Comparison

3D Modeling, Design vs ZBrush

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

3D Modeling, Design

This app offers intuitive 3D modeling tools for creating detailed models on mobile devices. It's suitable for beginners, kids, and professionals, with features for game development and 3D printing. Export your designs for use in popular game engines or to bring them to life with a 3D printer.

Highlights
  • Intuitive 3D modeling tools
  • Sculpting capabilities
  • 3D model export (OBJ, STL)
  • Game development asset creation
  • 3D printing model preparation
  • Beginner-friendly interface
  • Model library for printing
Features
Read full description

Try the subscription-based 3D modeling app Shapeyard! Whether it’s 3D modeling on iPhone or 3D modeling for iPad – Shapeyard lets you create detailed 3D models using easy and intuitive tools that simplify 3D modeling for beginners and even make it accessible for kids. Shapeyard’s 3D modeling tools are perfect for 3D modeling for games. If you’re wondering how to make a game, start modeling with Shapeyard and export 3D models into Roblox Studio, Unity, and Unreal Engine through the OBJ or STL formats. Elevate your 3D printing endeavors with Shapeyard, the premier mobile iOS app designed to bring your creations to life. Seamlessly create intricate 3D models for 3D printing using our intuitive tools. Unleash your imagination and explore a world of possibilities as you discover an array of 3D models that you can readily download and print in 3D. Shapeyard empowers both beginners and experts to craft the best 3D prints, providing a platform to turn 3D printing models into tangible reality. Whether you’re a seasoned designer or just embarking on your 3D printing journey, Shapeyard offers an extensive selection of 3D printing ideas and files, catering to your every need. With Shapeyard, the world of 3D printing is at your fingertips – explore, create, and print with unparalleled ease. Easily create and 3D print your models. Shapeyard allows you to export your creations into slicers and seamlessly transition to 3D printing for tangible results with unparalleled ease. Terms of Use: https://www.shapeyard.org/info/terms_of_use Privacy Policy: https://www.shapeyard.org/info/privacy_policy

About

ZBrush

Create professional 3D models and digital sculptures on your iPad. This app offers advanced sculpting, painting, and modeling tools with desktop-quality performance, ideal for artists on the go. Seamlessly integrate with desktop workflows for a complete creative experience.

Highlights
  • Pressure-sensitive sculpting with Apple Pencil
  • 200+ digital sculpting brushes
  • Advanced 3D modeling tools
  • Seamless desktop-iPad workflow
  • High-resolution polygon support
  • 3D painting without UV setup
Read full description

ZBrush for iPad. Create stunning 3D models, digital sculptures, concept art, and detailed characters with ZBrush for iPad—the award-winning, industry-leading digital sculpting app trusted by professional artists across film, AAA games, collectibles, toy design, jewelry, illustration, and 3D design. ZBrush for iPad brings unrivaled desktop-grade digital sculpting and 3D painting power into an intuitive, touch-first mobile environment optimized for Apple Pencil. Take complete creative freedom on the go with high-poly mesh density, proprietary digital clay brushes, procedural detailing, and seamless cross-platform interoperability. Subscribers to Maxon One or ZBrush desktop can download the iPad app and sign in to activate full access instantly. A comprehensive free tier is also available to start sculpting immediately. NEW FOR IPAD • Spotlight Integration: Seamlessly load reference images directly onto the canvas, apply projection painting and texture mapping across complex mesh surfaces, and extract custom 3D geometry from 2D source imagery. • 3D Layers: Store high-resolution sculpting details, PolyPaint color channels, and masking non-destructively. Effortlessly toggle layer visibility, blend sculpt deformations, and refine feature intensity with precise slider controls. CORE SCULPTING & MODELING FEATURES • 200+ Sculpting Brushes: Pressure-sensitive digital brushes engineered for Apple Pencil and Apple Pencil Pro, supporting squeeze, roll, hover, double-tap gestures, and haptic feedback. • Sculptris Pro & Dynamic Tessellation: Add local mesh detail on the fly without manual topology management. • DynaMesh Digital Clay: Re-topologize mesh density evenly during early concept exploration. • ZRemesher: Industry-standard automatic retopology for clean, optimized edge flow. • Live Boolean: Non-destructive real-time union, subtraction, and intersection modeling. • PolyPaint: High-resolution 3D painting directly on vertex geometry without preliminary UV unwrapping. • Advanced Detailing: VDM Brushes, Surface Noise, Retopo Brush, Subdivision Modeling, NanoMesh, and ArrayMesh. DESKTOP INTEROPERABILITY & EXPORT • One-Click GoZ: Seamless transfer of ZTool and ZProject files between iPad and desktop ZBrush. • 3D Print Hub: Direct export for additive manufacturing and 3D printing workflows. HIGH-PERFORMANCE HARDWARE OPTIMIZATION Handles up to 90+ million polygons per mesh on M4 iPad hardware. Optimized for multi-touch gestures, custom hotkey bars, rapid undo/redo touch shortcuts, and real-world photogrammetry base mesh imports for high-end digital asset creation. TARGET CREATIVE USE CASES 1. Game Developers: Hero character modeling, creature design, and environment asset creation. 2. Collectibles & Toy Designers: High-detail prototyping and precise 3D print preparation. 3. Film & VFX Artists: Production-grade concept sculpting and digital asset creation. 4. Industrial & Jewelry Designers: Precision organic detailing for consumer products, apparel, and hardware. 5. 2D Illustrators & Concept Artists: Fast 3D block-outs and visual design expansion. LANGUAGE SUPPORT English, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Spanish, German, French, and Portuguese (BR).

Screenshots

3D Modeling, Design4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ZBrush at 85% against 3D Modeling, Design's 34%. ZBrush also leads on monetization model (freemium vs subscription). 3D Modeling, Design's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.1) and ratings volume (5.7K vs 254). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. 3D Modeling, Design sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and ZBrush sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

3D Modeling, Design holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 3D Modeling, Design has 5.7K ratings behind it against 254, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 34% of 3D Modeling, Design's written reviews are positive against 85% of ZBrush's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

3D Modeling, Design ships an update every 10 days, ZBrush monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
3D Modeling, Design versus ZBrush: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter3D Modeling, DesignZBrush
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (5.7K ratings) — better4.1 (254 ratings)
Positive reviews34.1% of reviews85.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings5.7K — better254
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFreemium — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size115 MB1.1 GB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMagic Unicorn Inc.MAXON Computer GmbH

Customer experience

3D Modeling, Design

All ratings5,704 ratings
Positive86.9%
Neutral2.1%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews964 reviews
Positive34.1%
Neutral8.2%
Negative57.7%

ZBrush

All ratings254 ratings
Positive77.6%
Neutral4.3%
Negative18.1%
Written reviews20 reviews
Positive85.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative15.0%

Bugs and requests

3D Modeling, Design

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes when trying to create models
  • Inability to save progress
  • Unreliable face tracking and scanning
  • Compatibility issues on older devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add ability to customize avatars
  • Improve sculpting and modeling tools
  • Integrate with other 3D platforms
  • Provide more free content and features
  • Improve stability and reduce bugs

ZBrush

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

3D Modeling, Design

Subscriptions9
  • Pro Version$2.997 Days
  • Pro Version7 Days trial$5.997 Days
  • Pro Version3 Days trial$5.997 Days
Show 6 more
  • Pro Version$5.997 Days
  • Pro Version3 Days trial$14.991 Month
  • Pro Version2 variants$14.991 Month
  • Pro Version$29.991 Year
  • Pro Version3 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Pro Version$49.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Access$99.99
2 purchases

ZBrush

Subscriptions2
  • ZBrush Monthly$9.991 Month
  • ZBrush Annual$89.991 Year

Questions

Is 3D Modeling, Design free?
3D Modeling, Design is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ZBrush free?
ZBrush is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, 3D Modeling, Design or ZBrush?
3D Modeling, Design is rated higher. 3D Modeling, Design averages 4.5 out of 5 from 5.7K ratings, while ZBrush averages 4.1 from 254 ratings.
Do 3D Modeling, Design or ZBrush have ads?
Neither 3D Modeling, Design nor ZBrush shows ads.
Which is updated more often, 3D Modeling, Design or ZBrush?
3D Modeling, Design ships an update every 10 days, and ZBrush monthly. Most recently, 3D Modeling, Design was updated on October 16, 2026 and ZBrush on October 17, 2026.

Other comparisons