# Octane X vs ZBrush

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Octane X at none against ZBrush's 2. ZBrush's advantage is rating (4.1 vs 3.7) and ratings volume (268 vs 31). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ZBrush sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Octane X asks for nothing beyond the download.

ZBrush holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ZBrush has 268 ratings behind it against 31, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 51% and 52% positive.

Octane X ships an update every 2 months, ZBrush monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Octane X | ZBrush |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (31 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/octane-x/id1609342064/reviews) | **[4.1 (268 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zbrush-3d-model-maker/id6612028716/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 31 | **268** |
| Positive reviews | 51.2% of reviews | **52.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 1.1 GB | 1.1 GB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPad, Mac** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [OTOY inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1337195473) | [MAXON Computer GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1438772272) |

## What reviewers say

### Octane X

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/octane-x/id1609342064)

This powerful GPU rendering application brings professional-grade 3D rendering capabilities to iPad Pro. It offers a full suite of features for visual effects, motion graphics, gaming, and design, with an interface optimized for touch and Apple Pencil, while also supporting advanced external peripherals.

**Highlights:** Unbiased, spectrally-correct GPU rendering, Optimized touch and Apple Pencil interface, Support for external keyboards, trackpads, and monitors, Node-based material, shader, and scene graph editor, AI Denoiser for production-ready results, ACES, OCIO, and deep pixel EXR rendering

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Powerful rendering capabilities
- 🚀 Excellent performance on Apple Silicon
- 💡 Innovative standalone mode for desktop UI
- 👍 Great image quality and speed improvements
- 🤩 Unbelievable performance on iPad

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 Difficult to install and use
- 😵 Confusing version compatibility
- ⚠️ Requires knowledge to get renders
- 🐌 Slow due to default settings
- 🚫 Limited hardware support (e.g., iPad Pro 2018)

**Reported bugs**

- 🐛 Gray screen on iPadOS 27
- 🐛 Incompatible with iPadOS 17
- 🐛 No Render GPU error on M1 Macs with Sonoma
- 🐛 Grey screen and doesn't load
- 🐛 Not working since iPadOS 17

**Requested features**

- Tutorials for specific materials (hair, glass, water)
- Support for Nomad Sculpt OBJ/GLB import
- UI improvements for Apple Pencil users
- Polygon-based modeling and animation tools
- Add Maya and Houdini support


### ZBrush

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zbrush-3d-model-maker/id6612028716)

Create detailed 3D models and digital sculptures on your iPad. This app offers industry-leading sculpting tools, advanced detailing, and seamless integration with desktop versions for professionals and hobbyists alike.

**Highlights:** Digital sculpting and 3D painting, 200+ pressure-sensitive brushes, Sculptris Pro & Dynamic Tessellation, Live Boolean modeling, 3D Layers for non-destructive editing, Seamless desktop interoperability, Direct export for 3D printing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ZBrush Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| ZBrush Annual | $89.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Octane X free?

Octane X 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, Octane X or ZBrush?

ZBrush is rated higher. Octane X averages 3.7 out of 5 from 31 ratings, while ZBrush averages 4.1 from 268 ratings.

### Do Octane X or ZBrush have ads?

Neither Octane X nor ZBrush shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Octane X or ZBrush?

Octane X ships an update every 2 months, and ZBrush monthly. Most recently, Octane X was updated on November 3, 2026 and ZBrush on November 8, 2026.

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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.*