# HenPitsu vs Zen Brush 2

The clearest difference is price: HenPitsu at Free against Zen Brush 2's $2.99. HenPitsu also leads on review sentiment (81% vs 67%) and iOS requirement (9.1 vs 12.0). Zen Brush 2's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 18 months) and rating (3.9 vs 3.5). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

HenPitsu is free to download; Zen Brush 2 costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Zen Brush 2 holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Zen Brush 2 has 129 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 81% of HenPitsu's written reviews are positive against 67% of Zen Brush 2's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

HenPitsu ships an update every 18 months, Zen Brush 2 monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HenPitsu | Zen Brush 2 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $2.99 |
| Rating | [3.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/henpitsu/id404706175/reviews) | **[3.9 (129 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zen-brush-2/id1012274888/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **129** |
| Positive reviews | **80.7% of reviews** | 67.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 18 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#87** |
| Size | 18 MB | 72 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.1** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Shin-ichi Nishimura](https://appshunter.io/developer/404706178) | [PSOFT](https://appshunter.io/developer/373752450) |

## What reviewers say

### HenPitsu

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/henpitsu/id404706175)

This drawing application features a unique brush that adjusts its width based on finger movement speed, allowing for calligraphy and watercolor effects. Users can trace photos, remove backgrounds for landscape art, and save or export their creations.

**Highlights:** Speed-sensitive brush width, Japanese calligraphy simulation, Watercolor painting effects, Use photos as backgrounds, Save and export drawings, Trace photos for landscape art

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Zen Brush 2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zen-brush-2/id1012274888)

**Currently charting:** #87 Top Paid · Entertainment (US App Store)

This app offers a drawing experience inspired by East Asian ink brush art. Its intuitive interface and new engine provide a fluid and expressive way to create unique artwork, with options to share and edit your creations.

**Highlights:** East Asian ink brush simulation, New expressive brush engine, Gallery for saving work, Red ink option, Ink dispersion effect, 92 background templates, Pressure sensitive stylus support

**Features:** iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Realistic brush simulation and stroke quality
- 😌 Meditative and relaxing user experience
- ⚡ Quick and responsive performance
- 🎯 Simple, minimalist interface design
- ✍️ Excellent for calligraphy and character practice

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🎨 Limited color options (primarily black and red)
- 📱 No iCloud sync or cloud backup support
- 🐛 Occasional app crashes and freezes
- ⚠️ Confusing interface for new users
- 🗑️ Delete button placement causes accidental deletions

**Reported bugs**

- Background menu freezes
- App crashes during export/save operations
- Blank canvas loads despite recent saves
- Unable to export artworks (ALAssetsLibraryErrorDomain error)
- Brush stroke continues in straight line after stylus lift

**Requested features**

- Expanded color palette beyond black and red
- iCloud synchronization across devices
- Layer support for more complex artwork
- Import background photos for tracing and reference
- Custom guides and grid overlays


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HenPitsu free?

HenPitsu is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Zen Brush 2 free?

Zen Brush 2 costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, HenPitsu or Zen Brush 2?

Zen Brush 2 is rated higher. HenPitsu averages 3.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Zen Brush 2 averages 3.9 from 129 ratings.

### Do HenPitsu or Zen Brush 2 have ads?

Neither HenPitsu nor Zen Brush 2 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HenPitsu or Zen Brush 2?

HenPitsu ships an update every 18 months, and Zen Brush 2 monthly. Most recently, HenPitsu was updated on September 30, 2026 and Zen Brush 2 on October 4, 2026.

---

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