Software · head to head
Krita vs Procreate
The short version
- Only Krita has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Krita not portable across Windows/macOS/Linux with consistent performance; Procreate iPad-only application with no desktop version for Windows or macOS
- They diverge on capability: Krita covers Brush engines, Procreate covers Brush library.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Krita and Procreate actually diverge.
Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Krita
- Brush engines
- Animation
- Vector tools
- OpenEXR
- PSD files
- Graphics tablets
- Third-party brushes
- Open source transparency
Only in Procreate
- Brush library
- Selection tools
- Time-lapse recording
- Apple Pencil
- iPad Pro
- Cloud services
- Social sharing
- iCloud sync
Both cover
- Digital painting
- Layer management
- Local processing
- Custom brushes
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Krita
- Digital paintingnot Procreate
- Concept art
- Character design
- 2D animationnot Procreate
- Texture paintingnot Procreate
Procreate
- Digital illustrationnot Krita
- Concept art
- Character design
- Educational artnot Krita
- Hobby drawingnot Krita
Both are used for concept art, character design, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Krita
- Not portable across Windows/macOS/Linux with consistent performance
- Performance limits on large projects with many layers compared to professional software
- Requires system administrator privileges for installation on managed systems
- Limited professional support compared to commercial alternatives
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
Krita
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Krita review.
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 Krita if
- You need brush engines.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
- You also want animation.
Choose Procreate if
- You need brush library.
- You work on iPad.
- You also want selection tools.
Questions people ask
- Is Krita or Procreate better?
- Neither clearly leads. Krita 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, Krita or Procreate?
- Krita has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Krita and $12.99/one-time for Procreate.
- Does Krita or Procreate run on more platforms?
- Krita runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Procreate runs on iPad.
- Can I use Krita for free?
- Yes. Krita has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Procreate starts at $12.99/one-time.
- What is Krita best used for?
- Krita is most often used for digital painting, concept art, character design, 2d animation. Of those, digital painting and 2d animation are not what Procreate is typically brought in for.
- What can Krita do that Procreate cannot?
- Krita covers Brush engines, Animation, Vector tools, OpenEXR. Procreate covers Brush library, Selection tools, Time-lapse recording, Apple Pencil. Both handle Digital painting, Layer management, Local processing, Custom brushes.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Krita: Is Krita free and open source?
Yes, Krita is completely free and open source software developed by the KDE community. It is distributed under the LGPL license with no licensing fees.
SourceProcreate: 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.
SourceKrita: What platforms does Krita support?
Krita is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It can be downloaded from krita.org or installed via package managers on Linux distributions.
SourceProcreate: 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.
SourceKrita: What animation capabilities does Krita have?
Krita supports frame-by-frame animation with onion skin view, timeline management, and export to video formats for creating animated sequences.
Source