Comparison

VRPlayer vs VR42 Player

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

VRPlayer

This app plays 2D, 3D, and 360° videos in VR, supporting numerous file formats and streaming from your desktop. It offers extensive keyboard and game controller support for navigation and playback control.

Highlights
  • Plays 2D, 3D, and 360° videos
  • Desktop streaming via VRPlayer Helper
  • Supports MP4, MKV, AVI, and more
  • Plays SMI and SRT subtitles
  • Access files from Dropbox and SMB/SFTP/FTP
  • Keyboard and game controller support
Features
Read full description

● VRPlayer can record screen/audio of your desktop and streaming it to VRPlayer via VRPlayer Helper. - to use this feature "VRPlayer Helper" should be installed and executed on your desktop. please select or add "VRPlayer Helper" item on vrplayer app and follow instruction first. - this feature is experimental for now. so there might be considerable amount of latency and unstability depends on network environment and system spec where helper is running ● VRPlayer can play not only general 2D movies but also 3D movies (half side by side or over and under) for VR (google cardboard) ● and support the following file formats. - video : mp4, mov, m4v, mkv, avi, wmv, asf, flv, swf, mpg, 3gp, vob, divix - subtitle : smi, srt ● VRPlayer can play following file formats by real time streaming via VRPlayer Helper - Video : mp4, mov, m4v, mkv, avi, wmv, asf, flv, swf, mpg, 3gp, vob, divix - Subtitle : smi, srt ※ this app can not play DRM protected videos purchased from iTunes store. ● You can add or access following items - VRPlayer Helper (streaming server) - Folder - SMB/SFTP/FTP Server - Dropbox - Video Library ※ VRPlayer Helper is embedded in your own VRPlayer app and the download URL provided by VRPlayer is your own iPhone's IP address itself not an external web server. so iPhone and the server PC should be in the same wifi network to download Helper. tap the "+"button at top right corner of VRPlayer and select VRPlayer Helper then you will see the URL from which you can download helper. ● You can control VRPlayer with keyboard - Bluetooth Keyboard - USB Keyboard (connected by camera kit) - Keyboard of PC on which VRPlayer Helper is installed ※ while navigating - up / down : move cursor by item - up / down + shift : move cursor by page - right / enter / space : select item - left / esc : back to previous ※ while playing - up / down : move cursor by button - enter : select button & do action - esc : stop & back to list - space : play & pause - right : move forward 5 seconds - left : move backward 5 seconds - right + shift : move forward 1 minute - left + shift : move backward 1 minute - up + shift : play previous video - down + shift : play next video - [ : slow down the playback rate - ] : speed up the playback rate - 1 : Toggle 360°/180° Video - 2 : Toggle VR Mode - 3 : Change 2D/3D Mode - 4 : Zoom In/Out - 5 : Back To Center / Motion Tracking - 6 : Motion Tracking Constraint - 7 : Loop - 8 : Audio/Subtitle ● You can control VRPlayer with Game Controller ※ supported controller - XBox controller - Playstation Dualshock controller - Other MFi certified game controller ※ while navigating - up / down : move cursor by item - up / down + RB : move cursor by page - right / A : select item - left / B : back to previous ※ while playing - up / down : move cursor by button - A : select button & do action - B : stop & back to list - X : play & pause - right : move forward 5 seconds - left : move backward 5 seconds - right + RB : move forward 1 minute - left + RB : move backward 1 minute - up + RB : play previous video - down + RB : play next video ● support panorama photo - enjoy your own panorama photos in VR ● Use multiple gestures to control playing - Tap the screen with two fingers to change 2D/3D screen mode. - Double tap the screen to zoom in/out. - Swipe right to skip forward 5 seconds. - Swipe left to skip back 5 seconds. - Swipe right with two fingers to speed up the playback rate. - Swipe left with two fingers to slow down the playback rate. - Long press with one finger to select audio or subtitle. - Drag & drop subtitle to change position. - Pinch in or out screen to change font size of subtitle.

About

VR42 Player

Features
Read full description

VR42 Player is a straightforward and easy to use video player for stereoscopic, 360 VR videos stored on your device. Simply pick a video file from your device gallery, wait for it to be copied to the application library (this step is necessary for the video to be read by the app), or securely download VR videos as an authenticated user. You can then select the video to play from the library and enjoy your VR experience. You can also transfer video files from iTunes to the VR42Player Documents folder, and play your videos straight away. VR42 Player can conveniently replay the last video you selected as well. While the video is playing you can tap the screen to pause and resume the video. Long press on the screen to return to the main menu. By default, VR42 Player will play videos as a stereoscopic top / bottom video. You can add "_SBS" at the end of the file name (e.g. "yourvideo.mp4 will become "yourvideo_SBS.mp4") to play the video as a stereoscopic side-by-side instead.

Screenshots

VRPlayer4 screens
VR42 Player4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: VR42 Player at none against VRPlayer's shown. VR42 Player also leads on iOS requirement (6.0 vs 15.6). VRPlayer's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs monthly). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

VRPlayer ships an update every 3 days, VR42 Player monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
VRPlayer versus VR42 Player: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVRPlayerVR42 Player
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews47.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterMonthly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supported—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.66.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size156 MB73 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperLEE DONG WONRandom42

Bugs and requests

VRPlayer

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes frequently
  • Video playback freezes or blacks out
  • Bookmark links stop working after 24 hours

Requested features

4 requests
  • Adjustable zoom and screen size options
  • Gaze-based controls for VR mode
  • Virtual theater mode
  • Ability to pause slideshow images

VR42 Player

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

VRPlayer

No in-app purchases

None

VR42 Player

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is VRPlayer free?
VRPlayer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is VR42 Player free?
VR42 Player is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do VRPlayer or VR42 Player have ads?
VRPlayer shows ads; VR42 Player does not.
Which is updated more often, VRPlayer or VR42 Player?
VRPlayer ships an update every 3 days, and VR42 Player monthly. Most recently, VRPlayer was updated on November 12, 2026 and VR42 Player on November 11, 2026.

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