Procreate Vs. Sketchbook: Which One Is Better?‍

Creativity is all about bringing your ideas into reality. And that is why digital drawing software like Procreate and Sketchbook are essential tools for every artist and illustrator—beginners and professionals alike.

However, choosing between the Procreate and SketchBook software can be somewhat difficult, especially for newbies who are unaware of their differences.

This article explains what the two programs are, their pros and cons, their differences, and which one is the best choice for artists and illustrators.

What Is Procreate?

Procreate is a raster graphics editor and illustration software designed by an Austrian group called Savage Interactive exclusively for iOS devices. In contrast to a full-fledged illustrator like Adobe Illustrator, Procreate designs are not vector-built and are composed of tiny stretchable pixels. Nonetheless, this software helps you get more creative with your artwork.

Procreate features a paint-brush studio with over 200 different types of brushes that can be used freely depending on your preference. If that is not enough, you can explore the web to find out the best procreate brushes on the market that complements your style of drawing, like brushes for watercolor art or procreate stamp brushes. Another interesting feature of Procreate is that you can import new brushes from Photoshop. With the new Valkyrie engine, imported brushes work faster than they do in Photoshop.

Pros

• You have unlimited access to different artistic tools.
• It is affordable compared to other digital drawing tools.
• Drawing with the stylus on your IOS screen gives off the familiar traditional feeling of using a pen and paper.
• Easy navigation through the interface
• Turn your sketches into a storybook.
• Freely manipulate existing brushes or create new ones. You can also sell your collections to the community.
• Procreate features an inbuilt recorder to capture your drawing experience.
• Easily export your work in PDF, JPEG, PNG, PSD, or TIF formats.

Cons

• Procreate is only available on iPad pro and iOS mobile devices (Procreate pocket). There is no laptop software.
• Inability to create vector artwork. You might need to export your file to Photoshop for conversion into a vector.
• Exporting high-resolution designs for large print is impossible.
• There is no free version.

What Is SketchBook?

Sketchbook is a professional-grade drawing software used for sketching, painting, and illustrating artistic ideas. It was initially developed and managed by Alias System Corporation before Autodesk acquired the program in 2005. Sketchbook is now managed by Sketchbook Inc, an independent company created solely for the software. A sketchy journey, right?

Although it might not be able to compete with big players like Photoshop in terms of photo manipulation, Sketchbook is a great tool for creating beautiful artwork and illustrations. The tool helps you introduce a more realistic feel to your sketches with boxed features available in the software’s Canvas.

Pros

• It is accessible on most devices, such as iOS, Android, and laptops.
• Sketchbook grants users access to basic creative tools.
• Sketchbook features a minimalistic screen that is easy to navigate.
• There is the availability of a camera scanning feature.
• Incognito mode is made available to keep your design screen distraction-free.
• There is a free version for mobile devices only.
• The laptop and Mac versions are relatively affordable.

Cons

• The free version is only available on mobile devices.
• Sketchbook on mobile devices is easily overloaded.
• Time-lapse recording is only available for mobile devices and iOS.

Differences Between Procreate & SketchBook

There are a few differences between the two digital drawing tools, such as the interface, brushes, software availability, and pricing.

Interface And Ease Of Use

Procreate features a wide range of tools for drawing, painting, editing, and adding a creative touch to your designs. These features, however, serve to increase the complexity of the tool. And beginners might find it challenging to navigate through the various Canva packs. There is a possible long-learning curve, especially for those new to art and design.

On the other hand, Sketchbook has a much simpler interface, thus an improved UI/UX experience. Amateur artists can quickly master the software with little difficulty.

Brush Studio & Creative Tools

Procreate has a fully packed library of creative tools compared to other digital drawing applications. With its in-built features, you can turn boring surface art into 3D model designs. The recent update features a stroke stabilization tool, the ability to add more layers, and new packs of creative tools. Interestingly, Procreate boasts 200+ handmade brushes in addition to the ones you might want to create.

Sketchbook has a limited set of creative elements. However, the available tools are more than enough to transform your ideas. The software also features almost 190+ brushes that help you simulate real-life sketches.

Software Availability

Savage Interactive only designed Procreate to be available on iPad Pro devices like:

• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th generation)
• iPad Pro 9.7-inch
• iPad Pro 10.5-inch
• iPad Pro 11-inch (1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation)
• iPad (9th generation)
• iPad (8th generation)
• iPad (7th generation)
• iPad (6th generation)
• iPad (5th generation)
• iPad mini (6th generation)
• iPad mini (5th generation)
• iPad mini 4
• iPad Air (5th generation)
• iPad Air (4th generation)
• iPad Air (3rd generation)
• iPad Air 2

In contrast, Sketchbook is available on almost all devices, from mobile phones to laptops. You can easily download the software on your Android phone from the Google Play Store. Since Sketchbook is easily accessible, you can work across different devices when needed.

Pricing

Procreate offers a one-time subscription of $9.99 for its users. The offer is almost unbeatable considering its pack of extremely creative tools and features. However, there is no free version. And that means you can’t have a trial of the software to know if you are okay with its features.

The paid version of Sketchbook was discontinued by Autodesk in 2018. For now, there is no news regarding paid subscriptions from Sketchbook Inc. While there might be new updates on this in the future, artists and designers alike can make use of the free tool and bring their ideas to life.

Final Verdict: Procreate Or Sketchbook?

There is no absolute digital drawing software. Each one has its advantages and enticing features. Choosing which one to use will depend on your personal preference based on the differences and features we have listed above.

For artists on a limited budget, Sketchbook is the best option. Non-pro artists and designers can opt-in for Sketchbook because of its easy-to-use interface and basic tools.

Artists with a need for more sophisticated creative tools should consider Procreate, although that means you will need to get an iPad if you don't have one.

Conclusion

Every piece of software has its unique advantages and disadvantages. If you would like to create epic artistic designs, then Procreate is a better option. To capture fleeting ideas or carve out standard designs, Sketchbook is a top choice.