# VRChat vs POOLS™

VRChat and POOLS™ both sit at 4.4 stars, but that hides the real split: 79% of POOLS™'s written reviews are positive against 46% of VRChat's. POOLS™ also leads on device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). VRChat's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and chart position (#79 vs unranked). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. VRChat sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and POOLS™ sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for VRChat against 4.5 for POOLS™. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3.3K and 1.6K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 46% of VRChat's written reviews are positive against 79% of POOLS™'s.

VRChat ships an update weekly, POOLS™ every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | VRChat | POOLS™ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (3.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vrchat/id6448578770/reviews) | **[4.5 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pools/id6670792878/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3.3K** | 1.6K |
| Positive reviews | 45.5% of reviews | **79.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#79** | — |
| Size | 1.0 GB | 1.9 GB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [VRChat Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1685027434) | [Tensori](https://appshunter.io/developer/1767614989) |

## What reviewers say

### VRChat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vrchat/id6448578770)

**Currently charting:** #79 Top Free · Role Playing, #150 Top Grossing · Role Playing (US App Store)

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

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VRChat+ (Monthly) | $9.99 | per month |
| VRChat+ (Yearly) | $99.99 | per year |
| 600 VRChat Credits | $4.99 | one-time |
| VRChat+ Gift (One month) | $9.99 | one-time |
| 1200 VRChat Credits | $9.99 | one-time |
| 2400 VRChat Credits | $19.99 | one-time |
| 3000 VRChat Credits | $24.99 | one-time |
| 3600 VRChat Credits | $29.99 | one-time |
| 4800 VRChat Credits | $39.99 | one-time |
| 6000 VRChat Credits | $49.99 | one-time |
| 9000 VRChat Credits | $74.99 | one-time |
| 12000 VRChat Credits | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- Play button not working on iPad
- Login issues on some accounts

**Requested features**

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


### POOLS™

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pools/id6670792878)

This app offers a slow, reflective, and immersive experience focused on exploration and atmosphere. It evokes feelings of unease and curiosity through its unique environments, inspired by liminal spaces and internet phenomena. Discover changing worlds and subtle narratives without traditional gameplay mechanics.

**Highlights:** Slow, reflective exploration, Atmospheric and immersive environments, Inspired by liminal spaces, Unfolding narrative through exploration, Six distinct chapters, Unique sound design

**Features:** Game Controller support, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| POOLS: Full Game | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Immersive experience
- 🔒 No ads
- 👍 Incredible attention to detail
- 👍 Realistic graphics and sound
- 👍 Eerie and creepy atmosphere

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Boring after a while
- 🐛 Lack of variety in environments

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to move on iPad Pro
- Glitches reported

**Requested features**

- Expand to different Backrooms-inspired themes
- Add a multiplayer mode
- Introduce more interactive elements (e.g., monsters, items to discover)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VRChat free?

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

### Is POOLS™ free?

POOLS™ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, VRChat or POOLS™?

POOLS™ is rated higher. VRChat averages 4.4 out of 5 from 3.3K ratings, while POOLS™ averages 4.5 from 1.6K ratings.

### Do VRChat or POOLS™ have ads?

Neither VRChat nor POOLS™ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, VRChat or POOLS™?

VRChat ships an update weekly, and POOLS™ every 2 months. Most recently, VRChat was updated on October 13, 2026 and POOLS™ on October 12, 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.*