# Zen Brush 2

> East Asian ink brush drawing app with expressive tools and sharing features. (iPhone/iPad app by PSOFT.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zen-brush-2/id1012274888 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [PSOFT](https://appshunter.io/developer/373752450)
- Category: Entertainment, Lifestyle
- Price: $2.99
- Rating: 3.90/5 from 129 App Store ratings · 289 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 12.0 · 72 MB
- Languages: American English, Japanese
- Released: 2015-09-03
- Data updated: 2026-08-29
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zen-brush-2/id1012274888/reviews.md

## What is Zen Brush 2?

Zen Brush 2 is a drawing app focused on the strong yet beautiful feel of the East Asian ink brush.

With a new drawing engine that brings to life a feeling of silky fluent painting and the delicacy of an ink brush, providing a simple and intuitive user interface imbued with the Zen spirit, this app is designed to be optimal for performing Zen art.

Simply start the app and you are immediately ready to draw. Anyone can create superb Zen art anywhere and at any time with this app’s uniquely rich expressiveness. You can publish your work to Facebook and Twitter with the "Share" and "Open in" functions. You can also share or edit your images by opening them in other apps such as Instagram, WhatsApp, LINE, Photoshop Mix, etc.

- The next step in the evolution of the Zen Brush app which achieved more than 1.5 million downloads on all platforms combined.
- Includes a new brush engine providing an even stronger, beautiful expressiveness.
- Includes a gallery feature that makes it possible to save your work in progress.
- Includes red ink in addition to the black ink (*).
- Ink dispersion effect enables a three-dimensional feeling of depth.

* Actual colors vary depending on the template.

Features:
- 92 background style templates.
- Simple brush size adjustment with slider.
- Simple main tools: Ink brush, red brush, eraser brush.
- 3 levels of ink dispersion.
- 3 levels of ink tone.
- Canvas zoom (zoom in and out with pinch gestures).
- Guide lines (9 types).
- Undo / redo (5 levels).
- Save your work to the photo library.
- Open in other apps (Formats: JPEG, PNG, transparent PNG (no background)).
- Share artwork (Facebook, Twitter, etc.).
- Simulated finger pressure.
- Support for pressure sensitive styluses.
 * Apple Pencil / Wacom Bamboo Stylus / Adonit / Scriba / SonarPen
- Support for iPad Pro.
- Support for 3D Touch.
- Adjustable brush pressure sensitivity (5 levels).
- Adjustable tilt sensitivity (5 levels). 
 * Requires a pen that supports tilt.
- Supports multitasking (Slide Over / Split View).
- Support for iMessage App.

## Key features

- East Asian ink brush simulation
- New expressive brush engine
- Gallery for saving work
- Red ink option
- Ink dispersion effect
- 92 background templates
- Pressure sensitive stylus support

## Chart rankings

- #133 in Top Paid · Entertainment (US App Store)

## What do users think of Zen Brush 2?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 🎨 Realistic brush simulation and stroke quality
- 😌 Meditative and relaxing user experience
- ⚡ Quick and responsive performance
- 🎯 Simple, minimalist interface design
- ✍️ Excellent for calligraphy and character practice
- 🖊️ Great Apple Pencil support and pressure sensitivity
- 📱 Works seamlessly on iPad and iPhone
- 🎭 Beautiful paper textures and backgrounds
- 💰 Affordable one-time purchase with no in-app purchases
- 🔄 Undo functionality for experimentation
- 📤 Export capability with transparent backgrounds

**Cons**

- 🎨 Limited color options (primarily black and red)
- 📱 No iCloud sync or cloud backup support
- 🐛 Occasional app crashes and freezes
- ⚠️ Confusing interface for new users
- 🗑️ Delete button placement causes accidental deletions
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 📤 Export functionality sometimes fails
- 🎯 Limited undo depth (approximately 5 steps)
- 👆 Finger input interferes with stylus drawing
- ⏱️ Brush stroke continues awkwardly after lifting stylus
- 🔔 Aggressive promotion of Zen Brush 3 in startup popups

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Background menu freezes
- App crashes during export/save operations
- Blank canvas loads despite recent saves
- Unable to export artworks (ALAssetsLibraryErrorDomain error)
- Brush stroke continues in straight line after stylus lift
- Performance issues on newer iPad Pro models
- Inconsistent undo button behavior
- File loading issues with previously saved images
- Pressure sensitivity not working with certain styluses

**Most requested features**

- Expanded color palette beyond black and red
- iCloud synchronization across devices
- Layer support for more complex artwork
- Import background photos for tracing and reference
- Custom guides and grid overlays
- Zoom functionality
- Ability to adjust canvas/paper size
- Move and scale drawing tools
- Increased undo/redo history (25-30 steps)
- Landscape mode support with adaptive layouts
- Tutorials and user guidance documentation
- Option to disable finger input when using stylus
- Disappearing ink effect option
- Pre-wet paper option for ink interaction
- Numeric brush size adjustment
- Save default brush size settings
- Landscape orientation paper backgrounds
- More brush variety and customization
- EPS, SVG, and PDF export formats

## Recent user reviews (10 of 289)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zen-brush-2/id1012274888/reviews.md

### 5/5 — La meilleure appli dessin

*2026-06-19*

c'est l'application qui me sert tous les jours Merci au développeur, la simplicité avec maîtrise dommage que ça ne continue pas

### 5/5 — This is so much fun!

*2024-11-09, version 1.33*

It is so quick to experiment with! Very satisfying.   Thank you!

### 2/5 — ver.1どまりの方が良かった。

*2024-09-02*

書道慣れの為の配慮なのかも知れないが、ハライで終えた画などがずっと先まで伸び続けたり、余分なエクイップが効いてて、思った様に(書いたままの様に)書けない。実際に筆慣れした人にはコントロール出来ない範疇だと思う。不便でも前バージョンの方がコントロールのしようはあった分使えた気がする。 2、3とバージョンが進んだ事で本当に書をやってる人向きではなくなった。
バージョンが進むのは実際の筆が苦手な人の為ならそれはいい事だと思う。
だが、片方でver.1へのダウングレードも可能にして貰えないかと思います。

### 4/5 — I will give five stars if you tell me how for the brush not to continue

*2024-03-30, version 1.33*

My one problem is that when I do a curve stroke and lift the stylus off the iPad the stroke continues for a little bit in an awkward-straight line, manner… How do I solve this?… You know, your programmers could analyze the curve of your stroke, and continued along a curve for a little bit as it fades out rather than the straight line H MMMM…. If I try to do things slow, it’s not the same feel….. go figure

### 2/5 — 能不能更新点有用的功能

*2024-03-10*

画布不能旋转，没有图层，没有选区，不能自定义笔刷，撤回次数太少，这些开发团队不考虑升级一下？2的功能都没完善几个，就出了3，而且还好意思涨价，之前18现在22块，你好歹更新点有用的再涨也不迟……除了枯墨笔触好点以外

### 2/5 — 指タッチオフにしたい

*2024-01-02, version 1.33*

ドローイング時の指てのタッチをオフに設定できたら星5です。
 ホワイトボードアプリなどもここが選ぶ基準の第一ポイントです。 毛筆の再現がリアルで、描いていて楽しいし、習字練習になります。 操作もシンプル、機能も色もこれだけで良いです。指が触れたときに描けてしまうのは、子供の頃に習字をやっていた時、手についた墨が髪についてしまう時を思い出させます。 指で描きたい人もおられるでしょうから、この部分をオンオフできたらすごく良くなります。
 4年前のレビューにも同様の意見がありますね。改善されそうにないので、星3から星2に変更します。

### 4/5 — Very cool app

*2023-10-14, version 1.32*

I was very impressed with this app. But i would advice you have the pen to make live easy to draw with. Besides that it’s well worth it and keep in mind it’s great for quick drawing style. The whole idea I feel is to keep drawings simple. For the developers of this app could you add a few more tools to this app like you have in the zen brush 3 as a alway come
back to using it . To move and scale the drawings would be fab. Since you have all the coding it be easy to update this app. Thanks

### 5/5 — The best IOS/IPadOS drawing app there is

*2023-09-11, version 1.31*

I would not be without this superb sketching and drawing app. Beautifully recreates the experience of pen and pencil work like no other. Just one gripe. Please, for the love of god , DITCH THE OPENING POPUP. Note: I already bought Zen Brush 3. Enough with the reminders.

### 2/5 — Zen brush 2  on iOS

*2023-05-31, version 1.31*

Background menu freezes!!!

### 5/5 — Unique sketching app

*2023-04-25*

I have been using zen brush for years and I wouldn’t want to be without it. It’s the perfect distraction free sketching environment. 
One negative: please stop promoting zen brush 3 EVERY TIME I start up the app! it’s a time waster.
I already have Z3. I think it’s been promoted quite enough.

## Frequently asked questions about Zen Brush 2

### What is Zen Brush 2?

Zen Brush 2 is a drawing application designed to emulate the aesthetic and feel of East Asian ink brush art. It features a new drawing engine for silky fluent painting and a simple, intuitive interface, making it ideal for creating Zen art.

### What are the key features of Zen Brush 2?

Key features include a new expressive brush engine, a gallery for saving work, red ink in addition to black, ink dispersion effects for depth, 92 background templates, adjustable brush and tilt sensitivity, and support for pressure-sensitive styluses like Apple Pencil.

### Is Zen Brush 2 free to use?

Yes, Zen Brush 2 is a free application. There are no in-app purchases or advertisements mentioned in the provided description.

### What devices is Zen Brush 2 compatible with?

The app is designed for mobile devices and specifically mentions support for iPad Pro, Apple Pencil, and other pressure-sensitive styluses. It also supports multitasking features like Slide Over and Split View.

### How can I share my artwork created with Zen Brush 2?

You can easily share your creations directly from the app to platforms like Facebook and Twitter using the 'Share' function. Additionally, the 'Open in' function allows you to export your artwork in JPEG, PNG, or transparent PNG formats to other applications such as Instagram, WhatsApp, or Photoshop Mix.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.33 — 2023-12-20

- Improved operation of iMessage app.

### 1.32 — 2023-10-02

- Updated Adonit stylus SDK.

### 1.31 — 2022-12-15

- Updated SonarPen stylus SDK.
- Minor bug fixes.

### 1.30 — 2020-11-06

- Fixed a problem that could cause the app to fail to start.

### 1.29 — 2020-11-04

- Fixed a problem that could cause the app to fail to start.

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All apps by PSOFT: https://appshunter.io/developer/373752450

## Related topics

[zen brush 2](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/zen-brush-2) · [zen brush](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/zen-brush) · [zen brush 3](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/zen-brush-3) · [3d ink brush](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/3d-ink-brush) · [psoft](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/psoft)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-29.*