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Adobe Illustrator vs Procreate Comparison
Compare Adobe Illustrator and Procreate side-by-side — pricing, features, scores, and which one is right for you.
The bottom line
Adobe Illustrator and Procreate are both strong contenders in the design tools space, but they serve different needs. Procreate edges ahead with an overall score of 82/100 compared to Adobe Illustrator's 78/100. Procreate is easier to get started with (9/10 for ease of use vs 6/10). On pricing, neither offers a free tier — Adobe Illustrator starts at $23/mo and Procreate at $null/mo. Procreate rates higher for value for money (10/10 vs 6/10), making it a better pick if budget is a concern.
At a glance
| Adobe Illustrator | Procreate | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 78/100 | 82/100 |
| Starting price | $23/mo | Free |
| Free tier | No | No |
| Best for | Industry-standard vector graphics editor | Professional digital illustration for iPad |
Pricing comparison
Adobe Illustrator
No free tier
Illustrator (Annual)$23/mo
Illustrator (Monthly)$35/mo
All Apps (Annual)$55/mo
Pricing verified 2026-03-18
Procreate
No free tier
Procreate (iPad)$null/mo
Procreate Dreams$null/mo
Procreate Pocket (iPhone)$null/mo
Pricing verified 2026-03-18
Calculate your cost
Adobe IllustratorIllustrator (Annual)
$23/mo
$276/yr
ProcreateProcreate (iPad)
Contact sales
Feature comparison
core
| Feature | Adobe Illustrator | Procreate |
|---|---|---|
| Vector editing | Yes | No |
| Prototyping | No | No |
| Components | Symbols | Brush library |
| Auto-layout | No | No |
collaboration
| Feature | Adobe Illustrator | Procreate |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time editing | Cloud docs | No |
| Comments | Yes | No |
| Version history | Yes | Time-lapse |
| Dev handoff | No | No |
advanced
| Feature | Adobe Illustrator | Procreate |
|---|---|---|
| Design systems | Libraries | No |
| Plugins | Yes | Brush packs |
| Animation | Basic | Yes |
| Responsive design | No | No |
integrations
| Feature | Adobe Illustrator | Procreate |
|---|---|---|
| Photoshop | Yes | No |
| InDesign | Yes | No |
| After Effects | Yes | No |
| Figma | Via plugin | No |
| Photoshop (PSD) | No | Yes |
| No | Yes | |
| SVG | No | Import |
| Apple Pencil | No | Yes |
Ratings breakdown
Choose Adobe Illustrator if...
- You're ready to invest from $23/mo
- You value powerful features over simplicity
- You need enterprise-grade capabilities
Choose Procreate if...
- You're ready to invest from $null/mo
- You value an intuitive, easy-to-use interface
- Getting strong value for money is a priority
