In this episode of Procreate FAQs, I am going to answer your question, “How much storage does Procreate use on your iPad?”
How Many GB is Procreate?
The Procreate app takes up around 570 – 580MB of storage space for installation in the current version, 5.3.10. So you will need ±580MB free when you download it from the App Store.
The difference in the space comes down to your iPad model. Procreate on iPad Pro M4 and iPad Air M2 comes with more features which take a bit more space than on the older iPads.
Procreate also takes up storage space to save your Procreate artworks, images, photographs, and custom Procreate brushes, which can take anywhere from 5MB to 100s of GBs. It depends on your canvas sizes, color profile, the number of Procreate layers you use in your artworks, and the Procreate brush sets you have installed.
Procreate takes up space on your iPad in two ways:
- It takes space to get installed. This is known as App storage, and it depends on your Procreate version.
- It takes space when you save your artworks, images, photographs and install custom Procreate brushes. This is known as Documents & Data storage, and it depends on how many artworks, images, and photographs you save in your Procreate gallery.
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How Many GB of Storage Do You Need for Procreate?
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I think you need at least 256GB of iPad storage for drawing in Procreate and comfortably saving your artworks, photographs, references, and custom Procreate brushes.
If you are a professional artist who will work with Procreate daily on complex artworks, then get 512GB storage to feel comfortable (see my example below).
If you are a beginner or an artist on a budget, then 64GB storage should still work for Procreate, but you may need to offload your files in the cloud or external hard drive quite often.
Let me give you an example (see the photo above). I have iPad Pro 12.9″ with 512GB storage, and in almost 3 years, I have created about 500 Procreate stacks with, on average, 3-4 artworks per stack, which makes for about 1,500 – 2,000 artworks. I most often work with variations of 3000 x 3000 pixels canvas size for digital artwork and A3 or A4 at 300DPI for print files. My Procreate app shows that it uses almost 190GB of Documents & Data storage.
On top of that, I use about 80GB to store references, offline videos, and work files on my iPad.
Please bear in mind that I work with Procreate professionally, which means I use it more often than, for example, beginner and intermediate Procreate artists would do. I create client work, personal work, Procreate classes, Procreate tutorials, and Procreate brushes.
I am very happy with my 512GB iPad storage because I never have to delete anything that I don’t want to.
That, of course, doesn’t mean I don’t need to back up my files!
I will also answer the questions I get asked the most when it comes to how much storage Procreate needs:
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Is iPad with 64GB Enough for Procreate?
Yes, an iPad with 64GB of storage is enough for Procreate if you are a beginner, student, or hobby digital artist drawing in Procreate occasionally. Procreate app takes only about 570MB when you download it from the App Store (version 5.3.10). 64GB is enough when you learn to draw in Procreate and occasionally save photos, print screens, and other files on your iPad.
Once you start using Procreate more often, working on more complex artworks, consider upgrading to more storage.
Is 128GB iPad Pro Enough for Procreate?
No, I don’t think a 128GB iPad Pro is enough for Procreate. The reason is that I guess you are already an advanced or professional artist when you are thinking of getting an iPad Pro for Procreate. This also means you will be drawing more often and potentially working on more complex artworks, which naturally take up more space.
I personally recommend iPad Pro 12.9″ with 512GB, so you don’t need to worry about the space. If you need more Procreate layers, get the 1TB or 2TB model, which comes with 16GB RAM. I explain the RAM and number of Procreate layers in my post about which iPad is best for your Procreate needs.
If you are on a budget, then get the iPad Pro 12.9″ or 11″ with 256GB or to save even more, get iPad Air 10.9″ with 256GB.
Both iPad Pro and iPad Air models work with Apple Pencil 2, which is the best stylus for drawing in Procreate.
Is 256GB iPad Enough for Procreate?
Yes, 256GB iPad is enough for Procreate if you are an intermediate and advanced Procreate artist. With 256GB storage, you will have enough for Procreate installation and for up to 700-800 complex artworks in bigger Procreate canvas sizes.
My iPad Pro has 512GB, and I am very happy with it. With 256GB storage, you may need to be more disciplined with storing a high number of images, photos, files, and videos, but in general, I think you should be comfortable.
My Procreate gear:
The best iPad for drawing and Procreate Apple M1 Processor for next-level performance :: 12.9-inch liquid retina display for superior color, contrast, and brightness :: Light and extremely strong :: Up to 10 hours battery life :: Early 2021 model Edit 2023: If you want absolutely the newest tech to get M2 chip and use Apple Pencil hover feature, get the 2022 iPad Pro 12.9″ Second Generation Apple Pencil :: Best Drawing and Painting Experience :: Compatible with: iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th, 5th, 4th and 3rd generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (4th, 3rd, 2nd and 1st generation), iPad Air (5th and 4th generation) and iPad mini (6th generation) Matte Screen Protector for Drawing, Writing, and Note-taking like on Paper I recommend you get them if you use a matte Paperlike screen protector iPad Pro Case with Pencil Holder, Soft Flexible TPU Back Cover, Auto Sleep/Wake, and Multiple Viewing Stand Modes. Different sizes available. The best iPad for drawing and Procreate Apple M1 Processor for next-level performance :: 12.9-inch liquid retina display for superior color, contrast, and brightness :: Light and extremely strong :: Up to 10 hours battery life :: Early 2021 model Edit 2023: If you want absolutely the newest tech to get M2 chip and use Apple Pencil hover feature, get the 2022 iPad Pro 12.9″ Second Generation Apple Pencil :: Best Drawing and Painting Experience :: Compatible with: iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th, 5th, 4th and 3rd generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (4th, 3rd, 2nd and 1st generation), iPad Air (5th and 4th generation) and iPad mini (6th generation) Matte Screen Protector for Drawing, Writing, and Note-taking like on Paper I recommend you get them if you use a matte Paperlike screen protector iPad Pro Case with Pencil Holder, Soft Flexible TPU Back Cover, Auto Sleep/Wake, and Multiple Viewing Stand Modes. Different sizes available.
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Hope this was helpful to you and you will have a lot of fun drawing in Procreate.
FAQs – Procreate Storage Space
No, Procreate doesn’t have cloud storage. You can store your Procreate files in Apple iCloud, Dropbox, or Google Drive. But you will have to get those services separately.
Hi, I am Iva (rhymes with “viva”). I am a full-time self-taught artist behind Art Side of Life® and a Top Teacher on Skillshare. I have 15 years of experience in the creative field as a concept designer, illustrator, art director, and now freelance artist, content creator, and art instructor. My goal is to help you get your creative groove on with Procreate and make awesome art through practical classes, tutorials, Procreate brushes, and guides on art tools, supplies and resources. About me »
