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Software · head to head

KeyShot vs Tilt Brush

KeyShot logo

KeyShot

Software

Real-time 3D rendering and animation

From
$108.25/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Tilt Brush logo

Tilt Brush

Software

Paint in 3D space with VR

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Tilt Brush has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: KeyShot professional plan costs £108.25/month per user; total cost for small teams can be substantial; Tilt Brush no longer actively developed by Google since January 2021; future updates and support are not guaranteed
  • They diverge on capability: KeyShot covers Real-time rendering, Tilt Brush covers 3D painting.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which KeyShot and Tilt Brush actually diverge.

Attributes where KeyShot and Tilt Brush differ
AttributeKeyShotTilt Brush
Starting price$108.25/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindowsHTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, Windows Mixed Reality, Valve Index, PlayStation VR
Founded20032016

Identical on both: 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 KeyShot

  • Real-time rendering
  • Ray tracing
  • Material library
  • HDR lighting
  • VR output
  • GPU rendering
  • Denoising
  • SolidWorks

Only in Tilt Brush

  • 3D painting
  • Dynamic brushes
  • Environment selection
  • Google Poly
  • Sketchfab
  • YouTube VR
  • Vr support
  • Pc support

Both cover

  • Animation

What people use each for

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

KeyShot

  • Product rendering and visualisationnot Tilt Brush
  • Real-time ray tracing for design reviewnot Tilt Brush
  • 3D animation and motion graphicsnot Tilt Brush
  • Interactive 3D product presentationsnot Tilt Brush

Tilt Brush

  • VR Gamingnot KeyShot
  • AR Marketingnot KeyShot
  • Virtual Trainingnot KeyShot
  • 3D Visualizationnot KeyShot
  • Immersive Experiencesnot KeyShot

Where each one falls short

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

KeyShot

  • Professional plan costs £108.25/month per user; total cost for small teams can be substantial
  • 3-year commitment reduces to £3,897 per user, but locks in pricing for extended period
  • Network Rendering, Studio VR, and Cloud Rendering are paid add-ons (£29-£99/month additional)
  • No clear platform support information; likely Windows-only based on CAD tool integrations

Tilt Brush

  • No longer actively developed by Google since January 2021; future updates and support are not guaranteed
  • Limited editing capabilities with no layers system and no 3D brushes for precise refinement
  • Not designed for professional branding or marketing work; better suited for creative expression than practical design
  • Tool limitations make it difficult to move, cut, or rearrange grouped elements after creation
  • VR hardware costs are high relative to software cost, and can cause motion sickness in some users

Pricing, plan by plan

KeyShot

$108.25/month

No published plan breakdown. See the KeyShot review.

Tilt Brush

Free
  • Google Tilt Brush$19.99/one-time
    • VR painting and creative tools
    • Available on VR app stores
  • Open Brush (open-source)Free
    • Free open-source version
    • Available on Steam and Meta Quest

Which should you pick?

Choose KeyShot if

  • You need real-time rendering.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want ray tracing.
KeyShot review

Choose Tilt Brush if

  • You need 3d painting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, Windows Mixed Reality, Valve Index, PlayStation VR.
  • You also want dynamic brushes.
Tilt Brush review

Questions people ask

Is KeyShot or Tilt Brush better?
Neither clearly leads. KeyShot starts at $108.25/month and Tilt Brush at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, KeyShot or Tilt Brush?
Tilt Brush has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $108.25/month for KeyShot and Free for Tilt Brush.
Does KeyShot or Tilt Brush run on more platforms?
KeyShot runs on Windows. Tilt Brush runs on HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, Windows Mixed Reality, Valve Index, PlayStation VR.
Can I use Tilt Brush for free?
Yes. Tilt Brush has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. KeyShot starts at $108.25/month.
What is KeyShot best used for?
KeyShot is most often used for product rendering and visualisation, real-time ray tracing for design review, 3d animation and motion graphics, interactive 3d product presentations. Of those, product rendering and visualisation and real-time ray tracing for design review are not what Tilt Brush is typically brought in for.
What can KeyShot do that Tilt Brush cannot?
KeyShot covers Real-time rendering, Ray tracing, Material library, HDR lighting. Tilt Brush covers 3D painting, Dynamic brushes, Environment selection, Google Poly. Both handle Animation.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Tilt Brush: Is Tilt Brush still available to use?

Yes. Although Google ended active development in January 2021, Tilt Brush remains available on VR app stores and continues to function. Google also open-sourced the code, enabling community-maintained alternatives like Open Brush to provide free versions for PC VR and Meta Quest.

Source
Tilt Brush: Is there a free version of Tilt Brush?

The official Google Tilt Brush costs $19.99. However, Open Brush (the open-source community version) is completely free and available for PC VR via Steam and on Oculus Quest.

Source
Tilt Brush: What VR headsets does Tilt Brush support?

Tilt Brush works on HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, Windows Mixed Reality, Valve Index, and PlayStation VR. The open-source Open Brush version also supports PC VR.

Source
Tilt Brush: Can I export my Tilt Brush creations?

Yes. Tilt Brush creations can be exported as room-scale VR pieces or animated GIFs to share with others. The app does not support direct export to 3D model formats like OBJ or FBX.

Source
Tilt Brush: Is Tilt Brush good for professional 3D design work?

Tilt Brush is primarily a creative expression and painting tool rather than a professional 3D design tool. It lacks features like layers, editable 3D brushes, and precise refinement controls needed for professional workflows. For professional VR sculpting, Adobe Medium or Quill are better choices.

Source
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