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Head-to-head · Digital Painting Software

ibisPaint vs Procreate

  • Updated Sep 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score ibisPaint #3 in Digital Painting Software 7.8/10 Free plan · paid from $4.49/mo Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit ibisPaint
Procreate #5 in Digital Painting Software 7.3/10 Paid ✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Procreate

ibisPaint leads on 5 checks, Procreate on 0, and 0 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreibisPaint · 7.8/10
  • Free planonly ibisPaint
  • Most featuresibisPaint · 4 of 4

ibisPaint scores higher on our rubric for digital painting software: 7.8 against 7.3 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #5.

ibisPaint offers free plan; Procreate doesn't. ibisPaint offers brush customization; Procreate doesn't publish it. ibisPaint offers layer support; Procreate doesn't publish it. ibisPaint offers pressure sensitivity; Procreate doesn't publish it. ibisPaint offers stroke stabilization; Procreate doesn't publish it.

ibisPaint is the better fit for free cross-platform painting with advanced color tools. Procreate is the better fit for iPad artists wanting a polished painting workflow.

  • ibisPaint fits best

    Free cross-platform painting with advanced color tools

  • Procreate fits best

    iPad artists wanting a polished painting workflow

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Side by side

Feature ibisPaint 7.8/10 Visit ↗ Procreate 7.3/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 7.8 7.3
Ranking #3 in Digital Painting Software #5 in Digital Painting Software
Best for Free cross-platform painting with advanced color tools iPad artists wanting a polished painting workflow
Pricing model Free plan + paid Paid
Starting price $4.49/mo Not published
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop, Mobile Mobile
Platforms Windows, macOS, iOS, Android iOS
Features ibisPaint 4/4 · Procreate 0/4
Brush customization ✓ (best) Not published
Layer support ✓ (best) Not published
Pressure sensitivity ✓ (best) Not published
Stroke stabilization ✓ (best) Not published
Specs
Supported platforms windows, macos, ios, android Not published
Color management Advanced Not published
Our review
Pros
  • Custom brushes, pressure curves, and brush-specific stroke stabilization
  • Advanced CMYK export with color profiles and rendering controls
  • Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android support with cloud synchronization
  • Over 300 customizable brushes with Brush Studio
  • Animation, 3D painting, time-lapse, and layered artwork tools
  • Imports and exports PSD, PDF, PNG, TIFF, GIF, and MP4
Cons
  • The free mobile version includes advertisements
  • Free cloud storage is limited to 64MB
  • Some desktop features require separate paid upgrades
  • Available only on iOS
  • No free plan
  • No desktop app
Our verdict

ibisPaint is digital painting and illustration software for artists working across Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android. It is suited to users who want customizable brushes, layered artwork, pressure-sensitive stylus input,…

Read the review →

Procreate is a raster-based digital art application for iPad artists, illustrators, and creative professionals. Its workspace combines customizable brushes, layered artwork, color and adjustment tools, vector text, animation, time-lapse…

Read the review →
  1. ibisPaintDigital Painting Software 7.8Free plan · paid from $4.49/mo
  2. ProcreateDigital Painting Software 7.3Paid

Strengths and trade-offs

  • ibisPaint — where it wins

    • Custom brushes, pressure curves, and brush-specific stroke stabilization
    • Advanced CMYK export with color profiles and rendering controls
    • Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android support with cloud synchronization

    Where it doesn't

    • The free mobile version includes advertisements
    • Free cloud storage is limited to 64MB
    • Some desktop features require separate paid upgrades

  • Procreate — where it wins

    • Over 300 customizable brushes with Brush Studio
    • Animation, 3D painting, time-lapse, and layered artwork tools
    • Imports and exports PSD, PDF, PNG, TIFF, GIF, and MP4

    Where it doesn't

    • Available only on iOS
    • No free plan
    • No desktop app
  • ibisPaint7.8/10 · Free plan · paid from $4.49/mo

    A capable free painting app with broad platform coverage and paid color, cloud, and desktop upgrades.

    Visit ibisPaintFull verdict →
  • Procreate7.3/10 · Paid

    A polished iPad painting workflow with broad creative tools and limited platform coverage.

    Visit ProcreateFull verdict →

More comparisons

All digital painting software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026

Last updated · How we research and update