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AR/VR & Metaverse · head to head

Instagram AR Effects vs Procreate

Instagram AR Effects logo

Instagram AR Effects

AR/VR & Metaverse

Creative AR effects for Instagram Stories and Reels

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 Instagram AR Effects has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Instagram AR Effects meta shut down third party AR effect creation tools: "Meta Spark's platform of third party tools and content will no longer be available effective January 14, 2025"; Procreate iPad-only application with no desktop version for Windows or macOS
  • They diverge on capability: Instagram AR Effects covers Face effects, Procreate covers Digital painting.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Instagram AR Effects and Procreate actually diverge.

Attributes where Instagram AR Effects and Procreate differ
AttributeInstagram AR EffectsProcreate
Starting priceFree$12.99/one-time
Pricing modelfreeUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsAr, Ios, AndroidiPad
CategoryAR/VR & MetaverseArt
Founded20042010

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 Instagram AR Effects

  • Face effects
  • World effects
  • Interactive filters
  • Beauty effects
  • Spark AR Studio
  • Instagram Stories
  • Reels
  • 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.

Instagram AR Effects

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

Procreate

  • Digital illustrationnot Instagram AR Effects
  • Concept artnot Instagram AR Effects
  • Character designnot Instagram AR Effects
  • Educational artnot Instagram AR Effects
  • Hobby drawingnot Instagram AR Effects

Where each one falls short

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

Instagram AR Effects

  • Meta shut down third party AR effect creation tools: "Meta Spark's platform of third party tools and content will no longer be available effective January 14, 2025"

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

Instagram AR Effects

Free
  • FreeFree
    • AR effects library
    • Effect creation
    • Publishing

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 Instagram AR Effects if

  • You need face effects.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ar, Ios, Android.
  • You also want world effects.
Instagram AR Effects review

Choose Procreate if

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

Questions people ask

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

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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
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