# Affinity Designer 2 for iPad vs ZBrush

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | Affinity Designer 2 for iPad | ZBrush |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (4.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/affinity-designer-2-for-ipad/id1616833418/reviews)** | [4.1 (262 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zbrush-3d-model-maker/id6612028716/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4.8K** | 262 |
| Positive reviews | 51.7% of reviews | **81.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Freemium** |
| Size | 1.7 GB | 1.1 GB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Serif (Europe) Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/536107177) | [MAXON Computer GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1438772272) |

## What reviewers say

### Affinity Designer 2 for iPad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/affinity-designer-2-for-ipad/id1616833418)

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:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Free 7-Day Trial | Free | one-time |
| Designer 2 for iPad License | Free | one-time |
| Affinity Collection for iPad | $36.99 | one-time |
| Affinity V2 Universal License | $164.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful vector tools
- 🎨 Excellent for digital art and illustration
- 💰 Great value for the price
- 👍 Intuitive and streamlined UI
- 🔄 Seamless integration between iPad and desktop versions

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- 🔍 Cluttered and unintuitive UI in some areas
- 🖌️ Lacking advanced brush and pencil features
- 💾 Unreliable saving and file management
- 🔀 Confusing transition from Affinity Designer v1

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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

[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 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.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*