# Looom vs Zen Brush 3

The clearest difference is rating: Zen Brush 3 at 4.4 against Looom's 3.8. Zen Brush 3 also leads on price ($4.99 vs $9.99). On review sentiment, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Looom costs $9.99 and Zen Brush 3 $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Zen Brush 3 holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 122 and 55 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 62% of Looom's written reviews are positive against 60% of Zen Brush 3's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Looom ships an update every 4 months, Zen Brush 3 every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Looom | Zen Brush 3 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $9.99 | **$4.99** |
| Rating | [3.8 (122 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/looom/id1454153126/reviews) | **[4.4 (55 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zen-brush-3/id1531841731/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **122** | 55 |
| Positive reviews | **61.7% of reviews** | 59.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #104 | **#73** |
| Size | 43 MB | 226 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [IORAMA AB](https://appshunter.io/developer/933451747) | [PSOFT](https://appshunter.io/developer/373752450) |

## What reviewers say

### Looom

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/looom/id1454153126)

**Currently charting:** #104 Top Paid · Graphics & Design (US App Store)

Create hand-drawn animations with a playful, instrument-like interface. This robust app focuses on loopable animation, offering a dynamic, non-destructive workflow for both beginners and professionals. Explore lines, shapes, and colors in a delightful environment designed for learning and experimentation.

**Highlights:** Hand-drawn animation creation, Loopable animation focus, Musical interface inspiration, Dynamic non-destructive workflow, Fluid time control, Infinite canvas, SVG native file format

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Innovative and unique animation interface
- 🎨 Intuitive drawing experience once learned
- 🎬 Real-time animation playback while drawing
- 📱 Works seamlessly on iPad and iPhone
- 🎯 Simple and minimalist design approach

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes losing user work
- 😕 Non-intuitive UI despite minimalist design
- 🎨 Limited to single color per layer/thread
- 🖌️ Only one basic brush option available
- 📤 Extremely cumbersome export process

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes mid-animation causing work loss
- Grey screen on launch preventing app opening
- Drawing not registering properly
- Frame navigation swiping goes wrong direction
- Accidental marks appearing from sensitive touch controls

**Requested features**

- Better export options (GIF, video, SVG with proper formatting)
- Increase frame limit beyond 24 frames
- More than 5 layers/threads
- Multiple colors and brush sizes per layer
- Frame duplication and copy-paste functionality


### Zen Brush 3

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zen-brush-3/id1531841731)

**Currently charting:** #73 Top Paid · Graphics & Design (US App Store)

This app allows users to create beautiful East Asian ink art, including calligraphy and painting. It simulates an ink brush with adjustable water and color features, offering a rich expressive range for both beginners and experienced artists. Easily share and edit your creations with various export options and background templates.

**Highlights:** Simulated 3D ink brush drawing, Adjustable water and color effects, Layer functionality for flexible editing, Import photos for tracing or backgrounds, Rich background and paper templates, Export to JPEG, PNG, and transparent PNG

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Realistic brush simulation and ink blending
- 💧 Innovative water simulation and wet ink effects
- 🎯 Natural brush stroke behavior and responsiveness
- 🌈 Color palette addition in version 3
- 📄 Multiple paper textures and backgrounds

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔄 Significant downgrade from version 2 in brush feel
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and app instability
- 🔋 Excessive battery drain and device heating
- ❌ Limited undo functionality (only 5 levels)
- 🎨 Mushy brush strokes at default resolution

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when setting maximum resolution
- Crashes when adding layers or importing images
- Crashes during high-resolution JPEG export
- iPad Pro M2 overheating and battery drain
- Apple Pencil input not recognized

**Requested features**

- Canvas rotation with two-finger gestures
- Increased undo/redo levels (more than 5)
- Grid or guide line display for practice
- Custom color wheel/palette picker
- Instant erase without animations


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Looom free?

Looom costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Zen Brush 3 free?

Zen Brush 3 costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Looom or Zen Brush 3?

Zen Brush 3 is rated higher. Looom averages 3.8 out of 5 from 122 ratings, while Zen Brush 3 averages 4.4 from 55 ratings.

### Do Looom or Zen Brush 3 have ads?

Neither Looom nor Zen Brush 3 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Looom or Zen Brush 3?

Looom ships an update every 4 months, and Zen Brush 3 every 3 months. Most recently, Looom was updated on October 19, 2026 and Zen Brush 3 on October 17, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Looom or Zen Brush 3?

Looom currently peaks at #104 in the App Store charts, and Zen Brush 3 at #73. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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