Procreate Dreams Review and Alternatives for Windows and iPad (2026)

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Procreate Dreams is a $12.99 animation app for the iPad, and it is a great tool for personal and indie animation, but it does not run on Windows, Mac or Android and studios almost never ask for it. If you need a Procreate Dreams alternative, the best picks are Clip Studio Paint EX for hand-drawn frames, Toon Boom Harmony for professional 2D, Adobe Animate for vector work, and Krita if you want something free. This guide reviews Dreams honestly, then compares seven alternatives with current prices, pros and cons, and ArtBlast's own job data.

Prices and versions were checked in November 2026 on each tool's official page or store listing, with the source for every figure at the end. For a broader list of 2D and 3D tools, see the best animation software guide.

The Short Answer: Procreate Dreams and Its Alternatives at a Glance

Adobe Animate is the US single-app plan, annual commitment billed monthly. Sources for every price are listed at the end of this guide.

What Procreate Dreams Is and Who It Is For

Procreate Dreams is the animation app from the makers of Procreate, sold separately from the drawing app. Procreate's page describes a flipbook for hand-drawn frames with onion skins, multiple tracks and over 300 brushes, keyframes for moving, scaling and warping artwork, non-destructive filters, and import of video and audio. A multitouch timeline, real-time playback and automatic saving round it out, and 4K ProRes editing works on supported iPads. The US App Store listing shows version 2.1.2, updated on September 11, 2026.

Price: $12.99 once from the App Store, with no subscription. Procreate's page does not mention a free version.

Platforms: iPad only. It supports iPads that can run iPadOS 16.3, and the number of video and content tracks depends on the device, so older iPads get fewer tracks.

• Pros: very low one-time price, a fast touch-first timeline, the Procreate brush feel, good for short loops, social clips and personal films.
• Cons: iPad only, so no Windows, Mac or Android version; it has no bone rigging on Procreate's feature list; and track counts vary by device.

Does Procreate Dreams Work on Windows or Android?

No. Procreate Dreams is built for the iPad and Apple Pencil, and Procreate sells it only through the App Store. There is no Windows, Mac, Android or web version. That is why most people searching for it on a PC are really looking for an alternative. The programs below run on Windows and Mac, and a few also work on iPad and Android.

What Studios Ask For: ArtBlast Job Data

Before you pick a replacement, check what employers actually list. ArtBlast tracked 878 distinct animator, animation artist and animation technical job posts from 2026 that included a full description (611 employers, March 13 to August 12, 2026), and counted how many name each program. Each post is counted once.

The takeaway: Procreate Dreams is named in none of the 878 animator posts, and the Procreate drawing app in 3. Studio 2D roles name Spine, After Effects and Toon Boom instead: in the 128 posts whose titles say 2D, Spine appears in 38%, After Effects in 36% and Toon Boom in 28%. That does not make Dreams a bad tool. It means it fits personal, indie and social work, and that anyone aiming at a studio job should also learn one of the tools below. A mention means the studio lists the tool as a skill, not that every artist must own it. Browse live openings: 2D animator jobs, animator jobs and 2D animation jobs.

1. Clip Studio Paint EX: Best Overall Alternative

Clip Studio Paint is the closest match for artists who like Procreate's drawing feel but need a desktop tool. The EX edition adds unlimited animation frames, a timeline, onion skinning and export to video, while the PRO edition limits an animation to 24 frames. It runs on Windows, macOS and iPad, so you can keep the same file on a tablet and a PC. The Clip Studio Paint animation guide shows the workflow step by step.

Price: EX is $277 as a one-time purchase for Windows and macOS (Version 5.0), and a 12-month EX license is $76.99. PRO is $63 once. Subscriptions start from $0.99 a month and cover iPad, iPhone, Android, Windows and macOS.

• Pros: excellent line feel, one-time purchase available, runs on iPad and PC, plenty of brushes and tutorials.
• Cons: animation tools are simpler than Harmony or TVPaint, PRO caps animation at 24 frames, and there is no deep rigging.

2. Toon Boom Harmony: Best for Professional 2D

Best for: studio 2D animation, cut-out rigs and TV or streaming work.

Toon Boom Harmony is the 2D production standard and is named in 7% of all animator posts and 28% of the 2D ones. It handles hand-drawn and cut-out workflows, deformers and effects, and has a 14-day free trial.

Price: Essentials is $31 a month or $259 billed annually, Advanced is $79 or $606, and Premium is $143 or $1,161. Premium adds sophisticated cut-out rigs and unlimited effects.

Platforms: Windows and macOS.

• Pros: the studio standard, powerful rigging and effects, a clear route to professional work.
• Cons: expensive above Essentials, a steeper learning curve, and no iPad version.

3. Adobe Animate: Best for Vector and Web Animation

Best for: vector cut-out animation, web animation and game UI.

Adobe Animate is quick to learn and works with Photoshop and Illustrator files. It is named in 3% of animator posts overall and 14% of the 2D ones. See the best Adobe Animate tutorials and the Fresco vs Animate comparison.

Price: $22.99 a month in the United States (annual commitment, billed monthly), according to Adobe's Animate page. Adobe has put Animate in maintenance mode: it is still sold to new and existing users and gets bug and security fixes, but Adobe plans no new features.

Platforms: Windows and macOS.

• Pros: easy to start, vector tools that scale, tight Adobe integration.
• Cons: subscription only, no new features planned (maintenance mode), less common in TV studios than Harmony, and no iPad version.

Get Adobe Animate (free trial available).

4. Krita: Best Free Alternative

Best for: free frame-by-frame animation for painters on any desktop.

Krita is a free, open source painting program with a frame-by-frame animation workspace, onion skins and video export. It has a full brush engine, so it feels closer to a painting app than most animation tools. The current release is 5.3.4.1, and it runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android. See the best digital art software guide for more on Krita.

Price: free under the GNU GPL license, with no feature locks.

• Pros: free, strong brushes, works on Windows, Mac, Linux and Android.
• Cons: animation is basic compared with Harmony or TVPaint, and it is named in only a handful of studio job posts.

5. Moho: Best for Rigged 2D on a Budget

Best for: bone-rigged and cut-out 2D animation without a subscription.

Moho combines vector drawing, bone rigging and frame-by-frame animation in one program and is sold as a one-time purchase. It is named in 3% of the 2D posts ArtBlast tracked.

Price: Moho Debut 14 is $59.99 and Moho Pro 14 is $399.99, both one-time purchases.

Platforms: Windows and macOS.

• Pros: one-time price, strong rigging for the money.
• Cons: few studios list it, and Debut has fewer features than Pro.

6. RoughAnimator: Best Cheap Alternative on iPad

Best for: iPad artists who want a low-cost, dedicated frame-by-frame app.

RoughAnimator is a hand-drawn animation app for iPad and iPhone built for drawing frame by frame. It is a straightforward pick if you want to stay on iPad but find Dreams' timeline more than you need.

Price: $7.99 on the US App Store (version 4.25).

• Pros: low price, focused on drawing frames.
• Cons: mobile only, a smaller feature set than Dreams or Harmony, and not named in studio job posts.

7. FlipaClip: Best Free Flipbook App for Beginners

Best for: beginners, students and quick phone or tablet animations.

FlipaClip is a free flipbook animation app with onion skins and audio tracks on iPhone, iPad and Android. It is a good place to learn timing and spacing before moving to a larger tool.

Price: free to download (version 5.0.3 on the US App Store).

• Pros: free to start, easy interface, works on Android too.
• Cons: limited for professional work, and not named in studio job posts.

Also Worth a Look

• Blender Grease Pencil: free 2D drawing and animation inside a 3D scene. Get it from blender.org.
• TVPaint Animation: a bitmap-based professional tool for hand-drawn work, sold as a one-time license, at tvpaint.com.
• OpenToonz: free, open source 2D animation software, at opentoonz.github.io.
• Spine: skeletal 2D animation for games, named in 38% of 2D animator posts, at esotericsoftware.com.
• Adobe Fresco: drawing and painting on iPad, covered in the best drawing software for iPad guide.

Procreate vs Procreate Dreams: What Is the Difference?

Procreate is the drawing and painting app, and Procreate Dreams is a separate animation app with its own timeline, tracks and keyframes. Procreate itself covers simple frame loops, while Dreams is built for longer animation, video editing and sound. Each is a separate $12.99 purchase on the App Store. If you only need to draw, you do not need Dreams. If you want a full drawing app on PC, see the best digital art software guide.

How to Choose a Procreate Dreams Alternative

• You want to stay on iPad: Clip Studio Paint EX (subscription), RoughAnimator or FlipaClip.
• You are moving to Windows or Mac: Clip Studio Paint EX for a familiar drawing feel, Krita if you want it free.
• You want a studio career in 2D: Toon Boom Harmony, plus Spine if you target games. See the data above.
• You want to make 3D: go to the best animation software list for Maya and Blender.
• You want to be hired as an animator: read how to become an animator and the animator career path.

Whatever you pick, a short reel with clear timing beats any tool choice. Check the 2D animator salary guide for pay, then see remote animator jobs for open roles.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best Procreate Dreams alternative?

Clip Studio Paint EX is the best all-round alternative for hand-drawn frames: it runs on Windows, Mac and iPad. Toon Boom Harmony is best for professional 2D, Adobe Animate for vector work, and Krita is the best free option. Studios name Toon Boom, Spine and After Effects far more than Dreams: Procreate Dreams appears in none of the 878 animator posts ArtBlast tracked.

Is there a Procreate Dreams alternative for Windows?

Yes. Clip Studio Paint EX, Toon Boom Harmony, Adobe Animate, Krita and Moho all run on Windows. Procreate Dreams itself is iPad only.

Is Procreate Dreams available on Android?

No. Procreate Dreams is sold only on the Apple App Store for iPad. On Android, Krita and FlipaClip are the closest options, and Clip Studio Paint has an Android subscription.

Is Procreate Dreams free?

No. Procreate's page lists it as a $12.99 one-time purchase from the App Store with no subscription, and does not mention a free version. Free alternatives include Krita, FlipaClip and OpenToonz.

Is Procreate Dreams worth it?

For $12.99, yes if you own a compatible iPad and want a fast touch timeline for personal, social or indie animation. If you want a studio career or work on Windows, learn Toon Boom Harmony, Spine or Maya as well.

How is Procreate Dreams different from Procreate?

Procreate is the drawing app, and Procreate Dreams is a separate animation app with a timeline, tracks, keyframes, filters and audio and video import. They are separate $12.99 purchases.

Is Procreate an animation app?

Procreate has basic frame-loop animation for short clips. Procreate Dreams is the full animation app from the same company.

Can I use Procreate on Windows?

No. Procreate and Procreate Dreams are iPad apps. Clip Studio Paint, Krita and Adobe Photoshop are the usual Windows choices; see the best digital art software guide.

Is there a Procreate version for Android?

No. Procreate has no Android version. Krita and Clip Studio Paint are the closest tools on Android.

Do studios use Procreate Dreams?

Rarely. It is named in none of the 878 animator job posts ArtBlast tracked from March to August 2026, while Spine, After Effects and Toon Boom are named in dozens to hundreds.

Is Procreate closing?

No. Procreate is still sold on the App Store, and Procreate Dreams has been updated recently. Both are built for the iPad, which is why there is no Windows or Android version.

Sources and Price Checks

All prices were checked in November 2026. Prices change often and sales are frequent, so confirm the figure on the official page before you buy.

• Procreate Dreams: Procreate Dreams page ($12.99 once) and the US App Store listing (version 2.1.2, updated September 11, 2026)
• Clip Studio Paint: Clip Studio purchase page (Version 5.0, PRO $63 with up to 24 animation frames, EX $277, 12-month EX license $76.99)
• Toon Boom Harmony: Toon Boom Harmony page (Essentials $31 a month or $259 a year, Advanced $79 or $606, Premium $143 or $1,161)
• Adobe Animate: Adobe Animate page (US$22.99 a month, annual commitment billed monthly)
• Krita: Krita download page (free, version 5.3.4.1)
• Moho: Moho store (Debut 14 $59.99, Pro 14 $399.99)
• RoughAnimator and FlipaClip: US App Store listings ($7.99 and free)

Job data: ArtBlast job tracking, March to August 2026, 878 distinct animator posts and 611 employers, including 128 with 2D in the title. Using these figures? Please cite ArtBlast and link to this page.