Software · head to head
Procreate vs Procreate Dreams
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Procreate iPad-only application with no desktop version for Windows or macOS; 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 Procreate and Procreate Dreams actually diverge.
| Attribute | Procreate | Procreate Dreams |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $12.99/one-time | On request |
| Pricing model | Unknown | one-time |
| Platforms | iPad | Web |
| Founded | 2010 | Unknown |
Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Procreate
- Digital painting
- Brush library
- Layer management
- Selection tools
- Time-lapse recording
- Apple Pencil
- iPad Pro
- Cloud services
Only in Procreate Dreams
Nothing recorded that Procreate does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Procreate
- Digital illustrationnot Procreate Dreams
- Concept artnot Procreate Dreams
- Character designnot Procreate Dreams
- Educational artnot Procreate Dreams
- Hobby drawingnot Procreate Dreams
Procreate Dreams
No use cases recorded yet. See the Procreate Dreams review.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
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
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
Procreate Dreams
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Procreate Dreams review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Procreate if
- You need digital painting.
- You work on iPad.
- You also want brush library.
Choose Procreate Dreams if
Nothing in the data separates Procreate Dreams from Procreate on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is Procreate or Procreate Dreams better?
- Neither clearly leads. Procreate starts at $12.99/one-time and Procreate Dreams at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Procreate or Procreate Dreams?
- Procreate starts at $12.99/one-time and Procreate Dreams at On request.
- Does Procreate or Procreate Dreams run on more platforms?
- Procreate runs on iPad. Procreate Dreams runs on Web.
- What is Procreate best used for?
- Procreate is most often used for digital illustration, concept art, character design, educational art. Of those, digital illustration and concept art are not what Procreate Dreams is typically brought in for.
- What can Procreate do that Procreate Dreams cannot?
- Procreate covers Digital painting, Brush library, Layer management, Selection tools.
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.
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.
Source