Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Procreate VS Sketch

Compare Procreate VS Sketch and see what are their differences

Procreate logo Procreate

Procreate is the most powerful and intuitive digital illustration App available for iPadยฎ.

Sketch logo Sketch

Professional digital design for Mac.
  • Procreate Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-23
  • Sketch Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-20

Sketch

Website
sketch.com
Release Date
2010 January
Startup details
Country
The Netherlands
State
Zuid-Holland
City
The Hague
Founder(s)
Emanuel Sรก
Employees
10 - 19

Procreate features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Procreate offers a clean and intuitive interface that is easy to navigate, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced artists.
  • Rich Feature Set
    Procreate comes with a comprehensive set of tools including brushes, filters, and effects that cater to various artistic needs.
  • High Performance
    The app is optimized for iPad, ensuring smooth and fast performance even when handling large files and complex compositions.
  • Customizable Brushes
    Procreate allows users to customize and create their own brushes, providing greater flexibility and control over their artwork.
  • One-Time Purchase
    Unlike many other professional software programs that require a subscription, Procreate is available for a one-time purchase, making it cost-effective in the long run.

Possible disadvantages of Procreate

  • iOS Exclusive
    Procreate is only available on iOS devices, which limits its accessibility to users who do not own an iPad or iPhone.
  • Learning Curve
    Although the interface is user-friendly, the vast array of features and tools can be overwhelming for new users, requiring time and practice to master.
  • Limited Vector Support
    Procreate primarily focuses on raster graphics and lacks robust support for vector-based designs, which may be a drawback for some types of graphic work.
  • No Desktop Version
    Procreate does not have a desktop version, meaning users cannot seamlessly switch between their mobile device and a computer for their projects.
  • File Compatibility
    While Procreate supports many file formats, it can have compatibility issues when transferring files to certain other graphic design software.

Sketch features and specs

  • User Interface
    Sketch has a clean and intuitive user interface that is easy to navigate, which makes it accessible for both beginners and advanced users.
  • Design Tools
    Provides robust vector editing tools and a wide range of design features, making it versatile for various kinds of digital design work.
  • Plugins Ecosystem
    Offers a rich ecosystem of plugins that enhance functionality and can be customized to fit specific needs.
  • Community and Resources
    There is a strong community of designers using Sketch, which means plenty of tutorials, resources, and shared assets are available.
  • Symbol and Reuse
    Supports symbols and reusable design components, making it efficient for maintaining consistency across a design project.
  • Performance
    Generally performs well even with complex design files, as it is optimized for the Mac environment.

Possible disadvantages of Sketch

  • Mac-only
    Sketch is available only on macOS, limiting its accessibility to users on other platforms such as Windows or Linux.
  • Learning Curve
    While the interface is intuitive, mastering Sketch's full suite of tools and features can still take some time.
  • Pricing
    Sketch requires a subscription or one-time payment, which can be a consideration for freelancers or small teams with limited budgets.
  • Collaboration
    Real-time collaboration features are not as advanced as some of its competitors, which can pose challenges for team-based projects.
  • Compatibility
    Because it uses its own file format, working cross-platform or with non-Sketch users can present challenges, requiring conversion tools or additional steps.
  • Limited Prototyping
    While it offers some prototyping functionality, it is not as robust as tools specifically designed for prototyping such as InVision or Figma.

Analysis of Procreate

Overall verdict

  • Procreate is generally considered an excellent app for digital art creation, thanks to its powerful capabilities, flexibility, and ease of use. The one-time purchase model instead of a subscription also makes it a cost-effective choice for long-term users. However, being limited to iOS devices may be a drawback for those with different operating systems.

Why this product is good

  • Procreate is a popular digital illustration app widely praised for its extensive features tailored for professional artists and hobbyists alike. It offers a vast array of brushes, intuitive gesture controls, and a user-friendly interface that makes creating art on an iPad seamless and enjoyable. Additionally, Procreate supports high-resolution canvases and offers tools like QuickShape for creating perfect shapes and Drawing Assist for perspective guides, enhancing the creative process.

Recommended for

    Procreate is recommended for professional illustrators, designers, and artists who use iPad as part of their creative process. It's also great for beginners looking to explore digital art without investing in expensive software. Educators and students in the field of art and design may also find it beneficial for learning and teaching purposes.

Analysis of Sketch

Overall verdict

  • Sketch is highly regarded in the design community, particularly for those working on digital interfaces. While it may not have as broad a range of features as some of its competitors, its specialization in UI and UX design makes it an industry-standard tool for many professionals.

Why this product is good

  • Sketch is a vector graphics editor primarily used for user interface and user experience design. It is appreciated for its intuitive design, powerful features tailored for UI/UX designers, and a vibrant community with an extensive library of plugins and integrations. The software is known for its ease of use, real-time collaboration capabilities, and efficient prototyping tools, making it a go-to tool for many designers.

Recommended for

    Sketch is recommended for UI/UX designers, product designers, and digital artists who focus on app and web design. It is particularly suitable for teams that require real-time collaboration and those who benefit from using a tool with a vast ecosystem of plugins that can extend its functionality.

Procreate videos

I Try PROCREATE - iPad Pro Art: is it Actually Professional?

More videos:

  • Review - Ipad Pro, Apple Pencil & Procreate - Artist Review
  • Review - Review: Procreate for the iPad

Sketch videos

Sketch Review | Vikram | Tamil Talkies

More videos:

  • Review - Sketch vs. Photoshop: The 5 Things Sketch Can Do That Photoshop Canโ€™t
  • Review - sketch review by prashanth

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Procreate and Sketch)
Digital Drawing And Painting
Design Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Graphic Design Software
27 27%
73% 73
Image Editing
23 23%
77% 77

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Procreate and Sketch

Procreate Reviews

10 BEST Procreate Alternatives For Android For 2023
Procreate undoubtedly has some of the coolest features you will ever find in Procreate. But you can enjoy most of its features in its alternatives for Android.
7 BEST Procreate Alternatives for Android (2023)
It allows you to create flipbooks and import from and export to other apps like Photoshop. It offers a user-friendly interface with tools for color-filling, using rulers, symmetry, and more to enhance the drawing process. It is one of the strong replacements for Procreate, which also support a stylus, allowing you to make precise drawings.
Source: www.guru99.com
15 Best Procreate Alternatives For Android 2023
The Android app is ideal for designers hoping to create complex artwork. Concepts has complex tools that allow vector manipulation. On the contrary, Procreate is raster based, so you have to use it with other apps like Illustrator, so that images donโ€™t lose quality when scaled larger.
10 Best Procreate Alternatives For Windows & Mac [Top Picks]
If you are a designer, you must be aware of Procreate and how useful it is to you. It has a bunch of features and tools to explore and choose from and actually, there are just too many. So, the next question is, what is the problem? The problem is, Procreate doesnโ€™t offer a free version at all. So, you cannot proceed with it without purchasing it.
Source: fixingport.com
The Best 6 Alternatives to Procreate for Android
Procreate is a professional application designed for sketching, painting, and drawing. But it doesnโ€™t work on Android. To help you find wonderful alternatives to Procreate for Android, this post will provide 6 Procreate alternatives for Android. Want a free and simple video editor? Try MiniTool MovieMaker.

Sketch Reviews

Top 6 Figma Alternatives: Prototyping and UI/UX Tools
Sketch offers 2 premium plans, Standard and Business, which start at $9 and $20 per month per editor, respectively, and include a 30-day free trial. The software is exclusively accessible for macOS, and there is no free tier, although students and educators can obtain it for free through the Sketch for Education initiative.
Source: fronty.com
10 Best Figma Alternatives in 2024
Sketch is another best Figmawith alternative and it is a professional digital design tool used for creating user interfaces and user experience designs. It is popular among designers for its simple interface, powerful features, and focus on vector-based design.
Top 10 Figma Alternatives for Your Design Needs | ClickUp
Sketch started out as a vector editing platform, and it still boasts options like shorthand math operators and effortless editing for multiple borders, making the design process easier.
Source: clickup.com
9 Best InVision Alternatives to Switch to in 2024
Available as a native Mac app, using design tools on Sketch is only available to iOS users. However, non-iOS fans can browse, inspect, and collaborate on designs using the web app.
Source: designmodo.com
Figma Alternatives: 12 Prototyping and Design Tools in 2024
Sketch is a popular design tool used by many freelancers due to its wide range of tools at your disposal. You can create artboards, animated interactions, and prototypes and preview them through the Sketch app on desktop and iOS devices.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Sketch seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 3 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Procreate mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Procreate yet. Tracking of Procreate recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Sketch mentions (3)

  • How to make a Portfolio!?
    Start by building the PDF version, as that's easier. I use Sketch (sketch.com) for designing layout. Source: over 3 years ago
  • TurboPad Vector Illustration
    This TG-16 controller was originally drawn in Fireworks CS4 waaaaaay back in the day, but I re-drew it by hand using simple shapes and effects in Sketch and Figma. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Starting off as a UI/UX Designer.
    Every designer has to choose their preferred design tool where they can implement their prototypes.Try Figma, Sketchand Adobe XD. These are the main tools, try each and find your favorite, as for me I love Figma(Very good in collaboration). - Source: dev.to / almost 5 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Procreate and Sketch, you can also consider the following products

Krita - Krita is a professional FREE and open source painting program. It is made by artists that want to seaffordable art tools for everyone. Concept art. texture and matte painters, illustrations and comics.

Figma - Team-based interface design, Figma lets you collaborate on designs in real time.

Clip Studio Paint - The artist's software for drawing and painting.

Adobe Illustrator - Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editor.

MediBang Paint - The official site for MediBang Paint, the free digital painting and manga creation software. You can download the latest version of MediBang Paint here, and get news and tutorials.

Inkscape - Inkscape is a free, open source professional vector graphics editor for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.