saasrankedSoftware, ranked on the facts

3D modeling program · Maxon

ZBrush

Digital sculpting software with a brush system for high-polygon meshes, sold as a subscription with a free iPad plan.

39/100

#6 of 9 3D modeling programs
Facts checked 9 Oct 2026

In short

ZBrush suits sculptors who want a brush-based workflow, UV Master unwrapping and Redshift rendering in a subscription1,5,6. The free iPad plan is a low-cost way to start sculpting2. The catch: the free plan cannot export 3D models, and Maxon's pages show no prices for the Windows desktop subscription2,10.

Best for: Character and creature artists who sculpt detailed meshes.

Where the points come from

Systems4 of 8
Licence10 of 33
Modelling tools18 of 38
Formats4 of 6
Price3 of 15

Systems 4 of 8 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Other systemsmacOS, iPadMaxon says ZBrush runs on Windows (including Windows on Arm), macOS and iPadOS1.4 / 8

Licence 10 of 33 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Free version without a time limitYesZBrush for iPad has a free plan; no time limit is stated. It is iPad only and has no 3D model export2.10 / 10
Free version allowed for paid workNot publishedNot published on the vendor's plan options page2.0 / 6
One-off licence you keepNot publishedThe ZBrush page describes subscriptions only; it does not say whether a one-off licence is sold1.0 / 8
Open sourceNot publishedNot published on the vendor's ZBrush page1.0 / 5
Free licence for studentsNot publishedStudent plan has a pricing page; the educational licensing page does not say it is free11.0 / 4

Modelling tools 18 of 38 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Precise curve and solid modelingNot publishedNot published on the vendor's ZBrush features pages5,9.0 / 5
Digital sculptingYesBrush-based sculpting of meshes with tens of millions of polygons5,1.5 / 5
Node-based procedural modelingNot publishedNot published on the vendor's ZBrush features pages; procedural surface detail from noise patterns is not a node graph9.0 / 5
Rigging and animationNot publishedTimeline and Movie features are named; no rigging tools are named on the vendor's features pages9.0 / 5
Physics simulationYesCloth brushes use a Dynamics system to drape a cloth mesh over other visible meshes5.4 / 4
UV unwrappingYesUV Master generates seams, unwraps and packs UVs in one click6.4 / 4
Built-in ray-traced rendererYesEvery subscription includes Redshift1; Maxon says Redshift uses ray-tracing hardware where present, and ZBrush's version runs on CPU8,12.5 / 5
Scripting and add-onsNot publishedZScript is listed as a desktop feature2; no scripting API is documented on the pages.0 / 5

Formats 4 of 6 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Built-in export formatsFBX, OBJ, STL, USDExport list: OBJ, USD, and FBX and STL through the FBX Export Import and 3D Print Hub plug-ins. glTF and STEP are not listed7.4 / 6

Price 3 of 15 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Cheapest way to use it for paid workNot publishedNot published on the vendor's pages10. The only prices are for the iPad-only app3.0 / 12
Full-feature trialYes14-day free trial that includes ZBrush and the full Maxon One suite1,4.3 / 3

The rule behind each line: how we score 3D modeling programs.

Plans and prices

As the vendor lists them, before tax. Prices are in US dollars unless the plan shows euros; the points use US dollars, with euros converted at the ECB rate.

PlanPrice as listedPer monthNotes
ZBrush for iPad Free1 person, iPadFree2$028 brushes; no 3D model export; 20 million polygon cap
ZBrush for iPad Monthly1 person, iPad$9.99/month3$9.99App Store in-app purchase
ZBrush for iPad Annual1 person, iPad$89.99/year3$7.50App Store in-app purchase
ZBrush desktop subscription1 personPrice not shown1,10QuoteIncludes desktop, iPad and Redshift

The iPad prices come from the App Store listing and cover the iPad app only3. Maxon's plan page shows no desktop prices10.

Strengths

  • Free iPad plan includes an introductory set of 28 brushes2.
  • UV Master creates seams, unwraps and packs UVs in one step6.
  • Cloth brushes use a Dynamics system to drape cloth over other meshes5.
  • Every subscription includes rendering with Redshift1.
  • Imports and exports OBJ and USD, and FBX and STL through plug-ins7.

Limits

  • The free iPad plan has no 3D model export and caps meshes at 20 million polygons2.
  • Windows desktop prices are not shown on Maxon's plan page10.
  • No rigging tools are named; posing uses Transpose Master9.
  • Redshift in ZBrush is CPU-based8.
  • glTF and STEP are not listed among supported formats7.

What Maxon says

Vendor claims. We show them, but they earn no points.

  • Maxon says ZBrush's brush system handles tens of millions of polygons in real time1.

Other 3D modeling programs

  1. 1
    BlenderAnyone who wants full 3D tools for paid work at no cost
    80/100
    $0cheapest way to use it for paid work
  2. 2
    HoudiniArtists who want procedural, node-driven modeling and simulation
    72/100
    $24.92/mocheapest way to use it for paid work
  3. 3
    FreeCADPeople who want free, scriptable solid modeling for designed parts
    50/100
    $0cheapest way to use it for paid work
  4. 4
    Rhino 3DDesigners who want precise curve and surface modeling and prefer to buy once
    48/100
    $30.92/mocheapest way to use it for paid work

All 9 3D modeling programs

Sources

  1. ZBrush, Maxon. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  2. ZBrush plan options, Maxon. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  3. ZBrush for iPad, Apple App Store. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  4. Try Maxon software, Maxon. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  5. ZBrush brush system, Maxon. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  6. UV Master, Maxon. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  7. ZBrush supported formats, Maxon. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  8. Redshift in ZBrush, Maxon. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  9. ZBrush flexible workflows, Maxon. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  10. Plans and pricing, Maxon. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  11. Educational licenses, Maxon. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  12. 3D rendering software, Maxon. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.

Website: www.maxon.net/en/zbrush · Markdown version · We are not affiliated with Maxon.