I bought Zbrush back in 2011 and Pixologic have never charged yet for an update, so IMO it's good value. Not the easiest to learn and compared to more conventional 3d apps it can be deeply odd, but there are things it can do that a conventional app wouldn't have the first clue about. Plus there is the GoZ bridge for Poser.

3DCoat is a possible alternative; Mudbox (subscription only from Autodesk) does sculpt/retopo/paint too. With all these sort of apps though its best to try as many different demos as possible before spending money, personal preference counts for a lot.

Blender is free, so download it regardless ;)

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