Procreate icon

Procreate

★★★★★ 4.8
VS
Zeplin icon

Zeplin

★★★★ 4.2
Feature Procreate Zeplin
Pricing From $12.99/mo Free / from $12/mo
Free Plan ✗ No ✓ Yes
Rating 4.8 / 5 4.2 / 5
Best For digital-artists, illustrators, concept-artists, hobbyists design-teams, developers, agencies, product-teams
Founded 2011 2014
Digital Painting
Brushes
Layers
Animation Assist
Time Lapse
Color Tools
Apple Pencil Support
Design Handoff
Style Guide
Components
Code Snippets
Measurements
Version History

✓ 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

✓ Zeplin Pros

  • Great handoff tool
  • Developer-friendly
  • Design system support
  • Multi-platform

✗ Zeplin Cons

  • Figma reducing need
  • Limited design editing
  • Fewer updates

The Verdict

Procreate is built for digital artists and illustrators, with a focus on digital-painting and brushes. Zeplin targets design teams and developers and leads with design-handoff and style-guide.

Both tools come in at similar price points ($12.99/mo for Procreate, $12/mo for Zeplin), so pricing won't make the decision for you.

Zeplin 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 4.2). 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 Zeplin takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.

Bottom line: Procreate has a slight overall edge — but if great handoff tool matters most to you, Zeplin may still be the right call.

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