# KeyShot, ZBrush vs 3ds Max Design Comparison

| | KeyShot | ZBrush | 3ds Max Design | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 4.5 out of 5 | 4.7 out of 5 | 4.3 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 181 | 104 | 280 | 
| **Largest Market Segment** | Small-Business (68.9% of reviews) | Small-Business (69.9% of reviews) | Small-Business (63.6% of reviews) | 
| **Entry Level Price** | $1,299.00 Per Year | No pricing available | $460 per quarter | 

---
## Top Pros & Cons

### KeyShot

Pros:
- Asset Management (1 reviews)
- Assets (1 reviews)

Cons:
- Error Issues (1 reviews)
- Limited Materials (1 reviews)

### ZBrush

Pros:
- Modeling (4 reviews)
- 3D Modeling (3 reviews)

Cons:
- Difficult Learning (2 reviews)
- Limited Features (2 reviews)

### 3ds Max Design

Pros:
- 3D Modeling (3 reviews)
- Ease of Use (3 reviews)

Cons:
- Difficult Learning (3 reviews)
- High Hardware Requirements (3 reviews)

---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | KeyShot | ZBrush | 3ds Max Design | 
|---|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 8.6 (167 reviews) | 9.2 (99 reviews) | 8.5 (261 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 9.0 (168 reviews) | 6.7 (100 reviews) | 6.6 (261 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | 8.8 (20 reviews) | 9.2 (8 reviews) | 6.8 (37 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | 8.2 (17 reviews) | Not enough data | 6.9 (27 reviews) | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 8.2 (131 reviews) | 8.4 (85 reviews) | 7.6 (228 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | 8.5 (14 reviews) | Not enough data | 8.2 (29 reviews) | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 8.7 (167 reviews) | 9.0 (94 reviews) | 7.5 (257 reviews) | 

---
## Pricing

### KeyShot

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: KeyShot Studio Subscription

Price: $1,299.00 Per Year

Description: KeyShot Studio Subscription brings all the advanced features you need to create incredible visuals.  Why do professionals choose KeyShot? KeyShot is widely recognized as the industry-leading visualization solution for design and engineering professionals on both macOS and Windows, and the easiest, and most powerful when it comes to presenting concepts for design reviews, exploring digital prototypes, and creating final visuals for marketing and sales – all from your 3D data.

KeyShot provides more features and capabilities on both Mac and PC, plus the • Easiest User Interface •  Most Accurate Materials  • Most Powerful Lighting • Fastest Rendering Speeds • Highest Quality Visuals • And KeyShot is the only one that offers:

    
    
    
   
    
   
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    


Key Features:
- ★ Material & Lighting Presets and Creation
- ★ AI Restyle, Background, and Imagine Modes
- ★ Add Product and Studio Variations

[Learn more about KeyShot](https://www.g2.com/products/keyshot/reviews)

#### Free Trial

Yes

### ZBrush

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

Yes

### 3ds Max Design

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: Quarterly

Price: $460 per quarter


[Browse all 3 editions](https://www.g2.com/products/3ds-max-design/pricing)

#### Free Trial

Yes

---
## Features Comparison By Category

### Digital Asset Management

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **KeyShot** | N/A | N/A |
| **ZBrush** | N/A | N/A |
| **3ds Max Design** | N/A | N/A |

#### Interface and Performance

| Feature | KeyShot | ZBrush | 3ds Max Design | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Import/Export** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Organizational Interface** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Search** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **File Preview** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Analytics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Asset Management

| Feature | KeyShot | ZBrush | 3ds Max Design | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **File Types** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Metadata** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **File Transformation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Versioning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Expiration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Watermark** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Digital Rights Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Brand Guidelines** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Media Types

| Feature | KeyShot | ZBrush | 3ds Max Design | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Video** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Audio** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Images** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Administration

| Feature | KeyShot | ZBrush | 3ds Max Design | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Workflow Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **User, Role, and Access Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Brand Portal** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Integration with Creative Software** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Integration with Marketing Software** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Agentic AI - Digital Asset Management

| Feature | KeyShot | ZBrush | 3ds Max Design | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Cross-system Integration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### 3D Modeling

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **KeyShot** | N/A | N/A |
| **ZBrush** | 7.8/10 | 32 |
| **3ds Max Design** | 8.1/10 | 76 |

#### Design

| Feature | KeyShot | ZBrush | 3ds Max Design | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Sculpting** | Not enough data | 9.6 (31 reviews) | 8.1 (64 reviews) | 
| **Topology** | Not enough data | 8.9 (28 reviews) | 7.9 (64 reviews) | 
| **Drawing** | Not enough data | 7.2 (25 reviews) | 7.8 (66 reviews) | 
| **Brush Variety ** | Not enough data | 9.2 (27 reviews) | 6.9 (58 reviews) | 
| **Effects** | Not enough data | 7.0 (23 reviews) | 8.2 (67 reviews) | 

#### Move

| Feature | KeyShot | ZBrush | 3ds Max Design | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Animate** | Not enough data | 4.5 (22 reviews) | 8.2 (65 reviews) | 
| **Render** | Not enough data | 6.6 (25 reviews) | 8.7 (71 reviews) | 
| **Views** | Not enough data | 8.4 (27 reviews) | 9.0 (70 reviews) | 

#### Store & Manage

| Feature | KeyShot | ZBrush | 3ds Max Design | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Pipeline ** | Not enough data | 8.5 (28 reviews) | 8.0 (61 reviews) | 
| **Controls** | Not enough data | 8.1 (27 reviews) | 8.3 (62 reviews) | 
| **Template library ** | Not enough data | 8.2 (27 reviews) | 7.6 (63 reviews) | 

#### Generative AI

| Feature | KeyShot | ZBrush | 3ds Max Design | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **AI Text-to-Image** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Text-to-3D** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### 3D Painting

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **KeyShot** | N/A | N/A |
| **ZBrush** | 8.5/10 | 15 |
| **3ds Max Design** | N/A | N/A |

#### Design

| Feature | KeyShot | ZBrush | 3ds Max Design | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Brush Variety** | Not enough data | 9.6 (13 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Color** | Not enough data | 9.5 (13 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Effects** | Not enough data | 7.1 (12 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Detail

| Feature | KeyShot | ZBrush | 3ds Max Design | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Sculpt** | Not enough data | 9.9 (14 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Dynamic Tessellation** | Not enough data | 9.4 (11 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Texture ** | Not enough data | 9.0 (13 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Unwrap** | Not enough data | 6.7 (12 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **UV Mapping** | Not enough data | 6.7 (13 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Logistics

| Feature | KeyShot | ZBrush | 3ds Max Design | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Import** | Not enough data | 8.3 (13 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Integrations** | Not enough data | 9.0 (13 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Export** | Not enough data | 8.5 (13 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Generative AI

| Feature | KeyShot | ZBrush | 3ds Max Design | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **AI Text-to-Image** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Text-to-3D** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### 3D Rendering

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **KeyShot** | N/A | N/A |
| **ZBrush** | N/A | N/A |
| **3ds Max Design** | N/A | N/A |

#### Generative AI

| Feature | KeyShot | ZBrush | 3ds Max Design | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **AI Text-to-Image** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Text-to-Video** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Text-to-3D** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Animation

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **KeyShot** | N/A | N/A |
| **ZBrush** | N/A | N/A |
| **3ds Max Design** | N/A | N/A |

#### Generative AI

| Feature | KeyShot | ZBrush | 3ds Max Design | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **AI Image-to-Text** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Text-to-3D** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Agentic AI - Animation

| Feature | KeyShot | ZBrush | 3ds Max Design | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Multi-step Planning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Cross-system Integration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

---
## Categories
**Shared Categories (1):** [3D Rendering Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/3d-rendering)

**Unique to KeyShot (2):** [Animation Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/animation), [Digital Asset Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/digital-asset-management)

**Unique to ZBrush (2):** [3D Painting Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/3d-painting), [3D Modeling Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/3d-modeling)

**Unique to 3ds Max Design (4):** [Animation Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/animation), [3D Modeling Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/3d-modeling), [VR Visualization Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/vr-visualization), [Virtual Reality (VR) Game Engines](https://www.g2.com/categories/vr-game-engine)


---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | KeyShot | ZBrush | 3ds Max Design | 
|---|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 68.9% | 69.9% | 63.6% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 16.9% | 20.4% | 24.0% | 
| **Enterprise** | 14.1% | 9.7% | 12.4% | 

### By Industry

#### KeyShot

- **Design:** 42.9%
- **Higher Education:** 6.2%
- **Automotive:** 5.6%
- **Animation:** 3.4%
- **Internet:** 3.4%
- **Consumer Goods:** 2.8%
- **Mechanical or Industrial Engineering:** 2.8%
- **Architecture & Planning:** 2.3%
- **Graphic Design:** 2.3%
- **Computer Software:** 2.3%
- **Other:** 26.0%

#### ZBrush

- **Computer Games:** 17.5%
- **Animation:** 16.5%
- **Design:** 10.7%
- **Entertainment:** 8.7%
- **Graphic Design:** 5.8%
- **Motion Pictures and Film:** 4.9%
- **Marketing and Advertising:** 3.9%
- **Architecture & Planning:** 3.9%
- **Arts and Crafts:** 3.9%
- **Media Production:** 2.9%
- **Other:** 21.4%

#### 3ds Max Design

- **Architecture & Planning:** 26.8%
- **Design:** 16.3%
- **Animation:** 6.5%
- **Computer Games:** 5.1%
- **Graphic Design:** 4.3%
- **Civil Engineering:** 2.9%
- **Education Management:** 2.5%
- **Marketing and Advertising:** 2.5%
- **Automotive:** 2.2%
- **Computer Software:** 2.2%
- **Other:** 28.6%

---
## Alternatives

### Alternatives to KeyShot

- [Unity](https://www.g2.com/products/unity/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (364 reviews)
- [Blender](https://www.g2.com/products/blender/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (316 reviews)
- [Maya](https://www.g2.com/products/maya/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (267 reviews)
- [Cinema 4D](https://www.g2.com/products/cinema-4d/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (136 reviews)
- [Modo](https://www.g2.com/products/modo/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (86 reviews)
- [Enscape 3D](https://www.g2.com/products/enscape-3d/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (415 reviews)
- [V-Ray](https://www.g2.com/products/v-ray/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (221 reviews)
- [D5 Render](https://www.g2.com/products/d5-render/reviews) — 4.8/5 stars (1045 reviews)
- [Artlantis](https://www.g2.com/products/artlantis/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (16 reviews)
- [Chaos Corona](https://www.g2.com/products/chaos-corona/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (116 reviews)

### Alternatives to ZBrush

- [3D Coat](https://www.g2.com/products/3d-coat/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (21 reviews)
- [Blender](https://www.g2.com/products/blender/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (316 reviews)
- [Maya](https://www.g2.com/products/maya/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (267 reviews)
- [Modo](https://www.g2.com/products/modo/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (86 reviews)
- [Adobe Dimension](https://www.g2.com/products/adobe-dimension/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (72 reviews)
- [Mudbox](https://www.g2.com/products/mudbox/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (50 reviews)
- [Houdini](https://www.g2.com/products/houdini/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (35 reviews)
- [Unity](https://www.g2.com/products/unity/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (364 reviews)
- [SketchUp](https://www.g2.com/products/sketchup/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (1324 reviews)
- [Adobe Substance 3D Painter](https://www.g2.com/products/adobe-substance-3d-painter/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (109 reviews)

### Alternatives to 3ds Max Design

- [Unity](https://www.g2.com/products/unity/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (364 reviews)
- [Blender](https://www.g2.com/products/blender/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (316 reviews)
- [Cinema 4D](https://www.g2.com/products/cinema-4d/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (136 reviews)
- [Modo](https://www.g2.com/products/modo/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (86 reviews)
- [LightWave 3D](https://www.g2.com/products/lightwave-3d/reviews) — 3.9/5 stars (29 reviews)
- [SketchUp](https://www.g2.com/products/sketchup/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (1324 reviews)
- [Enscape 3D](https://www.g2.com/products/enscape-3d/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (415 reviews)
- [Adobe Dimension](https://www.g2.com/products/adobe-dimension/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (72 reviews)
- [Substance Designer](https://www.g2.com/products/substance-designer/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (56 reviews)
- [Houdini](https://www.g2.com/products/houdini/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (35 reviews)

---
## Top Discussions

### KeyShot

- Title: [What is KeyShot used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-keyshot-used-for) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "Keyshot is used for material application and rendering. it is best for product shots and photography. You can apply materials to the objects which are very..."
- Title: [Can you model in KeyShot?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/can-you-model-in-keyshot) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "Not. We can upload the modeled part in keyshot."
- Title: [How can I make more natural lights inside and out?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/36469-how-can-i-make-more-natural-lights-inside-and-out) — 1 comment, 1 upvote *(includes official response)*
  > **Top comment:** "Great question, Francisco. For interior lighting, use 'Interior' mode Lighting Preset (on the Project, Lighting tab). This is optimized for those inside..."
- Title: [How can I remove the white spots like powder while rendering?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/36321-how-can-i-remove-the-white-spots-like-powder-while-rendering) — 1 comment, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "I think you are referring to fireflies. the latest keyshot i.e. keyshot 10 has the feature to remove fireflies. "

### ZBrush

- Title: [Is ZBrush free?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-zbrush-free) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "NO"
- Title: [What can ZBrush be used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-can-zbrush-be-used-for) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "Digital sculpture and modeling to be use animation, print or games. "
- Title: [In The near futuro, Will you upgrade the rendering options and camera controls?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/in-the-near-futuro-will-you-upgrade-the-rendering-options-and-camera-controls) — 1 comment, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "By Anonymous
Many binary operations are rippers. I invested about $320,000 then i decided to withdraw after several week but the withdrawal wasn't..."
- Title: [Is there a way to have a 3D sculpt that has been converted to an image file?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-there-a-way-to-have-a-3d-sculpt-that-has-been-converted-to-an-image-file) — 1 comment, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "Hey Shariece,

Thanks for the question.

I'm having a little bit of trouble figuring out what your question is asking, I'm going to assume this is the..."

### 3ds Max Design

- Title: [Is 3ds max free?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-3ds-max-free) — 3 comments
  > **Top comment:** "No one can try it in trail period but it's not free"
- Title: [What is 3ds Max Design used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-3ds-max-design-used-for) — 2 comments
  > **Top comment:** "<p>3ds Max Design is mainly used for creating high-quality 3D models and realistic visualizations, especially in architecture and interior design. Designers..."
- Title: [What is the difference between 3ds Max and 3ds Max Design?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-the-difference-between-3ds-max-and-3ds-max-design) — 2 comments
  > **Top comment:** "3ds Max Design version has an additional module for lighting analysis (Exposure) useful for architects, and - unlike the Max version - it does not include..."
- Title: [I need a 3d max exterior design](https://www.g2.com/discussions/i-need-a-3d-max-exterior-design) — 2 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "This tutorial succinctly summarizes the most effective way to convert an image to a 3d object in 3ds Max: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtkvRFMVsds"
- Title: [When will you implement TyFLow definitively?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/quando-implementerete-tyflow-definitavmente) — 1 comment, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "It is still in beta. Unless Autodesk is able to buy out Tyson Ibele and TyFlow then it will always be a plugin you have to purchase (unless he makes it open..."

---
**Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/keyshot-vs-zbrush-vs-3ds-max-design)