🎨 Art, music and story makers
Procreate
By Savage Interactive. Visit Procreate
Desk research from the maker's own pages. Not yet tried by us. Checked 2026-10-24.
A paid drawing and painting app for iPad, used by professional illustrators and by many teens learning digital art. Kids draw with an Apple Pencil or finger using hundreds of brushes, layers and blend modes, and can record a time-lapse of their work. There are no accounts, no cloud service and no AI image tools; the maker has said publicly it will not add generative AI.
Our take: A great buy for a child with an iPad who loves to draw; families without an iPad should look at free Krita or ibisPaint.
| Ages it suits | about 8+ |
|---|---|
| What its terms say about age | The app needs no account. Procreate's website terms say you must be at least 16 to register for an online account, and 16- and 17-year-olds cannot view mature artwork; downloading the app needs an Apple Account (under 13 only through a parent's Family Sharing). (terms) |
| Price | Paid. $12.99 one time on the US App Store (Oct 2026), iPad only. Schools get half off through Apple School Manager. |
| Works on | iPhone and iPad |
| Account | No account needed |
| Ads | None |
| In-app purchases | None |
| The AI in it | No AI; the maker publicly rejects generative AI. |
What's good
- Collects no data at all
- One-time price, no subscription or ads
- Professional tools kids can grow into
- No generative AI
Watch for
- iPad only, and works best with an Apple Pencil
- So many tools it can overwhelm young kids
- Website account is 16+
Data and privacy
The app privacy policy says the maker does not collect or share any data when you use its apps, artwork is saved on the iPad, and the apps never connect to the maker's servers. Read the privacy policy.
Does it work?
No studies found; the maker offers lesson ideas for schools but makes no outcome claims.
Alternatives to Procreate
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3Doodler Start+
3Doodler (WobbleWorks) · ages 6+
A fun, safe-by-design entry to 3D making for ages 6-10; kids who want precise models will move to a 3D printer.
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Adobe Express for Education
Adobe · ages grades K-12 through a school
A good free option for schools that want design and AI in one tool and will set the admin controls; families cannot set it up for a young child on their own.
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AI Duet
Yotam Mann with Google Magenta and Creative Lab · ages about 5 and up
Worth a few minutes in a music or AI lesson; not a tool for learning piano.
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Algodoo
Algoryx Simulation AB · ages about 8 and up
A great creative sandbox for curious kids and science classes; parents should supervise use of the public sharing site and forum.
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Animaker
Animaker · ages 18+ by its terms (teachers, older students with a parent)
A tool for teachers making lesson videos, not for kids; families wanting a kids' animation app should look at Stop Motion Studio or FlipaClip instead.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Nintendo · ages about 6-14
A calm, creative pick for younger kids; keep online visits to known friends.
Where these facts come from
- https://procreate.com/
- https://procreate.com/terms-conditions
- https://procreate.com/privacy-policy
- https://procreate.com/app/privacy-policy
- https://procreate.com/ai
- https://education.procreate.com/
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/procreate/id425073498
- Reviews on G2: https://www.g2.com/products/procreate/reviews
Prices, terms and features change. Nobody paid to be listed, nothing here is an affiliate link, and Peabody never rates itself. Where we and the maker disagree, the maker's own pages are the ones to trust.