# Dabble vs VGamepad Lite

The clearest difference is rating: Dabble at 3.9 against VGamepad Lite's 3.2. Dabble also leads on review sentiment (75% vs 40%) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). VGamepad Lite's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. VGamepad Lite sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Dabble asks for nothing beyond the download.

Dabble holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 128 and 105 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of Dabble's written reviews are positive against 40% of VGamepad Lite's.

Dabble ships an update every 6 months, VGamepad Lite every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Dabble | VGamepad Lite |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.9 (128 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dabble-bluetooth-controller/id1472734455/reviews)** | [3.2 (105 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vgamepad-lite/id1477007195/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **128** | 105 |
| Positive reviews | **75.0% of reviews** | 39.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 18 MB | 111 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [STEMpedia](https://appshunter.io/developer/1472734454) | [PJSOFTCO](https://appshunter.io/developer/1454168690) |

## What reviewers say

### Dabble

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dabble-bluetooth-controller/id1472734455)

Control and communicate with hardware like Arduino and ESP32 using your smartphone's sensors and Bluetooth. This app transforms your phone into a virtual controller, offering modules for LED control, terminal commands, gamepad functionality, and access to phone sensors.

**Highlights:** LED Brightness Control, Terminal for text and voice commands, Gamepad control (analog, digital, accelerometer), Pin State Monitor, Phone Sensor access (GPS, mic, accelerometer, etc.), Scratch & Arduino compatible projects

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use for beginners
- 🚀 Works well with ESP32 and Arduino
- 💰 Free and fully functional
- 💡 Great for robotics projects
- 📱 Useful phone sensors

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Gamepad issues on iOS
- 🐛 Not all functions available on iPhone
- 🐛 GPS data transfer unreliable
- 🐛 Phone sensor data flaky
- 🐛 UI issues on older versions

**Reported bugs**

- Gamepad doesn't work on iOS
- Joystick values are blank on iOS
- Buttons do not show for gamepad
- Controller function broken on iPhones without a home button
- Gamepad won't turn, only shows left/right controls, format off

**Requested features**

- More buttons on gamepad or custom gamepad creation
- Additional controller types (joystick, button rows)
- Ability to map terminal commands to virtual actions/notifications
- Offline automation and scripts for iOS
- Xbox controller support


### VGamepad Lite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vgamepad-lite/id1477007195)

Transform your phone into a physical game controller for your PC. Enjoy customizable buttons, motion controls, and haptic feedback for an immersive gaming experience. Supports standard controller emulation and basic mouse/keyboard functions.

**Highlights:** Emulates standard controllers, Motion control using phone sensors, Customizable button layout, Haptic feedback, Game capture button, AR Body Tracking (iPhone XS+)

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VGamepad Monthly Subscription | $0.99 | per month |
| VGamepad Monthly Subscription | $1.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast connection speed between phone and PC
- 👍 Straightforward setup process with video tutorials
- 🎮 Works well with Steam games and emulators
- 🔧 Customizable button mapping and controller size
- 💰 Affordable or free alternative to physical controllers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📢 Excessive ads interrupting gameplay every 5 minutes
- 🐛 Buttons frequently unresponsive or detect wrong inputs
- 🔌 Difficult connection setup requiring IP address entry
- ❌ App doesn't work after connection established
- 💳 Paywall after initial free use

**Reported bugs**

- Connection fails despite correct IP and password entry
- Ads appear but don't load, blocking app usage
- RT button and other buttons not functioning
- Buttons disappear after rearranging
- Mouse cursor moves in background during gameplay

**Requested features**

- Bluetooth connectivity for easier pairing
- Mac OS support for server-side application
- Nintendo Switch controller support
- Remove or reduce ad frequency with paid option
- Apple TV compatibility


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Dabble free?

Dabble is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is VGamepad Lite free?

VGamepad Lite is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Dabble or VGamepad Lite?

Dabble is rated higher. Dabble averages 3.9 out of 5 from 128 ratings, while VGamepad Lite averages 3.2 from 105 ratings.

### Do Dabble or VGamepad Lite have ads?

Neither Dabble nor VGamepad Lite shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Dabble or VGamepad Lite?

Dabble ships an update every 6 months, and VGamepad Lite every 3 weeks. Most recently, Dabble was updated on September 23, 2026 and VGamepad Lite on September 5, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*