Can You Really Get Procreate for Free? The Honest Truth
If you‘re an artist or designer, you‘ve likely heard of Procreate – the powerful and popular digital illustration app for iPad and iPhone. One of the first questions many people have is: "Can I get Procreate for free?"
The short answer is no, you cannot get Procreate for free – at least not legally. Procreate is a paid app that requires a one-time purchase from the Apple App Store. Attempting to download it from any other source is not only illegal, but risks infecting your device with malware or viruses.
As an avid Procreate user myself for the past 3+ years, I can assure you there is no legitimate way to obtain this app for free. But I can also attest that it is well worth the reasonable price tag for the incredible suite of drawing and painting tools it offers. Let‘s dive into the details.
Why Procreate Isn‘t Free
As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. Procreate is a top-tier, professional-grade digital art app. The developers have poured countless hours into crafting a sleek, intuitive interface and packing it with features to unleash your creativity – from customizable brushes to powerful layer blending.
Procreate is also constantly updated with new innovations and improvements, at no additional cost to users. Just like any other paid software, the one-time fee you pay helps fund this ongoing development as well as support the app creators so they can keep doing what they do best.
Simply put, a free version of Procreate wouldn‘t be sustainable. The app has garnered well-deserved praise and popularity in the art community because of the immense value it provides – not because it‘s free.
The Dangers of Trying to Get Procreate for Free
You may come across websites or videos claiming you can get a "free download" of Procreate if you just follow their sketchy instructions. Don‘t fall for it!
Attempting to get Procreate from anywhere besides the official Apple App Store means you are downloading an unauthorized, illegal version. At best, it simply won‘t work. At worst, you could end up with malicious software that steals your personal data or harms your device.
No matter how tempting it may be, trying to circumvent paying for the app is never worth the risk. Not only is it unethical, it could cost you much more than the price of the app in damages. Always download apps like Procreate from trusted, verified sources.
Procreate‘s Limited-Time Free Offer in 2016
You may have seen headlines or articles mentioning that Procreate was once available for free. This is partially true – but don‘t get too excited. It was a limited time offer that has long since expired.
When Procreate launched their iPhone version, called Procreate Pocket, in 2016, they ran a special promotion making the new app free for a couple weeks. However, this offer ended on July 28, 2016. Procreate Pocket now costs $4.99 – still a bargain, but not free.
So if you see sources claiming you can still get Procreate free, double check the date. Anything before mid-2016 is outdated information.
Free Alternatives to Procreate
I get it, we all love getting things for free. While you can‘t legally get Procreate for free, there are some other digital art apps that offer free versions or lower price points. Here are a few:
Autodesk Sketchbook: Completely free and packed with features, SketchBook is a great Procreate alternative for those on a tight budget. Offers a wide variety of brushes and layer blending.
Medibang Paint: Another free option with an intuitive interface. Boasts an impressive selection of brushes and tools as well as cloud storage.
Krita: Open-source and free, Krita has been around for years and has a devoted following. A full-featured painting app great for illustrators and concept artists.
Tayasui Sketches: Free version offers basic tools, pro version unlocks more advanced features. Minimalist interface and ultra-realistic brushes make it great for quick sketches.
Keep in mind most free art apps will have more limited capabilities or place certain features behind a paywall. You‘ll have to weigh which tools are non-negotiable for your needs. But they can be a great way to dip your toes into digital art before investing in pricier software.
Why Procreate is Worth the Price
While there are free alternatives available, I firmly believe Procreate is worth shelling out a few bucks for if you‘re serious about your art. Here‘s why:
First, Procreate is a one-time purchase, not a subscription. You pay $9.99 once and it‘s yours forever, with free updates included. This is rare in today‘s world of monthly fees and renewal payments.
Additionally, the Apple Pencil integration and UI customized for iPad make Procreate unrivaled in terms of ease of use and precision. Little details like touch gestures, QuickMenu, and seamless file exporting make the app a joy to use.
Procreate also goes above and beyond with creative tools not found in most other apps at this price point. Smudge painting, perspective guides, gradient map adjustments, and clipping masks are just a few examples. Not to mention you can import your own custom brushes and add-ons.
Perhaps most importantly, Procreate is a trustworthy app from a reliable company (Savage Interactive). You know you‘re getting quality software that‘s been thoroughly designed and tested, with customer support available should you ever need it.
In my opinion, these perks more than justify the reasonable cost of admission. If you‘re looking to get serious about digital art, Procreate is a worthwhile investment.
The Ethics of Using Paid Apps for Free
Aside from the technical risks, there‘s an ethical issue to consider when it comes to using paid apps for free. It may seem harmless to download a pirated copy of Procreate, but it‘s important to remember the human element behind the software we use.
Teams of developers, designers, and artists work hard to create apps like Procreate. It‘s their passion and livelihood. By using their app for free without permission, you‘re effectively stealing their product and denying them the compensation they deserve for their efforts.
There‘s also the question of fairness to consider. Is it right that some users pay to support the app while others circumvent the system to get it free? Procreate provides the same tools and benefits to all users – it‘s only fair that we all pitch in equally to fund it.
Additionally, using Procreate illegally deprives you of certain rights and protections. You forfeit access to features like cloud syncing and official support, and may be breaking terms of service. Any issues you encounter while using an unauthorized version will be your responsibility to solve alone.
Ultimately, supporting the developers by paying for the app is the ethical and respectful thing to do if you find value in it. Procreate has certainly earned my loyalty and support through its unparalleled tools – well worth a measly $10 in my book.
Conclusion
While everyone loves a good deal, the old adage remains true: if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Any site or claim offering Procreate completely free should be met with a healthy dose of skepticism.
The truth is Procreate is premium software. Short of a very brief promotion years ago, the app has never been free and likely never will be. And that‘s okay!
$9.99 is a small price to pay for an incredible tool that unleashes your creative potential. Unlike many apps nowadays, you only have to pay once and it‘s yours for life. Plus, you can feel good about supporting hard-working app developers and fighting against app piracy.
It may be tempting to search for free shortcuts, but trust me – it‘s not worth the risk. Malware, instability, and lack of features will likely sour your experience anyway. Do yourself a favor and cough up the $10 to get Procreate the right way. Your wallet (and iPad) will thank you!
If you absolutely can‘t spare the cash, give one of the free alternatives I mentioned a go – just go in with appropriate expectations. At the end of the day, you get what you pay for with software as with most things. Procreate is a rare gem in the sea of digital art apps that is worth its weight in gold (or $9.99 to be precise).
What‘s your experience with Procreate? Have you ever been tempted to download an illegal version? I‘d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!