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AR VR · head to head

Tilt Brush vs Varjo

Tilt Brush logo

Tilt Brush

AR VR

Paint in 3D space with VR

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Varjo logo

Varjo

AR VR

Human-eye resolution VR/XR headsets

From
$2495/one-time
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: Tilt Brush no longer actively developed by Google since January 2021; future updates and support are not guaranteed; Varjo high cost enterprise XR solutions
  • They diverge on capability: Tilt Brush covers 3D painting, Varjo covers Human-eye resolution.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Tilt Brush and Varjo differ
AttributeTilt BrushVarjo
Starting priceFree$2495/one-time
Pricing modelUnknownone-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsHTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, Windows Mixed Reality, Valve Index, PlayStation VRXR headsets, Windows

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (AR VR), founded (2016).

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
  • Quest support

Only in Varjo

  • Human-eye resolution
  • Mixed reality
  • Eye tracking
  • Hand tracking
  • Unity
  • Unreal
  • OpenXR
  • SteamVR

Both cover

  • Vr support
  • Pc support

What people use each for

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

Tilt Brush

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

Varjo

  • Military flight simulation and pilot trainingnot Tilt Brush
  • Vehicle operation and weapons trainingnot Tilt Brush
  • Maritime navigation trainingnot Tilt Brush
  • High-fidelity professional VR simulationnot 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

Varjo

  • High cost enterprise XR solutions
  • Specialized for military and simulation training use cases only

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

Varjo

$2495/one-time
  • Varjo XR-4$3990/one-time
    • Human-eye resolution
    • Mixed reality
    • Eye tracking

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 Varjo if

  • You need human-eye resolution.
  • You work on XR headsets, Windows.
  • You also want mixed reality.
Varjo review

Questions people ask

Is Tilt Brush or Varjo better?
Neither clearly leads. Tilt Brush starts at Free and Varjo at $2495/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Tilt Brush or Varjo?
Tilt Brush has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Tilt Brush and $2495/one-time for Varjo.
Does Tilt Brush or Varjo run on more platforms?
Tilt Brush runs on HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, Windows Mixed Reality, Valve Index, PlayStation VR. Varjo runs on XR headsets, Windows.
Can I use Tilt Brush for free?
Yes. Tilt Brush has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Varjo starts at $2495/one-time.
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 Varjo is typically brought in for.
What can Tilt Brush do that Varjo cannot?
Tilt Brush covers 3D painting, Dynamic brushes, Environment selection, Animation. Varjo covers Human-eye resolution, Mixed reality, Eye tracking, Hand tracking. Both handle Vr support, Pc support.

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
Varjo: Does Varjo publish pricing information on their website?

No. Varjo does not publish specific pricing on their website and directs interested customers to contact their sales team or book a demo.

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
Varjo: How can I get pricing information from Varjo?

Varjo requires direct contact with their sales team. Customers can either request a demo or fill out a contact form to discuss pricing with a representative.

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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