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Design · head to head

Procreate vs Recraft

Procreate logo

Procreate

Design

Digital illustration app made for iPad

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

Recraft

Design

AI image and vector generation for design teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Recraft 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; Recraft free plan images are owned by Recraft and made publicly visible; commercial ownership rights only apply while subscribed to a paid plan

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Procreate and Recraft actually diverge.

Attributes where Procreate and Recraft differ
AttributeProcreateRecraft
Starting price$12.99/one-timeFree
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsiPadWeb
Founded2010Unknown

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 Recraft

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 Recraft
  • Concept artnot Recraft
  • Character designnot Recraft
  • Educational artnot Recraft
  • Hobby drawingnot Recraft

Recraft

  • AI-powered image generation and design creationnot Procreate
  • Commercial-licensed asset creation for businessesnot 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

Recraft

  • Free plan images are owned by Recraft and made publicly visible; commercial ownership rights only apply while subscribed to a paid plan
  • Subscription credits reset every month and do not carry over, unlike separately purchased top-up credits which never expire
  • Refunds are only considered within 30 days and only if fewer than 30 credits have been used
  • Annual billing is required to get the 20% discount over paying monthly

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

Recraft

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Recraft review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Procreate if

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

Choose Recraft if

  • You want to start without paying.
Recraft review

Questions people ask

Is Procreate or Recraft better?
Neither clearly leads. Procreate starts at $12.99/one-time and Recraft at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Procreate or Recraft?
Recraft has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $12.99/one-time for Procreate and Free for Recraft.
Does Procreate or Recraft run on more platforms?
Procreate runs on iPad. Recraft runs on Web.
Can I use Recraft for free?
Yes. Recraft 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 Recraft is typically brought in for.
What can Procreate do that Recraft 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.

Source
Recraft: Is Recraft free?

Recraft offers a free plan where images generated are publicly visible in the community gallery and not licensed for commercial use. Paid plans (Basic, Pro, Teams) unlock full ownership and commercial rights but specific prices are not published.

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
Recraft: How does Recraft's credit system work?

Recraft charges based on monthly credit allocation included with each plan. Additional top-up credits can be purchased separately and never expire, used automatically after monthly credits run out.

Source
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