Infinite Painter vs Procreate: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Infinite Painter and Procreate comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: Procreate wins this matchup. Adobe Creative Cloud is our overall Graphic Design pick. Canva is our free Graphic Design pick. Pick Infinite Painter if you need a fully free option.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Infinite Painter
Unleash your creativity with powerful sketching, painting, and illustration tools.
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Procreate requires payment)
- • You want award-winning app with a focus on user experience
- • You want extensive brush library with customization options
Procreate
Digital illustration app for iPad
Best for you if:
- • You want best iPad drawing app
- • You want one-time purchase
| At a Glance | Infinite Painter | Procreate |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | $5.99/one-timeProcreate Pocket (iPhone) |
Best For | Graphic Design | Graphic Design |
Rating | - | 4.8/5Capterra 4.8 · G2 4.9 |
Free plan | Yes | No |
Watch out for | n/a | iPad requirement: Procreate is iPad-exclusive. This is the real cost, not the $12.99 app |
Choose Infinite Painter or Procreate?
Choose Infinite Painter if
Unleash your creativity with powerful sketching, painting, and illustration tools.
- You want a fully free tool (Procreate requires payment)
- You want award-winning app with a focus on user experience
- You want extensive brush library with customization options
Choose Procreate if
Digital illustration app for iPad
- You want best iPad drawing app
- You want one-time purchase
| Feature | Infinite Painter | Procreate |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Paid |
| User Rating | No ratings yet | ★4.8/5 203 reviews |
| Categories | Graphic DesignUI/UX Design | Graphic DesignUI/UX Design |
In-Depth Analysis
Infinite Painter
Unleash your creativity with powerful sketching, painting, and illustration tools.
Infinite Painter offers a highly fair and generous pricing model with a one-time purchase option, which is rare and highly valued in the SaaS market.
Strengths
- +Award-winning app with a focus on user experience
- +Extensive brush library with customization options
- +Highly customizable interface for personalized workflow
- +Includes advanced graphic design features
- +Ability to record and share painting timelapses
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
- +Best iPad drawing app
- +One-time purchase
- +Professional features
- +Great brushes
- +Good performance
Weaknesses
- -iPad only
- -Learning curve
- -No subscription perks
- -Limited animation
- -Single-page focus
Key features
Pricing: Infinite Painter vs Procreate
| Plan | Infinite Painter | Procreate |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | One-time purchase One-time purchase | $12.99 one-time Procreate (iPad) |
| Tier 2 | N/A | $5.99 one-time Procreate Pocket (iPhone) |
| Tier 3 | N/A | $12.99 one-time Procreate Dreams |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Infinite Painter pricing and Procreate pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Infinite Painter is free. Procreate is paid.
Go with: Infinite Painter
Want the highest-rated option?
Procreate is rated 4.8/5. Infinite Painter has no ratings yet.
Go with: Procreate
Value user reviews?
Infinite Painter: no ratings yet. Procreate: 203 reviews (4.8/5).
Go with: Procreate
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Infinite Painter is free. Procreate is paid. Go with Infinite Painter if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Both are graphic design tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Procreate is rated 4.8/5; Infinite Painter has no ratings yet.
Key Takeaways
Procreate
- Our pick for this comparison
Infinite Painter
- Completely free
The Bottom Line
Procreate wins this matchup. Adobe Creative Cloud is our overall Graphic Design pick. Canva is our free Graphic Design pick. That said, Infinite Painter is free, hard to beat on price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Infinite Painter or Procreate better?
Procreate is rated in our evaluation. Infinite Painter is free and Procreate is paid.
What are Infinite Painter and Procreate used for?
Infinite Painter: Unleash your creativity with powerful sketching, painting, and illustration tools.. Procreate: Digital illustration app for iPad.
What does Infinite Painter cost vs Procreate?
Infinite Painter is completely free. Procreate is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.