Krita 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 Krita and Procreate side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Krita leads on a free plan; 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:
Krita
Free digital painting and illustration software
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Procreate requires payment)
Procreate
Digital illustration app for iPad
Best for you if:
- • You want best iPad drawing app
| At a Glance | Krita | Procreate |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free 100% free | Not published |
Category | Graphic Design Image Editing | UI/UX Design Graphic Design |
Rating | 4.3/5 Capterra 4.4 · G2 4.4 · SourceForge 2.5 147 reviews | 4.8/5 Capterra 4.8 · G2 4.9 203 reviews |
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 Krita or Procreate?
Choose Krita if
- You want a fully free tool (Procreate requires payment)
- You want free digital painting
- You want professional brushes
- You work in graphic design, not UI/UX design
Choose Procreate if
- You want best iPad drawing app
- You want one-time purchase
- You work in UI/UX design, not graphic design
In-Depth Analysis
Krita
Free digital painting and illustration software
Krita's pricing is exceptionally generous, being entirely free and open-source.
Strengths
- Pro: Free digital painting
- Pro: Professional brushes
- Pro: Animation support
- Pro: Cross-platform
- Pro: Active development
Weaknesses
- Con: Not for photo editing
- Con: Resource heavy
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: UI overwhelming
- Con: Tablet issues sometimes
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: Krita vs Procreate
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Krita |
| krita.org read Sep 28, 2026 |
| Procreate |
| procreate.com read 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 Krita pricing and Procreate pricing.
Key Takeaways
Krita
- Has a free plan
Procreate
- Higher user rating: 4.8/5 vs 4.3/5
What the data shows
On the data below, Krita leads on a free plan; Procreate leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Procreate has the higher user rating (4.3/5 from 147 reviews for Krita, 4.8/5 from 203 reviews for Procreate).
- Only Krita has a free plan.
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 Krita and Procreate compare in 2026?
On the data below, Krita leads on a free plan; Procreate leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Procreate has the higher user rating (4.3/5 from 147 reviews for Krita, 4.8/5 from 203 reviews for Procreate). Only Krita has a free plan.
What are Krita and Procreate used for?
Krita: Free digital painting and illustration software. Procreate: Digital illustration app for iPad.
What does Krita cost vs Procreate?
Krita is free. 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 Krita and Procreate?
Krita's main strength: free digital painting. Procreate's main strength: best iPad drawing app.