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AR/VR & Metaverse · head to head

Tilt Brush vs Procreate

Tilt Brush logo

Tilt Brush

AR/VR & Metaverse

Paint in 3D space with VR

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Procreate logo

Procreate

Art

Digital illustration app made for iPad

From
$12.99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Tilt Brush has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Tilt Brush no longer actively developed by Google since January 2021; future updates and support are not guaranteed; Procreate iPad-only application with no desktop version for Windows or macOS
  • They diverge on capability: Tilt Brush covers 3D painting, Procreate covers Digital painting.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Tilt Brush and Procreate actually diverge.

Attributes where Tilt Brush and Procreate differ
AttributeTilt BrushProcreate
Starting priceFree$12.99/one-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsHTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, Windows Mixed Reality, Valve Index, PlayStation VRiPad
CategoryAR/VR & MetaverseArt
Founded20162010

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Tilt Brush

  • 3D painting
  • Dynamic brushes
  • Environment selection
  • Animation
  • Google Poly
  • Sketchfab
  • YouTube VR
  • Vr support

Only in Procreate

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

What people use each for

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

Tilt Brush

  • VR Gamingnot Procreate
  • AR Marketingnot Procreate
  • Virtual Trainingnot Procreate
  • 3D Visualizationnot Procreate
  • Immersive Experiencesnot Procreate

Procreate

  • Digital illustrationnot Tilt Brush
  • Concept artnot Tilt Brush
  • Character designnot Tilt Brush
  • Educational artnot Tilt Brush
  • Hobby drawingnot Tilt Brush

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Tilt Brush

  • No longer actively developed by Google since January 2021; future updates and support are not guaranteed
  • Limited editing capabilities with no layers system and no 3D brushes for precise refinement
  • Not designed for professional branding or marketing work; better suited for creative expression than practical design
  • Tool limitations make it difficult to move, cut, or rearrange grouped elements after creation
  • VR hardware costs are high relative to software cost, and can cause motion sickness in some users

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Tilt Brush

Free
  • Google Tilt Brush$19.99/one-time
    • VR painting and creative tools
    • Available on VR app stores
  • Open Brush (open-source)Free
    • Free open-source version
    • Available on Steam and Meta Quest

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Tilt Brush if

  • You need 3d painting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, Windows Mixed Reality, Valve Index, PlayStation VR.
  • You also want dynamic brushes.
Tilt Brush review

Choose Procreate if

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

Questions people ask

Is Tilt Brush or Procreate better?
Neither clearly leads. Tilt Brush starts at Free and Procreate at $12.99/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Tilt Brush or Procreate?
Tilt Brush has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Tilt Brush and $12.99/one-time for Procreate.
Does Tilt Brush or Procreate run on more platforms?
Tilt Brush runs on HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, Windows Mixed Reality, Valve Index, PlayStation VR. Procreate runs on iPad.
Can I use Tilt Brush for free?
Yes. Tilt Brush has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Procreate starts at $12.99/one-time.
What is Tilt Brush best used for?
Tilt Brush is most often used for vr gaming, ar marketing, virtual training, 3d visualization. Of those, vr gaming and ar marketing are not what Procreate is typically brought in for.
What can Tilt Brush do that Procreate cannot?
Tilt Brush covers 3D painting, Dynamic brushes, Environment selection, Animation. Procreate covers Digital painting, Brush library, Layer management, Selection tools.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Tilt Brush: Is Tilt Brush still available to use?

Yes. Although Google ended active development in January 2021, Tilt Brush remains available on VR app stores and continues to function. Google also open-sourced the code, enabling community-maintained alternatives like Open Brush to provide free versions for PC VR and Meta Quest.

Source
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
Tilt Brush: Is there a free version of Tilt Brush?

The official Google Tilt Brush costs $19.99. However, Open Brush (the open-source community version) is completely free and available for PC VR via Steam and on Oculus Quest.

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
Tilt Brush: What VR headsets does Tilt Brush support?

Tilt Brush works on HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, Windows Mixed Reality, Valve Index, and PlayStation VR. The open-source Open Brush version also supports PC VR.

Source
Tilt Brush: Can I export my Tilt Brush creations?

Yes. Tilt Brush creations can be exported as room-scale VR pieces or animated GIFs to share with others. The app does not support direct export to 3D model formats like OBJ or FBX.

Source
Tilt Brush: Is Tilt Brush good for professional 3D design work?

Tilt Brush is primarily a creative expression and painting tool rather than a professional 3D design tool. It lacks features like layers, editable 3D brushes, and precise refinement controls needed for professional workflows. For professional VR sculpting, Adobe Medium or Quill are better choices.

Source
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