← Blog · 6 min read

7 Free Procreate Alternatives You Can Use in Your Browser

Procreate is fantastic — but it's iPad-only and costs money. If you're on a laptop, a Chromebook, an Android tablet, or you just don't want to buy anything, here are the best free Procreate alternatives you can use right now, most of them without downloading a thing.

What makes a good Procreate alternative?

The features that make Procreate feel great are worth looking for in any drawing app:

Pressure-sensitive brushes that respond to a stylus's tilt and speed.
Layers with blend modes, opacity, and masks.
Selection tools (lasso, magic wand) to isolate and edit parts of your art.
Smooth performance — no lag between your pen and the line.
Easy export to PNG, JPEG, or a layered format.

The list

1. PaintLasso — free, browser-based, no sign-up

PaintLasso is a GPU-accelerated drawing and painting app that runs entirely in your browser. It's built for the exact Procreate feeling — pressure brushes, real layers with 25 blend modes, smart lasso and magic-wand selection, and GPU color adjustments — but it works on desktop, iPad, Chromebook, and phone with nothing to install and no account. It's free.

2. Krita

A powerful open-source desktop painting app with a huge brush engine. Free, but it's a download and is heavier to learn — best if you're on a dedicated desktop or laptop.

3. Sketchbook

A clean, beginner-friendly app from Autodesk available on desktop and mobile. Great brushes; you'll need to install it per device.

4. Photopea

A browser-based Photoshop clone. More of a photo editor than a painter, but it has layers and runs online with no install.

5. Excalidraw / tldraw

Browser whiteboards that are wonderful for diagrams and quick sketches, but they're vector/whiteboard tools, not pressure-brush painting apps.

6. Medibang Paint

Popular with comic artists, with free cloud brushes. Available on desktop and mobile as a download.

7. Concepts

A flexible infinite-canvas sketching app, strongest on tablets.

Want the easiest one to try?

PaintLasso opens instantly in your browser — no download, no account. Start a canvas in two seconds.

Start drawing free →

Which should you pick?

If you want something you can open right now on any device without installing or paying, start with a browser-based tool like PaintLasso. If you're on a powerful desktop and want a deep, installable studio, Krita is a great free download. Either way, you don't need an iPad or a Procreate license to make great digital art.