Procreate Pocket is the iPhone version of Procreate. Ultimately, it’s almost exactly the same as Procreate but for the very big difference of using it on your iPhone instead of your iPad. There are some other key differences between these two software programs as well.
Procreate Pocket is worth using if you need a high quality digital drawing and art program to use on your iPhone. The biggest drawback to Procreate Pocket is the challenge of drawing on smaller iPhone screens, not with the software itself. As a program, Procreate Pocket is top notch and worth it.
There are a number of factors you’ll want to consider before deciding whether Procreate Pocket is worth it for yourself. Let’s dive into everything you need to know.
How Much Does Procreate Pocket Cost?
Procreate Pocket is a one-time payment of $5.99 on the Apple app store. Given that it’s an iPhone app, you’ll want to purchase it from your iPhone and directly download it from there. Procreate Pocket does not require a subscription and solely costs the $5.99 one time payment.
Procreate products are unbelievably cheap. Procreate Pocket is only $5.99 and Procreate (the iPad version) is only $12.99. Like, what?!
Given how amazing these programs are, Procreate could justify charging for monthly subscriptions to the high priced tune that the Adobe programs sing.
But, they don’t. I’m not sure why, but I love them for it
Honestly, I’d suggest locking in these Procreate prices now. Even if you decide that you don’t want to use Procreate Pocket or Procreate on a regular basis, $18.98 for both programs is a steal.
For less than $6, Procreate Pocket doesn’t have to do very much to be worth it. Yet, it does. Again, this cheap program is incredible and could arguably be a lot more expensive. So, let’s talk more about it’s features.
Important note: Procreate Pocket only works on iPhones. It is specifically designed for iOS and cannot be used with any other types of phones.
Is Procreate Pocket the Same as Procreate?
Procreate Pocket is almost identical to the iPad version of Procreate. Any features that are different or missing are due to the differences between iPhones and iPads, especially relating to screen size. If you’re familiar with one program, learning the other will be quick and easy.
If you’re familiar with the iPad version of Procreate, you’ll have an easy time moving around Procreate Pocket.
The biggest differences you’ll notice are accommodations that Procreate Pocket has made for the smaller iPhone screens.
This is definitely appreciated. It’s clear the developers understood that it can be challenging to draw on small screens, so they’ve tried to give you as much drawing space on your screen as possible.
You’ll notice that brush settings are tucked into the left-hand side and the top menu bar is hidden until you click on the “Modify” button.
Now that we’ve talked about how similar the Procreate programs are, let’s talk about a few important differences.
Procreate Pocket Won’t Work with Your Apple Pencil
iPhones are not compatible with Apple Pencils, which means that you won’t be able to use your Apple Pencil with Procreate Pocket. Any number of third party styluses will work with Procreate Pocket, whether they be cheaper or more high end.
If you’ve used the iPad version of Procreate, you’re probably familiar with the high price tags of the Apple Pencil and Logitech Crayon (the only two styluses confirmed to be compatible with the iPad version of Procreate).
Luckily, Procreate Pocket won’t require you to buy an expensive stylus. So, if you already have an Apple Pencil or a Logitech Crayon, it might be a bummer that you can’t use it with your iPhone. That said, it can be less than $7 to buy a good stylus that will work.
Check out all of the great stylus choices here on Amazon.
Does Procreate Pocket Sync with the iPad Procreate?
If you’re using both Procreate Pocket and the iPad version of Procreate, they won’t sync with each other. Pieces of art, color palettes, brushes, and any other resources need to be manually transferred from one app to another if you want to use them on both programs.
An update I’d LOVE to see in the future is the ability for Procreate Pocket and the iPad version of Procreate to talk to each other. How awesome would it be to see everything you’ve worked on in Procreate Pocket to show up in Procreate on your iPad?
Hopefully that update is coming at some point in the future but, in the meantime, just be aware that you’ll need to transfer things from one Procreate app to another.
Drawing on an iPhone has a Learning Curve
If you haven’t drawn on an iPhone before, it can take some getting used to. Be patient with yourself as you learn how to position your hand, hold your stylus, and navigate around a smaller screen. Start by drawing simpler pieces of art on Procreate Pocket until you get the hang of it.
Learning to draw on a new surface is always challenging. The first time you draw on your iPhone, it will probably feel weird and awkward.
This isn’t Procreate Pocket specific. Drawing on your iPhone in general will take some practice.
Even if you’re very comfortable with the iPad version of Procreate, expect a learning curve when you play around with Procreate Pocket and draw on your iPad for the first time.
The Verdict on Procreate Pocket
While I’d love to see Procreate programs sync with each other and for iPhones to support Apple Pencils, these are small drawbacks considering that Procreate Pocket is a high quality digital art option for iPhones. Procreate Pocket is worth far more than the small price tag of $5.99 they charge.
For a one-time payment of $5.99, there’s no doubt that Procreate Pocket is worth it. It’s a phenomenal digital drawing program that is DEFINITELY worth checking out if you’re looking for a great way to create high quality art on your iPhone.
Diana has been an artist for over 27 years and has training in drawing, painting, digital drawing and graphic design. Diana’s latest obsession is digitally drawing with Procreate and Procreate Dreams. Diana has experience selling her art across a number of platforms and loves helping other artists learn how to make money from their art as well.