# Zen Brush 2 vs RYUKIN

The clearest difference is rating: RYUKIN at 4.9 against Zen Brush 2's 3.9. RYUKIN also leads on review sentiment (94% vs 67%) and update cadence (every 8 days vs monthly). Zen Brush 2's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 38) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Zen Brush 2 costs $2.99 and RYUKIN $3.49 up front. RYUKIN sells 35 one-off in-app purchases. Zen Brush 2 asks for nothing beyond the download.

RYUKIN holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 129 and 62 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Zen Brush 2's written reviews are positive against 94% of RYUKIN's.

Zen Brush 2 ships an update monthly, RYUKIN every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Zen Brush 2 | RYUKIN |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$2.99** | $3.49 |
| Rating | [3.9 (129 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zen-brush-2/id1012274888/reviews) | **[4.9 (62 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ryukin/id6471839445/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **129** | 62 |
| Positive reviews | 67.1% of reviews | **94.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 72 MB | 229 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PSOFT](https://appshunter.io/developer/373752450) | [Masataka Hakozaki](https://appshunter.io/developer/323346554) |

## What reviewers say

### Zen Brush 2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zen-brush-2/id1012274888)

This app offers a drawing experience inspired by East Asian ink brush art. Its intuitive interface and new engine provide a fluid and expressive way to create unique artwork, with options to share and edit your creations.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🎨 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

**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

**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


### RYUKIN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ryukin/id6471839445)

Experience the serene beauty of a virtual goldfish aquarium. Customize your tank, interact with the fish, and enjoy soothing sounds. Features a special mode for young children and a sleep timer for relaxation.

**Highlights:** Interactive goldfish that respond to touch, Customizable tank shape and background, Soothing water sounds and visuals, Cat & Baby Mode for safe play, Sleep timer for bedtime, Clock and date display

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (35)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| WIREFRAME RAINBOW | $0.99 | one-time |
| ROBO FISH 02 | $1.99 | one-time |
| ROBO FISH 04 | $1.99 | one-time |
| ROBO FISH 06 | $1.99 | one-time |
| GHOST BRIDE | $1.99 | one-time |
| BAT FISH | $1.99 | one-time |
| CALICO ORANGE/WHITE/BLACK | $1.99 | one-time |
| BLACK WHITE KITTY FISH | $1.99 | one-time |
| GHOST TRANSLUCENT | $1.99 | one-time |
| BLACK KITTY FISH | $1.99 | one-time |
| WHITE KITTY FISH | $1.99 | one-time |
| ROBO FISH 03 | $1.99 | one-time |
| GHOST BLACK | $1.99 | one-time |
| ROBO FISH 01 | $1.99 | one-time |
| ORANGE & WHITE KITTY FISH | $1.99 | one-time |
| RED RYUKIN | $1.99 | one-time |
| RED-WHITE RYUKIN | $1.99 | one-time |
| CALICO RED/WHITE/BLACK | $1.99 | one-time |
| ORANGE/WHITE | $1.99 | one-time |
| CALICO RED/GRAY/BLACK | $1.99 | one-time |
| YELLOW GOLD RYUKIN | $1.99 | one-time |
| RED CAP ORANDA | $1.99 | one-time |
| RED/WHITE II | $1.99 | one-time |
| LIONHEAD ORANGE/WHITE/BLACK | $1.99 | one-time |
| GHOST LUMINOUS | $1.99 | one-time |
| BLACK RYUKIN | $1.99 | one-time |
| CALICO KITTY FISH | $1.99 | one-time |
| GRAY WHITE KITTY FISH | $1.99 | one-time |
| WHITE VAMPIRE | $1.99 | one-time |
| BLACK VAMPIRE | $1.99 | one-time |
| BLACK WITCH | $1.99 | one-time |
| WHITE WITCH | $1.99 | one-time |
| ZOMBIE FISH | $1.99 | one-time |
| SKELETON FISH | $1.99 | one-time |
| PANDA TELESCOPE | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💎 Gorgeous and lifelike fish
- 🎨 Beautiful and customizable environments
- 🎶 Soothing water sounds
- 🕰️ Useful clock feature
- 👍 Immersive and relaxing experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔋 High battery consumption on max settings
- 💰 Additional fish require paid purchases
- 🌱 Lack of plant/natural decor options
- 🐟 Limited variety of standard goldfish

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional crashing on high-end devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to change fish colors
- Add more fish species (e.g. bettas, tetras)
- Implement fish breeding/growth mode
- Allow customizing fish placement in tank
- Add desktop/widget mode for always-on display


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Zen Brush 2 free?

Zen Brush 2 costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is RYUKIN free?

RYUKIN costs $3.49, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Zen Brush 2 or RYUKIN?

RYUKIN is rated higher. Zen Brush 2 averages 3.9 out of 5 from 129 ratings, while RYUKIN averages 4.9 from 62 ratings.

### Do Zen Brush 2 or RYUKIN have ads?

Neither Zen Brush 2 nor RYUKIN shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Zen Brush 2 or RYUKIN?

Zen Brush 2 ships an update monthly, and RYUKIN every 8 days. Most recently, Zen Brush 2 was updated on November 1, 2026 and RYUKIN on October 30, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*