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, 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

Live Link Face4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: ZBrush at 4.1 against Live Link Face's 3.6. ZBrush also leads on review sentiment (85% vs 48%) 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 256 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. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

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 (256 ratings) — better
Positive reviews48.0% of reviews85.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings114256 — 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 ratings254 ratings
Positive77.6%
Neutral4.3%
Negative18.1%
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 256 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 October 25, 2026 and ZBrush on October 25, 2026.

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