Wings 3D vs ZBrush
Wings 3D
wings3d.com
ZBrush
maxon.netSide by side
| Figure | Wings 3D | ZBrush |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 7 |
| Spec score · 3D modeling software | 8.5 (#33) | 9.3 (#2) |
| Spec score · Game 3D Modeling Software | 7.8 (#21) | 8.5 (#13) |
| Spec score · 3D Design Software | 7.8 (#24) | 8.5 (#12) |
| Animation tools | No | Yes |
| Documentation | The documentation project says it is a work in progress and does not cover all aspects of Wings 3D. | The official help system includes feature overviews, getting-started material, a user guide, scripting references and release notes. |
| File formats | Wings 3D exports to common 3D file formats such as .obj. | ZBrush imports and exports formats including OBJ, FBX, STL, PLY, DAE, ABC, 3MF and USD-related formats depending on edition and plugin. |
| Founded | 2001 | 1986 |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Mac requirements | The download page lists Sequoia MacOS 15 as required and provides an Apple chip arm64 package. | 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. |
| Platform access | desktop | desktop |
| 3D print export | Yes | Yes |
| Render engine | external | both |
| Sculpting tools | Yes | Yes |
| Support | The official development forum is a place to ask usage questions, discuss modeling, and post bug reports. | Maxon provides a support center with knowledge-base articles, ticket support, installers, requirements, release notes, training and community forums. |
Plans
ZBrush
- ZBrush for iPad Free PlanFree
- ZBrush for iPad SubscriptionPrice not published
- ZBrush for iPad SubscriptionPriced on request
- ZBrush DesktopPrice not published
- ZBrush DesktopPriced on request
- ZBrush for iPad$33.25 a month
- ZBrush$399 a year
In their own words
Wings 3D
Wings 3D is free desktop software for subdivision modeling on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Its modeling tools include moving, scaling, rotating, extruding, beveling, bridging, cutting, welding, sweeping, plane cuts, bending, shearing, and insets. Sculpting tools are included, and AutoUV can cut and unfold a model surface for export to painting and texturing workflows. The application supports vertex colors, materials, and lights, and exports common 3D formats such as .obj as well as 3D-print files. Its interface is configurable, with customizable hotkeys and context-sensitive right-click menus. Rendering uses an external engine, and animation tools are not included. The listed stable release is 2.4.1, released January 2025. Windows requires Windows 10 or later and OpenGL 2.1; listed macOS downloads require macOS 15 Sequoia, while Ubuntu 24.04 packages require OpenGL 2.1 or Mesa. Snapshot builds provide experimental features.
ZBrush
ZBrush is a 3D sculpting and modeling application with desktop and iPad offerings. Its listed tools include sculpting, parametric modeling, animation, rendering and 3D print export. Desktop is listed for Windows and macOS, while a separate supported-platform list also includes Linux. The desktop plan includes ZBrush for iPad and advanced sculpting, modeling, rendering and export tools. Rendering is described as hybrid, with GPU and animation rendering and denoising. Listed workload areas include CPU and GPU rendering, ray tracing, shader execution and geometry processing. Other listed capabilities include rotoscoping, 3D camera tracking, custom test profiles and CLI or automation support. The listed result export formats are none documented, and results are not saved as a file. Headquarters are listed as both Bad Homburg vor der Höhe and Friedrichsdorf, Germany; the maker is listed as founded in 1986.