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Design · head to head

Procreate vs Vim

Procreate logo

Procreate

Design

Digital illustration app made for iPad

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

Vim

Developer Tools

Highly configurable text editor built to enable efficient text editing

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit VimFull review

The short version

  • Procreate is a raster graphics editor app for digital painting; Vim is a highly configurable text editor.
  • Vim is free; Procreate starts at $12.99 one-off.
  • Only Procreate lists digital painting; only Vim lists modal editing.
  • Where Procreate falls short: iPad-only application with no desktop version for Windows or macOS.
  • Where Vim falls short: configuration system uses keyboard mappings with no graphical interface for settings.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Procreate and Vim actually diverge.

Attributes where Procreate and Vim differ
AttributeProcreateVim
Starting price$12.99/one-timeFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsiOSLinux, macOS, Windows
CategoryDesignDeveloper Tools
Founded20101988

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 Vim

  • Modal editing
  • Extensive customization
  • Plugin support
  • Macro recording
  • Split windows
  • Syntax highlighting
  • Search and replace
  • Command history

What people use each for

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

Procreate

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

Vim

  • Code editingnot Procreate
  • Configuration filesnot Procreate
  • System administrationnot Procreate
  • Remote editingnot Procreate
  • Terminal-based developmentnot 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

Vim

  • Configuration system uses keyboard mappings with no graphical interface for settings
  • Requires browsing documentation to modify even basic settings
  • Lacks sensible defaults for many common configurations
  • Plugin ecosystem stability varies widely depending on custom configuration complexity

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

Vim

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Powerful text editing
    • Extensive customization
    • Plugin ecosystem

Which should you pick?

Choose Procreate if

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

Choose Vim if

  • You need modal editing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want extensive customization.
Vim review

Questions people ask

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

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
Vim: Is Vim free and open source?

Yes, Vim is free and open source, distributed under a charityware license. The creator requested donations to ICCF Holland, a non-profit supporting AIDS victims in Uganda. All donations are forwarded to ICCF.

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
Vim: What platforms does Vim support?

Vim runs on Unix-like systems (Linux, macOS, BSD), Windows (7, 8, 10, 11), VMS, and is available through package managers or standalone installation on all major operating systems.

Source
Vim: Who maintains Vim now?

Vim was created by Bram Moolenaar, who passed away on August 3, 2023. Christian Brabandt is the current lead maintainer, and the project continues with volunteer contributors.

Source
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