Photopea
Procreate
| Feature | Photopea | Procreate |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $5/mo | From $12.99/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.8 / 5 |
| Best For | designers, students, photo-editors, budget-conscious-creatives | digital-artists, illustrators, concept-artists, hobbyists |
| Founded | 2013 | 2011 |
| Photo Editing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Psd Support | ✓ | ✗ |
| Layers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Filters | ✓ | ✗ |
| Batch Processing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Vector Tools | ✓ | ✗ |
| Digital Painting | ✗ | ✓ |
| Brushes | ✗ | ✓ |
| Animation Assist | ✗ | ✓ |
| Time Lapse | ✗ | ✓ |
| Color Tools | ✗ | ✓ |
| Apple Pencil Support | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Photopea Pros
- Free and browser-based
- Opens PSD files perfectly
- No installation needed
- Full editing capabilities
✗ Photopea Cons
- Ads on free version
- Can be slow with large files
- Limited batch processing
✓ Procreate Pros
- One-time purchase price (no subscription)
- Incredibly responsive and natural brush engine
- Massive brush library with custom brush creation
- Animation assist for frame-by-frame animation
✗ Procreate Cons
- iPad-only (no desktop or Android version)
- No vector support (raster only)
- Limited text and layout tools
The Verdict
Photopea is built for designers and students, with a focus on photo-editing and psd-support. Procreate targets digital artists and illustrators and leads with digital-painting and brushes.
On pricing, Photopea is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $5/mo compared to $12.99/mo for Procreate. That $7.99/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Photopea has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Procreate requires a paid subscription from day one.
Feature-wise, Procreate offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Photopea takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Bottom line: Procreate has a slight overall edge — but if free and browser-based matters most to you, Photopea may still be the right call.