TL;DR: Vertiq Nova is the $13,700 entry model with one industrial printhead as standard. Apex is $18,700 with two industrial printheads. Both print walls and floors. Choose by the documented configuration, included equipment and your intended surfaces, not a claim that either is faster or universally better.
Start with the configuration difference
The Nova and Apex both cover vertical and horizontal surfaces, so this is not a wall-only versus floor-capable decision. The main published distinctions are list price and standard printhead configuration. Nova has one industrial printhead handling CMYK plus white as standard. Its two-printhead alternative is optional and quoted separately. Apex lists two industrial printheads. Compare the actual quote you receive with the standard table; an optional Nova configuration is not automatically the same purchase as the list-price machine.
A sign shop adding direct-to-wall work might begin with Nova when the lowest equipment price is the controlling requirement. Apex belongs on the shortlist when the shop specifically wants the published two-head configuration and its modular carry-case description. Those are reasons to investigate, not evidence that one model will deliver better print quality on your customer's wall.
Read the detailed specifications carefully
Nova publishes 100–240 V AC at 50–60 Hz and a maximum power consumption of 350 W. It also lists USB or Wi-Fi file transfer, RIIN and Betterprinter software, and 4, 6 and 8-pass modes. These concrete fields let a buyer ask about site power and file workflow before ordering. They do not remove the need for a suitable laptop or a safe working area.
Apex describes a full-aluminum modular frame that breaks down into padded carry cases. The catalog also lists a ten-minute installation time. Use that as a published equipment statement, not an arrival-to-completed-mural schedule. Getting the room ready, approving artwork and preparing the surface are separate tasks.
Apex resolution wording differs between its descriptive copy and shared specification row. This guide deliberately does not rank the two by DPI. Request the configuration-specific spec sheet and confirm the operative resolution in writing. Its speed row also asks for the current spec sheet; a guessed Apex production speed would not be a valid comparison.
Match the surface and the job
Both models list brick, wood, concrete, glass, metal, ceramics and other surfaces. A list of materials is not a universal adhesion guarantee. Identify the actual coating, texture and condition of the wall, then ask for a sample or test of that combination. For a logo on painted drywall, approval of the file and placement matters. For glass, transparent areas and white ink need discussion before the job is priced.
Floor capability should be evaluated independently of wall height. The Nova's floor-rail description says horizontal printing is supported; Apex directs buyers to the current spec sheet. Do not infer rail length or a conversion time from either name. Confirm floor access, the intended printed band and the quoted rail package before offering floor work.
A practical shortlist
Choose Nova for further evaluation when entry price and its standard one-head specification fit your plan. Choose Apex for further evaluation when the two-printhead configuration and its published transport design answer a specific requirement. If neither distinction affects your planned jobs, compare included equipment and the written quote before deciding. Paying more is not evidence of a better business outcome.
Published model comparison
Prices below are USD list prices including worldwide shipping. These are catalog specifications, not measured comparisons or a promise of job performance. Column height is labeled separately from usable print height.
| Model | List price | Wall / floor | Height as published | Standard printheads |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vertiq Nova | $13,700 | Walls and floors | Up to 2.4 m | 1 × industrial printhead |
| Vertiq Apex | $18,700 | Walls and floors | Up to 2.4 m, unlimited width | 2 × industrial printheads |
Published speeds use their stated conditions; do not treat different ranges as a controlled head-to-head test. A rail's physical length is not the floor's cross-track print band. Request the current spec sheet where the catalog does not publish a dimension.
Included equipment and training
The model pages list these included items. Confirm the exact configuration and any optional accessories in your written quote; do not assume an option is included at list price.
Remote video training and control software are included. Training scope is confirmed in writing with each quote. No fixed curriculum, completion deadline or certification is promised here.
Ownership, delivery and support
You own the equipment outright, with no franchise fees, royalties or territory limits. Ownership does not provide customers or a booked workload. You remain responsible for selling, artwork, preparation and operation. The sign-shop buyer guide discusses potential applications, not verified customer results.
Machines are designed and tested in California and shipped from California. List prices include worldwide shipping; destination duties, taxes and clearance are excluded. Delivery coordination and timing are confirmed with your quote, not assumed from this comparison.
U.S.-based support comes from Sherman Oaks, California, with multilingual assistance available. Every model carries a one-year parts warranty per written terms. Consumables and normal printhead wear are excluded; labor and service shipping are included only if the terms say so. Read the warranty. No response time is promised.
US buyers pay by wire or credit card with a processing fee. International buyers pay by wire in full before shipment. No financing or leasing is offered.
Budget and next steps
Published consumables are a $175 five-bottle ink set, $1,500 industrial replacement printhead, $3,200 Nova replacement printhead and approximately $150 maintenance supplies. Ink is $0.40–$6.70 per m², depending on coverage and white underbase. These are published costs, not replacement intervals or complete job-cost estimates.
Budget separately for a suitable laptop, transport, storage, preparation and business expenses using your own researched costs. Review running costs and the calculator with your own assumptions. Vertiq publishes no income, payback or return figures for any operator.
Compare all six models and prices. Request an on-demand demo video, a custom artwork recording or a mailed sample print (you cover sample shipping). Confirm your actual surface, access and dimensions against the current spec sheet and written quote before buying. Samples do not guarantee performance at another site.