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CAD · head to head

3D-Coat vs ZBrush

3D-Coat logo

3D-Coat

CAD

Digital sculpting for game artists

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ZBrush logo

ZBrush

CAD

Industry standard for digital sculpting

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 3D-Coat specific pricing not disclosed on website; ZBrush subscription model required; no perpetual licence option available
  • They diverge on capability: 3D-Coat covers Voxel sculpting, ZBrush covers Digital sculpting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which 3D-Coat and ZBrush actually diverge.

Attributes where 3D-Coat and ZBrush differ
Attribute3D-CoatZBrush
Starting price$29/monthOn request
Pricing modelone-timesubscription
PlatformsWindows, MacOS, LinuxWindows, macOS, iPadOS
Founded20071986

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (CAD).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in 3D-Coat

  • Voxel sculpting
  • Surface sculpting
  • Retopology
  • UV mapping
  • Texture painting
  • PBR materials
  • Smart materials
  • Baking

Only in ZBrush

  • Digital sculpting
  • Dynamesh
  • ZRemesher
  • PolyPaint
  • Live Boolean
  • Sculptris Pro
  • UV Master
  • High polygon handling

Both cover

  • Blender
  • Maya
  • 3ds Max
  • Windows support
  • MacOS support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

3D-Coat

  • Voxel sculpting from a digital clay blocknot ZBrush
  • Retopology of high-density sculpts into production meshesnot ZBrush
  • UV mapping and PBR texturingnot ZBrush
  • Preparing print-ready models for 3D printingnot ZBrush
  • Node-based material authoring on the GPUnot ZBrush

ZBrush

  • Digital character and creature sculptingnot 3D-Coat
  • High-polygon organic form designnot 3D-Coat
  • Texture painting and PolyPaint worknot 3D-Coat
  • Game asset creation and 3D modellingnot 3D-Coat

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

3D-Coat

  • Specific pricing not disclosed on website
  • 3DCoatPrint free version limited to 40K triangles on export
  • Requires contacting sales or visiting store for pricing details

ZBrush

  • Subscription model required; no perpetual licence option available
  • iPad version requires separate subscription to ZBrush for iPad

Pricing, plan by plan

3D-Coat

$29/month
  • Amateur$99/month
    • Non-commercial use
  • Professional$379/month
    • Full commercial license
  • Floating$568/month
    • Network licensing

ZBrush

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the ZBrush review.

Which should you pick?

Choose 3D-Coat if

  • You need voxel sculpting.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
  • You also want surface sculpting.
3D-Coat review

Choose ZBrush if

  • You need digital sculpting.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, iPadOS.
  • You also want dynamesh.
ZBrush review

Questions people ask

Is 3D-Coat or ZBrush better?
Neither clearly leads. 3D-Coat starts at $29/month and ZBrush at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 3D-Coat or ZBrush?
3D-Coat starts at $29/month and ZBrush at On request.
Does 3D-Coat or ZBrush run on more platforms?
3D-Coat runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux. ZBrush runs on Windows, macOS, iPadOS.
What is 3D-Coat best used for?
3D-Coat is most often used for voxel sculpting from a digital clay block, retopology of high-density sculpts into production meshes, uv mapping and pbr texturing, preparing print-ready models for 3d printing. Of those, voxel sculpting from a digital clay block and retopology of high-density sculpts into production meshes are not what ZBrush is typically brought in for.
What can 3D-Coat do that ZBrush cannot?
3D-Coat covers Voxel sculpting, Surface sculpting, Retopology, UV mapping. ZBrush covers Digital sculpting, Dynamesh, ZRemesher, PolyPaint. Both handle Blender, Maya, 3ds Max, Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

3D-Coat: Is there a free version of 3D Coat?

Yes, 3D Coat offers multiple free options. 3DCoatPrint is a special free version designed for 3D print-ready models, limited to 40K triangles on export. Additionally, a 30-day unlimited trial is available for the full version.

Source
ZBrush: What is included in a ZBrush subscription?

Every ZBrush subscription includes ZBrush on desktop, iPad, and Windows on Arm devices with premium features, rendering with Redshift, ZBrush Classroom, and Cineversity training.

Source
3D-Coat: What is the 30-day trial period for 3D Coat?

3D Coat provides a 30-day trial with unlimited learning resources. The trial grants full access to all tools needed to create production-ready, fully textured 3D models.

Source
ZBrush: Is there a free trial available?

Yes. Download the Maxon App to start your 14-day free trial. Every trial includes ZBrush and the full Maxon One suite.

Source
3D-Coat: Does 3D Coat offer specialized versions?

Yes, 3D Coat offers 3DCoatTextura as a specialized version focused on texturing and rendering at a more affordable price than the full 3DCoat version.

Source
ZBrush: Can I use ZBrush on multiple devices?

ZBrush licensing is dual platform, so you can run on desktop and iPad simultaneously or switch between them at any time.

Source
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