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Clip Studio Paint vs Substance 3D Painter

Clip Studio Paint logo

Clip Studio Paint

Software

Professional illustration and animation software

From
$4.49/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Substance 3D Painter logo

Substance 3D Painter

Software

3D texture painting software

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Clip Studio Paint monthly subscription pricing becomes expensive over multiple years compared to one-time licenses; Substance 3D Painter the Internet Archive's capture of Adobe's Substance 3D Painter page on 23 June 2021 priced the Substance 3D Collection plan (which bundles Painter, Stager, Sampler, Designer and Modeler) at US$39.99/month for the first year.
  • They diverge on capability: Clip Studio Paint covers Natural drawing feel, Substance 3D Painter covers 3D painting.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Clip Studio Paint and Substance 3D Painter actually diverge.

Attributes where Clip Studio Paint and Substance 3D Painter differ
AttributeClip Studio PaintSubstance 3D Painter
Starting price$4.49/month$29/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
PlatformsWindows, macOS, iOS, Android, iPadWindows, MacOS, Linux
Founded19911982

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

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 Clip Studio Paint

  • Natural drawing feel
  • Comic/manga tools
  • Animation features
  • 3D reference
  • Vector support
  • Photoshop files
  • 3D models
  • Graphics tablets

Only in Substance 3D Painter

  • 3D painting
  • Smart materials
  • Generators
  • PBR workflow
  • Baking
  • Export presets
  • Scripting
  • Maya

Both cover

  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

Clip Studio Paint

  • Manga creationnot Substance 3D Painter
  • Comic illustrationnot Substance 3D Painter
  • 2D animationnot Substance 3D Painter
  • Character designnot Substance 3D Painter
  • Digital paintingnot Substance 3D Painter

Substance 3D Painter

  • Game texturingnot Clip Studio Paint
  • Film assetsnot Clip Studio Paint
  • Product visualizationnot Clip Studio Paint

Where each one falls short

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

Clip Studio Paint

  • Monthly subscription pricing becomes expensive over multiple years compared to one-time licenses
  • Limited built-in photo manipulation features compared to general-purpose image editors

Substance 3D Painter

  • The Internet Archive's capture of Adobe's Substance 3D Painter page on 23 June 2021 priced the Substance 3D Collection plan (which bundles Painter, Stager, Sampler, Designer and Modeler) at US$39.99/month for the first year.

Pricing, plan by plan

Clip Studio Paint

$4.49/month
  • PRO Perpetual License$54/one-time
    • Full brush engine
    • 3D model integration
    • Basic animation (24 frames)
  • PRO Monthly Subscription$4.49/month
    • All PRO features
    • Desktop and mobile access
    • Continuous updates
  • PRO Annual Subscription$26.99/year
    • All PRO features
    • Desktop and mobile access
    • Continuous updates
  • EX Perpetual License$237/one-time
    • All PRO features
    • Unlimited animation frames
    • Multi-page management

Substance 3D Painter

$29/month
  • Substance 3D Texturing$19.99/month
    • Painter + Sampler
  • Substance 3D Collection$49.99/month
    • All Substance apps

Which should you pick?

Choose Clip Studio Paint if

  • You need natural drawing feel.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, iPad.
  • You also want comic/manga tools.
Clip Studio Paint review

Choose Substance 3D Painter if

  • You need 3d painting.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
  • You also want smart materials.
Substance 3D Painter review

Questions people ask

Is Clip Studio Paint or Substance 3D Painter better?
Neither clearly leads. Clip Studio Paint starts at $4.49/month and Substance 3D Painter at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Clip Studio Paint or Substance 3D Painter?
Clip Studio Paint starts at $4.49/month and Substance 3D Painter at $29/month.
Does Clip Studio Paint or Substance 3D Painter run on more platforms?
Clip Studio Paint runs on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, iPad. Substance 3D Painter runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
What is Clip Studio Paint best used for?
Clip Studio Paint is most often used for manga creation, comic illustration, 2d animation, character design. Of those, manga creation and comic illustration are not what Substance 3D Painter is typically brought in for.
What can Clip Studio Paint do that Substance 3D Painter cannot?
Clip Studio Paint covers Natural drawing feel, Comic/manga tools, Animation features, 3D reference. Substance 3D Painter covers 3D painting, Smart materials, Generators, PBR workflow. Both handle Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Clip Studio Paint: What are the differences between Clip Studio Paint PRO and EX?

PRO includes basic animation (24 frame limit) and is best for digital painting. EX includes unlimited animation frames, multi-page management for publishing, LT conversion, and professional animation timelines.

Source
Clip Studio Paint: Can I use Clip Studio Paint on mobile?

Yes. Clip Studio Paint offers monthly and annual plans that cover both desktop and mobile access. Desktop-only perpetual licenses are available but do not include mobile access.

Source
Clip Studio Paint: What payment options does Clip Studio Paint offer?

Clip Studio Paint offers one-time perpetual licenses for desktop ($54 PRO, $237 EX), monthly subscriptions ($4.49 PRO, $9.99 EX), and annual subscriptions ($26.99 PRO, $75.99 EX) that include mobile access.

Source
Clip Studio Paint: Does Clip Studio Paint include 3D model integration?

Yes. Both PRO and EX versions include 3D model integration for digital artists to use as reference or directly in compositions.

Source
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