Finding the right drawing or painting app can make a big difference in how you work. Whether you’re sketching for fun on an iPad or creating detailed designs for print, the tools you choose shape your results. Three of the most popular options are Procreate, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Fresco each offering its own strengths.
In this blog, we’ll look at all three and help you decide which one fits your creative style best.
Quick Summary:
Choosing between Procreate, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Fresco depends on your creative needs:
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Procreate:Best for beginners and hobbyists. Affordable one-time purchase, intuitive UI, tons of custom brushes. (Raster-based, iPad only)
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Adobe Illustrator:Industry standard for professionals. Vector-based, perfect for logos, branding, and scalable art. (Desktop + iPad, subscription)
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Adobe Fresco:Hybrid option with both raster and vector brushes. Live brushes mimic real paint, ideal for mixed-media and concept art. (iPad, subscription)
Overview of Each Software
What is Procreate?
Procreate is an advanced raster-based program designed specifically for the iPad.Loved for its sleek interface and intuitive tools, it’s ideal for illustrators, concept artists, and hobbyists. It offers hundreds of custom brushes, time-lapse recording, and powerful layer controls—all in a one-time purchase format.
What is Adobe Illustrator?
Adobe Illustrator is a vector-based design tool available on both desktop and tablet. It’s the go-to platform for logo design, branding, typography, and scalable illustrations. Known for its precision and depth, it’s favored by professional designers working on detailed projects.
What is Adobe Fresco?
Adobe Fresco bridges the gap between Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop, offering both vector and raster brushes in a single workspace. Its live brushes simulate realistic watercolor and oil effects, making it a top choice for painters and mixed-media artists.
User Interface & Ease of Use
When comparing Procreate vs Illustrator, user experience becomes a deciding factor. Procreate wins in simplicity. Its UI is minimal, responsive, and designed specifically for iPad and Apple Pencil users. It’s a great entry point for beginners in digital art.
Adobe Illustrator, on the other hand, has a steeper learning curve but provides deep customization and advanced features. If you’re coming from a graphic design background, it might feel more familiar.
Adobe Fresco offers a middle ground. It combines the clean feel of Procreate with Adobe’s robust feature set, making it more intuitive than Illustrator but more powerful than basic sketch apps.
Drawing Tools & Brush Capabilities
Procreate shines when it comes to brush variety and customization. You can create, import, and tweak brushes to match any style. From comic inkers to watercolor artists, the flexibility is unmatched for a mobile drawing and painting app.
Adobe Fresco introduces live brushes, a standout feature. These simulate real-world paint behavior—watercolor bleeds and oil paint texture react as they would on paper. This adds a tactile, artistic feel that many painters crave.
In contrast, Adobe Illustrator focuses on precision. Its vector brushes are perfect for clean lines, icons, and scalable art. While it lacks naturalistic textures, it’s unbeatable for flat design and professional graphics.
Vector vs Raster: Which Do You Need?
This is where the core of Procreate vs Illustrator vs Adobe Fresco lies.
Platform Compatibility & Device Requirements
Procreate and Adobe Fresco are exclusive to iPad and work best with Apple Pencil. This makes them perfect for mobile creators and those who love to draw naturally on-screen.
Adobe Illustrator runs on both desktop and tablet (via Illustrator on iPad), giving it broader platform flexibility. For professional designers who prefer a desktop workflow, Illustrator is a strong choice.
File Formats, Export Options & Workflow Integration
If your workflow includes other Adobe apps like Adobe Photoshop or InDesign, then Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Fresco integrate seamlessly via Creative Cloud. You can export layered PSDs, SVGs, and AI files effortlessly.
Procreate, while powerful on its own, is slightly more limited in cross-app compatibility. You can export to PSD, PNG, or JPEG formats, but deeper integration with Adobe’s ecosystem requires extra steps.
In terms of exporting for print or animation, all three offer solid support, but Illustrator leads for scalable projects and Fresco excels in layered mixed-media compositions.
Pricing Plans & Subscriptions
One of Procreate’s biggest advantages is its one-time purchase model. For a low price, you get access to all features, updates, and brushes—making it extremely cost-effective for freelancers or students.
Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Fresco, on the other hand, are subscription-based. Illustrator is part of the full Adobe Creative Cloud suite, while Fresco has a free tier but unlocks premium features through a subscription.
For artists already using Adobe Photoshop or other Creative Cloud apps, adding Illustrator or Fresco might be worth the investment. Otherwise, Procreate remains the budget-friendly champion.
Which One Is Best for You? A Breakdown by User Type
Hobbyist or Beginner Artist
Go with Procreate. It’s affordable, easy to learn, and has everything you need to dive into digital art without being overwhelmed.
Professional Illustrator or Designer
Choose Adobe Illustrator if your work involves branding, vector art, or design. It offers unmatched precision and is trusted in the industry.
Mixed Media or Concept Artist
Adobe Fresco is your go-to. Its live brushes, hybrid canvas, and Adobe ecosystem make it perfect for storytelling, sketching, and layered illustration.
Conclusion:
When it comes to Procreate vs Illustrator vs Adobe Fresco, the “best” app depends entirely on your needs. Do you prioritize creative freedom and affordability? Procreate is a solid choice. Need vector precision and professional tools? Illustrator is unbeatable. Want the best of both worlds with natural painting features? Adobe Fresco offers that flexibility.
At The Rainbow Stories, we believe all three are excellent drawing and painting apps. Your decision should align with your artistic goals, preferred devices, and budget.