Which Apple Pencil Should I Use with Procreate?
Choosing the right Apple Pencil can make a big difference to your drawing experience in Procreate, especially when using realistic, textured brushes!
Which Apple Pencils work best?
For the best results, I recommend using a pressure-sensitive Apple Pencil. The following models support pressure sensitivity in Procreate:
- Apple Pencil (1st generation)
- Apple Pencil (2nd generation)
- Apple Pencil Pro
Important: The Apple Pencil (USB-C) does not support pressure sensitivity. Although you can draw with it in Procreate, it won't respond to how firmly or lightly you press.
Why is pressure sensitivity so important?
My Procreate brushes are carefully crafted with nuanced settings that respond to your drawing pressure. This allows you to create beautiful variations in texture, opacity, brush size, and other realistic effects, simply by adjusting how firmly you press.
Without pressure sensitivity, you won't experience the full range of effects the brushes were designed to produce. Your results may look quite different from those shown in my tutorials and product examples.
Can I use a third-party stylus?
While some third-party styluses can work with Procreate, I recommend using a genuine, pressure-sensitive Apple Pencil for the best experience.
My brushes are designed and tested using Apple Pencil, so this is the best way to enjoy their full range of expressive, realistic effects.
A final tip: Before purchasing an Apple Pencil, make sure it's compatible with your particular iPad model. Not every Apple Pencil works with every iPad!