Top 10 Free Alternatives to Procreate in 2025

As Procreate continues to be a top choice for digital artists, 2025 offers various powerful, free alternatives, each with unique features and capabilities. This article explores the top 10 free Procreate alternatives, comparing them in detail to help you choose the best fit for your artistic needs.

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1. Krita

Description: A powerful, open-source painting program designed for digital artists, illustrators, and concept artists, known for its extensive brush engine and versatility.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android
Key Features:
Highly customizable brushes with a wide variety of options.
Layer support with various blending modes.
Excellent color management and drawing aids.
Supports a variety of file formats.
Vector tools, stabilizers, and drawing assistants.
Data Points:
Completely free and open-source.
Regularly updated with new features and improvements.
Active user community and support forums.
Suitable for both beginners and professionals.
Considered by many to be the best overall free drawing software. Learn more about Krita

2. Autodesk Sketchbook

Description: A free sketching and painting software with a user-friendly interface, suitable for concept art and sketching.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Key Features:
Clean and intuitive user interface.
Variety of customizable brushes, including a unique Copic Color Library.
Layer support and blend modes.
Perspective tools and symmetry tools.
Available on multiple platforms for a seamless workflow.
Data Points:
Completely free, with no ads or payment required.
Suitable for both beginners and professionals.
Considered a top alternative to Procreate.
Raster-based drawing application.
Regularly updated with new features and improvements. Explore Autodesk Sketchbook

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3. MediBang Paint

Description: A free digital painting and comic creation software with a focus on collaborative workflows and cross-platform availability.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Key Features:
Cloud storage for seamless cross-platform access.
Wide variety of brushes, fonts, and pre-made backgrounds for comics.
Layer support with blending modes and effects.
Team collaboration features.
Available on multiple platforms.
Data Points:
Free to use.
Suitable for comic creation and illustration.
Ad popups on the free version.
Good for artists who want to switch between multiple devices.
Offers both desktop and mobile versions. Discover MediBang Paint

4. Ibis Paint X

Description: A popular drawing app for mobile devices, known for its large brush library and social features.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows
Key Features:
Over 47,000 brushes, with customizable size, opacity, and texture.
Layer support with various blending modes.
Text tool with over 2,100 fonts.
Pop-up reference window for easy checking of reference images.
Social features for sharing drawing processes and artwork.
Data Points:
Free to use with a subscription option to unlock all features and remove ads.
Available on a wide range of devices.
Suitable for beginners and experienced artists.
Has a very active user base.
Offers a wide range of art tools. Learn about Ibis Paint X

5. Adobe Fresco

Description: A free drawing and painting app from Adobe, focusing on live brushes that mimic the effects of real-world media.
Platforms: Windows, iPad
Key Features:
Live brushes that blend and interact realistically.
Both raster and vector brushes available.
Integration with Adobe Creative Cloud.
Touch-optimized interface for mobile devices.
Good option for those who use Adobe products.
Data Points:
Completely free since 2024.
Offers a versatile alternative to Procreate with both raster and vector options.
Great for watercolor and oil painting simulations.
Offers a wide range of tools and is ideal for artists.
Good for those who prefer not to pay a one-off fee like Procreate. Explore Adobe Fresco

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6. ArtFlow

Description: An Android drawing app with a focus on performance and a clean user interface, providing professional features and tools.
Platforms: Android
Key Features:
Clean user interface with lots of pro features.
Customizable brushes and layers.
Symmetry tool and color picker.
Supports up to 2 layers in the free version and more in the paid one.
Natural drawing experience.
Data Points:
Available in both free and paid tiers.
Good for digital art on Android devices.
Offers similar functionalities to Procreate.
The free version includes nine customizable brushes, symmetry tool, color picker, six-step undo, and support for two layers.
Suitable for those who are looking for an app that allows the creation of great artwork.

7. MyPaint

Description: A free, open-source painting program with a focus on a distraction-free canvas and a flexible brush system, good for tablet users.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Key Features:
Unlimited canvas for painting.
Variety of brushes with different textures and effects.
Good support for graphics tablets.
Distraction-free interface for a smooth creative process.
Open source and customizable.
Data Points:
Free and open-source software.
Good for professionals.
Good for those who want a clean and customizable workspace.
Suitable for tablet users.
Good support for tablets. Discover MyPaint

8. Concepts

Description: A vector-based sketching app that offers a flexible and infinite canvas for idea exploration and iterative design.
Platforms: Android, iOS
Key Features:
Infinite canvas for sketching and ideation.
Vector-based drawing for scalable artwork.
Customizable pens, brushes, and tools for editing.
Good for highly versatile and innovative digital sketching and design applications.
Suitable for design and technical illustrations.
Data Points:
Offers a free version with paid subscription options.
Good for Android users.
Ideal for brainstorming and visualizing ideas.
Offers a unique approach to digital sketching.
Has a unique approach to digital art creation. Learn more about Concepts

9. Paint.NET

Description: A free image and photo editing software with a simple interface, suitable for artists.
Platforms: Windows
Key Features:
Simple interface similar to a standard drawing tool.
Supports layers and many effects.
Tools for blurring, shaping, sharpening, and noise reduction.
Can be enhanced with plugins.
Perfect for drawing volumetric models and animated objects.
Data Points:
Free to use.
Suitable for artists.
Can be used on low power devices.
Perfect for creating animated objects and transparent structures.
Offers a variety of functions and effects. Discover Paint.NET

10. GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)

Description: A powerful, open-source raster image editor that is a free alternative to Photoshop.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Key Features:
Layers, masks, and brushes.
Smart options, filters, and many other features.
Third-party extensions.
Customizable open-source raster image editor.
Ability to open PSD files.
Data Points:
Completely free and open-source.
Initially created as a free alternative to Photoshop.
Suitable for creating an image from scratch.
Has both soft and hard brushes.
Offers many additional tools for drawing. Discover GIMP

This list provides a substantial range of free Procreate alternatives suitable for various artistic needs and preferences. Explore each tool's unique features and determine which best fits your style and requirements.

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FAQ

1. What is the best free drawing software overall?

Krita is often considered the best overall free drawing software due to its extensive brush engine, layer support, vector tools, and regular updates. Learn more about Krita.

2. Which alternative offers a clean and intuitive user interface?

Autodesk Sketchbook is well-regarded for its clean and intuitive user interface, making it suitable for both beginners and professionals. Discover Autodesk Sketchbook.

3. Are there any good free alternatives for comic creation and collaboration?

MediBang Paint is a free digital painting and comic creation software that offers cloud storage and team collaboration features, making it ideal for comic creators. Explore MediBang Paint.

4. What is a popular drawing app for mobile devices with social features?

Ibis Paint X is a popular mobile drawing app known for its vast brush library and social features that allow users to share their drawing processes. Learn more about Ibis Paint X.

5. Which free alternative offers both raster and vector drawing capabilities?

Adobe Fresco is a free app that offers both raster and vector drawing capabilities, with live brushes that mimic real-world media. Discover Adobe Fresco.

6. Is there a good free drawing app specifically for Android devices?

ArtFlow is an Android drawing app known for its performance and professional features, suitable for artists who want to create high-quality digital art on mobile devices.

7. Which free software offers a distraction-free canvas with good tablet support?

MyPaint provides a distraction-free canvas and is highly supported on graphics tablets, making it ideal for artists who prefer a minimalistic interface. Explore MyPaint.

8. What free app provides a flexible, infinite canvas for vector-based sketching?

Concepts is a vector-based sketching app that offers an infinite canvas, perfect for brainstorming and design applications. Learn more about Concepts.

9. Which free software is easy to use and suitable for photo editing?

Paint.NET is a simple yet powerful image and photo editing software suitable for users looking for basic drawing and editing capabilities on Windows. Discover Paint.NET.

10. Is there an open-source alternative to Photoshop that supports PSD files?

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a powerful, open-source raster image editor that can open PSD files and offers extensive tools for creating images from scratch. Explore GIMP.

About the Author

Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.

Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).

She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.

For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.

About the Publication

Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.

Mission and Purpose

Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.

Key Features

The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:

Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials

Impact and Growth

Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:

3,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
100+ startup tools built
5,000+ pieces of articles and news written

Partnerships

Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.

Recognition

Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.