Procreate

Procreate is an iPad drawing and painting app for illustrators that KDP publishers use to draw coloring pages, cover art and picture book illustrations.

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At a glance

Price: $12.99 one-time (US App Store price. iPad only; Procreate Pocket for iPhone is a separate purchase.)
Platforms: iOS
Outputs KDP-ready files: No
Touches your KDP account: No
Categories: Cover Design & Mockups, Low-content & Puzzle Books
Last checked: 2026-11-09

Summary

Procreate is a raster illustration app for iPad and Apple Pencil, sold as a one-time purchase. KDP publishers use it to draw original line art for coloring books and art for covers and children's books, then lay the pages out in another app; it does not assemble book interiors or calculate spine width. Procreate has publicly committed to no generative AI in its apps, so artwork drawn in it is your own and does not need an AI disclosure to KDP.

Best for

Drawing original coloring pages and cover illustrations

Pros

Low one-time price, no subscription
No generative AI, so artwork is clearly human-made

Cons

iPad only
Needs a separate layout app for full interiors and print covers

Alternatives

Affinity: Affinity is Canva's free all-in-one photo, vector and page layout app for designers that KDP publishers use to build print covers and illustrated interiors.
Adobe Express: Adobe Express is Adobe's template-based online design app for quick graphics that KDP publishers use for ebook covers, ads and social images.
KDP Coloring Book Studio: KDP Coloring Book Studio is an AI tool that turns a theme into line art, a print interior and a full-wrap cover for KDP coloring books.

Sources

Facts on this page come from the vendor and these pages. Prices change; confirm on the vendor site.

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