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Game Development · head to head

Quixel Mixer vs Tilt Brush

Quixel Mixer logo

Quixel Mixer

Game Development

Free 3D texturing and material creation

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Tilt Brush logo

Tilt Brush

AR VR

Paint in 3D space with VR

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Quixel Mixer discontinued as of February 19, 2026 with no future updates or support; Tilt Brush no longer actively developed by Google since January 2021; future updates and support are not guaranteed
  • They diverge on capability: Quixel Mixer covers Material blending, Tilt Brush covers Dynamic brushes.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Quixel Mixer and Tilt Brush actually diverge.

Attributes where Quixel Mixer and Tilt Brush differ
AttributeQuixel MixerTilt Brush
Pricing modelfreeUnknown
PlatformsWindows, macOSHTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, Windows Mixed Reality, Valve Index, PlayStation VR
CategoryGame DevelopmentAR VR
Founded20112016

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Quixel Mixer

  • Material blending
  • Megascans integration
  • Smart materials
  • Procedural tools
  • UDIM support
  • Real-time preview
  • Export presets
  • Unreal Engine

Only in Tilt Brush

  • Dynamic brushes
  • Environment selection
  • Animation
  • Google Poly
  • Sketchfab
  • YouTube VR
  • Vr support
  • Pc support

Both cover

  • 3D painting

What people use each for

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

Quixel Mixer

  • Game texturesnot Tilt Brush
  • Environment artnot Tilt Brush
  • Photorealistic materialsnot Tilt Brush
  • Film VFXnot Tilt Brush

Tilt Brush

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

Where each one falls short

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

Quixel Mixer

  • Discontinued as of February 19, 2026 with no future updates or support
  • No built-in baker functionality unlike Substance 3D Painter
  • Limited customization compared to industry-standard Substance Painter
  • Megascans asset library now requires paid subscription instead of free access

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

Quixel Mixer

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full feature set
    • Megascans integration
    • Commercial use

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 Quixel Mixer if

  • You need material blending.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS.
  • You also want megascans integration.
Quixel Mixer review

Choose Tilt Brush if

  • You need dynamic brushes.
  • 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 environment selection.
Tilt Brush review

Questions people ask

Is Quixel Mixer or Tilt Brush better?
Neither clearly leads. Quixel Mixer starts at Free and Tilt Brush at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Quixel Mixer or Tilt Brush?
Quixel Mixer starts at Free and Tilt Brush at Free.
Does Quixel Mixer or Tilt Brush run on more platforms?
Quixel Mixer runs on Windows, macOS. Tilt Brush runs on HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, Windows Mixed Reality, Valve Index, PlayStation VR.
Can I use Quixel Mixer for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Quixel Mixer best used for?
Quixel Mixer is most often used for game textures, environment art, photorealistic materials, film vfx. Of those, game textures and environment art are not what Tilt Brush is typically brought in for.
What can Quixel Mixer do that Tilt Brush cannot?
Quixel Mixer covers Material blending, Megascans integration, Smart materials, Procedural tools. Tilt Brush covers Dynamic brushes, Environment selection, Animation, Google Poly. Both handle 3D painting.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Quixel Mixer: Is Quixel Mixer still available?

Quixel Mixer was discontinued on February 19, 2026. The final version 2023.1 is available for free download from the Epic Games launcher. It runs offline indefinitely but will receive no future updates or support.

Source
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
Quixel Mixer: Can Quixel Mixer work offline?

Yes, version 2023.1 enables Quixel Mixer to run completely offline. Users can download and use the software offline indefinitely, though without future updates.

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
Quixel Mixer: What is the current status of Megascans free access?

Quixel Megascans is no longer free for Unreal Engine users. Starting in 2025, Megascans assets are sold individually or included in Fab subscription tiers. The free-for-Unreal era ended at the close of 2024.

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
Quixel Mixer: How does Quixel Mixer compare to Substance Painter?

Quixel Mixer excels for simplicity, photorealism, and Unreal Engine integration, but lacks a built-in baker unlike Substance 3D Painter. Substance Painter offers more customization and is an industry standard, while Mixer focused on streamlined PBR material creation.

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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