Head-to-head · Digital Painting Software
Krita vs Procreate
Krita leads on 1 check, Procreate on 0, and 0 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 1 yes/no, price and count check where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreKrita · 9.4/10
- Free planonly Krita
Krita scores higher on our rubric for digital painting software: 9.4 against 9.1 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #3.
Krita offers free plan; Procreate doesn't.
Krita is the better fit for professional-grade painting on major desktop OSes. Procreate is the better fit for iPad artists wanting a polished painting workflow.
- Krita fits best
Professional-grade painting on major desktop OSes
- Procreate fits best
iPad artists wanting a polished painting workflow
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Side by side
| Feature | Krita 9.4/10 Visit ↗ | Procreate 9.1/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.4 | 9.1 |
| Ranking | #1 in Digital Painting Software | #3 in Digital Painting Software |
| Best for | Professional-grade painting on major desktop OSes | iPad artists wanting a polished painting workflow |
| Pricing model | Free | Paid |
| Starting price | Free plan | — |
| Free plan | ✓ (best) | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Desktop, Mobile | Mobile |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android | iOS |
| Support | Community, Docs | Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business | Solo, Small business |
| Features Krita 0/4 · Procreate 0/4 | ||
| Brush customization | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Layer support | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Pressure sensitivity | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Stroke stabilization | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Specs | ||
| Supported platforms | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Color management | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Krita is a free, open-source digital painting application for illustrators, comic artists, concept artists, animators, and other digital creators. Its toolkit covers raster painting, brush engines, vector layers, layer and mask-based… 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 → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Krita — where it wins
- Free GNU GPL v3 application with commercial use permitted
- Raster, vector, layers, masks, color management, and animation tools
- Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android tablets in beta
Where it doesn't
- Android tablet version is still in beta
- No iOS or iPadOS support
- Extensive features may exceed the needs of simple painting workflows
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
- Krita9.4/10 · Free plan
A broad, professional-grade painting toolkit with no paid plan and wide platform coverage.
Visit KritaFull verdict → - Procreate9.1/10 · Paid
A polished iPad painting workflow with broad creative tools and limited platform coverage.
Visit ProcreateFull verdict →
More comparisons
- Krita vs Corel Painter
- Krita vs ibisPaint
- Krita vs Adobe Fresco
- Krita vs Rebelle
- Clip Studio Paint vs Procreate
- Procreate vs Corel Painter
- Procreate vs ibisPaint
- Procreate vs Adobe Fresco
All digital painting software comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update





