# POLYCAM vs Zen Brush 3

The clearest difference is rating: Zen Brush 3 at 4.4 against POLYCAM's 4.0. Zen Brush 3 also leads on ratings volume (58 vs 6) and review sentiment (60% vs 50%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

POLYCAM costs $4.99 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 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Zen Brush 3 has 58 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of POLYCAM's written reviews are positive against 60% of Zen Brush 3's.

POLYCAM ships an update every 6 weeks, Zen Brush 3 every 3 months. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | POLYCAM | Zen Brush 3 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | $4.99 |
| Rating | [4.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polycam/id1485113666/reviews) | **[4.4 (58 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zen-brush-3/id1531841731/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 6 | **58** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **59.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #145 | **#92** |
| Size | 4 MB | 226 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Narumi Inada](https://appshunter.io/developer/1347729163) | [PSOFT](https://appshunter.io/developer/373752450) |

## What reviewers say

### POLYCAM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/polycam/id1485113666)

**Currently charting:** #145 Top Paid · Graphics & Design (US App Store)

Create unique visual effects by combining over 150 built-in filters. This app allows for real-time camera input manipulation, loading existing media, and exporting high-quality videos. Customize parameters with sliders, LFOs, or sensor data for interactive visualizers.

**Highlights:** Combine over 150 built-in filters, Create and save custom filter chains, Real-time camera input processing, Load and export existing images/videos, Adjustable filter parameters, Interactive audio visualizers, Full-screen output with smooth transitions

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Zen Brush 3

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

**Currently charting:** #92 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 POLYCAM free?

POLYCAM costs $4.99, 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, POLYCAM or Zen Brush 3?

Zen Brush 3 is rated higher. POLYCAM averages 4.0 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Zen Brush 3 averages 4.4 from 58 ratings.

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

Neither POLYCAM nor Zen Brush 3 shows ads.

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

POLYCAM ships an update every 6 weeks, and Zen Brush 3 every 3 months. Most recently, POLYCAM was updated on October 29, 2026 and Zen Brush 3 on October 29, 2026.

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

POLYCAM currently peaks at #145 in the App Store charts, and Zen Brush 3 at #92. 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.*