# Calligraphy Handbook vs Zen Brush 2

The clearest difference is price: Calligraphy Handbook at Free against Zen Brush 2's $2.99. Calligraphy Handbook also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.9) and ratings volume (518 vs 129). Zen Brush 2's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). On review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Calligraphy Handbook is free to download; Zen Brush 2 costs $2.99 up front. Calligraphy Handbook sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Zen Brush 2 asks for nothing beyond the download.

Calligraphy Handbook holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 518 and 129 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 74% of Calligraphy Handbook's written reviews are positive against 67% of Zen Brush 2's.

Calligraphy Handbook ships an update every 4 months, Zen Brush 2 monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 12, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Calligraphy Handbook | Zen Brush 2 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $2.99 |
| Rating | **[4.5 (518 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calligraphy-handbook/id830584075/reviews)** | [3.9 (129 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zen-brush-2/id1012274888/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **518** | 129 |
| Positive reviews | **74.1% of reviews** | 67.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#195** |
| Size | 257 MB | 72 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Etienne Nguyen Tan Hon](https://appshunter.io/developer/417852567) | [PSOFT](https://appshunter.io/developer/373752450) |

## What reviewers say

### Calligraphy Handbook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calligraphy-handbook/id830584075)

This app is a digital tool for learning and practicing calligraphy. It offers various pens, colors, and effects for both beginners and experienced artists. Users can also challenge friends or test their skills with a calligraphy game.

**Highlights:** Digital pens and papers for learning, Unique pen and color effects, Calligraphy game for skill evaluation, 11 calligraphic pens and 1 pointed pen, 19 calligraphic hands in various styles, Layer management for artistic creation, Export creations to camera roll or email

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock All Features | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for learning calligraphy
- 💡 Variety of font styles and color options
- 👍 Calming and meditative experience
- 👍 Great for beginners and intermediate users
- 👍 Useful for practicing without supplies

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 💰 Misleading about free features
- 🔒 Lack of palm rejection and input issues
- 👎 Overly strict grading system
- 👎 Limited free features, need to pay for full access

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when switching between uppercase and lowercase letters
- Undo feature causes freezing and loss of progress
- Inconsistent performance and lag when using Apple Pencil
- Restoration of in-app purchases not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Add more font styles, especially Gothic and modern
- Implement better palm rejection and input handling
- Allow users to favorite/save preferred font styles
- Add the ability to practice full words and sentences
- Improve export and sharing options


### Zen Brush 2

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

**Currently charting:** #195 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 Calligraphy Handbook free?

Calligraphy Handbook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Zen Brush 2 free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Calligraphy Handbook or Zen Brush 2?

Calligraphy Handbook is rated higher. Calligraphy Handbook averages 4.5 out of 5 from 518 ratings, while Zen Brush 2 averages 3.9 from 129 ratings.

### Do Calligraphy Handbook or Zen Brush 2 have ads?

Neither Calligraphy Handbook nor Zen Brush 2 shows ads.

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

Calligraphy Handbook ships an update every 4 months, and Zen Brush 2 monthly. Most recently, Calligraphy Handbook was updated on September 12, 2026 and Zen Brush 2 on September 26, 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.*