Comparison

Steam Link vs VRChat

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

Head to head
About

Steam Link

Play your PC Steam games on your iPhone or iPad. Connect a controller and stream your library wirelessly from your computer to your mobile device. Enjoy your favorite titles on the go with this app.

Highlights
  • Stream Steam library to mobile
  • Use MFI or Steam controllers
  • Play on iPhone or iPad
  • Requires iOS 11.0+
  • Connect to PC on same network
Read full description

The Steam Link app brings desktop gaming to your iPhone or iPad. Just pair an MFI or Steam controller to your device, connect to a computer running Steam on the same local network, and start playing your existing Steam games. Requirements: * iPhone or iPad using iOS 11.0 or higher * Computer running Steam - Windows, Mac, or Linux * iOS device must be on the same local network as the computer running Steam For best performance: * Connect your computer using Ethernet to your 5Ghz WiFi router * Connect your iOS device to the 5GHz band of your WiFi network * Keep your iOS device within a reasonable range of your router

About

VRChat

Explore a vast virtual universe with endless possibilities, from thrilling adventures and games to social gatherings and creative expression. Connect with friends, meet new people, and even build your own worlds and avatars. Experience immersive social interaction, whether in VR or on mobile.

Highlights
  • Explore user-created worlds
  • Customize unique avatars
  • Play thousands of games
  • Connect with friends
  • Build your own virtual spaces
  • Full-body tracking support
Read full description

Welcome to VRChat — a virtual world filled with limitless possibilities. Spend your afternoon dogfighting in fighter jets, before winding down in a treehouse that exists floating in a nebula. Make a new best friend while exploring a haunted mansion, right before playing a hand of cards with a robot, alien, and eight-foot tall wolf. In VRChat, there are hundreds of thousands of worlds, millions of avatars – all created by the users. No matter what you’re into, there’s a space in VRChat for you. And if there isn’t, we’ll give you the tools to make your dream a reality. While not required to join in on the fun, VRChat was built to take advantage of VR headsets in many unique ways. That means avatars that flow with your movement, and systems that work alongside various hardware platforms to provide full-body tracking, finger tracking, and much, much more. Even if you’re jumping in on your phone or tablet, you’ll get to experience the magic of hanging out with people that feel like they’re really there – not just some character on a screen! Use the companion app to keep up with your VRChat friends, or launch into a VRChat world to meet new friends right from your iOS device! There’s something magical around every corner. Come take a look, and see what you find. MEET NEW FRIENDS In VRChat, there’s always something to do – and people to meet there. Visit a planetarium and have a chat about astronomy. Go on a virtual hike through a majestic fantasy forest. Pull up to a car meet, and talk shop with some gearheads. Attend a live music event underneath a chemical storage facility, and talk obscure genres with DJs. Your community – whatever it is – is here. GO ON AN ADVENTURE There are thousands of games to play in VRChat. Try running a kitchen in a busy restaurant, or racing go-karts in zero gravity. Fancy a battle royale? We’ve got those, too. Just probably with a wider diversity of avatars than you’ve ever seen before. It doesn’t matter what you like to play: casual card games, shooters, racing, platformers, puzzles, horror, and of course, endless party games. BUILD YOUR DREAMS Everything here was built by the community using the VRChat SDK. Combined with Unity and Udon, our in-house scripting language, we give our users as much power as possible to build whatever their imaginations can conjure up. But creation isn’t just limited to worlds. VRChat provides a level of creative freedom that is unmatched anywhere else, and nowhere is that reflected best than on the avatars of our users. In VRChat, you can be anything, and explore your identity however you’d like. Want to be an alien? A talking dog? A sentient shoe with glowing bits that react to the beat of music by changing color? I mean, sure, if that’s what you’re about. VRChat is free to download and play on compatible devices. Subscribing to VRC+ grants access to enhanced features. Learn more at https://hello.vrchat.com/vrchatplus Privacy Policy: https://hello.vrchat.com/privacy Terms of Service: https://hello.vrchat.com/legal

Screenshots

Steam Link4 screens
VRChat4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: VRChat at 4.4 against Steam Link's 3.3. VRChat also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks) and chart position (#90 vs unranked). Steam Link's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 12) and device support (6 vs 2). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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. VRChat sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Steam Link asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

VRChat holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3K and 3.3K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of Steam Link's written reviews are positive against 46% of VRChat's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Steam Link ships an update every 3 weeks, VRChat weekly. Both last shipped on October 15, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Steam Link versus VRChat: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSteam LinkVRChat
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.3 (3K ratings)4.4 (3.3K ratings) — better
Positive reviews42.8% of reviews45.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3K3.3K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#90 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB1.0 GB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperValveVRChat Inc.

Customer experience

Steam Link

All ratings3,028 ratings
Positive52.8%
Neutral10.3%
Negative36.9%
Written reviews1,620 reviews
Positive42.8%
Neutral10.3%
Negative46.9%

VRChat

All ratings3,309 ratings
Positive84.7%
Neutral4.7%
Negative10.7%
Written reviews786 reviews
Positive45.7%
Neutral14.9%
Negative39.4%

User reviews

Steam Link

From 3K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent streaming quality
  • 👍 Works well with controllers
  • 🔥 Allows playing PC games on the go
  • 💡 Versatile and convenient

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
  • 🔌 Requires PC to be on and connected
  • 🔍 Limited touch controls
  • 🔧 Compatibility issues with some devices

VRChat

From 3.3K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🔥 Fire game
  • 🎉 Excited for iOS launch
  • 🎨 Clean UI presentation
  • 🌐 Able to play on the go

Room to improve

  • 🤖 Compatibility issues with older devices
  • 🔋 Battery life concerns
  • 🤔 Confusing login process
  • 📱 Not optimized for small screens

Bugs and requests

Steam Link

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes on startup
  • Audio issues and sound problems
  • Controller mapping and input problems
  • Streaming quality and performance inconsistencies

Requested features

4 requests
  • Allow playing games with PC off
  • Add remote access and PC control features
  • Improve touch screen controls and customization
  • Expand device compatibility

VRChat

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Play button not working on iPad
  • Login issues on some accounts

Requested features

3 requests
  • Google login option
  • iPad support
  • Improved compatibility for lower-end devices

In-app purchases

None

Steam Link

No in-app purchases

12 purchases

VRChat

Subscriptions2
  • VRChat+ (Monthly)$9.991 Month
  • VRChat+ (Yearly)$99.991 Year
One-time10
  • 600 VRChat Credits$4.99
  • VRChat+ Gift (One month)$9.99
  • 1200 VRChat Credits$9.99
Show 7 more
  • 2400 VRChat Credits$19.99
  • 3000 VRChat Credits$24.99
  • 3600 VRChat Credits$29.99
  • 4800 VRChat Credits$39.99
  • 6000 VRChat Credits$49.99
  • 9000 VRChat Credits$74.99
  • 12000 VRChat Credits$99.99

Questions

Is Steam Link free?
Steam Link is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is VRChat free?
VRChat is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Steam Link or VRChat?
VRChat is rated higher. Steam Link averages 3.3 out of 5 from 3K ratings, while VRChat averages 4.4 from 3.3K ratings.
Do Steam Link or VRChat have ads?
Neither Steam Link nor VRChat shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Steam Link or VRChat?
Steam Link ships an update every 3 weeks, and VRChat weekly. Most recently, Steam Link was updated on October 15, 2026 and VRChat on October 15, 2026.

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