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ARKit vs Procreate

ARKit logo

ARKit

Art

Apple's framework for iOS AR development

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 ARKit has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: ARKit iOS-only platform, not available for Android or other operating systems; Procreate iPad-only application with no desktop version for Windows or macOS
  • They diverge on capability: ARKit covers World tracking, Procreate covers Digital painting.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ARKit and Procreate actually diverge.

Attributes where ARKit and Procreate differ
AttributeARKitProcreate
Starting priceFree$12.99/one-time
Pricing modelfreeUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOSiPad
CategoryUnknownArt
Founded19762010

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 ARKit

  • World tracking
  • Face tracking
  • Body tracking
  • LiDAR support
  • RealityKit
  • Reality Composer
  • SceneKit
  • 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
  • Ipados support

What people use each for

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

ARKit

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

Procreate

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

Where each one falls short

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

ARKit

  • iOS-only platform, not available for Android or other operating systems
  • Location-based AR accuracy limited to 3-5 meters, insufficient for precise applications
  • Cannot handle very fast motion capture
  • Accuracy varies with lighting conditions and surface characteristics
  • Requires iOS 11 or later and specific device hardware

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

ARKit

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full SDK
    • Documentation
    • Sample code

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 ARKit if

  • You need world tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOS.
  • You also want face tracking.
ARKit review

Choose Procreate if

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

Questions people ask

Is ARKit or Procreate better?
Neither clearly leads. ARKit 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, ARKit or Procreate?
ARKit has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for ARKit and $12.99/one-time for Procreate.
Does ARKit or Procreate run on more platforms?
ARKit runs on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, visionOS. Procreate runs on iPad.
Can I use ARKit for free?
Yes. ARKit has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Procreate starts at $12.99/one-time.
What is ARKit best used for?
ARKit 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 ARKit do that Procreate cannot?
ARKit covers World tracking, Face tracking, Body tracking, LiDAR support. Procreate covers Digital painting, Brush library, Layer management, Selection tools. Both handle Ios support, Ipados support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ARKit: Is ARKit free to use?

Yes, ARKit is free to use. It is included in Apple's iOS SDK and requires only Xcode and a Mac to start building AR apps. There are no licensing fees or subscription costs.

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
ARKit: What iOS devices support ARKit?

ARKit is supported on iPhone 6s and later, iPad Pro models, and the latest iPad models. It requires iOS 11 or later. Apple Vision Pro also supports ARKit with enhanced capabilities through visionOS.

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
ARKit: Can ARKit work offline?

ARKit can function offline for tracking and scene understanding since these operations run locally on the device. However, multiplayer AR features and cloud-based object detection require internet connectivity.

Source
ARKit: Does ARKit integrate with game engines?

Yes, ARKit integrates with Unity through the Unity ARKit Plugin and with Unreal Engine. Developers can also use it with Metal, SceneKit, and Apple's RealityKit framework.

Source
ARKit: What are ARKit's limitations with location-based AR?

ARKit's location-based positioning has accuracy limitations. Image-based positioning is primarily useful in urban areas, and beacon-based navigation provides accuracy of 3-5 meters, which is insufficient for precise AR applications requiring 1-meter accuracy or better.

Source
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