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Procreate vs Notability (best apple pencil apps / software)

Compare
Winner
Ease of Use
Brush Quality
Integration
Customization
Cost
Design Tools
Export Formats
Typography Tools
Support
Learning Curve
FREE / PAID
One-time purchase of $9.99 🛒
One-time purchase of $8.99, with additional in-app purchases 🛍️
Conclusion

Procreate shines for its robust set of brushes and user-friendly interface 🖌️, though can be a bit expensive 💸

Notability is loved for its note-taking capability 📝, and easy integration with other apps 🔄, but has limited creative tools 🎨

Procreate Pros & Cons

Top Pros
  • Powerful brushes 🖌️

  • Intuitive UI 🎯

  • Great for creative designs 🎨

  • Easily customisable workspace 🧩

  • Fast performance 🚀

Notability Pros & Cons

Top Pros
  • Excellent for note-taking 📝

  • Good app integration 🔄

  • Simplified UI for students 👩‍🎓

  • Cost-effective 💵

  • Good support 🙌

  • Offers backup for notes ☁️

Top Cons
  • Expensive 💸

  • Can’t be used for note-taking 📋

  • Requires a learning curve 🎢

  • Limited export options 📤

  • No web version 💻

  • Integration could be better ⚙️

Top Cons
  • Limited art tools 🎨

  • Not great for complex designs 🏗️

  • Cannot customise workspace 👨‍💻

  • Lack of font options 📝

  • Doesn’t support Android 🚫

Other best apple pencil apps

3

Adobe Photoshop Sketch offers extensive tools 🎨 and seamless Adobe integration 🔄, however, it can be a bit complex for beginners 🌱

4

Autodesk Sketchbook wins with its detailed brush customization options 🖌️ and multiple export formats, but lacks good typography tools ✍️

5

Affinity Designer stands out with its vector design capabilities 👨‍💻 and is cost-effective, but has a steep learning curve ⛰️

FAQ

Some of the top apps that are compatible with the Apple Pencil include Procreate, Notability, Adobe Fresco, Affinity Designer, and GoodNotes.

Procreate offers a variety of features for Apple Pencil users, including pressure sensitivity, tilt functionality for dynamic shading, and an extensive collection of painting, sketching, and illustration tools. Incredibly responsive, it emulates a real life drawing experience.

Yes, Notability works exceptionally well with the Apple Pencil. This interactive note-taking app allows users to scribble, sketch and jot notes down using the Apple Pencil along with the ability to annotate documents and PDFs.

Procreate is a paid app, available to download from the App Store for a one-time fee.

Notability is a great app for Apple Pencil users because it allows them to combine handwriting, photos, and typing in a single note for an engaging, hands-on approach to note-taking. It features powerful annotation tools and the ability to search handwritten notes.

Yes, the Apple Pencil can certainly be used to create artwork in Procreate. The combination of the two offers an immersive drawing experience with the ability to create detailed and intricate designs.

Notability offers cloud syncing feature which means it enables you to access and edit your notes from any device using iCloud or other supported cloud services.

Procreate offers a rich set of artistic tools including brushes, blending modes, masks, layers, and textures. It also supports custom brush creation for personalized artwork.

Absolutely! Notability allows you to annotate PDFs using the Apple Pencil, making it easier to highlight, underline, or add comments to documents.

The possibilities in Procreate with an Apple Pencil are virtually limitless considering the extensive range of tools and features it provides. With the diverse brush library, responsive smudge tool and the ability to layer your work, your imagination is the only limit.

Yes, Notability supports handwriting recognition. This means it can convert your handwritten notes made with the Apple Pencil into typed text.

Yes, Procreate includes an animation assist feature which allows you to create frame-by-frame animations using the Apple Pencil.

Indeed, Notability has a valuable feature which allows you to record audio while taking notes. You can then play back the recording synchronised with your note-taking timeline.

Procreate supports several export formats for artwork including .procreate, .png, .jpg, .pdf, .tiff, and .psd.

While Notability is primarily a note-taking app, its Apple Pencil compatibility and range of colors and stroke styles make it quite capable as a sketching app as well.

Definitely, Procreate is used by professional artists and illustrators worldwide. With its vast range of creative tools and capabilities, it is suitable for creating professional-level artwork.

Without a doubt, Notability is an effective choice for professional note-taking. Its versatility allows it to be used in various settings from meetings and lectures to project planning and brainstorming.

Yes, the cloud syncing feature in Procreate fully supports Apple Pencil’s pressure sensitivity. This means strokes can be fine-tuned based on the pressure applied, creating a realistic drawing experience.

Yes, Notability supports sharing of handwritten notes in several formats such as PDF, RTF, or as a note file via email, AirDrop, or other supported sharing platforms.

Definitely, the Apple Pencil significantly enhances user experience in both Procreate and Notability. It provides precision control in Procreate for creating artwork and offers a natural handwriting feel in Notability when taking notes.

The best application largely depends on what you are needing it for, but popular options include Procreate for art and drawing, and Notability for note-taking and organization.

Procreate sets itself apart by providing an intuitive interface paired with a robust set of artistic tools, making it an ideal choice for professional artists and hobbyists alike.

Notability enhances the Apple Pencil experience by allowing for seamless note-taking. You can write as naturally as with pen and paper, yet with the benefits of digital, like unlimited space and different color options.

Yes, the Procreate app is widely used by professional artists to create diverse and detailed pieces. It provides a wide range of customizable brushes, layers, and other features that help in creating professional-grade artwork.

Notability is known for its intuitiveness and ease of use, even for beginners. The interface is designed to be straightforward, allowing users to start noting down their thoughts and ideas right away.

Procreate is not free and typically costs around $9.99, a one-time fee. It is available for purchase on the App Store.

No, Notability is not free. It has a one-time cost of $8.99 and is available for download from the App Store.

Both versions of the Apple Pencil work well with Procreate. But always make sure your iPad is compatible with the Apple Pencil before purchase.

Yes, Notability allows you to export your notes to different formats like PDF, RTF, and Note, which you can then import into other platforms or applications.

Absolutely! Procreate is preferred by many graphic designers for its wide range of brushes and other features that facilitate detailed designs and versatile artwork.

Yes, there are several alternatives to Notability for note-taking, including GoodNotes, Evernote, and Microsoft OneNote. However, each has its unique features and the choice depends on your personal preferences.

Yes, Procreate does offer an animation feature known as Animation Assist, allowing frame-by-frame animations. It’s a simple but effective tool for creating GIFs or short animations.

Yes, Notability is also compatible with iPhone. However, for a smoother and more natural note-taking experience, the larger screen of an iPad is recommended.

Yes, Procreate supports layers, allowing artists to create complex drawings without altering the entire canvas. Additionally, it gives artists the freedom to experiment with different elements separately.

Yes, Notability offers an auto-backup feature. Your notes can be automatically saved on cloud services like Google Drive or Dropbox, eliminating the fear of losing important data.

Yes, Procreate offers an extensive library of brushes and also allows the creation of custom brushes, providing artists with endless possibilities for creativity.

Yes, Notability is fully compatible with Apple’s iCloud. All notes can be synced across your devices, ensuring your data is always up-to-date and accessible.

While Procreate is primarily an art and drawing application, it also includes tools for basic photo editing such as cropping, saturation adjustment, and adding different effects.

No, the Notability app currently does not have the feature to convert handwriting into text. However, the neatness of your handwriting can be improved with the app’s various pen options.

At present, Procreate supports all iPad models and iPhones with iOS 13.2 or newer. However, it is best known to work on iPads that can use an Apple Pencil for a complete and smooth drawing experience.