Procreate
Squarespace
| Feature | Procreate | Squarespace |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $12.99/mo | From $16/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.8 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Best For | digital-artists, illustrators, concept-artists, hobbyists | creatives, photographers, artists, small-businesses, restaurants |
| Founded | 2011 | 2003 |
| Digital Painting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Brushes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Layers | ✓ | ✗ |
| Animation Assist | ✓ | ✗ |
| Time Lapse | ✓ | ✗ |
| Color Tools | ✓ | ✗ |
| Apple Pencil Support | ✓ | ✗ |
| Templates | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ecommerce | ✗ | ✓ |
| Blogging | ✗ | ✓ |
| Scheduling | ✗ | ✓ |
| Email Campaigns | ✗ | ✓ |
| Seo | ✗ | ✓ |
| Analytics | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ Squarespace Pros
- Most beautiful templates in the industry
- All-in-one (domain, email, analytics)
- Great for portfolios and creative brands
- Excellent blogging platform
✗ Squarespace Cons
- Less flexible than Webflow or WordPress
- No free tier (14-day trial only)
- Transaction fees unless on Commerce plans
The Verdict
Procreate is built for digital artists and illustrators, with a focus on digital-painting and brushes. Squarespace targets creatives and photographers and leads with templates and ecommerce.
Pricing is close: Procreate starts at $12.99/mo versus $16/mo for Squarespace — not a deciding factor on its own.
Neither tool offers a free plan, so factor the subscription cost into your decision from the start.
Procreate edges out on user ratings (4.8 vs 4.4). While both are well-regarded, that gap reflects real differences in user satisfaction worth considering.
Bottom line: Procreate has a slight overall edge — but if most beautiful templates in the industry matters most to you, Squarespace may still be the right call.