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Design · head to head

Photopea vs Procreate Dreams

Photopea logo

Photopea

Design

Free online photo editor

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Procreate Dreams logo

Procreate Dreams

Design

Edit. Animate. Create.

From
$12.99/once
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Photopea has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Photopea performance becomes sluggish and prone to crashes with high-resolution images or multi-layered files; Procreate Dreams requires iPadOS 16.3 and is exclusive to iPad; track capacity varies by device, with the base iPad (A16) limited to 1 track at up to 4K

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Photopea and Procreate Dreams actually diverge.

Attributes where Photopea and Procreate Dreams differ
AttributePhotopeaProcreate Dreams
Starting priceFree$12.99/once
Pricing modelUnknownone-time
Free tierYesNo
Founded2013Unknown

Identical on both: platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Design).

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 Photopea

  • Photo editing
  • PSD compatibility
  • Layer support
  • Selection tools
  • Filters and effects
  • Google Drive
  • Dropbox
  • Adobe fonts

Only in Procreate Dreams

Nothing recorded that Photopea does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Photopea

  • Quick photo editsnot Procreate Dreams
  • PSD file editingnot Procreate Dreams
  • Web designnot Procreate Dreams
  • Social media graphicsnot Procreate Dreams

Procreate Dreams

  • Animation software for iPad usersnot Photopea
  • Alternative to subscription-based animation toolsnot Photopea

Where each one falls short

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

Photopea

  • Performance becomes sluggish and prone to crashes with high-resolution images or multi-layered files
  • Risk of losing work due to browser crashes or save failures
  • Aggressive advertising that can slow down the entire computer
  • No local installation option, always requires browser access
  • Basic file organization and version tracking compared to professional tools

Procreate Dreams

  • Requires iPadOS 16.3 and is exclusive to iPad; track capacity varies by device, with the base iPad (A16) limited to 1 track at up to 4K
  • 8K video support is not yet available and is listed as coming in a future release

Pricing, plan by plan

Photopea

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Photopea review.

Procreate Dreams

$12.99/once
  • Procreate Dreams$12.99/once
    • No subscriptions
    • Pay once, create forever

Which should you pick?

Choose Photopea if

  • You need photo editing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want psd compatibility.
Photopea review

Choose Procreate Dreams if

Nothing in the data separates Procreate Dreams from Photopea on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Procreate Dreams review

Questions people ask

Is Photopea or Procreate Dreams better?
Neither clearly leads. Photopea starts at Free and Procreate Dreams at $12.99/once, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Photopea or Procreate Dreams?
Photopea has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Photopea and $12.99/once for Procreate Dreams.
Does Photopea or Procreate Dreams run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Photopea for free?
Yes. Photopea has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Procreate Dreams starts at $12.99/once.
What is Photopea best used for?
Photopea is most often used for quick photo edits, psd file editing, web design, social media graphics. Of those, quick photo edits and psd file editing are not what Procreate Dreams is typically brought in for.
What can Photopea do that Procreate Dreams cannot?
Photopea covers Photo editing, PSD compatibility, Layer support, Selection tools.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Photopea: Is Photopea free to use?

Yes, Photopea is completely free and supported by ads displayed within the browser. No subscription or payment is required to use the full feature set.

Source
Procreate Dreams: How much does Procreate Dreams cost?

Procreate Dreams costs $12.99 USD as a one-time purchase through the Apple App Store. Regional pricing may vary by location.

Source
Photopea: Does Photopea support Photoshop PSD files?

Yes, Photopea fully supports Photoshop PSD files including layers, masks, text, and effects. It can read and export files back to PSD, PNG, JPG, PDF, SVG, or GIF format.

Source
Procreate Dreams: Is there a subscription fee after purchasing Procreate Dreams?

No. The purchase is permanent with no recurring fees or subscriptions. You pay once and retain the app forever.

Source
Photopea: What platforms does Photopea run on?

Photopea is a web-based editor accessible through any modern browser including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Opera. It can be added to desktop as a shortcut or Chrome extension.

Source
Procreate Dreams: What payment methods does Procreate Dreams accept?

Payment is processed through the Apple App Store, which accepts the payment methods configured on your Apple account.

Source
Photopea: Does Photopea upload my files to servers?

No. Photopea processes images entirely within your browser and does not upload files to external servers, keeping your work private and secure.

Source
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