ZBrush vs 3DCoat

ZBrush4.0Visit 3DCoat5.8Visit

ZBrush #1 in 3D Sculpting Software 4.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 6 features Visit ZBrush

vs

Higher score 3DCoat #2 in 3D Sculpting Software 5.8/10 Free plan · paid from €379 · 30-day trial Free plan✓ 0 of 6 features Visit 3DCoat

• ZBrush fits best

  Professional character and production sculpting

• 3DCoat fits best

  Broad desktop sculpting and 3D production

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Side by side

Feature	ZBrush 4.0/10 Visit ↗	3DCoat 5.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	4.0	5.8
Ranking	#1 in 3D Sculpting Software	#2 in 3D Sculpting Software
Best for	Professional character and production sculpting	Broad desktop sculpting and 3D production
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	Not published	Not published
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Desktop, Mobile	Desktop
Platforms	Windows, macOS, iOS	Windows, macOS, Linux
Support	Tickets, Community, Docs, Phone	Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features ZBrush 0/6 · 3DCoat 0/6
Automatic retopology	Not published	Not published
Manual retopology	Not published	Not published
Multiresolution sculpting	Not published	Not published
Voxel sculpting	Not published	Not published
Texture painting	Not published	Not published
Free trial	Not published	Not published
Specs
Supported platforms	Not published	Not published
Our review
Pros	Multi-resolution sculpting with customizable brushes, Dynamesh, and ZSpheres GoZ interoperability with Cinema 4D, Maya, 3ds Max, and Photoshop Retopology, rendering, animation, texturing, and 3D-print preparation in one suite	Combines voxel and polygon modeling with digital sculpting. Includes retopology, UV editing, PBR painting and GPU rendering. Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux with scripting support.
Cons	Full desktop access requires a paid subscription The iPad free plan is limited to selected sculpting tools Paid pricing varies by region and may change with exchange rates	The €379 license is individual and node-locked. VAT is excluded from the listed one-time price. Its scope may exceed the needs of artists seeking only sculpting.
Our verdict	ZBrush is Maxon's professional software for digital sculpting, painting, modeling, rendering, animation, and 3D-print preparation. It is aimed at character and creature artists, digital sculptors, concept artists, illustrators, toy and… Read the review →	3DCoat is desktop software for creating detailed organic and hard-surface 3D models. It is aimed at 3D artists who need a workflow that can move from concept development and sculpting through modeling, retopology, UV preparation, texture… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• ZBrush — where it wins

  • Multi-resolution sculpting with customizable brushes, Dynamesh, and ZSpheres
  • GoZ interoperability with Cinema 4D, Maya, 3ds Max, and Photoshop
  • Retopology, rendering, animation, texturing, and 3D-print preparation in one suite

  Where it doesn't

  • Full desktop access requires a paid subscription
  • The iPad free plan is limited to selected sculpting tools
  • Paid pricing varies by region and may change with exchange rates

• 3DCoat — where it wins

  • Combines voxel and polygon modeling with digital sculpting.
  • Includes retopology, UV editing, PBR painting and GPU rendering.
  • Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux with scripting support.

  Where it doesn't

  • The €379 license is individual and node-locked.
  • VAT is excluded from the listed one-time price.
  • Its scope may exceed the needs of artists seeking only sculpting.

• ZBrush4.0/10 · Free plan

  A deep production sculpting suite for character, creature, modeling, and print workflows.

  Visit ZBrushFull verdict →
• 3DCoat5.8/10 · Free plan · paid from €379 · 30-day trial

  A broad desktop 3D toolkit with sculpting, production modeling and one-time pricing.

  Visit 3DCoatFull verdict →