# Brushes Redux vs Zen Brush 2

The clearest difference is price: Brushes Redux at Free against Zen Brush 2's $2.99. Brushes Redux also leads on iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.0). Zen Brush 2's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 9 months) and rating (3.9 vs 3.6). On review sentiment, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Brushes Redux 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 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 303 and 130 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of Brushes Redux's written reviews are positive against 67% of Zen Brush 2's.

Brushes Redux ships an update every 9 months, Zen Brush 2 monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Brushes Redux | Zen Brush 2 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $2.99 |
| Rating | [3.6 (303 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brushes-redux/id932089074/reviews) | **[3.9 (130 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zen-brush-2/id1012274888/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **303** | 130 |
| Positive reviews | 62.8% of reviews | **67.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 15 MB | 72 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Christoffer Hoel](https://appshunter.io/developer/905811020) | [PSOFT](https://appshunter.io/developer/373752450) |

## What reviewers say

### Brushes Redux

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brushes-redux/id932089074)

This app offers a powerful and responsive painting experience on iOS devices. Create large, detailed artwork with a versatile brush engine, layer management, and import/export options. Relive your creative process with step-by-step playback.

**Highlights:** OpenGL-based painting engine, Record and replay paintings, Up to 10 layers, Import/export JPEG, PNG, PSD, Simulated pressure, Unlimited undo/redo

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🎨 Great for drawing and painting
- 💯 No ads or in-app purchases
- ⭐ Excellent for beginners
- 🎨 Customizable brushes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes frequently
- 🔍 Limited selection of tools (no blending, fill, etc.)
- 🔍 Pixelated output when zoomed in
- 🔍 Inconsistent color output
- 🔍 Difficulty using with Apple Pencil

**Reported bugs**

- Drawings disappearing or unable to open
- Color picker issues causing unintended color changes
- Dropbox integration problems
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Add blending tool
- Increase layer limit
- Implement video export
- Add text tool
- Improve Apple Pencil support


### 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 Brushes Redux free?

Brushes Redux 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, Brushes Redux or Zen Brush 2?

Zen Brush 2 is rated higher. Brushes Redux averages 3.6 out of 5 from 303 ratings, while Zen Brush 2 averages 3.9 from 130 ratings.

### Do Brushes Redux or Zen Brush 2 have ads?

Neither Brushes Redux nor Zen Brush 2 shows ads.

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

Brushes Redux ships an update every 9 months, and Zen Brush 2 monthly. Most recently, Brushes Redux was updated on October 22, 2026 and Zen Brush 2 on October 24, 2026.

---

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