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PhpStorm vs Procreate Dreams

PhpStorm logo

PhpStorm

Developer Tools

JetBrains IDE for PHP web development

From
$24/month
Free plan
No
Visit PhpStormFull review
Procreate Dreams logo

Procreate Dreams

Design

Edit. Animate. Create.

From
$12.99/once
Free plan
No
Visit Procreate DreamsFull review

The short version

  • PhpStorm starts at $24/mo, Procreate Dreams at $12.99 one-off.
  • Where PhpStorm falls short: requires an ongoing paid subscription with no free tier for commercial use.
  • Where Procreate Dreams falls short: 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.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where PhpStorm and Procreate Dreams differ
AttributePhpStormProcreate Dreams
Starting price$24/month$12.99/once
Pricing modelSubscriptionOne-time
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWeb
CategoryDeveloper ToolsDesign

Identical on both: free tier (No).

Not yet recorded: founded for Procreate Dreams.

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 PhpStorm

  • PHP-aware coding assistance
  • Integrated debugger
  • Front-end tooling
  • Database tools
  • Version control integration
  • Docker and remote deployment

Only in Procreate Dreams

Nothing recorded that PhpStorm does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

PhpStorm

  • Building PHP web applications with Laravel or Symfonynot Procreate Dreams
  • Debugging PHP code with Xdebugnot Procreate Dreams
  • Working across PHP, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in one projectnot Procreate Dreams
  • Managing databases alongside application codenot Procreate Dreams

Procreate Dreams

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

Where each one falls short

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

PhpStorm

  • Requires an ongoing paid subscription with no free tier for commercial use
  • Heavier and slower to start than lightweight code editors
  • Some advanced framework-specific tooling requires additional configuration or plugins
  • Renewal pricing rises for lapsed subscriptions after the grace period

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

PhpStorm

$24/month
  • Individual$24/mo
    • Personal use license
    • Access to PhpStorm
    • Free for students and open-source maintainers
  • Organization$34/mo
    • Business use license
    • Access to PhpStorm
    • Volume and renewal discounts

Procreate Dreams

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

Which should you pick?

Choose PhpStorm if

  • You need php-aware coding assistance.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want integrated debugger.
PhpStorm review

Choose Procreate Dreams if

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

Procreate Dreams review

Questions people ask

Is PhpStorm or Procreate Dreams better?
Neither clearly leads. PhpStorm starts at $24/month 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, PhpStorm or Procreate Dreams?
PhpStorm starts at $24/month and Procreate Dreams at $12.99/once.
Does PhpStorm or Procreate Dreams run on more platforms?
PhpStorm runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Procreate Dreams runs on Web.
What is PhpStorm best used for?
PhpStorm is most often used for building php web applications with laravel or symfony, debugging php code with xdebug, working across php, html, css, and javascript in one project, managing databases alongside application code. Of those, building php web applications with laravel or symfony and debugging php code with xdebug are not what Procreate Dreams is typically brought in for.
What can PhpStorm do that Procreate Dreams cannot?
PhpStorm covers PHP-aware coding assistance, Integrated debugger, Front-end tooling, Database tools.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

PhpStorm: How much does PhpStorm cost?

PhpStorm is sold via JetBrains Toolbox subscription starting around $24/month for individuals and $34/month for organizations, with free licenses for students and open-source maintainers.

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
PhpStorm: Is there a free trial?

JetBrains offers a free trial of PhpStorm so developers can test it before subscribing.

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
PhpStorm: What platforms does PhpStorm support?

PhpStorm is a desktop IDE available on Windows, macOS, and Linux via JetBrains Toolbox.

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
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