ZBrush vs SculptGL

ZBrush4.0Visit SSculptGL—Visit

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

vs

S SculptGL #7 in 3D Sculpting Software —/10 Open source ✓ 3 of 6 features Visit SculptGL

• ZBrush fits best

  Professional character and production sculpting

• SculptGL fits best

  Free browser-based sculpting

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Side by side

Feature	ZBrush 4.0/10 Visit ↗	SSculptGL —/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	4.0	—
Ranking	#1 in 3D Sculpting Software	#7 in 3D Sculpting Software
Best for	Professional character and production sculpting	Free browser-based sculpting
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free
Starting price	Not published	Not published
Free plan	✓ (best)	Not published
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Desktop, Mobile	Cloud, Desktop, Browser extension
Platforms	Windows, macOS, iOS	Web, Windows, Chrome extension
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business
Features ZBrush 0/6 · SculptGL 3/6
Automatic retopology	Not published	Not published
Manual retopology	Not published	Not published
Multiresolution sculpting	Not published	✓ (best)
Voxel sculpting	Not published	✓ (best)
Texture painting	Not published	✓ (best)
Free trial	Not published	Not published
Specs
Supported platforms	Not published	web, windows, chrome_extension
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	Multiresolution sculpting, voxel remeshing, and dynamic topology PBR vertex painting with color, roughness, and metalness OBJ, PLY, and STL import and export
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	Development has stopped and the repository was archived January 17, 2026 Available as a web app, Windows build, or Chrome extension Model exchange is limited to OBJ, PLY, and STL formats
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 →	SculptGL is an open-source WebGL application for digital 3D sculpting, available through the web, Windows standalone builds, and a Chrome extension. It suits artists, students, and other users who want a free browser-based sculpting… 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

• SculptGL — where it wins

  • Multiresolution sculpting, voxel remeshing, and dynamic topology
  • PBR vertex painting with color, roughness, and metalness
  • OBJ, PLY, and STL import and export

  Where it doesn't

  • Development has stopped and the repository was archived January 17, 2026
  • Available as a web app, Windows build, or Chrome extension
  • Model exchange is limited to OBJ, PLY, and STL formats

• ZBrush4.0/10 · Free plan

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

  Visit ZBrushFull verdict →
• SSculptGL—/10 · Open source

  A capable open-source sculpting tool for free browser-based 3D work.

  Visit SculptGLFull verdict →