Comparison

ZBrush vs VirtualTablet

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

Head to head
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).

About

VirtualTablet

Transform your iOS device into a wireless pen tablet for your computer. Draw, write, and control your PC or Mac with precise, low-latency input using Apple Pencil or touch. Connect easily via Wi-Fi or USB for a professional graphic tablet experience without the cost.

Highlights
  • Wireless pen tablet functionality
  • Apple Pencil pressure and tilt support
  • Wi-Fi or USB connection
  • Screen mapping and mouse modes
  • Compatible with creative desktop apps
  • Low-latency cursor control
Features
Read full description

Turn your iPad or iPhone into a wireless pen tablet for your computer! Draw, write, and control your PC or Mac with Apple Pencil—just like a professional graphic tablet. VirtualTablet turns your iOS device into a high-precision input tablet for desktop apps. It connects over Wi-Fi or USB, giving you accurate, low-latency cursor control without buying expensive hardware. WHAT YOU CAN DO • Draw directly into desktop creative apps • Control your computer cursor with Apple Pencil or touch • Annotate PDFs, slides, and documents for teaching or presentations • Play rhythm games like osu with precise, low-latency input ------- CONNECT OVER WI-FI OR USB • Wi-Fi: connect wirelessly when your computer and iOS device are on the same router/network • USB: plug in for a rock-solid, low-latency wired connection • No complicated network setup—just scan a QR code or type a short connection code • Every input event is fully encrypted end-to-end for safe, private transmission ------- CHOOSE YOUR SETUP: SCREEN MAPPING OR MOUSE MODE VirtualTablet lets you decide how your cursor moves on your device. • Screen Mapping (Absolute Positioning) Your iPad maps directly to your computer display, similar to a traditional pen tablet. Ideal for artists and osu players. • Mouse Mode (Relative Positioning) Use your iPad like a large trackpad. Cursor movement follows your hand regardless of position. ------- APPLE PENCIL SUPPORT • Pressure and tilt sensitivity • Double-tap gesture support • Hover cursor control on supported Apple Pencil models Finger or passive stylus input is supported with basic functionality. ------- WORKS WITH YOUR FAVORITE APPS Compatible with popular desktop software such as Photoshop, Affinity, Krita, Clip Studio, Illustrator, and more. ------- REQUIREMENTS • A Windows or macOS computer (Linux is not supported yet) • The free VirtualTablet Server installed on your computer: https://www.sunnysidesoft.com/virtualtablet/download • Wi-Fi (same network) or a USB cable to connect your iOS device and computer ------- GETTING STARTED WITH VIRTUALTABLET • Download VirtualTablet on your iPhone or iPad • Install VirtualTablet Server on your Windows or macOS computer • Launch both, then connect by scanning the QR code or entering the connection code • Use Apple Pencil or touch to control your computer Need help? Visit our website or contact support from the app. https://www.sunnysidesoft.com/support/ ------- Stop paying for expensive drawing tablets. Use the device you already own—download VirtualTablet and start creating. HELP • Support page: https://www.sunnysidesoft.com/support/ • Email us: support@sunnysidesoft.com • Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

VirtualTablet4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: ZBrush at 4.1 against VirtualTablet's 3.3. ZBrush also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (265 vs 4). VirtualTablet's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs monthly) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. ZBrush sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and VirtualTablet sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ZBrush holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ZBrush has 265 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ZBrush ships an update monthly, VirtualTablet every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
ZBrush versus VirtualTablet: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZBrushVirtualTablet
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (265 ratings) — better3.3 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews52.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings265 — better4
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 8 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size1.1 GB89 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMAXON Computer GmbHEunjin Joo

Customer experience

ZBrush

All ratings262 ratings
Positive77.1%
Neutral4.2%
Negative18.7%
Written reviews98 reviews
Positive52.0%
Neutral13.3%
Negative34.7%

VirtualTablet

All ratings4 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

ZBrush

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

VirtualTablet

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Subscription (Monthly)$1.991 Month
  • Pro Subscription (Annual)$11.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pro Lifetime Access$29.99

Questions

Is ZBrush free?
ZBrush is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is VirtualTablet free?
VirtualTablet is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ZBrush or VirtualTablet?
ZBrush is rated higher. ZBrush averages 4.1 out of 5 from 265 ratings, while VirtualTablet averages 3.3 from 4 ratings.
Do ZBrush or VirtualTablet have ads?
VirtualTablet shows ads; ZBrush does not.
Which is updated more often, ZBrush or VirtualTablet?
ZBrush ships an update monthly, and VirtualTablet every 8 days. Most recently, ZBrush was updated on November 5, 2026 and VirtualTablet on October 31, 2026.

Other comparisons