What is Procreate and do you need it?

If you've seen digital art flying around TikTok or Instagram and wondered how people are making it, chances are Procreate is involved. It's one of those apps that completely changed what's possible for artists and crafters, and honestly it's what got me properly hooked on digital design.

So let's start from the very beginning. What actually is it, do you need it, and is it worth the money?

What is Procreate?

Procreate is a digital illustration and design app made specifically for iPad. Think of it like a sketchbook, a canvas, and a full design studio all in one place. You draw, paint, and design using a stylus, and it feels incredibly natural, almost like drawing on paper but with a ridiculous amount of creative tools at your fingertips.

You can use it to create illustrations, patterns, lettering, surface designs, digital art, stickers, and so much more. The results can look hand painted, graphic, whimsical, detailed, whatever direction you want to take your art.

What do you need to use it?

This is the big one. The main Procreate app is iPad only. It is not available on Android tablets or Android phones at all, and there is no desktop version either. To use it you need an iPad and a stylus.

The good news is you don't need the most expensive iPad on the market. A standard iPad works absolutely fine for Procreate. I'd recommend checking out a refurbished option if budget is a concern, it's a great way to get started without spending a fortune.

Where do you get it and how much does it cost?

Procreate is available on the Apple App Store. It's a one time purchase, meaning you pay once and own it forever with no subscription fees. At the time of writing it costs around €12.99 in Ireland, though prices can vary slightly by region. Procreate Pocket is a separate purchase on the App Store if you want the iPhone version.

For what you get, it is genuinely one of the best value purchases you can make as a creative person. There are free alternatives out there but nothing comes close to what Procreate offers at this price point.

One payment, no subscription, and it just keeps getting better with every free update.

What can you actually make with it?

This is where it gets exciting. Once you get comfortable with Procreate the possibilities are huge. Here are just some of the things people use it for:

Digital illustration and artwork you can print and frame. Surface pattern design for fabric, wallpaper, and homeware. Stickers, both digital and printed. Lettering and hand drawn fonts. Content for social media. Products to sell on print on demand platforms like Printify or Spoonflower. And with the right brush sets, you don't even need to be a strong drawer to get beautiful results.

Is it hard to learn?

Honestly? The basics are pretty easy to pick up. The interface is intuitive and within an hour or two you'll have a feel for how it works. The learning curve comes when you want to do more specific things, like building repeat patterns, working with layers, or using stamp brushes properly.

That's exactly why I started this blog. To break those things down so you're not spending hours on YouTube trying to piece it all together. If you're just getting started, stick around because there's a lot more coming.

Ruth