VGamepad Lite vs Dolphin Ctrl
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
VGamepad Lite
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.
- Emulates standard controllers
- Motion control using phone sensors
- Customizable button layout
- Haptic feedback
- Game capture button
- AR Body Tracking (iPhone XS+)
Read full descriptionHide full description
VGamepad gives you the full experience of a physical controller. Customizable buttons, haptic feedback, motion control, and more. Play on your PC using nothing but your phone. Features: - Emulates standard controllers (including Joy-Con). - Motion Control: steer, aim, and move using your phone’s sensors. - AR Body Tracking (iPhone XS or later): play certain games using body motion. - Customizable layout: move and resize buttons to fit your hands. - Game Capture button for quick recording. - Haptic feedback that makes every press feel physical. - Pressure-sensitive inputs with 3D Touch (supported devices). - Optional sound feedback for buttons. - Change joystick images from a large selection. - Basic mouse & keyboard support (W/A/S/D buttons on keyboard). Connectivity: Use the simple Windows/Mac/Linux companion app for Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/LAN pairing, or use PCGameConsole to turn your PC into a full gaming console compatible with VGamepad. Full setup guide: https://github.com/PJSoftCo/VGamepad TERMS OF USE: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ PRIVACY POLICY: https://pjsoftco.com/vgamepadpp.html ONLINE SUPPORT: Please join our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/ZcAuAJp8py
Dolphin Ctrl
This app transforms your phone into a GameCube controller for the Dolphin emulator. Connect wirelessly to your computer to play games with friends. Performance depends on network and emulator speed.
- Simulates GameCube controller
- Play games on Dolphin emulator
- Use phones as controllers
- Supports multiplayer
- Wireless connectivity
Read full descriptionHide full description
Dolphin Ctrl simulates a GameCube controller and allows you and your friends to play games on the Dolphin emulator using your phones. Requires running the Dolphin Ctrl Server app on your computer running Dolphin. Download the server and read the instructions at https://github.com/apexskier/dolphin-controller. Note: Dolphin Controller can be slow depending the speed of your WiFi/bluetooth/remote network connect and the speed of the Dolphin emulator itself.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Dolphin Ctrl at none against VGamepad Lite's 2. VGamepad Lite's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 14 months) and review sentiment (40% vs 14%). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. VGamepad Lite sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Dolphin Ctrl asks for nothing beyond the download.
VGamepad Lite holds the better App Store score, 3.2 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VGamepad Lite has 106 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of VGamepad Lite's written reviews are positive against 14% of Dolphin Ctrl's.
VGamepad Lite ships an update every 2 weeks, Dolphin Ctrl every 14 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | VGamepad Lite | Dolphin Ctrl |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.2 (106 ratings) — better | 3.0 (6 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 39.5% of reviews — better | 14.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 106 — better | 6 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Every 14 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 14.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 111 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | PJSOFTCO | Cameron Little |
Customer experience
VGamepad Lite
Dolphin Ctrl
Bugs and requests
VGamepad Lite
Reported bugs
9 issues- 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
Show 4 moreShow fewer
- App crashes or freezes during use
- Controller not recognized by PC after connection
- Inconsistent performance across different iPhone models
- PC download fails with Error 1001
Requested features
7 requests- 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
Show 2 moreShow fewer
- L1, L2, R1, R2 buttons for PlayStation controllers
- Better documentation and troubleshooting guides
Dolphin Ctrl
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
VGamepad Lite
- VGamepad Monthly Subscription$0.991 Month
- VGamepad Monthly Subscription$1.991 Month
Dolphin Ctrl
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is VGamepad Lite free?
Is Dolphin Ctrl free?
Which has better reviews, VGamepad Lite or Dolphin Ctrl?
Do VGamepad Lite or Dolphin Ctrl have ads?
Which is updated more often, VGamepad Lite or Dolphin Ctrl?
Other comparisons
