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Game Development · head to head

Unity vs ZBrush

Unity logo

Unity

Game Development

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ZBrush logo

ZBrush

3D & CAD

Industry standard for digital sculpting

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Unity has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Unity unity Personal is free only for businesses with under $200,000 in funding or annual revenue; above that a Pro subscription is required; ZBrush subscription model required; no perpetual licence option available
  • They diverge on capability: Unity covers Visual editor, ZBrush covers Digital sculpting.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Unity and ZBrush actually diverge.

Attributes where Unity and ZBrush differ
AttributeUnityZBrush
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, WebglWindows, macOS, iPadOS
CategoryGame Development3D & CAD
Founded20041986

Identical on both: 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 Unity

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

Only in ZBrush

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

Both cover

  • Blender
  • Maya

What people use each for

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

Unity

  • Building 2D and 3D games for desktop, mobile, web, AR and VRnot ZBrush
  • Shipping console titles under a Pro or Enterprise licencenot ZBrush
  • Real time 3D for manufacturing, automotive and retail visualisationnot ZBrush
  • Live operations and in-app purchase management for mobile gamesnot ZBrush

ZBrush

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

Where each one falls short

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

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

ZBrush

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Unity

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

ZBrush

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the ZBrush review.

Which should you pick?

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

Choose ZBrush if

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

Questions people ask

Is Unity or ZBrush better?
Neither clearly leads. Unity starts at Free and ZBrush at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Unity or ZBrush?
Unity has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Unity and On request for ZBrush.
Does Unity or ZBrush run on more platforms?
Unity runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Webgl. ZBrush runs on Windows, macOS, iPadOS.
Can I use Unity for free?
Yes. Unity has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ZBrush starts at On request.
What is Unity best used for?
Unity is most often used for building 2d and 3d games for desktop, mobile, web, ar and vr, shipping console titles under a pro or enterprise licence, real time 3d for manufacturing, automotive and retail visualisation, live operations and in-app purchase management for mobile games. Of those, building 2d and 3d games for desktop, mobile, web, ar and vr and shipping console titles under a pro or enterprise licence are not what ZBrush is typically brought in for.
What can Unity do that ZBrush cannot?
Unity covers Visual editor, Physics engine (PhysX), Animation system, Particle system. ZBrush covers Digital sculpting, Dynamesh, ZRemesher, PolyPaint. Both handle Blender, Maya.
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