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Design · head to head

Procreate vs ProtoPie

Procreate logo

Procreate

Design

Digital illustration app made for iPad

From
$12.99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ProtoPie logo

ProtoPie

Design

Create advanced interactive prototypes

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only ProtoPie has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Procreate iPad-only application with no desktop version for Windows or macOS; ProtoPie the free plan allows 2 prototypes, 8 scenes per prototype and 50MB of cloud storage
  • They diverge on capability: Procreate covers Digital painting, ProtoPie covers Interactive prototyping.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Procreate and ProtoPie actually diverge.

Attributes where Procreate and ProtoPie differ
AttributeProcreateProtoPie
Starting price$12.99/one-timeFree
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsiPadWindows, Macos, Web, Ios, Android
Founded20102013

Identical on both: 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 Procreate

  • Digital painting
  • Brush library
  • Layer management
  • Selection tools
  • Time-lapse recording
  • Apple Pencil
  • iPad Pro
  • Cloud services

Only in ProtoPie

  • Interactive prototyping
  • Data binding
  • Advanced interactions
  • Animation
  • Collaboration
  • Cloud sharing
  • Device testing
  • Code export

What people use each for

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

Procreate

  • Digital illustrationnot ProtoPie
  • Concept artnot ProtoPie
  • Character designnot ProtoPie
  • Educational artnot ProtoPie
  • Hobby drawingnot ProtoPie

ProtoPie

  • Interactive prototype designnot Procreate
  • User testing and handoff managementnot Procreate
  • Team design collaborationnot Procreate

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

ProtoPie

  • The free plan allows 2 prototypes, 8 scenes per prototype and 50MB of cloud storage
  • Free prototypes carry a watermark and shareable links require the Basic plan
  • Saving prototypes locally requires the Pro plan
  • Team libraries and handoff recordings require the Pro plan
  • Basic caps storage at 500MB and prototypes at 20
  • Single sign on, private servers, custom fonts and custom hardware integrations are Enterprise only
  • Enterprise requires a minimum of 3 seats and is priced by quote
  • Connect Core is a paid add on at $20 per user per month

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

ProtoPie

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 2 prototypes
    • 8 scenes per prototype
    • 50MB cloud storage
  • Basic$25/month
    • 20 prototypes
    • 10 scenes per prototype
    • 500MB storage
  • Pro$47/month
    • Unlimited prototypes
    • Unlimited handoff recordings
    • 5GB team storage

Which should you pick?

Choose Procreate if

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

Choose ProtoPie if

  • You need interactive prototyping.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want data binding.
ProtoPie review

Questions people ask

Is Procreate or ProtoPie better?
Neither clearly leads. Procreate starts at $12.99/one-time and ProtoPie at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Procreate or ProtoPie?
ProtoPie has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $12.99/one-time for Procreate and Free for ProtoPie.
Does Procreate or ProtoPie run on more platforms?
Procreate runs on iPad. ProtoPie runs on Windows, Macos, Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use ProtoPie for free?
Yes. ProtoPie has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Procreate starts at $12.99/one-time.
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 ProtoPie is typically brought in for.
What can Procreate do that ProtoPie cannot?
Procreate covers Digital painting, Brush library, Layer management, Selection tools. ProtoPie covers Interactive prototyping, Data binding, Advanced interactions, Animation.

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
ProtoPie: How much does ProtoPie cost?

ProtoPie offers a free plan ($0/month), Basic at $25/month, and Pro at $47/month per editor. Annual billing offers up to 26% savings. Enterprise pricing is custom for minimum 3 seats.

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
ProtoPie: Is there a free version of ProtoPie?

Yes. The free plan includes 2 prototypes, 8 scenes per prototype, and 50MB cloud storage. Perfect for trying the platform.

Source
ProtoPie: What is included in the Pro plan?

Pro plan at $47/month includes unlimited prototypes, unlimited handoff recordings, 5GB team storage, local saving, and team libraries per editor.

Source
ProtoPie: What add-on products does ProtoPie offer?

Connect Core ($20/month per user), Connect Enterprise and Connect Embedded (custom pricing), and User Testing (custom pricing, annual-only for Pro plan users).

Source
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