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Design · head to head

Procreate vs ZBrush

Procreate logo

Procreate

Design

Digital illustration app made for iPad

From
$12.99/one-time
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: Procreate iPad-only application with no desktop version for Windows or macOS; ZBrush subscription model required; no perpetual licence option available
  • They diverge on capability: Procreate covers Digital painting, ZBrush covers Digital sculpting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Procreate and ZBrush actually diverge.

Attributes where Procreate and ZBrush differ
AttributeProcreateZBrush
Starting price$12.99/one-timeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
PlatformsiPadWindows, macOS, iPadOS
CategoryDesignCAD
Founded20101986

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

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 Procreate

  • Digital painting
  • Brush library
  • Layer management
  • Selection tools
  • Time-lapse recording
  • Apple Pencil
  • iPad Pro
  • Cloud services

Only in ZBrush

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

What people use each for

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

Procreate

  • Digital illustrationnot ZBrush
  • Concept artnot ZBrush
  • Character designnot ZBrush
  • Educational artnot ZBrush
  • Hobby drawingnot ZBrush

ZBrush

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

Where each one falls short

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

Procreate

  • iPad-only application with no desktop version for Windows or macOS
  • Requires Apple hardware investment (iPad and Apple Pencil)
  • Cannot export to cloud storage natively, limiting cross-device workflows
  • High upfront cost when accounting for required iPad hardware

ZBrush

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Procreate

$12.99/one-time
  • Procreate$12.99/one-time
    • 200+ brushes
    • Unlimited layers
    • Advanced blending modes
  • Procreate Pocket$5.99/one-time
    • iPhone version
    • Touch-optimized interface
  • Procreate Dreams$19.99/one-time
    • Animation tool
    • Frame-by-frame animation

ZBrush

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the ZBrush review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Procreate if

  • You need digital painting.
  • You work on iPad.
  • You also want brush library.
Procreate review

Choose ZBrush if

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

Questions people ask

Is Procreate or ZBrush better?
Neither clearly leads. Procreate starts at $12.99/one-time and ZBrush at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Procreate or ZBrush?
Procreate starts at $12.99/one-time and ZBrush at On request.
Does Procreate or ZBrush run on more platforms?
Procreate runs on iPad. ZBrush runs on Windows, macOS, iPadOS.
What is Procreate best used for?
Procreate is most often used for digital illustration, concept art, character design, educational art. Of those, digital illustration and concept art are not what ZBrush is typically brought in for.
What can Procreate do that ZBrush cannot?
Procreate covers Digital painting, Brush library, Layer management, Selection tools. ZBrush covers Digital sculpting, Dynamesh, ZRemesher, PolyPaint.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Procreate: Does Procreate work on desktop or only iPad?

Procreate is iPad-only. There is no desktop version for Windows or macOS, requiring users to purchase iPad hardware and Apple Pencil for use.

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
Procreate: What companion apps are available for Procreate?

Procreate Pocket is an iPhone version at $5.99, and Procreate Dreams is an animation tool at $19.99, both one-time purchases.

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
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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