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Are you an aspiring digital artist trying to decide between Procreate and Sketchbook? As two of the most popular and full-featured digital art apps out there, both Procreate and Sketchbook have a lot to offer. But which one is the best fit for your needs and workflow?
As a professional illustrator, I‘ve used both apps extensively over the years for my client projects. In this in-depth comparison, I‘ll break down everything you need to know to choose between them – from supported devices to brushes to special features and more.
By the end, you‘ll have a clear idea of each app‘s strengths and weaknesses so you can pick the perfect digital art sidekick. Let‘s dive in!
Compatibility: Procreate vs Sketchbook
First up, a crucial practical consideration – what devices can you actually use these apps on?
Procreate is specifically designed for Apple‘s tablets and phones. You can run it on any iPad model (including iPad Pro, Air, Mini) as long as it‘s fairly recent and updated to a supported version of iOS/iPadOS. Procreate is also available on iPhone, as a scaled-down version called Procreate Pocket.
However, Procreate is NOT available on any non-Apple devices. You can‘t use it on a Mac, Windows PC, Android tablet, Chromebook, etc. It‘s iPad/iPhone only.
Sketchbook, on the other hand, is much more flexible with compatibility. Sketchbook is available on:
- Windows and Mac computers
- iPad and iPhone
- Android phones and tablets
- It even has a web version you can use in any web browser
So while iPads are typically the preferred tablet for digital artists, with Sketchbook you have the freedom to use your existing devices, whatever they may be. It‘s the clear winner for compatibility.
Pricing: Is Procreate or Sketchbook the Better Deal?
What about cost? Procreate and Sketchbook have very different pricing models:
Procreate costs a one-time payment of $12.99 for the full iPad version, and $5.99 for the iPhone Pocket Edition. There is no free version of Procreate at all, not even a trial. But that single $12.99 purchase gets you unlimited access with all features and free ongoing updates.
Sketchbook has both free and paid versions. The base app, with a somewhat limited set of features, is totally free. For more advanced tools, you can upgrade to Sketchbook Pro for a one-time cost of $19.99 (no subscription required).
Sketchbook also offers a free 7-day trial of the Pro version so you can test out all the premium features risk-free before buying.
Overall, Sketchbook comes out on top for affordability since it at least has a free version (which Procreate lacks). But both are quite reasonably priced for the capabilities you get.
As a professional, I‘m happy to pay for Procreate to get those premium features. But if you‘re on a tight budget or just starting out, the free Sketchbook app is an unbeatable value.
Features: Procreate Pulls Ahead
When it comes to features and tools, Procreate has the clear edge over Sketchbook. While both offer a robust suite for drawing and painting, Procreate goes above and beyond with extras for illustration and design work.
Some key features you get in Procreate that are absent or not as well developed in Sketchbook:
- Powerful layer blending modes and masks for complex, painterly effects
- Extensive collection of customizable smudge/blur/distort tools
- Vector drawing tools with stroke stabilization for smooth, precise linework
- Perspective guides and isometric grids
- Customizable 3D model import and painting for concept art
- Ability to import, edit and paint over photos/images
- Time-lapse recording of your art process
- Extensive image adjustments like curves, hue/saturation, posterize, noise, sharpening, etc.
- Quickshape feature that turns sketched shapes into perfect forms
Sketchbook does have an impressive toolset for its core focus of drawing and painting, with features like:
- Extensive customizable brush library with tons of pencils, markers, airbrushes, etc.
- Ruler and ellipse guides
- Symmetry tools (though not as advanced as Procreate‘s)
- Selection tools for transforming specific areas
- Basic layer blending
- Text tool
But it lacks a lot of Procreate‘s more advanced bells and whistles that allow you to take your art to the next level or use it for more than just sketching.
For example, here‘s a digital painting I made in Procreate, heavily utilizing the smudge tool, alpha lock, and a dozen layer blend modes to get a realistic, oil paint-like effect:
[Digital painting example screenshot]
And here‘s an example of using the new 3D painting features for character and product design:
[3D object painting example screenshot or video]
These are the sorts of advanced techniques that are far easier and more powerful in Procreate vs Sketchbook.
That‘s not to say you can‘t create amazing art with Sketchbook – check out these impressive pieces made by Sketchbook artists:
[Sketchbook art examples]
But if you want the maximum flexibility, polish and control, Procreate is the way to go. It‘s my go-to for professional client work.
Brushes: Quality Over Quantity
Both apps offer a big collection of brushes out of the box: 200+ for Procreate, 190+ for Sketchbook. This includes all the standards you‘d expect – pencils, inks, markers, paintbrushes, airbrushes, charcoals, etc.
However, I‘ve found Procreate‘s default brushes to be of higher quality – they feel more natural, expressive and customizable. The way brushes interact with the canvas and build up opacity/texture just looks better in Procreate.
Sketchbook‘s brush collection, while extensive, tends to feel more artificial and "digital". And the icons representing each brush are tiny thumbnails of the physical tool (pencil, marker, etc), vs a preview of the actual brush stroke which is more helpful.
Procreate also offers powerful options for creating your own custom brushes and importing brush sets – a favorite among the artist community. While Sketchbook does allow custom brushes now, the process is clunky in comparison.
Ease of Use: Slight Edge to Procreate
When it comes to ease of use for beginners, Procreate and Sketchbook are neck and neck. Both have simple, intuitive interfaces that let you dive in and start sketching without a steep learning curve.
However, I personally find Procreate a bit more user-friendly in terms of quickly finding what tool you need and understanding how to use it. The menus and gestures feel very natural coming from other iPad apps.
Procreate‘s official Handbook is phenomenally well-done, with clear, visual explanations of every tool and tons of tips and techniques. There‘s also a massive community of Procreate users who make fantastic tutorials on YouTube/Instagram/etc to guide you.
[Screenshot or video clip of Procreate‘s Handbook]
Sketchbook also has good built-in help, but the community resources and tutorials are not as abundant. It may take a bit more trial and error to figure out the more advanced features on your own.
Both apps have streamlined, minimal interfaces that keep the focus on your canvas. Procreate‘s UI looks a bit slicker and feels more polished to me. But Sketchbook‘s UI is also clean and functional.
[Side-by-side screenshots of Procreate and Sketchbook UIs]
Exporting Your Art
When you‘re done with your masterpiece, Procreate makes it easy to share it with the world (or your clients). You can export your art in all standard formats like JPG, PNG, TIFF, PSD, PDF and even animations (GIF/MP4).
Critically, Procreate lets you export layered files (like PSDs) that preserve your layer structure, blend modes, etc. This is vital for handing off files to clients or other artists for further editing.
[Screenshots of Procreate‘s export options]
Sketchbook‘s export options are unfortunately more limited and buggy. You‘re mostly restricted to flat (single layer) images. And depending on what device/OS you‘re using, some common formats may not be supported at all, or layers get flattened even if you choose PSD. It‘s quite frustrating.
For any professional or serious hobbyist, Procreate is the clear winner here. Being able to easily export layered, editable files is non-negotiable.
Extras & Add-Ons
While Procreate doesn‘t come with a ton of official extras, it DOES support importing custom brushes, palettes, textures, etc. And there is an absolutely thriving online marketplace of Procreate add-ons made by other artists and designers.
You can find everything from brush packs replicating popular media (watercolor, gouache, inks, etc) to stamp collections to paper textures and much more. Some are free, many are paid but very affordable.
Sketchbook, to its credit, offers a nice selection of free extras right on their site, including bonus brushes and pre-made color palettes. This is great for expanding your toolbox at no extra cost.
However, the third-party add-on ecosystem for Sketchbook is nowhere near as extensive as Procreate‘s. If you want to keep growing your collection of brushes, textures, etc over time, Procreate is the better bet.
Conclusion: Procreate Wins…For Most
After years of using both Procreate and Sketchbook professionally, I have to give the overall crown to Procreate. No other iPad drawing app comes close to its powerful, polished and downright pleasurable experience for creating digital art.
With Procreate‘s best-in-class tools, intuitive interface, vibrant user community and smooth performance, it‘s the app I keep coming back to for my illustration needs. It‘s well worth the price of admission.
However, Sketchbook is far from a bad app and the better choice for some artists. If you don‘t have an iPad or want to draw on your Android/Windows devices, Sketchbook is one of the best cross-platform sketching apps out there.
For beginners and hobbyists, Sketchbook‘s free version is also a great way to dip your toes into digital art without spending a dime. If you‘re mostly interested in sketching and drawing vs heavy painting/editing, Sketchbook‘s features may be plenty for your needs.
So while Procreate earns the victory, the "best" app for you depends on your specific needs and budget. I‘d recommend Procreate if:
- You own an iPad
- You want the maximum capabilities and creative control
- You do (or want to do) professional illustration work
- You don‘t mind investing a little $ for premium tools
Go with Sketchbook if:
- You don‘t have an iPad and/or want Android/Windows/browser support
- You‘re a beginner who wants a free, simple sketching app to start
- You mostly want to draw and sketch vs complex painting/editing
- You‘re on a tighter budget
Whichever you choose, the only "wrong" choice is not starting to make art! Both are fantastic apps that will serve you well. Pick one to try out for your next project and enjoy.