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Design · head to head

Procreate vs PyCharm

Procreate logo

Procreate

Design

Digital illustration app made for iPad

From
$12.99/one-time
Free plan
No
Visit ProcreateFull review
PyCharm logo

PyCharm

Developer Tools

The IDE for Professional Python Development

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit PyCharmFull review

The short version

  • Procreate is a raster graphics editor app for digital painting; PyCharm is a dedicated Python Integrated Development Environment.
  • PyCharm has a free plan, then $24.9/mo; Procreate starts at $12.99 one-off.
  • Only Procreate lists digital painting; only PyCharm lists intelligent code editor.
  • Where Procreate falls short: iPad-only application with no desktop version for Windows or macOS.
  • Where PyCharm falls short: exact pricing for Pro edition not available on homepage.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Procreate and PyCharm actually diverge.

Attributes where Procreate and PyCharm differ
AttributeProcreatePyCharm
Starting price$12.99/one-timeFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsiOSWindows, macOS, Linux
CategoryDesignDeveloper Tools

Identical on both: founded (2010).

Not yet recorded: pricing model for Procreate.

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 PyCharm

  • Intelligent code editor
  • Smart code navigation
  • Fast and safe refactorings
  • Debugging and testing
  • VCS integration
  • Scientific development tools
  • Web development support
  • Database tools

What people use each for

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

Procreate

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

PyCharm

  • Python developmentnot Procreate
  • Data science projectsnot Procreate
  • Web developmentnot Procreate
  • Machine learningnot Procreate
  • Scientific computingnot 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

PyCharm

  • Exact pricing for Pro edition not available on homepage
  • Community edition free but limited to open-source projects only
  • Professional edition pricing requires visiting buy page

Pricing, plan by plan

Procreate

$12.99/one-time
  • Procreate$12.99 one-off
    • 200+ brushes
    • Unlimited layers
    • Advanced blending modes
  • Procreate Pocket$5.99 one-off
    • iPhone version
    • Touch-optimized interface
  • Procreate Dreams$19.99 one-off
    • Animation tool
    • Frame-by-frame animation

PyCharm

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Intelligent Python editor
    • Graphical debugger and test runner
    • Navigation and refactoring
  • Professional$24.9/mo
    • Everything in Community
    • Web development frameworks
    • Database tools

Which should you pick?

Choose Procreate if

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

Choose PyCharm if

  • You need intelligent code editor.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want smart code navigation.
PyCharm review

Questions people ask

Is Procreate or PyCharm better?
Neither clearly leads. Procreate starts at $12.99/one-time and PyCharm at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Procreate or PyCharm?
PyCharm has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $12.99/one-time for Procreate and Free for PyCharm.
Does Procreate or PyCharm run on more platforms?
Procreate runs on iOS. PyCharm runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use PyCharm for free?
Yes. PyCharm 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 PyCharm is typically brought in for.
What can Procreate do that PyCharm cannot?
Procreate covers Digital painting, Brush library, Layer management, Selection tools. PyCharm covers Intelligent code editor, Smart code navigation, Fast and safe refactorings, Debugging and testing.

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
PyCharm: How much does PyCharm cost?

PyCharm offers a free Community edition plus a Professional edition with a one-month free trial of Pro features included. Exact Pro pricing is available on JetBrains' buy page.

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
PyCharm: Is there a free version of PyCharm?

Yes, PyCharm Community Edition is completely free. All new downloads also include one month of PyCharm Professional included free.

Source
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