# Brush Buster LITE vs Zen Brush 2

The clearest difference is price: Brush Buster LITE at Free against Zen Brush 2's $2.99. Brush Buster LITE also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 67%) and iOS requirement (6.0 vs 12.0). Zen Brush 2's advantage is rating (3.9 vs 2.0) and ratings volume (130 vs 1). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Brush Buster LITE 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 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Zen Brush 2 has 130 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of Brush Buster LITE'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.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Brush Buster LITE | Zen Brush 2 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $2.99 |
| Rating | [2.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brush-buster-lite/id734184692/reviews) | **[3.9 (130 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zen-brush-2/id1012274888/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **130** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 67.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 56 MB | 72 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [HIROAKI TSUKASHIMA](https://appshunter.io/developer/528128203) | [PSOFT](https://appshunter.io/developer/373752450) |

## What reviewers say

### Brush Buster LITE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brush-buster-lite/id734184692)

Easily enjoy Japanese calligraphy with this tool. Create original handwritten messages, practice penmanship, or learn Kanji characters. Save your creations and share them via email or social media.

**Highlights:** Create original handwritten messages, Learn Kanji characters, Practice penmanship, Save and replay handwriting, Choose typeface and writing orientation, Share creations via email and SNS

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Zen Brush 2

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

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 Brush Buster LITE free?

Brush Buster LITE 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, Brush Buster LITE or Zen Brush 2?

Zen Brush 2 is rated higher. Brush Buster LITE averages 2.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Zen Brush 2 averages 3.9 from 130 ratings.

### Do Brush Buster LITE or Zen Brush 2 have ads?

Neither Brush Buster LITE nor Zen Brush 2 shows ads.

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

Brush Buster LITE ships an update monthly, and Zen Brush 2 monthly. Most recently, Brush Buster LITE was updated on November 1, 2026 and Zen Brush 2 on November 11, 2026.

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