How Much Does Procreate Cost?

Published on October 23, 2025 | Prices Last Reviewed for Freshness: November 2025
Written by Alec Pow - Economic & Pricing Investigator | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

Educational content; not financial advice. Prices are estimates; confirm current rates, fees, taxes, and terms with providers or official sources.

Procreate is famous for a simple pricing model—one time and done. No subscription required, as of October 2025. You can confirm this on the Procreate product page.

The basic price is clear, the bigger decision is the setup you run it on. An older iPad with a budget stylus works for sketching, while a new iPad Pro with Apple Pencil Pro and extra iCloud storage supports large canvases and heavy animation. Your total can be $12.99 or it can be four figures with hardware; the current App Store listing shows the one-time price.

Article Insights

• Procreate for iPad is $12.99 one-time, as of October 2025.
• Optional add-ons include Procreate Pocket ($5.99) and Procreate Dreams ($19.99), with general details on the Procreate website.
• iCloud+ runs $0.99–$59.99 per month depending on tier (U.S. pricing).
• Apple Pencil USB-C is $79, Apple Pencil Pro is $129, and replacement tips are $19 per 4-pack.
• Education discounts lower iPad and Pencil cost, not the app.
• Refunds for mistaken purchases go through Apple’s billing portal.
• Regional pricing varies; the U.K. listing shows £12.99 for Procreate.

How Much Does Procreate Cost?

Procreate is a premium iPad app for drawing, painting, illustration, design, and light animation. The app is sold as a one-time purchase on the App Store and includes a deep brush engine, layering, PSD import/export, color management, and time-lapse. There is no subscription for the core app, and updates are included.

What you buy inside Procreate is up to you. Many artists never spend beyond the app, while others add Procreate Pocket on iPhone, Procreate Dreams for 2D animation, paid brush packs, and iCloud+ storage for larger canvases and backups. Keep in mind hardware requirements—you’ll find device and OS notes in Procreate’s FAQ.

This price grants access to all current features and updates without subscription fees or hidden costs. Independent rundowns like the Procreate Courses cost guide and TrustRadius pricing page echo the same one-time model.

For iPhone users, Procreate Pocket is available at $5.99, offering a compact version with many core features adapted for smaller screens. Procreate Dreams, designed for touch-first 2D animation on iPad, is a $19.99 one-time purchase.

Reviews consistently highlight Procreate’s value for money, noting the breadth of brushes, layers, effects, color management, and animation tools. User reviews and ratings frequently call out the absence of recurring fees as a long-term advantage.

Cost Overview

Here is the U.S. snapshot, as of October 2025: Procreate for iPad is $12.99 one time; Procreate Pocket for iPhone is $5.99 one time; Procreate Dreams is $19.99 one time. Prices vary by country, and the U.K. App Store currently lists Procreate at £12.99.

You might also like our articles about the cost of Adobe Premiere, Adobe Illustrator, or Canva Pro.

Your real outlay is shaped by hardware and storage. A new iPad starts around $349, Apple Pencil USB-C is $79, Apple Pencil Pro is $129, and iCloud+ ranges from $0.99 per month for 50 GB to $59.99 per month for 12 TB in the U.S. Sales tax appears at checkout based on your address, so totals differ by state; Apple explains taxes and payments in its payments help.

Real-Life Cost Examples

Minimalist on a budget: buy Procreate for $12.99 and pair a cheap third-party stylus around $25–$35 for casual sketching. Estimated total: $40–$50 before tax.

Student starter: iPad $349, Apple Pencil USB-C $79, Procreate $12.99, iCloud+ 50 GB $0.99/mo ($11.88/yr). Year-one cash total about $452.87 before tax, then $11.88 annually for storage after.

Pro setup for large canvases: iPad Pro from $899, Apple Pencil Pro $129, Procreate $12.99, iCloud+ 2 TB $9.99/mo. Many pros also add AppleCare One multi-device protection at $19.99/mo.

Animator bundle: Procreate $12.99 plus Procreate Dreams $19.99; plan on at least 200 GB iCloud+ at $2.99/mo for heavier projects and time-lapses.

Cost Breakdown

App licenses: Procreate $12.99; optional Procreate Pocket $5.99; Procreate Dreams $19.99. Family Sharing details are in Apple’s support article on sharing purchases.

Brushes and templates: creators sell sets between $2–$25 per pack; start with the built-ins and add later from marketplaces like Creative Market or Etsy.

Cloud storage: iCloud+ tiers are $0.99 (50 GB), $2.99 (200 GB), $9.99 (2 TB), $29.99 (6 TB), $59.99 (12 TB) in the U.S. as of Oct 2025.

Accessories: Apple Pencil USB-C $79, Apple Pencil Pro $129, replacement tips $19 for a 4-pack. Cases, stands, and screen films vary widely.

Factors Influencing the Cost

Device choice drives capability and price. Procreate runs on iPads that support iPadOS 16.3 or newer, but layer counts and canvas size scale with RAM in models like iPad Pro. Pencil generation affects pairing and charging; match the Pencil to your iPad model (see Procreate’s compatibility notes).

Storage and workflow matter. If you export layered PSDs and 4K time-lapses, you’ll likely want 200 GB or 2 TB iCloud+. Students can reduce hardware costs via Apple Education pricing on iPad and accessories.

Alternative Products or Services

Procreate’s big value is no subscription, while many rivals lean paid plans. Adobe Fresco’s premium features went free in 2024, Clip Studio Paint offers subscriptions and a renewed perpetual license on desktop, and Affinity’s iPad apps have been temporarily free in a recent promotion.

Compare pricing at a glance

Ways to Spend Less

Time hardware purchases around annual cycles and big sales—Back to School and Black Friday often cut iPad and Pencil prices, and retailers sometimes bundle AppleCare; track deal coverage for alerts.

Start with free brushes. The included sets are strong, community freebies abound, and you can upgrade later with targeted packs between $5–$20. Right-size iCloud+; you might stay at 50 GB by archiving finished time-lapses off device.

Expert Insights & Tips

Spend where it matters: Apple Pencil responsiveness and a quality display help more than extra brush packs you never use. Many illustrators note that built-in features like QuickShape, Alpha Lock, and Perspective Assist can replace add-on tools once learned. If you need animation, consider Dreams before chasing third-party tools; it’s touch-first and integrates with Procreate brushes.

Total Costs

Year one on a tight budget might be $12.99 for Procreate and $11.88 for 50 GB iCloud, about $24.87 before tax if you already own an iPad and stylus. Add a four-pack of Pencil tips at $19 and you’re still under $45 for the year.

A mid-range hardware cycle looks different: over two years, an iPad $349, Pencil $79, Procreate $12.99, iCloud+ 200 GB $2.99/mo totals $513.75 before tax, and adding AppleCare One at $19.99/mo pushes protection to $479.76 across two years.

Hidden & Unexpected Costs

Brush marketplaces tempt impulse buys—many sets sit around $5–$25 and add up quickly. Fonts, adapters, stands, and screen films are other silent spenders, and Pencil tips wear, with a four-pack at $19. If you buy the wrong app version by mistake, use Apple’s refund portal for eligible requests (decisions are at Apple’s discretion).

Warranty, Support & Insurance Costs

For hardware, AppleCare+ service fees apply when you make a claim. Apple lists fees (e.g., $49 per incident on iPad for accidental damage) in its AppleCare+ terms. Coverage terms and prices can change.

Financing & Payment Options

Apple offers monthly installments on hardware (e.g., with Apple Card) and sells refurbished iPads. Apps can be purchased with App Store gift cards, which occasionally go on sale. If you use Family Sharing, Apple’s article on purchase sharing explains how to share eligible app purchases with your household.

Opportunity Cost & ROI

If you would otherwise subscribe to a creative suite, a $12.99 one-time app is compelling—Adobe recently raised Creative Cloud All Apps to $69.99/mo in North America. Procreate’s strong toolset reduces reliance on extra apps for many illustrators, and PSD export keeps hand-off smooth for clients who live in Adobe apps.

Seasonal & Market-Timing Factors

New iPads typically arrive in spring or fall, and prices for previous models dip after releases. Black Friday and Back to School campaigns are reliable moments for hardware and AppleCare bundles, which move your total ownership cost down. App prices can adjust by region because of currency and taxes; for instance, Procreate is £12.99 in the U.K. as of October 2025.

Answers to Common Questions

Is Procreate a one-time purchase or a subscription?

One time. The iPad app is $12.99 in the U.S., updates included, with no ongoing subscription for the core app.

Do students get discounts on Procreate?

Not on the app itself, which is already low cost, but students can save on iPad and Apple Pencil through Apple Education pricing.

Can I get a refund if I bought the wrong version?

Yes—request an App Store refund for eligible purchases through Apple’s billing portal.

Do I need Procreate Dreams too?

Only if you plan to do richer 2D animation and video timelines on iPad; Dreams is $19.99 one-time and complements Procreate.

Which accessories are essential?

An Apple Pencil matched to your iPad model is the biggest upgrade, then consider storage and a basic case; Pencil tips are $19 for a four-pack when they wear.