Multic vs Procreate: Platform vs Drawing App for Comic Creators
Compare Multic and Procreate for creating comics. We examine when to use integrated platforms versus mobile drawing apps.
Procreate and Multic represent different approaches to digital creation. Procreate is a beloved iPad drawing app—intuitive, powerful, and focused on the drawing experience. Multic is a web-based creation platform with AI generation and collaborative storytelling. Here’s how they compare for comic creators.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Procreate | Multic |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Drawing application | Creation + publishing platform |
| Platform | iPad only | Web-based (any device) |
| Cost | $12.99 one-time | Free tier available |
| Primary Use | Drawing, painting, illustration | Story creation, AI generation |
| Learning Curve | Low-moderate | Low-moderate |
| Collaboration | None | Real-time multiplayer |
| Publishing | Export files | Integrated |
| Best For | Artists who draw | Storytellers creating visual content |
Procreate Overview
Procreate has become the go-to drawing app for iPad artists. Its intuitive interface and natural drawing feel have made it popular with hobbyists and professionals alike.
What Procreate Does Well
Intuitive drawing experience: Natural, responsive brushes that feel like real media. Easy to pick up, satisfying to use.
Excellent value: One-time $12.99 purchase. No subscription, no ongoing costs. Incredible value for a professional-quality tool.
Portability: Draw anywhere with iPad. Couch, coffee shop, commute—your full studio travels with you.
Beautiful brushes: High-quality default brushes plus thousands available for download. Diverse artistic styles accessible.
Animation support: Procreate Dreams and animation assist features for motion work.
Simple interface: Less intimidating than Clip Studio or Photoshop. Artists start creating quickly.
Procreate Limitations
iPad only: Requires Apple iPad (plus Apple Pencil for best experience). Windows, Android, desktop users excluded.
Drawing skill required: Like all art tools, results depend on your artistic ability.
No publishing: Export images and upload elsewhere. The app doesn’t include distribution.
Solo workflow: Single-user app. No collaborative features.
Not comic-specific: General drawing app. Lacks manga/comic-specific features like panel rulers or speech bubble tools.
File management: Projects live on your iPad. Backup and sync require additional steps.
Best For
- iPad owners who want to draw
- Artists seeking portable creation
- Those who prefer intuitive over complex software
- Illustrators and concept artists
- Budget-conscious creators wanting professional tools
Multic Overview
Multic takes a different approach—platform-based creation with AI assistance, collaboration, and integrated publishing.
What Multic Does Well
No drawing required: AI image generation creates visuals from prompts. Non-artists can create visual stories.
Web-based accessibility: Works on any device with a browser. No specific hardware needed.
Real-time collaboration: Multiple creators work simultaneously. Writers and artists together.
Story-focused tools: Node-based narrative design, branching paths, reader choices. Built for storytelling.
Integrated publishing: Create and publish in one place. No separate platform management.
Cloud storage: Projects stored online. Access from anywhere, no backup worries.
Multic Limitations
Not a drawing app: Basic drawing tools, not Procreate-level brushes.
AI aesthetic constraints: Generated images have style limitations compared to hand-drawn art.
Internet required: Web-based means you need connectivity.
Less artistic control: Prompting AI differs from directly drawing what you envision.
Best For
- Storytellers without drawing skills
- Collaborative teams
- Creators wanting creation + publishing unified
- Those exploring interactive narratives
- Writers adding visuals to their stories
Head-to-Head Comparison
Creating Visuals
Procreate: Draw directly. Your hand, your stylus, your vision translated through drawing skill. Full artistic control.
Multic: Generate with AI or import images. Describe what you want; AI creates it. Different kind of control—through prompting rather than drawing.
Verdict: Procreate for hand-drawn art. Multic for AI-assisted or non-artists.
Accessibility
Procreate: Requires iPad (starting ~$329 for compatible model) plus Apple Pencil ($129). Great value if you have the hardware.
Multic: Free tier on any device with a browser. Zero hardware requirements beyond what you already own.
Verdict: Multic for accessibility. Procreate requires Apple ecosystem investment.
Learning Curve
Procreate: Intuitive interface makes starting easy. Mastering drawing itself takes years, but the app isn’t the barrier.
Multic: Node-based system is learnable quickly. AI prompting has a curve but not as steep as learning to draw.
Verdict: Similar time to basic competency. Different skills (drawing vs. prompting/story design).
Collaboration
Procreate: None. Single-user app. Share files manually for team projects.
Multic: Real-time collaborative editing. Multiple people in the same project simultaneously.
Verdict: Multic wins for teams.
Comic-Specific Features
Procreate: General drawing app. No panel tools, speech bubble features, or story management.
Multic: Built for stories. Node-based narrative structure, dialogue system, branching paths.
Verdict: Multic for comic/story structure. Procreate for raw art creation.
Output Quality
Procreate: Professional-quality output limited only by your skill. High-resolution, print-ready.
Multic: AI generation has style parameters. Different aesthetic than hand-drawn. Quality depends on prompting skill.
Verdict: Procreate for maximum artistic quality. Multic for accessibility with style constraints.
When to Choose Procreate
Choose Procreate if:
- You have an iPad and want to draw
- You enjoy the drawing process itself
- Artistic control matters most
- You’re building drawing skills
- You want portable creation
- Budget is tight but you have Apple hardware
Procreate is fantastic for artists who draw. The price-to-value ratio is unmatched in creative software.
When to Choose Multic
Choose Multic if:
- You don’t draw (or don’t want to)
- You’re collaborating with others
- Story structure and interactivity matter
- You want creation + publishing unified
- You don’t have iPad/Apple Pencil
- Speed of creation matters more than hand-crafted art
Multic enables visual storytelling without drawing ability—a different path to similar creative outcomes.
Using Both Together
Workflows can combine tools:
- Draw in Procreate, assemble in Multic: Create art on iPad, build interactive stories on Multic
- Procreate for characters, AI for backgrounds: Hand-draw main characters, generate environments in Multic
- Prototype in Multic, polish in Procreate: Test story concepts quickly, then invest in hand-drawn art
- Collaborate: Artist draws in Procreate, writer structures story in Multic
Tools complement each other. Use what serves your creative goals.
The Drawing Question
The core question is: Do you want to draw?
If yes: Procreate (or similar drawing apps) let you develop and apply that skill.
If no: Multic (and AI tools) let you create visual stories without drawing.
Neither is better—they serve different creative paths. Know which path you’re on.
Making Your Decision
Consider:
- Do you draw or want to? Procreate if yes. Multic if no.
- What hardware do you have? Procreate needs iPad. Multic works everywhere.
- Solo or team? Procreate is solo. Multic enables collaboration.
- Art or story first? Procreate for art creation. Multic for story structure.
- What matters more? Artistic control (Procreate) vs. accessibility (Multic).
Ready to create visual stories without drawing? Start on Multic with AI generation and collaborative storytelling tools.
Related: How to Make a Comic and Best Manga Drawing Apps