Procreate
Savage Interactive Pty Ltd
Procreate is a digital painting app designed for iPad and iPhone. It is not officially available for macOS. While there are workarounds to use it on a Mac, it's primarily built for touch screen devices and Apple Pencil. For Mac users seeking similar functionality, several alternatives offer robust digital art creation tools.
User Sentiments
Top Likes
- Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- Extensive brush library and customization
- Powerful layering system
- Excellent performance and responsiveness on iPad
Top Dislikes
- Not available on macOS
- Limited file format export options compared to desktop software
- Requires iPad and Apple Pencil for the best experience
Popular Comments
Reddit User - ArtStudioPro
2024-06-23
However, Procreate is not available for MacBook and unfortunately neither is its Adobe counterpart Fresco. That's why I'm looking for a good alternative to Procreate for MacBook. Can you recommend Art Studio Pro?
MacHow2
2021-10-04
Procreate is designed for touch screens and the user experience is tailored specifically for iPads that support tilt and pressure gestures rather than desktop computers that do not. However, the founder of Procreate has [teased a desktop version].
Setapp
2024-02-23
No. Unfortunately, Procreate's developer, Savage Interactive, doesn't plan to launch the macOS app. At the time of writing, you can only use the Procreate app on your iPad (with the addition of Procreate Pocket for iPhone.)
App Store User
2025
This app is amazing! I’ve been using Procreate for years and it’s my go to for creating art on the go. The brushes are fantastic and the interface is so intuitive.
App Store User
2025
Procreate is hands down the best art app on the iPad. It’s packed with features but still easy to learn and use. Love the quick gestures and how responsive it is with the Apple Pencil.
App Store User
2025
I wish there was a Mac version! I love using Procreate on my iPad but it would be incredible to have it on my desktop too for more serious work.
Detailed Review
Procreate is a highly acclaimed and powerful digital painting application primarily designed for iPad and iPhone. It is celebrated for its intuitive interface, extensive suite of professional-grade tools, and exceptional performance optimized for touch screen devices and the Apple Pencil. While it has become an industry-standard for mobile digital art, Procreate is not officially available for macOS.
Despite its popularity among artists, Procreate remains exclusive to iOS devices. Users seeking to use Procreate on a Mac will find that there is no native version. While some users explore screen mirroring from iPad to Mac as a workaround, this does not provide a true macOS application experience.
For Mac users looking for similar digital painting capabilities, numerous alternatives exist that offer comparable features and workflows. Applications like Adobe Photoshop, Affinity Photo, Clip Studio Paint, and Krita are robust desktop software options that provide comprehensive tools for digital illustration, painting, and graphic design on macOS.
Standout Features (iPad version - as macOS version is not available)
- Intuitive Interface: Designed for touch and Apple Pencil, offering a natural and engaging creative experience.
- Vast Brush Library: Hundreds of customizable brushes and the ability to import and create custom brushes.
- Advanced Layer System: Supports layers, blending modes, masks, and clipping masks for complex artwork creation.
- High Performance: Optimized for iPad's hardware, providing smooth and responsive painting even with large canvases and complex artworks.
- Quick Gestures: Streamlines workflow with intuitive touch gestures for various functions.
- Animation Features: Offers tools for creating simple animations and GIFs.
Conclusion
Procreate is an outstanding digital painting app for iPad and iPhone, highly praised for its features and user experience on iOS. However, it is not available for macOS. Mac users interested in digital art creation will need to explore alternative applications designed for desktop operating systems. While the lack of a macOS version is a noted drawback for some users, the wealth of powerful and user-friendly alternatives available on Mac ensures that digital artists have excellent options for their creative work on desktop.
