Affinity Designer vs Procreate: Which One Is Better in 2024?

Both Affinity Designer and Procreate are essential tools for businesses and designers, offering unique features that cater to different creative needs. We'll compare these two to determine which one excels in various aspects, from platform availability to feature sets, to help you make an informed choice.

A Quick Overview of Affinity Designer and Procreate

What is Affinity Designer?

Affinity Designer is developed by Serif (Europe) Ltd, which creates professional-grade graphic design and illustration software. The company offers a suite of creative applications including Affinity Designer, Affinity Photo, and Affinity Publisher, available across multiple platforms.

Live, responsive performance allows Affinity Designer to handle complex documents without lag. The software also offers a unique no subscription model, requiring only a one-off payment, which sets it apart from competitors.

What is Procreate?

Procreate is focused on amplifying human creativity through powerful and intuitive apps designed for creative professionals and aspiring artists. The company is committed to providing tools that help users create stunning digital art.

Procreate for iPad offers a complete art studio with a wide range of tools for sketching, painting, and creating. The company's clear stance on not incorporating generative AI into their apps sets them apart from competitors, emphasizing the value of human creativity.

Features of Affinity Designer and Procreate

Similarities

Affinity Designer and Procreate share several key features that make them both powerful tools for digital artists. These similarities ensure that users can enjoy a versatile and professional design experience regardless of the platform they choose.

• Vector and Raster Workspaces: Both applications allow users to work with vector and raster graphics, providing flexibility in design.
• Layer Management: Robust layer management features, including layer groups, masking, and blending modes, are available in both software.
• Brush Customization: Extensive brush customization options enable artists to create unique textures and effects in both applications.
• Cross-Platform Availability: Both Affinity Designer and Procreate are available on multiple platforms, including desktop and iPad.
• One-Time Purchase Model: Both companies offer their software with a one-time purchase model, avoiding the need for a subscription.

Differences

While both Affinity Designer and Procreate are powerful tools for digital artists, they cater to different creative needs. Here are the most significant differences in their features:

• Vector vs. Raster: Affinity Designer offers both vector and raster workspaces, while Procreate is primarily raster-based.
• Typography: Affinity Designer supports advanced typography options, including flowing text along paths and custom typography, which Procreate does not emphasize.
• Pixel Preview Mode: Affinity Designer provides a pixel preview mode for viewing vectors in standard and retina resolution, a feature not available in Procreate.
• Animation: Procreate Dreams focuses on animation capabilities, a feature not present in Affinity Designer.
• Platform Specificity: Procreate is designed specifically for iPad and iPhone, whereas Affinity Designer is available across multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and iPad.

User Interface and Usability

Affinity Designer's user interface is structured and organized, with clear navigation menus and prominently displayed action buttons. The software's detailed feature descriptions and live responsiveness contribute to a smooth user experience. However, the complexity of its tools may present a learning curve for new users, potentially impacting overall usability.

Procreate offers an intuitive and user-friendly interface, with a focus on easy navigation and accessibility. The software's clean design and comprehensive support resources enhance the user experience, making it approachable for both beginners and professionals. Despite its simplicity, the lack of advanced typography options may limit its usability for certain design tasks.

Neither company has a definitive edge in user interface and usability; it depends on the user's specific needs and preferences.

Collaboration

Affinity Designer offers cross-platform compatibility, allowing teams to work on the same project across different devices. However, it lacks specific built-in collaboration features such as shared workspaces or real-time collaboration tools. The software supports various file types, making it easier to share designs, but the absence of dedicated team collaboration functionalities may limit its effectiveness for collaborative projects.

Procreate, on the other hand, focuses on individual creativity and does not provide explicit collaboration features. While it has a community section for sharing art, it lacks tools for real-time collaboration or team-based workflows. The emphasis on personal use and learning resources means that Procreate may not be the best choice for collaborative efforts.

Overall, neither Affinity Designer nor Procreate stands out as superior for collaboration.

Affinity Designer and Procreate Pricing

Affinity Designer offers a one-time payment model with prices starting at $69.99 for macOS or Windows and $18.49 for iPad. The V2 Universal Licence, which includes Affinity Designer, Photo, and Publisher for all platforms, costs $164.99. Volume discounts are available for businesses and educational institutions, but taxes are not included in the listed prices.

Procreate is available for a one-time fee of $12.99 for iPad, with no additional costs or hidden fees. The pricing is straightforward, with no subscription required and no discounts or promotions mentioned. Given the lower price and simplicity, Procreate offers more affordable pricing compared to Affinity Designer.

Comparing Affinity Designer and Procreate to Piktochart

Piktochart transforms complex ideas into captivating visuals that inform and engage your audience. With Piktochart AI, you can create stunning infographics, reports, and presentations in seconds, perfectly aligned with your brand. No design experience required.

Pros of Piktochart

• AI-Powered Design Generator: Piktochart's AI-powered design generator allows users to create stunning visuals from simple prompts, making the design process quick and effortless.
• Extensive Template Library: With a wide range of customizable templates, Piktochart saves users time and effort, enabling them to create professional-looking designs without starting from scratch.
• Versatile Visual Tools: Piktochart offers a variety of visual tools, including an Infographic Maker, Banner Maker, and Brochure Maker, catering to diverse design needs.
• Comprehensive Video Tools: The platform includes video tools such as a Screen Recorder, Social Media Video Maker, and Video to Text Converter, enhancing its utility for multimedia projects.
• Sector-Specific Support: Piktochart provides tailored solutions for various sectors, including education, healthcare, and marketing, ensuring that users from different fields can effectively communicate their ideas.

Piktochart's Pricing

• Free: $0 (Free forever)
• Pro: $29 per member/month (billed monthly) or $14 per member/month (billed annually, save 52%)
• Business: $49 per member/month (billed monthly) or $24 per member/month (billed annually, save 52%)
• Enterprise: Custom Pricing (Contact for details)

What Are Others Saying?

Affinity Designer Reviews

Overall, users have given Affinity Designer a rating of 4.6 out of 5. While many appreciate its affordability and intuitive interface, some find the tool limitations and learning curve frustrating.

• "The software is good but has a steep learning curve." - John D., 3.5/5
• "Importing files can be a hassle, and some features are limited." - Sarah K., 3.8/5
• "Complexity in using advanced tools can be overwhelming." - Alex M., 3.9/5

Find more of Affinity Designer reviews on G2!

Procreate Reviews

Procreate has received overwhelmingly positive reviews, with users appreciating its intuitive interface and wide variety of brushes. However, some users have found the initial complexity and limitations with file size frustrating. The overall rating for Procreate is 5.0 out of 5.

• "Initial complexity for first-time users can be overwhelming." - Hadiza I., 3.5/5
• "Limitations with file size depending on the iPad used." - Adelaide R., 3.8/5
• "Occasional crashes, especially with heavier illustrations." - Krittika M., 3.9/5

Find more of Procreate reviews on G2!

Piktochart Reviews

Our users have praised Piktochart for its ease of use and powerful features, giving it an overall rating of 4.7 out of 5. Customers found the following particularly useful:

• "Easy to create content even if you're not a designer." - Jennifer K.
• "My Go-To for ALL Professional Presentations!" - Jessica D.
• "Incredibly intuitive design app." - Gavin S.

Find more of our reviews on G2!

Why choose one over the other?

Why Choose Affinity Designer:

• Consumers who need advanced vector and raster capabilities, along with sophisticated typography options, will find Affinity Designer ideal. This software is perfect for professional illustrators, web designers, and game developers who require high performance and cross-platform compatibility.

Why Choose Procreate:

• Procreate is the go-to choice for artists who prioritize an intuitive interface and a wide variety of brushes for sketching and painting. It is particularly suited for creative professionals and aspiring artists who work primarily on iPads and iPhones.

Why Choose Piktochart:

• Piktochart is perfect for users who need to create stunning visuals quickly and effortlessly, without any design experience. This platform is ideal for content creators, businesses, and educators who require versatile visual tools and comprehensive video editing capabilities.

Affinity Designer, Procreate, or Piktochart: Which is the best platform for you?

Whether you're a professional designer, an aspiring artist, or someone who needs to create stunning visuals quickly, Affinity Designer, Procreate, and Piktochart each offer unique strengths to meet your needs. While all three tools are excellent choices, we believe Piktochart stands out for its ease of use and powerful features, making it the perfect solution for anyone looking to transform complex ideas into captivating visuals effortlessly. Give Piktochart a try and see how it can elevate your creative projects!