| Limner | Procreate | |
|---|---|---|
| Runs on | Windows 10 and 11, macOS 13 or later, and iPad | iPad, plus Procreate Pocket on iPhone |
| Price | Free during beta; post-beta pricing not announced | See Procreate's current App Store listing |
| Pen input | Pressure and tilt on Windows and Mac; Apple Pencil on iPad | Apple Pencil |
| Editable vector | Yes | Limited |
| Frame-by-frame animation | Yes, with onion skin | Basic |
| Multi-page comics and manga | Yes, as Book projects | Multi-page documents with Page Assist |
| PSD | Opens and exports layered PSD | Opens and exports PSD |
| Brushes | Built-in library; imports Photoshop .abr brushes | Large built-in library and brush community |
Comparisons reflect publicly available information as of September 2026 and may have changed since. Limner is not affiliated with or endorsed by the makers of the other apps named here.
Why Windows artists look for a Procreate alternative
Procreate runs only on iPad and iPhone. If you draw on a Windows desktop, a laptop, or a pen display from Wacom, XP-Pen, Huion, or similar, you can't install it. Limner is native to Windows, so your pressure-sensitive pen, your files, and your muscle memory stay on the computer you already use.
What you get in Limner
- Pen pressure and tilt through Windows Ink, with a stabilizer, taper, and inking correction for clean, confident lines.
- A full brush engine with dynamics and curves. It imports Photoshop
.abrbrush sets as new tips. - Layers with 30 blend modes, clipping, and non-destructive masks.
- Editable vector and frame-by-frame animation workspaces, plus separate multi-page Book projects.
- Records your whole process as a timelapse at up to 4K, saved inside the file.
- Imports and exports layered raster PSD, and exports PNG, JPEG, and SVG.
Free during the beta
Limner is free during the open beta, and pricing for the full release will be announced before anything changes.
An honest comparison
Procreate is a refined app with a large brush and asset ecosystem, and it's excellent on iPad. Limner brings the same brush-first way of drawing to Windows and Mac, and adds editable vector, frame-by-frame animation, multi-page comics, and process-video recording in the same app. If you already love Procreate on iPad, the two work well together: PSD carries your layers between them.
Moving your work over
Procreate exports PSD, and Limner opens PSD files up to 16384 by 16384 pixels with their layers, folders, masks, and blend modes. Keep the original until you've checked the import.
Common questions
Does Procreate run on Windows?
No. Procreate is made for iPad, with Procreate Pocket on iPhone, and there's no Windows version. Limner is a native Windows alternative.
Is Limner the same as Procreate?
No. Limner is its own app, with its own tools and workflow. It's built for the same brush-first kind of drawing, on Windows.
Can I bring my art across?
Yes. Procreate exports PSD, and Limner opens it with its layers, folders, masks, and blend modes. Limner also imports Photoshop .abr brush files as new tips.
What does Limner cost?
Limner is free during the beta. Pricing for the full release will be announced before anything changes.