Comparison

Affinity Designer 2 for iPad vs ZBrush

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

Head to head
About

Affinity Designer 2 for iPad

Create stunning illustrations, branding, logos, UI/UX designs, and more with a powerful touch-focused vector graphics app. Optimized for iPad and Apple Pencil, it offers real-time performance and precise tools for both vector and raster workflows.

Highlights
  • Vector Warp
  • Shape Builder Tool
  • Knife Tool
  • Drawing scale
  • Vector Flood Fill
  • Switch between vector and raster workspaces
  • Sophisticated typography
Features
Read full description

Affinity Designer 2 for iPad takes the power and precision of the Apple Design Award-winning desktop app and converts it into an incredible touch-focused creative experience. Packed with tons of new features and hundreds of enhancements to optimize your workflow, the graphic design app has everything you need to seamlessly create stunning illustrations, branding, logos, icons, UI/UX designs, print projects, typography, posters, labels, flyers, stickers, concept art, digital art, and much more – all completely free from the confines of your desk. OPTIMIZED FOR IPAD • Fully integrated and optimized iPad gesture controls to speed up your workflow • iOS16 ready, including optimization for virtual memory swap, dramatically increasing performance on large documents. • Sensitive to pressure, tilt, and angle, the app harnesses the full power and precision of Apple Pencil • Command controller hosting on-screen modifiers • Quick Menu for context-sensitive access to commands • Use as your very own digital sketchbook, canvas, logo maker, sticker maker, flyer maker, and more POWERFUL TOOLS & FUNCTIONALITY • Vector Warp • Shape Builder Tool • Knife Tool • DXF/DWF import • Measure & Area tools • Drawing scale – including ability for different scales set per artboard • X-ray, hide effects, and greyscale view modes • Multiple shadow, outline, and overlay layer effects per object • Powerful grids and guides • Transform Tool • Vector Flood Fill • Spiral Tool REAL-TIME PERFORMANCE • Pan and zoom at 120fps • Live gradients, transforms, effects, and adjustments • Optimized for documents of any complexity, zoom to over 1,000,000% for absolute precision • Live pixel, retina, wireframe, and x-ray views of vector artwork in and out of split screen mode • Live Pattern Preview • Seamless switching between tools and editing modes for frustration-free design • Incredibly accurate results with minimal nodes PRECISE VECTOR TOOLS • Rock solid vector tools that work just the way you want them to • The best Pen Tool, Node Tool, curve editing, and smart shape tools available • Powerful Contour Tool to create abstract objects or increase the width of single open curves • Pencil and brush stabilization for drawing super-smooth curves freehand • Non-destructive Boolean operations • Live effects, blend modes, and image adjustments • Incredibly smooth gradient and transparency controls RASTER OR VECTOR, YOU DECIDE • Switch between fully-featured vector and raster workspaces with a single tap – paint, draw, or sketch in raster and then create cool, custom vector art • High quality raster tools for painting, texturing, masking, finishing artwork, or even creating tattoo designs • Use raster brushes, edit single pixels on icons, mask and add grain to your crisp vectors, enclose and clip pixel layers – it’s true creative freedom not found in other software or drawing apps SOPHISTICATED TYPOGRAPHY • Flexible text handling including comprehensive support for OpenType • Artistic text and text frames • Full control over character and paragraph styles • Flow text and type along any drawn path • Extensive library of free fonts BUILT FOR YOUR WORKFLOW • Unlimited artboards • Savable history with alternate futures • Customizable shortcuts with attached keyboard or new quick menu • Adobe Illustrator ® (Ai files), PSD, PDF, EPS, SVG, JPG, JPEG XL, TIFF, EXR, DXF, and DWG file support • Linked symbols and constraints • Save documents as template files to re-use time and time again • Quickly access royalty free images through the Stock Panel or import files from Affinity Photo or other photo editor • Select Same and Select Object functions PERFECT COLOR & OUTPUT • Professional CMYK, LAB, RGB, PANTONE© and Greyscale color models • Full 16-bit per channel editing • End-to-end ICC color management • Slice export for exporting multiple elements in a single tap • Live pixel preview to see exactly how your design will export

About

ZBrush

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
Read full description

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).

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Affinity Designer 2 for iPad at 4.7 against ZBrush's 4.1. Affinity Designer 2 for iPad also leads on ratings volume (4.8K vs 262) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). ZBrush's advantage is review sentiment (81% vs 52%) and monetization model (freemium vs paid). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Affinity Designer 2 for iPad sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and ZBrush sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Affinity Designer 2 for iPad holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Affinity Designer 2 for iPad has 4.8K ratings behind it against 262, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 52% of Affinity Designer 2 for iPad's written reviews are positive against 81% of ZBrush's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Affinity Designer 2 for iPad ships an update every 6 weeks, ZBrush monthly. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Affinity Designer 2 for iPad versus ZBrush: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAffinity Designer 2 for iPadZBrush
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (4.8K ratings) — better4.1 (262 ratings)
Positive reviews51.7% of reviews81.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings4.8K — better262
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
DevicesiPadiPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size1.7 GB1.1 GB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSerif (Europe) Ltd.MAXON Computer GmbH

Customer experience

Affinity Designer 2 for iPad

All ratings3,049 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral2.3%
Negative4.8%
Written reviews393 reviews
Positive51.7%
Neutral14.5%
Negative33.8%

ZBrush

All ratings262 ratings
Positive77.1%
Neutral4.2%
Negative18.7%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive81.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative19.0%

Bugs and requests

Affinity Designer 2 for iPad

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes when switching between vector and pixel layers
  • Exported files not retaining expected quality or format
  • Grid spacing and snapping issues
  • Disappearing or unresponsive UI elements

Requested features

5 requests
  • Vector trace tool
  • Better layer management and organization
  • Improved Apple Pencil support and pressure sensitivity
  • Ability to rename documents on creation
  • Customizable keyboard shortcuts and UI

ZBrush

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Affinity Designer 2 for iPad

One-time4
  • Free 7-Day TrialFree
  • Designer 2 for iPad LicenseFree
  • Affinity Collection for iPad$36.99
Show 1 more
  • Affinity V2 Universal License$164.99
2 purchases

ZBrush

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

Questions

Is Affinity Designer 2 for iPad free?
Affinity Designer 2 for iPad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ZBrush free?
ZBrush is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Affinity Designer 2 for iPad or ZBrush?
Affinity Designer 2 for iPad is rated higher. Affinity Designer 2 for iPad averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4.8K ratings, while ZBrush averages 4.1 from 262 ratings.
Do Affinity Designer 2 for iPad or ZBrush have ads?
Neither Affinity Designer 2 for iPad nor ZBrush shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Affinity Designer 2 for iPad or ZBrush?
Affinity Designer 2 for iPad ships an update every 6 weeks, and ZBrush monthly. Most recently, Affinity Designer 2 for iPad was updated on October 30, 2026 and ZBrush on October 30, 2026.

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