Does Procreate Come with the iPad Pro? What You Need to Know

As a professional digital artist, one of the most common questions I hear is whether the popular drawing app Procreate comes bundled with the iPad Pro. There‘s a lot of confusion around this topic, so I want to provide a comprehensive look at the reality of Procreate and iPad Pro.

The simple answer is no, Procreate does not come pre-installed on the iPad Pro or any other iPad model. Despite the iPad Pro being an incredibly powerful tool for artists, you still need to purchase and download Procreate separately from the App Store.

In this article, I‘ll explain in detail why this is the case, how much Procreate costs, whether there are any free alternatives, and ultimately why Procreate is worth the investment for any iPad Pro artist.

Why Doesn‘t Procreate Come with the iPad Pro?

It may seem odd that Procreate, an app that‘s so core to the iPad experience for many artists, isn‘t just included with the iPad Pro. But there are several key business and economic reasons for this.

Firstly, there‘s the issue of cost. The iPad Pro is already a premium-priced device, with the 12.9-inch model starting at $1099. If Apple were to bundle Procreate, they would almost certainly need to raise the base price to account for the Procreate license fee. This would make an already expensive device even more costly.

There‘s also the matter of App Store economics. For every app sold on the App Store, Apple takes a 30% cut of the sale price. If Procreate were bundled with the iPad Pro, that would be a lost revenue opportunity for both Apple and Savage Interactive (the company that makes Procreate).

By keeping Procreate as a separate purchase, Savage Interactive can maintain full control over pricing and capture all the revenue from app sales. It‘s a more direct and profitable business model for them.

It‘s also important to remember that while many iPad Pro users are artists and designers, not all of them are. Bundling Procreate would mean forcing all iPad Pro buyers to pay for an app they may not need or want. The current model allows each user to decide for themselves.

How Much Does Procreate Cost?

Procreate is available on the App Store for a one-time purchase price of $12.99. This unlocks the full app, with all features and future updates included. There are no recurring subscription fees or hidden costs.

To put that price in perspective, let‘s compare it to some other popular options for digital artists:

• Adobe Photoshop CC: $31.49 per month ($377.88 per year)
• Adobe Fresco: $9.99 per month ($119.88 per year)
• Autodesk SketchBook: $85 per year
• Clip Studio Paint Pro: $50

As you can see, Procreate‘s one-time fee of $12.99 is incredibly reasonable compared to the subscription or high upfront costs of similar desktop software. And once you‘ve bought Procreate, you can use it for years without any additional charges.

This affordability has made Procreate one of the top-grossing iPad apps. According to Sensor Tower, Procreate was the #2 paid iPad app in Q1 2023, with an estimated $2.5 million in revenue. The average spend per paying user in the "drawing and painting" category on iPad is $6.08, so Procreate‘s $12.99 price is on the higher end. However, the app‘s value and longevity clearly justify the cost for its loyal user base.

Free Alternatives to Procreate

If you‘re not ready to invest in Procreate right away, there are a few free apps that can give you a taste of digital drawing and painting on the iPad:

• Adobe Fresco: Offers a limited free version with basic brushes and tools. Premium features require a subscription.
• Autodesk SketchBook: Completely free with a wide range of brushes and layer support. Exports up to 6K resolution.
• Charcoal by 53: A simple, streamlined drawing app with a minimalist toolset. Exports up to 2K resolution.

Here‘s a quick comparison of some key features across these apps and Procreate:

As you can see, the free apps can cover the basics, but they lack many of Procreate‘s advanced features and high-resolution output options. They‘re great for getting started, but most serious artists will eventually want to upgrade to Procreate or a similar paid app.

Which iPads Are Compatible with Procreate?

Procreate is compatible with all iPad models that can run iOS 13.2 or later. This includes:

• iPad Pro (all generations)
• iPad (8th generation and newer)
• iPad Mini (5th generation and newer)
• iPad Air (3rd generation and newer)

However, the app‘s performance and feature set can vary depending on the specific iPad model. Procreate benefits greatly from the increased RAM and GPU power in newer iPads.

For example, the 2022 iPad Pro with the M2 chip has 16GB of RAM, allowing you to work with huge canvases and many layers. The 2021 iPad Pro with M1 has 8GB or 16GB of RAM, depending on storage capacity. Older iPad models like the 2019 iPad or 2020 iPad Air have only 3GB of RAM, which limits the number of layers you can use at high resolutions.

The Apple Pencil is another important factor. All iPad models that support Procreate also support Apple Pencil (1st or 2nd generation). However, the 2nd gen Apple Pencil, which is compatible with the 2018 iPad Pro and later, offers a superior experience with its double-tap tool switching and magnetic charging.

Procreate + Apple Pencil = Digital Art Powerhouse

While Procreate doesn‘t come bundled with the Apple Pencil, the two are a match made in heaven for digital artists. The precision, pressure sensitivity, and tilt support of the Apple Pencil unlock Procreate‘s full potential.

According to a survey by Savage Interactive, 93% of Procreate users use an Apple Pencil. The Apple Pencil‘s low latency and high precision make it feel incredibly natural and responsive in Procreate. It really does feel like you‘re drawing or painting on paper.

The Apple Pencil has been a huge hit for Apple, with an estimated 43+ million sold as of 2023. That‘s a significant portion of the 400+ million iPads sold to date. The combination of Procreate and Apple Pencil has made the iPad Pro a truly viable tool for professional digital artists.

Procreate Unleashes the iPad Pro‘s Potential

While the iPad Pro is an incredible piece of hardware, it‘s apps like Procreate that really show what it‘s capable of. Procreate transforms the iPad Pro from a media consumption device into a professional-grade creative tool.

With Procreate, artists can create stunningly detailed illustrations, paintings, and designs right on their iPad. The app offers an extensive library of brushes that mimic traditional mediums like pencils, inks, oils, and more. You can even create your own custom brushes.

Procreate also supports advanced features like layer blending, alpha lock, clipping masks, and perspective guides. These tools allow artists to work in a non-destructive way and achieve effects that would be difficult or impossible with traditional mediums.

But perhaps most importantly, Procreate enables artists to take their studio with them wherever they go. With an iPad Pro and Apple Pencil, you can create professional-level art anywhere, anytime. Whether you‘re sketching in a coffee shop or painting in a park, you have all the tools you need right at your fingertips.

This mobile workflow has been a game-changer for many professional artists. Illustrators can create and revise client work on the go. Concept artists can sketch out ideas whenever inspiration strikes. Hobbyists can fit in drawing time whenever they have a spare moment.

Some notable artists who have used Procreate and iPad Pro for professional work include:

• Kim Jung Gi: Legendary comic artist and illustrator
• Rob Zilla: Digital artist and character designer for clients like Marvel, DC, and Hasbro
• Olivia Huynh: Google Doodle artist and illustrator
• James Gilleard: Illustrator and art director for clients like Apple, Nike, and The New Yorker

These artists and many others have shown that Procreate and iPad Pro are legitimate tools for high-end professional work. They‘re not just toys or gimmicks, but powerful creative devices that can produce stunning results.

The Bottom Line

So, does Procreate come with the iPad Pro? No, it doesn‘t. But that doesn‘t mean it‘s not an essential app for any iPad Pro artist.

The decision to keep Procreate as a separate purchase allows Savage Interactive to maintain control over pricing and features, ensures that only users who need the app have to pay for it, and ultimately results in a more sustainable business model for the app‘s continued development.

At $12.99, Procreate offers incredible value for the features and capabilities it provides. It‘s a small investment compared to the cost of the iPad Pro itself, and one that can pay dividends in terms of artistic growth and productivity.

If you‘re a digital artist, illustrator, or designer, Procreate is quite simply a must-have app. Combined with the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil, it forms a portable, powerful, and intuitive creative toolkit.

Whether you‘re a professional looking to streamline your workflow or a hobbyist looking to explore the world of digital art, Procreate is well worth the download. It may not come free with your iPad Pro, but it will quickly become an indispensable part of your creative process.