Procreate has revolutionized digital art with its powerful tools, user-friendly interface, and endless creative potential. One of the most exciting features of Procreate is the ability to use custom brushes—ranging from pencils and ink pens to textures and special effects. While the app comes with a robust set of default brushes, many artists look for more customization and variety.
This is where free Procreate brushes come in. These user-created tools can elevate your artwork, speed up your process, and expand your creative toolkit—without costing a dime.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about free Procreate brushes, from where to find them to how to install and use them effectively.
What Are Procreate Brushes?
Procreate brushes are digital tools that mimic traditional art materials and effects. Each brush has unique characteristics—such as shape, texture, flow, and pressure sensitivity—that influence how it interacts with your Apple Pencil and iPad.
Procreate supports a wide range of brushes, including:
- Sketching and drawing brushes (pencils, charcoal)
- Inking brushes (technical pens, calligraphy)
- Painting brushes (watercolor, oil, acrylic)
- Texture brushes (grit, grain, fabric)
- Special effect brushes (glow, neon, smoke, glitch)
You can create your own, buy premium versions, or download free Procreate brushes from trusted online sources.
Why Use Free Procreate Brushes?
While Procreate’s built-in brushes are excellent, free brushes offer a number of advantages:
Expand Creative Options
Free brushes give you access to unique styles, textures, and effects that you may not find in the default collection.
Save Money
Premium brushes can be expensive. With free options, you can experiment and grow your toolkit without spending a penny.
Test Before You Invest
Trying out free brushes can help you decide what types of brushes suit your workflow before purchasing similar premium versions.
Stay Inspired
New brushes can spark creativity. You might stumble upon a unique texture or pattern that inspires your next masterpiece.
Where to Find Free Procreate Brushes
There are countless online resources offering free Procreate brushes, including artist websites, digital marketplaces, and creative communities. Here are some of the best places to explore:
1. Gumroad
Gumroad is a popular platform where many artists share brushes, often with a “pay what you want” model (including $0). You’ll find high-quality brushes for drawing, painting, and lettering.
2. Creative Market
Creative Market often offers free goods weekly, including Procreate brushes. It’s a great place to discover trending design assets.
3. Brusheezy
This site provides thousands of free design resources. While originally focused on Photoshop, Brusheezy now includes plenty of Procreate brushes.
4. Reddit Communities
Subreddits like r/ProCreate and r/FreeBrushes are active hubs where artists share free resources and tutorials.
5. Artist Websites and Blogs
Many digital artists offer free brush packs as part of their promotional strategy. These brushes are usually high-quality and tailored to specific art styles.
How to Install Free Procreate Brushes
Once you’ve downloaded your brush files (usually in .brush or .brushset format), installing them is simple:
Step-by-Step Installation:
- Download the brush file to your iPad via Safari, Dropbox, or another app.
- Tap on the file, and it will automatically open in Procreate.
- The brush will appear in your Brush Library, either as a new set or added to the default “Imported” set.
- You’re ready to start using it in your artwork!
Tips:
- Organize your brushes into sets for easy access.
- Rename brushes for clarity.
- Backup your favorite sets in iCloud or another storage app.
Types of Free Procreate Brushes You Should Try
Not all free Procreate brushes are created equal. Some are simple, while others are incredibly sophisticated. Here are some categories worth exploring:
Sketching Brushes
Ideal for initial concepts and outlines. Look for brushes that simulate pencils, charcoal, and graphite.
Popular options:
- 6B Pencil replicas
- Rough sketch pencils
- Comic sketchers
Inking Brushes
Great for clean lines, comics, and calligraphy. They often emulate technical pens or fountain pens.
Try:
- Smooth liner brushes
- Pressure-sensitive ink pens
- Brush calligraphy tools
Painting Brushes
For blending and texturing your work with digital equivalents of oils, acrylics, and watercolor.
Explore:
- Soft round brushes
- Dry brush textures
- Watercolor blot brushes
Texture Brushes
These add grit, grain, and patterns to your backgrounds, clothing, or effects.
Must-have examples:
- Fabric textures
- Grit & grain brushes
- Stippling or halftone dots
Special Effects Brushes
Perfect for fantasy, sci-fi, and surreal art.
Examples:
- Glow light brushes
- Starfield scatter brushes
- Glitch distortion tools
Best Free Procreate Brush Packs in 2025
Here’s a curated list of the best free Procreate brushes available online right now:
1. Maja Faber’s Texture Brushes
- Includes 10+ brushes designed for illustration and surface design.
- Excellent for flat illustrations with character.
2. Ink Gang Boss Free Sampler
- Bold, expressive brushes for comic artists and inkers.
- Great line weight sensitivity.
3. Shoutbam Lettering Pack
- Created by professional letterers.
- Includes brush pens, monoline pens, and flourishes.
4. Bardot Brush Free Starter Set
- Offers sketching, painting, and texture brushes.
- Perfect for beginners.
5. Uproot’s Watercolor Brushes
- Stunning wet and dry watercolor effects.
- Beautiful blending capability.
How to Customize Free Procreate Brushes
After importing your brushes, you can tweak their settings to better suit your style:
Key Settings to Adjust:
- Stroke Path: Adjust spacing and jitter.
- Shape Source: Change how the brush tip appears.
- Grain Source: Alter texture appearance.
- Apple Pencil: Modify pressure, tilt, and opacity response.
By duplicating and customizing, you can build a personalized set of free Procreate brushes that work exactly the way you want.
Tips for Organizing Your Brush Library
As your collection of free Procreate brushes grows, it can quickly become overwhelming. Here’s how to keep things tidy:
Use Custom Brush Sets
Create different sets for sketching, painting, lettering, etc.
Label Clearly
Rename brushes to reflect their function or effect.
Delete or Archive Unused Brushes
Keep your library lean by removing brushes you rarely use.
Backup Your Brush Sets
Export and save your favorite sets for safekeeping or sharing.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Free Procreate Brushes
Downloading from Untrusted Sources
Some sites may bundle malware with brush files. Always use reputable platforms.
Using Too Many Brushes at Once
Limit yourself to a few brushes per project to maintain a consistent style.
Not Testing Before Use
Test brushes in a sketch layer before applying them to your main artwork.
Ignoring Brush Settings
Small tweaks can dramatically improve brush performance—don’t overlook them.
FAQs About Free Procreate Brushes
Q1: Are free Procreate brushes safe to download?
Yes, as long as you’re downloading from reputable sites or artists. Avoid suspicious links or pop-ups, and never download executable files (.exe or .dmg).
Q2: Can I use free Procreate brushes for commercial work?
It depends on the license. Many artists allow free use, even for commercial purposes, but always read the terms or reach out for clarification.
Q3: What is the difference between a .brush and .brushset file?
.brush files contain a single brush, while .brushset files include a set of brushes packaged together for easy import.
Q4: How do I organize my free Procreate brushes?
Create named brush sets based on categories (e.g., “Inking,” “Textures”) and move your brushes accordingly. This helps keep your library manageable.
Q5: Can I create my own Procreate brushes?
Absolutely. Procreate offers a Brush Studio with powerful customization options. You can also import your own textures and shapes.
Q6: What should I do if a brush doesn’t work as expected?
Check compatibility (Procreate version), settings, and Apple Pencil pressure. Some brushes require specific configurations.
Q7: Do free Procreate brushes affect performance?
Rarely. However, highly detailed brushes may lag on older iPads. Limit the number of active layers and close background apps to optimize performance.
Final Thoughts: Are Free Procreate Brushes Worth It?
Free Procreate brushes are an invaluable resource for digital artists of all levels. Whether you’re sketching portraits, painting landscapes, lettering quotes, or designing patterns, the right brush can make a huge difference.
The best part? You don’t need to spend a cent to access high-quality tools. With a bit of research and organization, you can build a robust collection of brushes that inspire and support your creative process.
Explore, experiment, and don’t be afraid to mix things up. The digital art world is vast—and with free brushes in your arsenal, your possibilities are endless.
