimation, Depth API. Procreate covers Digital painting, Brush library, Layer management, Selection tools. Both handle Ios support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ARCore: What platforms does ARCore support?

ARCore supports Android 7.0 (Nougat) and later on qualified Android phones. SDKs are also available for iOS, Unity, Unreal Engine, and Web (WebXR).

Source
Procreate: Does Procreate work on desktop or only iPad?

Procreate is iPad-only. There is no desktop version for Windows or macOS, requiring users to purchase iPad hardware and Apple Pencil for use.

Source
ARCore: What are the three core capabilities of ARCore?

ARCore provides motion tracking to monitor device position, environmental understanding to detect surfaces like floors and walls, and light estimation to analyze surrounding lighting conditions.

Source
Procreate: What companion apps are available for Procreate?

Procreate Pocket is an iPhone version at $5.99, and Procreate Dreams is an animation tool at $19.99, both one-time purchases.

Source
ARCore: Can developers build shared AR experiences with ARCore?

Yes, ARCore supports cloud anchors enabling multiple users to see the same virtual objects in the real world, enabling shared AR experiences.

Source
ARCore: What programming languages does ARCore support?

ARCore supports Kotlin and Java for Android, C through Android NDK, and provides APIs for Unity, Unreal Engine, iOS, and Web platforms.

Source
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