Comparison

Virtual Tags vs HipSmile

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

Head to head
About

Virtual Tags

This app allows users to leave geo-referenced messages and share content in augmented reality. Users can create virtual tags at specific locations, allowing others to discover and interact with them. It supports sharing images, advertising activities, and organizing games with other users.

Highlights
  • Augmented reality messaging
  • Geo-referenced tags
  • Share images in AR
  • Virtual advertising banners
  • Location-based check-ins
  • Multiplayer games
Features
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********************************************************************** β€» Full support for the ARKit library. β€» Check-in in a location in a new way. β€» Put markers where no markers could otherwise be put. β€» Drop some breadcrumbs for some special others to follow. β€» Take a lasting commitment with your dear by dropping a cloud nowhere may delete. β€» Celebrate a place of value for a community. β€» Share your personality in augmented reality for by-passers to view. β€» Express your thoughts in a subtle way even in dangerous situations. β€» Share your pictures, images in Augmented Reality (inApp Features). β€» Advertise your activity by putting a banner over it to be notified to passing users in addition to being seen in augmented reality and in the apposite badge in the app (inApp Feature). β€» Organize exciting games with multiple copies of this application and... much much more! β€» Background location updates allow to be informed about the nearby clouds in the app badge and prefetch nearby clouds in background for a quicker experience at the price of some faster battery drainage. ********************************************************************** "Virtual Tags is a platform that enables people to post geo-referenced messages. Users of this iPhone application can leave messages in any place that they have been to, and these will be readable by any person who has also got the Virtual Tags application installed. The messages themselves will be shown as a hovering cloud over any real life object that the iPhone is aimed at, and they will be readable the moment the cloud is tapped on." Killer Startups "You can add notes and tags to everything you see around you, which other Virtual Tags users can than access using the app. You can literally see whose footsteps you’ve followed and what comments others have had in the spaces and places you visit, and you can make your voice heard long after you’ve left." iPhone Applications Lists "Virtual Tags is an application for iPhone was born in Italy easily, as the name implies, is based on the post-it to hang virtually to the city.On the bench you have exchanged your first kiss? In the ice cream you ate the best ice cream of your life? That there remained square in the heart? Take a note and share it with whoever you want, or directly with everyone." Common Blog With Virtual Tags it’s easy to have one's head in the clouds! Drop your tags whenever you like, and see the messages already published in the form of hovering clouds. While in the background the number on the icon shows the presence of objects around you. In order to do so the app employs background GPS and continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. So you might like to switch off the app completely if you expect to find no activity or to find yourself away from a recharging plug for long. If you like the app, please leave us a review! For demo videos, usage instructions, more info, scenarios, news, submission of bugs, requests for new features or purchase of merchandise, please visit: http://www.virtualtags.net For the latest updates about Virtual Tags, follow us on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/VirtualTags/ and now also by way of an RSS feed available at address: http://feeds.feedburner.com/VirtualTagsRssFeed

About

HipSmile

Features
Read full description

Give and receive goods and services in different categories such as health, education, material goods, volunteer work, or others. With its geolocation system, HipSmile allows you to find easily announcements (donations or requests) near you.

Screenshots

Virtual Tags4 screens
HipSmile4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HipSmile at none against Virtual Tags's 2. HipSmile also leads on iOS requirement (14.0.0 vs 16.2). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. Virtual Tags sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. HipSmile asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Virtual Tags ships an update every 10 days, HipSmile fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences Β· 6 level
Virtual Tags versus HipSmile: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVirtual TagsHipSmile
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews86.7% of reviewsβ€”
Update frequencyEvery 10 days β€” betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo β€” better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesβ€”
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod β€” better
Requires iOS16.214.0.0 β€” better
Further details β€” not scored
Size11 MB96 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperFabrizio BartolomucciPilatusweb

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Virtual Tags

One-time2
  • Over the Top Banners$1.99
  • Images in the Clouds allowance$2.99
None

HipSmile

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Virtual Tags free?
Virtual Tags is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is HipSmile free?
HipSmile is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Virtual Tags or HipSmile have ads?
Neither Virtual Tags nor HipSmile shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Virtual Tags or HipSmile?
Virtual Tags ships an update every 10 days, and HipSmile fortnightly. Most recently, Virtual Tags was updated on September 28, 2026 and HipSmile on October 9, 2026.

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