Polotno
Procreate
| Feature | Polotno | Procreate |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $20.99/mo | From $12.99/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4 / 5 | 4.8 / 5 |
| Best For | developers, saas-builders, budget-designers, quick-design-needs | digital-artists, illustrators, concept-artists, hobbyists |
| Founded | 2021 | 2011 |
| Templates | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ai Image Generation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Background Removal | ✓ | ✗ |
| Sdk Embedding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Text Effects | ✓ | ✗ |
| Export Options | ✓ | ✗ |
| Digital Painting | ✗ | ✓ |
| Brushes | ✗ | ✓ |
| Layers | ✗ | ✓ |
| Animation Assist | ✗ | ✓ |
| Time Lapse | ✗ | ✓ |
| Color Tools | ✗ | ✓ |
| Apple Pencil Support | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Polotno Pros
- No account required to start
- SDK for embedding in your own app
- AI background removal and generation
- Clean and fast interface
✗ Polotno Cons
- Smaller template library than Canva
- Limited brand kit features
- Community-driven content
✓ 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
Polotno is built for developers and saas builders, with a focus on templates and ai-image-generation. Procreate targets digital artists and illustrators and leads with digital-painting and brushes.
On pricing, Procreate is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $12.99/mo compared to $20.99/mo for Polotno. That $7.999999999999998/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Polotno 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.
Procreate edges out on user ratings (4.8 vs 4). While both are well-regarded, that gap reflects real differences in user satisfaction worth considering.
Feature-wise, Procreate offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Polotno takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Bottom line: Procreate has a slight overall edge — but if no account required to start matters most to you, Polotno may still be the right call.