Procreate is famous for its ability to create natural-like drawings and digital paintings, but it’s unfortunately available only on iOS and iPadOS.
Luckily, you can find plenty of alternatives to Procreate on Android and Windows – some of them are even better.
In this post, we’ll showcase 15 great Procreate alternatives to help you create no matter the platform!
The following alternatives are for Windows or Android operating systems and you will find both free and paid options.
The ranking below is in no particular order.
Table of Contents
1. PaintTool SAI
PaintTool SAI features a super-simple user interface that is reminiscent of programs from the early 2000s.
Although PaintTool SAI is maintained by the developer and fully supports Windows 10, it looks kind of archaic and may disappoint those who are used to the sleek and seamless designs of modern drawing apps.
PaintTool SAI is pretty nice in terms of functionality though, offering various tools for editing, painting, and digitizing.
However, keep in mind that this program isn’t free, although it does have a 31-day trial to let you give its features a shot.
This particular painting and photo editing software is available only for Windows, so Android users should read on – we have more options down below.
2. Autodesk SketchBook
SketchBook has recently become completely free. But notably, SketchBook is an exceptionally functional piece of drawing software, although professional users may be able to find something better for their needs.
What’s also nice about SketchBook is that it’s available on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, so you may carry the app with you no matter where you go.
SketchBook seamlessly supports canvases up to 100 megapixels in size and features a super-intuitive user interface.
The UI offers some customization as well to help you adapt the program to your needs. Remarkably, the UI elements also go away when you pick your pen.
On mobile, SketchBook allows you to quickly transform physical art into digital form, allowing you to smoothly switch from physical to digital drawing.
The wide range of tools and compatibility with graphics tablets makes SketchBook a wonderful choice for hobbyists and professional artists alike.
3. Krita
Krita is an open-source and completely free raster graphics editor, and it’s an excellent alternative to Autodesk SketchBook and Procreate in case you didn’t quite like it.
Krita is available for mobile and desktop operating systems as well, so you may use it pretty much anywhere as long as you can dedicate your time.
This digital drawing app boasts a wide range of tools to help you compose. Among its highlights are the vector tools with which you may easily create comic panels.
Brush stabilizers will come in handy for those who have shaky hands too, while the 9 brush engines allow you to customize your brush strokes and achieve the desired result.
What’s super-nice about Krita as well is that it lets you import texture packs and brushes from other artists. Additionally, Krita has a customizable UI to help you arrange on-screen elements in any way you see fit.
Finally, Krita has 2D animation features, allowing you to create simple animations. If you are proficient in Python, then you will be able to write your own extensions and widgets for Krita as well.
4. ArtRage
If you want something specifically for your Android smartphone, then ArtRage is a good option to consider. This app is marketed for Android devices, although it’s also available on macOS, Windows, and iOS.
ArtRage supports all the essentials an artist would need. At your disposal is a wide range of drawing tools – felt pens, inking tools, pencils, and pastels.
Oils, palette knives, and watercolors let you add character to your compositions as well. With references and tracing images, you will be able to guide your strokes and perform color selection too.
With ArtRage, you could get results that are very close to what you could achieve on paper. Though, of course, the app doesn’t account for finger pressure.
ArtRage is a paid app, but it costs a mere $4.99 (for the Android app), which is pretty cheap. This app works on Android 4.0 and newer, so it should run fine no matter what tablet or phone you have. Though on a modern device, it will probably run smoother.
5. Clip Studio Paint
Clip Studio Paint is one of the most advanced pieces of graphics software you can find. This software is fairly expensive, but if you want to have literally thousands of tools at your disposal, it might be for you.
Clip Studio Paint is specifically aimed at creating manga & comics along with animations, but it can do more than that as well.
If you are an owner of a high-end Wacom graphics tablet, then you will be able to employ its 8192-level pen pressure to the full extent.
Aside from that, Clip Studio ASSETS will provide you with access to thousands of new materials each month to help you deeply customize your compositions.
Clip Studio Paint allows you to import 3D models as well. Then, you may convert them to line art, add color, or use them for drafts.
We could write more and more about the capabilities of Clip Studio Paint, but the little we’ve talked about should give you a good idea of what this app offers.
Clip Studio Paint is available on Windows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and Android. It has two editions to choose from too – each available either for a one-time payment or a small monthly fee.
6. Concepts
Concepts app offers an astoundingly smooth user experience powered by the vector-raster Fluid Engine. Thanks to this engine, Concepts supports infinite canvas and allows you to make precise strokes at any zoom level.
With its multi-threaded rendering, Concepts thrives on powerful computers and lets you seamlessly perform your work.
Notably, Concepts is also optimized for 120Hz displays and is a perfect choice for ultra-low-latency styluses such as the Surface Pen or the Apple Pencil.
In terms of drawing and editing functionality, Concepts looks inferior to something like Clip Studio Paint.
However, considering that Concepts has a free version and offers some of the most fluid user experiences you can find, it will still interest plenty of artists. The paid version of this software is $9.99 (Essentials pack) or $4.99 per month.
7. Corel Painter/Painter 2021
Established in 1985, Corel is a leading producer of graphics processing software. One of Corel’s solutions is Painter, with Painter 2021 having been released just recently.
Perhaps the most remarkable feature of Painter 2021 is its 12 AI-powered styles that let you transform images into stylized paintings.
The use of AI and machine learning in graphics is nothing new or astonishing, but it does allow you to save a huge chunk of time.
If you have a powerful GPU in your machine, then you will be able to achieve smooth drawing performance thanks to the Brush Accelerator too.
You are free to use Painter on weaker machines as well, but it is best for high-end computers with a powerful graphics card.
Corel Painter is available for macOS and Windows, but it’s specifically tailored to take advantage of macOS features.
Among other things, you may use your iPad as a secondary display for drawing, use the Trackpad to perform actions via gestures, and control the shape of the brush stroke with your Apple Pencil.
The full feature set of Corel Painter is far wider, so we recommend that you check out the app yourself. But do keep in mind that Corel Painter is quite expensive, though you could subscribe to the app to save some money.
8. Tayasui Sketches
Tayasui Sketches is a fairly simple drawing app and is a nice pick if you don’t need the super-advanced features of Corel Painter or Clip Studio Paint.
Tayasui Sketches has two editions – the $19.99 Pro version and a free base edition with limited features. Pro offers unlimited layers, iCloud sync, additional drawing tips, wet watercolor effects, and a few other perks in addition to what the free app has.
Although fairly simple, Tayasui Sketches has all the basics to draw with. It offers a wide range of brushes and color palettes, a ruler to help you draw straight lines, a set of fonts to help you enhance your work, and more. Tayasui Sketches is compatible with Apple Pencil as well.
9. Adobe Photoshop Sketch
Adobe Photoshop Sketch is a wonderful choice for Android and iOS devices. The app is completely free yet offers a number of features that may interest you.
Most remarkably, Adobe Photoshop Sketch is integrated with Behance, allowing you to seamlessly upload your art to the platform and see what other artists are working on in the community gallery.
What’s also nice about Adobe Photoshop Sketch is that you may send your work straight to Illustrator and Photoshop. You also gain access to royalty-free assets from Adobe Stock.
Maintaining perspective in Adobe Photoshop Sketch is also very easy thanks to graph and perspective grids, while the custom brushes will help you tailor the app to your specific needs. You may save your custom brushes to Creative Cloud libraries too.
Adobe Photoshop Sketch also supports the latest styluses from Wacom and Adonit, as well as Apple Pencil and FiftyThree Pencil.
10. ArtFlow Studio
ArtFlow Studio is an excellent choice specifically for Android users. ArtFlow Studio can’t boast the same functionality as some of the earlier picks, but it’s nice for on-the-go drawing.
Recently, developers have released ArtFlow Studio 2.5. This version retains the new features brought by ArtFlow Studio 2 (including gradient fill, like selection, and guides) and adds a new interface, workflow settings, application shortcuts, and more.
In terms of features, what particularly catches the eye in ArtFlow Studio is its GPU acceleration. Thanks to mobile GPUs, ArtFlow Studio lets you work with up to 50 layers on 6144×6144 canvases.
Not only that, but ArtFlow Studio supports pressure-sensitive pens (most notably, the Samsung S Pen) and comes with over a hundred tools out of the box.
11. Adobe Illustrator Draw
Adobe Illustrator Draw allows you to post your projects on social networks for artists – as Adobe Illustrator Sketch did.
Additionally, Draw is made specifically for touchscreen devices and should work seamlessly on Android smartphones or tablets.
Adobe Illustrator Draw seems simpler than Sketch, but it still features a wide range of brushes and filters to help you compose.
12. Microsoft Paint 3D
The successor to the legendary Microsoft Paint, Paint 3D brought new life into the classical formula of Paint.
Introduced with the Windows 10 Creators Update, Paint 3D features a reimagined, more modern-looking interface, a wider range of shapes and tools, and 3D shapes, which is the most noticeable upgrade from the original Paint.
All in all, Microsoft Paint 3D certainly can’t compete with the likes of Corel Painter, but it’s a solid option if you want to make quick sketches.
It’s preinstalled on Windows 10 too, so you don’t need to do anything to get your hands on it if you update your system often.
13. Manga Studio
Manga Studio is a nice alternative to Clip Studio Paint for drawing manga. It’s perhaps not as powerful, but it still has an efficient workflow to allow you to quickly sketch and complete scenes.
Among the highlights of Manga Studio are the drawing models, which allow you to load in a model, change its pose, and start drawing around it. The panel view makes coloring and drawing exceptionally easy as well.
14. Clover Paint
Clover Paint is a fairly nice digital drawing app for Android. Perhaps the best thing about this app is the theoretically unlimited number of layers – the layer count is only limited by the memory of your device.
What we also like about Clover Paint is that it supports hotkeys to help you streamline the drawing process. The wide selection of drawing tools and brushes will help you quickly complete simple illustrations as well.
15. Infinite Painter
Finally, we have Infinite Painter – yet another great option for Android users. As an Android drawing app, Infinite Painter is fairly simple, but it still has a wide range of tools to draw with, including 160+ brushes that realistically interact with the selected paper textures.
Infinite Painter allows you to draw 3D scenes as well with the help of 5 perspective guides. And once you are done, you may share your composition with the Infinite Painter community or on Instagram.
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