What makes Procreate so good
Procreate excels at natural media simulation. Its brush engine is fast, pressure sensitivity is accurate, stabilisation is excellent, and the layer system supports blend modes and clipping masks. The gesture interface on iPad also makes it fast to use.
Camisual as a browser-based alternative
Camisual runs in Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and Edge on any device. It supports stylus pressure via the Pointer Events API on iPad, Android tablets, Wacom tablets, and Windows Surface. The Expressive brush mode provides natural media brushes including pencil, watercolour, charcoal, and bristle types with full pressure sensitivity.
Feature comparison
- 1
Pressure-sensitive brushes
Both tools support pressure sensitivity when used with a compatible stylus. Camisual's Expressive mode maps pressure to size, opacity, or both. Brush types include Round, Pencil, Charcoal, Calligraphy, Spray, Bristle, and Watercolour.
- 2
Stabilisation
Procreate's StreamLine is an industry-leading smooth tool. Camisual's Assisted drawing mode provides path smoothing that softens shaky strokes into smooth curves. The level of smoothing is adjustable from light correction to aggressive stabilisation.
- 3
Layers
Both tools have multi-layer support. Camisual supports named layers, opacity, visibility, locking, and grouping. Procreate additionally supports blend modes and clipping masks, giving it an edge for complex painting workflows.
- 4
Device compatibility
Procreate is iPad only. Camisual works on iPad, Android tablets, Windows tablets (Surface Pen), Mac, and desktop Windows with Wacom or Huion tablets. If you do not own an iPad, Camisual is one of the only drawing tools that brings a comparable experience.
- 5
Graphic design integration
Procreate is purely a painting app. Camisual combines digital illustration with full graphic design tools: shape builder, text engine, image editing AI, asset library, and export to PNG and SVG. You can draw a character and then design the full social post around it in the same file.
Who should use Camisual over Procreate
Use Camisual if you do not own an iPad, if you use a Windows or Android tablet, if you want to combine drawing with design in one tool, or if you want your work accessible from any browser without managing files on a device. Procreate remains the top choice for dedicated iPad painting and illustration.
Cost
Procreate costs a one-time fee of $12.99 on the App Store but requires an iPad. Camisual is free in the browser on any device.