Comparison

Live Link Face vs Zbrush

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

Head to head
About

Live Link Face

Capture facial performances from your iPhone or iPad for use in Unreal Engine. Create high-fidelity facial animation for MetaHumans or drive characters in real-time. Supports raw video, depth data, and ARKit animation streaming.

Highlights
  • Facial performance capture
  • MetaHuman Animator integration
  • Real-time animation streaming
  • ARKit animation data output
  • Timecode synchronization
  • Remote control via OSC
  • Take management and sharing
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Live Link Face for effortless facial animation in Unreal Engine—capture performances for use in Unreal Engine from your iPhone or iPad. Capture facial performances for MetaHuman Animator: - Live Link Face supports both real-time and processed animation. - MetaHuman Animator uses Live Link Face to capture performances, then applies its own processing to create high-fidelity facial animation for MetaHumans. - The Live Link Face app captures raw video and depth data, which can be transmitted directly from your device into Unreal Engine for use with the MetaHuman plugin. - Facial animation created with MetaHuman Animator can be applied to any MetaHuman character in just a few clicks. - This workflow requires an iPhone (12 or above) and a desktop PC running Windows 10/11. Real-time animation for MetaHumans: - The Live Link Face app generates animation to drive a MetaHuman Character in real time. - Animation data is streamed to Unreal Engine over a network using the MetaHuman Live Link Plugin. - This workflow requires an iPhone (12 or above) and a desktop PC running Windows 10/11. Real-time animation for non-MetaHuman characters: - Stream out ARKit animation data live to an Unreal Engine instance via Live Link over a network. - Visualize facial expressions in real time with live rendering in Unreal Engine. - Drive a 3D preview mesh, optionally overlaid over the video reference on the phone. - Record the raw ARKit animation data and front-facing video reference footage. - Tune the capture data to the individual performer and improve facial animation quality with rest pose calibration. Timecode support for multi-device synchronization: - Select from the system clock, an NTP server, or use a Tentacle Sync device to connect with a master clock on stage. - Video reference is frame accurate with embedded timecode for editorial. Control Live Link Face remotely with OSC or via the MetaHuman Plugin for Unreal Engine: - Trigger recording remotely so actors can focus on their performances. - Capture slate names and take numbers consistently. - Extract data for processing and storage. Browse and manage the library of captured takes: - Delete takes within Live Link Face, share via AirDrop. - Transfer directly over network when using MetaHuman Animator. - Review captured footage on-device.

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
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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, games, collectibles, toy design, jewelry, illustration and 3D design. ZBrush for iPad brings unrivaled design power to the iPad for a fully immersive 3D sculpting and painting experience. Take creativity on the go with our proprietary brush system, intuitive controls and boundless resolution capabilities. Get started at no cost with ZBrush for iPad, which offers a comprehensive feature set designed to enable you to begin creating immediately, with the option to upgrade at any time. Already a subscriber to Maxon One or ZBrush for desktop? Simply download the iPad app and activate your license in the app. WHY ARTISTS CHOOSE ZBrush? ZBrush is the industry-leading 3D sculpting software built for Apple workflows and trusted by professional 3D creators worldwide. With over 200 digital sculpting brushes, advanced 3D modeling tools and desktop-quality performance, ZBrush offers game, film and concept artists powerful tools for 3D designing, printing and digital sculpting. TURN YOUR TABLET INTO A PROFESSIONAL CANVAS: • Pressure-sensitive sculpting with Apple Pencil • Sculptris Pro dynamic tessellation • DynaMesh digital clay workflow • ZRemesher automatic retopology • Live Boolean modeling tools • PolyPaint 3D painting without UV setup • NanoMesh & Array Mesh workflows • Surface Noise procedural detailing • Retopo Brush for clean topology • Subdivision modeling tools • VDM Brushes for advanced detailing Sculpt, carve, smooth, cut and paint directly onto your 3D models with fluid, responsive controls built for touch and stylus workflows. SEAMLESS DESKTOP-iPAD WORKFLOW • Use GoZ to move ZTool and ZProject files between iPad and desktop in one-click. • Use custom hotkeys and keep identical controls across devices for uninterrupted sculpting and 3D modeling. • Unwrap models with UV Master • Export directly to 3D printers using 3D Print Hub • Get full control over surface detail with our Texture, UV and Displacement Map tools • Start with built-in base meshes or scan real-world objects using photogrammetry tools to accelerate your workflow. DESKTOP-LEVEL 3D PERFORMANCE ON iPAD ZBrush for iPad supports up to 90+ million polygons per mesh on an M4 or newer iPad, delivering powerful high-resolution sculpting wherever you work, while Apple Pencil Pro offers squeeze and roll support, double-tap gestures, intuitive touch controls and fast undo and redo gestures to keep your creative flow uninterrupted. WHO USES ZBRUSH? 1. Game Developers who sculpt detailed characters, environments and in-game assets from concept to final 3D model 2. 3D creators who design toys, collectibles or cosplay and simply want to achieve accurate 3D printing 3. Visual designers who build realistic characters and visual effects for film and concept art 4. Industry product designers who design jewelry, sneakers and components 5. Creative artists that want to take advantage of today's 3D printers for costume, architecture, hardware and more. 6. 2D artists who want to ‘level up’ learning how to design in 3D Download ZBrush for iPad today and create professional 3D art, digital sculptures and high-resolution models anywhere. LANGUAGE SUPPORT ZBrush supports English, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Spanish, German, French and Portuguese (BR).

Screenshots

Live Link Face4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Zbrush at 85% against Live Link Face's 48%. Zbrush also leads on rating (4.1 vs 3.6) and update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). Live Link Face's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On price, ratings volume, ads 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. Zbrush sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Live Link Face asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Zbrush holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 114 and 245 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 48% of Live Link Face's written reviews are positive against 85% of Zbrush's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Live Link Face ships an update every 2 months, Zbrush monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Live Link Face versus Zbrush: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLive Link FaceZbrush
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.6 (114 ratings)4.1 (245 ratings) — better
Positive reviews48.0% of reviews85.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings114245 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size117 MB1.1 GB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperUnreal EngineMAXON Computer GmbH

Customer experience

Live Link Face

All ratings114 ratings
Positive63.2%
Neutral6.1%
Negative30.7%
Written reviews171 reviews
Positive48.0%
Neutral11.7%
Negative40.4%

Zbrush

All ratings245 ratings
Positive77.6%
Neutral4.1%
Negative18.4%
Written reviews20 reviews
Positive85.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative15.0%

In-app purchases

None

Live Link Face

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Zbrush

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

Questions

Is Live Link Face free?
Live Link Face is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Zbrush free?
Zbrush is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Live Link Face or Zbrush?
Zbrush is rated higher. Live Link Face averages 3.6 out of 5 from 114 ratings, while Zbrush averages 4.1 from 245 ratings.
Do Live Link Face or Zbrush have ads?
Neither Live Link Face nor Zbrush shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Live Link Face or Zbrush?
Live Link Face ships an update every 2 months, and Zbrush monthly. Most recently, Live Link Face was updated on September 24, 2026 and Zbrush on September 22, 2026.

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