VGamepad Lite vs PortalVR Controller
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+)
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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
PortalVR Controller
Transform your smartphone into a virtual reality controller for an immersive VR experience. Seamlessly connect and navigate your VR environment with intuitive touch controls.
- Turns phone into VR controller
- Use with PortalVR
- Intuitive touch controls
- Seamless connection
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PortalVR Controller turns your phone into a VR controller, for use with PortalVR.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: PortalVR Controller at 100% against VGamepad Lite's 37%. PortalVR Controller also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.2) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). VGamepad Lite's advantage is ratings volume (107 vs 2). 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. PortalVR Controller asks for nothing beyond the download.
PortalVR Controller holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VGamepad Lite has 107 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 37% of VGamepad Lite's written reviews are positive against 100% of PortalVR Controller's.
VGamepad Lite ships an update every 2 weeks, PortalVR Controller every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | VGamepad Lite | PortalVR Controller |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.2 (107 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 36.9% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 107 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 111 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | PJSOFTCO | Portal VR, Inc. |
Customer experience
VGamepad Lite
PortalVR Controller
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
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- 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
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- L1, L2, R1, R2 buttons for PlayStation controllers
- Better documentation and troubleshooting guides
PortalVR Controller
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
PortalVR Controller
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is VGamepad Lite free?
Is PortalVR Controller free?
Which has better reviews, VGamepad Lite or PortalVR Controller?
Do VGamepad Lite or PortalVR Controller have ads?
Which is updated more often, VGamepad Lite or PortalVR Controller?
Other comparisons
