Adobe Creative Cloud vs Procreate: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Adobe Creative Cloud and Procreate side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Procreate leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Adobe Creative Cloud
The professional creative suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere
Best for you if:
- • You want complete creative suite
Procreate
Digital illustration app for iPad
Best for you if:
- • You want best iPad drawing app
| At a Glance | Adobe Creative Cloud | Procreate |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $9.99/mo, billed monthly Photography plan | Not published |
Category | Graphic Design Video Editing | Graphic Design UI/UX Design |
Rating | 4.6/5 G2 4.5 · Capterra 4.7 62,845 reviews | 4.8/5 Capterra 4.8 · G2 4.9 203 reviews |
Free plan | No | No |
Watch out for | You also get only 25 Firefly credits/month vs 4,000. Most professionals will be forced to upgrade. | iPad requirement: Procreate is iPad-exclusive. This is the real cost, not the $12.99 app |
Choose Adobe Creative Cloud or Procreate?
Choose Adobe Creative Cloud if
- You want complete creative suite
- You want industry standard tools
Choose Procreate if
- You want best iPad drawing app
- You want one-time purchase
In-Depth Analysis
Adobe Creative Cloud
The professional creative suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere
The critical difference: Standard strips web/mobile/iPad app access and limits Firefly AI to 25 credits/month.
Watch out
You also get only 25 Firefly credits/month vs 4,000. Most professionals will be forced to upgrade.
Strengths
- Pro: Complete creative suite
- Pro: Industry standard tools
- Pro: Regular updates
- Pro: Cloud storage included
- Pro: Cross-device sync
Weaknesses
- Con: Very expensive
- Con: Subscription only
- Con: Resource intensive
- Con: Bloated installer
- Con: Can't buy individual apps easily
Key features
Procreate
Digital illustration app for iPad
Procreate at $12.99 one-time is the best value proposition in digital illustration, bar none.
Watch out
iPad requirement: Procreate is iPad-exclusive. This is the real cost, not the $12.99 app
Strengths
- Pro: Best iPad drawing app
- Pro: One-time purchase
- Pro: Professional features
- Pro: Great brushes
- Pro: Good performance
Weaknesses
- Con: iPad only
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: No subscription perks
- Con: Limited animation
- Con: Single-page focus
Key features
Plans and prices: Adobe Creative Cloud vs Procreate
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Adobe Creative Cloud |
| adobe.com/creativecloud.htmlread Oct 3, 2026 |
| Procreate |
| procreate.comread Oct 3, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Adobe Creative Cloud pricing and Procreate pricing.
Key Takeaways
Adobe Creative Cloud
- Choose if you want the professional creative suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere
Procreate
- Higher user rating: 4.8/5 vs 4.6/5
What the data shows
On the data below, Procreate leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Procreate has the higher user rating (4.6/5 from 62,845 reviews for Adobe Creative Cloud, 4.8/5 from 203 reviews for Procreate).
- Adobe Creative Cloud starts at $9.99/mo, billed monthly; Procreate has no public paid plan price on file.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Adobe Creative Cloud and Procreate compare in 2026?
On the data below, Procreate leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Procreate has the higher user rating (4.6/5 from 62,845 reviews for Adobe Creative Cloud, 4.8/5 from 203 reviews for Procreate). Adobe Creative Cloud starts at $9.99/mo, billed monthly; Procreate has no public paid plan price on file.
What are Adobe Creative Cloud and Procreate used for?
Adobe Creative Cloud: The professional creative suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere. Procreate: Digital illustration app for iPad.
What does Adobe Creative Cloud cost vs Procreate?
Adobe Creative Cloud's cheapest paid plan is Photography at $9.99/mo, billed monthly. Procreate has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 3, 2026.
What's the main difference between Adobe Creative Cloud and Procreate?
Adobe Creative Cloud's main strength: complete creative suite. Procreate's main strength: best iPad drawing app.