ZBrush vs LayerMapper MApp
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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).
LayerMapper MApp
Transform your mobile device into a professional projection mapping and real-time animation controller. Create complex visual compositions with advanced features for live performers and visual artists.
- Advanced clip grid system with custom shaders
- Unlimited layers and composition options
- Multiple output meshes with geometry correction
- Projection laser and atmospherics effects
- Real-time animation and BPM sync
- Preset system for instant recall
- High-performance Metal-accelerated rendering
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LayerMapper MApp – Professional Projection Mapping & Real-Time Animation Turn your iPhone or iPad into a high-end projection mapping controller. The ultimate tool for VJs, live performers, and visual artists who need desktop-class power in a mobile format – from a single projector to a full multi-surface show. KEY FEATURES: CLIP GRID & INPUTS Unlimited clips per layer for total creative freedom. Photos and videos straight from your Photo Library. Dual Camera Input: use the front and back cameras at the same time as two live sources. HDMI Capture via USB grabber (UVC) – bring in any console, camera, or computer. YouTube Input and Web/URL Input – play videos or load any live web page onto your meshes. Custom GLSL shaders, NDI Input, and Camera Input. AI Shader Generator, plus AI Shader Input received from other devices via multicast. Audio-Reactive: drive shader and clip parameters live from music or the microphone. Cue Points and a frame-accurate Clip Timeline for repeatable shows. Fast tap-to-assign workflow with thumbnail previews. UNLIMITED COMPOSITION Unlimited layers – build compositions as complex as your vision requires. Professional Blend Modes: Normal, Add, Multiply, Screen, Overlay, Alpha. MESHES & GEOMETRY Multiple output meshes for complex, real-world surfaces. Advanced correction: multi-point keystone, homography, circular meshes, and Bézier curves. Assign clips or whole layers to meshes; full Z-order and instant visibility control. PROJECTION LASERS Create stunning laser-style beam shows using projectors and atmospheric haze. Record slice motion with live clip textures and save it as reusable presets. ANIMATION & SYNC Real-time corner recording (30 FPS), overdub layering, and seamless loops. BPM Sync & Ableton Link – stay perfectly in time with music hardware and software across the network. CONTROL SURFACES MIDI Learn: map any control to external MIDI controllers – faders, pads, and knobs. DMX / Art-Net: integrate with professional lighting rigs and trigger DMX live. STREAMING & NETWORK OUTPUT Live Streaming: broadcast your Output straight to YouTube, Facebook, or a custom RTMP endpoint. Direct-LAN to TV: send your Output over the local network to the LayerMapper receiver on Xiaomi TV Box, and similar devices – no cables required. PRESET SYSTEM 16 instant recall slots (P1-P16) for live switching. Save entire setups: meshes, layers, media, and automations. HIGH-PERFORMANCE OUTPUT 60 FPS Metal-accelerated rendering. Clean HDMI Output: a dedicated video feed with no UI clutter. External Player companion app for remote playback and control, with AirPlay support. Performance Mode (maximum frame rate) and Realtime Mode (original FPS). REQUIREMENTS: iOS 17.0 or later (Metal-supported devices). Access: Camera, Microphone, Photo Library, and Local Network (Ableton Link, Direct-LAN, NDI, multicast). External MIDI and Art-Net/DMX optional. HDMI or AirPlay for external display. REQUIRES IN-APP PURCHASE • 30-DAY FREE TRIAL SUBSCRIPTIONS (auto-renewable): • Monthly: $11.00/month – 30-day free trial for new subscribers. • Yearly: $44.00/year – 30-day free trial for new subscribers. • Lifetime: $88.00 one-time – permanent access, no subscription. TERMS: • Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. • Free trial converts to paid unless cancelled at least 24 hours before it ends. • Subscription auto-renews unless turned off at least 24 hours before the period ends; your account is charged within 24 hours before renewal. • Manage or cancel in your Account Settings. Any unused trial is forfeited on purchase. PRIVACY: We do not collect, store, or share your personal data. All media stays on your device. Purchases are processed securely by Apple. SUPPORT: layermapper@gmail.com Terms of Use (EULA): https://layermapper.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://layermapper.com/privacy
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Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: LayerMapper MApp at 5.0 against ZBrush's 4.1. ZBrush's advantage is monetization model (freemium vs subscription) and ratings volume (268 vs 1). 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
Both are free to download. ZBrush sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and LayerMapper MApp sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $11.00 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
LayerMapper MApp holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ZBrush has 268 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
ZBrush ships an update monthly, LayerMapper MApp every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ZBrush | LayerMapper MApp |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.1 (268 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 52.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 268 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium — better | Subscription |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1.1 GB | 45 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | MAXON Computer GmbH | Denis Grzechnik |
In-app purchases
ZBrush
- ZBrush Monthly$9.991 Month
- ZBrush Annual$89.991 Year
LayerMapper MApp
- LayerMapper1 Month trial$11.001 Month
- LayerMapper Subscription Yearly$45.001 Year
- Lifetime License$89.00
Questions
Is ZBrush free?
Is LayerMapper MApp free?
Which has better reviews, ZBrush or LayerMapper MApp?
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