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Design · head to head

Procreate vs Subframe

Procreate logo

Procreate

Design

Digital illustration app made for iPad

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

Subframe

Design

The AI-native design tool built for code

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Subframe 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; Subframe free plan limited to 1 project and 10 pages
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Procreate and Subframe actually diverge.

Attributes where Procreate and Subframe differ
AttributeProcreateSubframe
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 Subframe

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

Subframe

  • Creating production-ready interfaces without static mockupsnot Procreate
  • Syncing design components with code as single source of truthnot Procreate
  • Building responsive designs with auto layoutnot Procreate
  • Real-time multiplayer collaboration with layer commentingnot Procreate
  • Exporting Radix UI and Tailwind CSS code via CLInot 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

Subframe

  • Free plan limited to 1 project and 10 pages
  • Free plan includes limited AI features compared to Pro
  • Pro plan billed per editor, not per team

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

Subframe

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 project
    • Up to 10 pages
    • 2 prototypes
  • Pro$29/month
    • Unlimited projects
    • Unlimited pages
    • Unlimited prototypes

Which should you pick?

Choose Procreate if

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

Choose Subframe if

  • You want to start without paying.
Subframe review

Questions people ask

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

Yes, Subframe offers a free plan with 1 project, up to 10 pages, 2 prototypes, unlimited team members, and limited AI features.

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
Subframe: How is the Pro plan priced?

Subframe Pro costs $29 per editor per month, with unlimited projects, pages, prototypes, and AI usage.

Source
Subframe: Are viewer seats free?

Yes, Subframe offers free viewer seats across all pricing plans, allowing team members to view without an editor license.

Source
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