ZBrush
The facts below are what the maker publishes about ZBrush, checked and dated. Our editors have not written about it yet.
Plans and prices
From ZBrush's own pricing page, checked 19 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| ZBrush for iPad Free Plan | Free | 28 brushes · 20 million polygons per mesh · limited Dynamesh, SculptrisPro, ZSpheres and ZRemesher |
| ZBrush for iPad Subscription | Priced on request | Multi-resolution mesh editing · Subscription access to expanded iPad features |
| ZBrush for iPad Subscription | — | Multi-resolution mesh editing · Subscription access to expanded iPad features |
| ZBrush Desktop | Priced on request | Desktop version · Includes ZBrush for iPad · Advanced sculpting, modeling, rendering, and export tools |
| ZBrush Desktop | — | Desktop version · Includes ZBrush for iPad · Advanced sculpting, modeling, rendering, and export tools |
| ZBrush for iPad | $33.25 a month | iPadOS 17 or later · A12 Bionic or later · M-series recommended · monthly |
| ZBrush | $399 a year | Desktop and iPad versions · premium features · Redshift rendering · ZBrush Classroom · Cineversity training · annually |
The facts
Each one read from ZBrush's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- 3D print export
- Yeschecked 21 Sep 2026
- 3D printing
- ZBrush 3D Print Hub exports STL, 3MF, VRML and OBJ files at exact scale and can hollow models through DynaMesh.checked 19 Oct 2026
- Animation tools
- Yeschecked 21 Sep 2026
- API depth
- The current Python API is described as shallow for modeling: brushes have no API representation, tools expose little geometry data and strokes cannot be created programmatically.checked 19 Oct 2026
- Brush counts
- The comparison lists 28 brushes for free iPad, more than 200 for paid iPad and more than 440 for desktop.checked 19 Oct 2026
- Core sculpting
- The desktop product provides more than 200 proprietary brushes for high-detail sculpting.checked 19 Oct 2026
- Documentation
- The official help system includes feature overviews, getting-started material, a user guide, scripting references and release notes.checked 19 Oct 2026
- Dynamic topology
- Dynamesh is available in full on desktop and paid iPad plans but is limited in the free iPad plan.checked 19 Oct 2026
- File formats
- ZBrush imports and exports formats including OBJ, FBX, STL, PLY, DAE, ABC, 3MF and USD-related formats depending on edition and plugin.checked 19 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- GoZ connects ZBrush with Autodesk Maya, 3ds Max, Cinema 4D and other supported applications.checked 19 Oct 2026
- Licensing
- The EULA grants a limited license and states that Maxon retains intellectual-property rights, so ZBrush is proprietary rather than open source.checked 19 Oct 2026
- Limit: animation
- Creative Bloq notes that ZBrush supports simple poses and animations but is not designed as a full animation package.checked 19 Oct 2026
- Limit: API modeling access
- Maxon's API documentation says core mesh data such as vertex positions, normals and UVs is inaccessible through the modeling API.checked 19 Oct 2026
- Limit: iPad rendering
- Creative Bloq reports that the iPad edition lacks native real-time rendering and still requires desktop ZBrush for some tasks.checked 19 Oct 2026
- Limit: learning curve
- Independent reviewers repeatedly describe the desktop interface as unconventional, confusing or difficult for newcomers to learn.checked 19 Oct 2026
- Multiresolution editing
- The plan comparison lists multiresolution mesh editing for the free iPad, paid iPad and desktop editions.checked 19 Oct 2026
- Notable news
- Maxon announced on January 11, 2022 that it completed its acquisition of Pixologic, ZBrush's former developer.checked 19 Oct 2026
The company
- Company founded
- LinkedIn lists Maxon software development as founded in 1986, headquartered in Bad Homburg and employing 201–500 people.checked 19 Oct 2026
- Company headquarters
- Maxon Computer GmbH is listed at Basler Str. 5, 61352 Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, Germany.checked 19 Oct 2026
- Company legal name
- The legal imprint identifies the maker as Maxon Computer GmbH.checked 19 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 1986checked 28 Sep 2026
- Headquarters
- Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, Germanychecked 28 Sep 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 21 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- Mac requirements
- Minimum Mac requirements include macOS 10.14 or later, 4 GB RAM, 8 GB disk space and OpenGL 3.3 support; Apple Silicon is supported.checked 19 Oct 2026
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