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AR VR · head to head

Tilt Brush vs Unity

Tilt Brush logo

Tilt Brush

AR VR

Paint in 3D space with VR

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Unity logo

Unity

Game Development

Create beautiful interactive content with the world's leading real-time engine

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Tilt Brush no longer actively developed by Google since January 2021; future updates and support are not guaranteed; Unity unity Personal is free only for businesses with under $200,000 in funding or annual revenue; above that a Pro subscription is required
  • They diverge on capability: Tilt Brush covers 3D painting, Unity covers Visual editor.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Tilt Brush and Unity differ
AttributeTilt BrushUnity
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsHTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, Windows Mixed Reality, Valve Index, PlayStation VRWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Webgl
CategoryAR VRGame Development
Founded20162004

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 Tilt Brush

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

Only in Unity

  • Visual editor
  • Physics engine (PhysX)
  • Animation system
  • Particle system
  • Built-in audio engine
  • Scripting with C#
  • Asset Store
  • Version control integration

What people use each for

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

Tilt Brush

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

Unity

  • 2D mobile game development for iOS and Android platformsnot Tilt Brush
  • 3D multiplayer game development with networking and live opsnot Tilt Brush
  • XR game creation for Meta Quest, Apple Vision Pro, and AR devicesnot Tilt Brush
  • Real-time 3D rendering for architectural and automotive visualizationnot Tilt Brush
  • Immersive training simulations for enterprise clientsnot Tilt Brush

Where each one falls short

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

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

Unity

  • Unity Personal is free only for businesses with under $200,000 in funding or annual revenue; above that a Pro subscription is required
  • Unity Pro costs $210.00 per month or $2,310.00 per year per seat
  • Businesses with more than $25M in annual revenue are required to be on Unity Enterprise, which is custom priced and requires contacting sales
  • Deploying to game consoles and to Apple Vision Pro requires Unity Pro or above
  • Splash screen customization is not available on Unity Personal
  • Unity Personal is licensed for gaming and entertainment applications only
  • Read-only engine source code access is an Enterprise feature and carries an additional cost
  • Asset Manager storage on Personal is capped at 10 GB per organization
  • Unity AI tools are free for a 14 day trial on Personal, after which a paid subscription is required
  • Enterprise terms note that minimum subscription or spending commitments may apply

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Unity

Free
  • PersonalFree
    • Full engine access
    • Asset Store access
    • Community support
  • Professional$399/month
    • All Personal features
    • Priority support
    • Advanced analytics

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Unity if

  • You need visual editor.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Webgl.
  • You also want physics engine (physx).
Unity review

Questions people ask

Is Tilt Brush or Unity better?
Neither clearly leads. Tilt Brush starts at Free and Unity at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Tilt Brush or Unity?
Tilt Brush starts at Free and Unity at Free.
Does Tilt Brush or Unity run on more platforms?
Tilt Brush runs on HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, Windows Mixed Reality, Valve Index, PlayStation VR. Unity runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Webgl.
Can I use Tilt Brush for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Tilt Brush best used for?
Tilt Brush is most often used for vr gaming, ar marketing, virtual training, 3d visualization. Of those, vr gaming and ar marketing are not what Unity is typically brought in for.
What can Tilt Brush do that Unity cannot?
Tilt Brush covers 3D painting, Dynamic brushes, Environment selection, Animation. Unity covers Visual editor, Physics engine (PhysX), Animation system, Particle system.

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
Unity: How much does Unity Plus or Pro cost?

Unity's homepage shows a price placeholder but does not disclose actual subscription rates. Detailed pricing tiers must be accessed through the dedicated pricing section.

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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