# VBIC vs Shortical

The clearest difference is monetization model: Shortical at free with in-app purchases against VBIC's subscription. Shortical also leads on ratings volume (57K vs 1) and chart position (#83 vs unranked). VBIC's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On price, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. VBIC sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Shortical sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

VBIC holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shortical has 57K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

VBIC ships an update every 10 days, Shortical weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | VBIC | Shortical |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vbic/id6479594395/reviews)** | [4.7 (57K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shortical-stream-dramas-and-tv/id6745260515/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **57K** |
| Positive reviews | — | 21.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#83** |
| Size | 1.1 GB | 172 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.2** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Virtual Broadcasting Information Center VBIC LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1736383372) | [Short Entertainment](https://appshunter.io/developer/1811331637) |

## What reviewers say

### VBIC

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vbic/id6479594395)

Explore the world with immersive 3D/8K virtual guided tours. Access a vast library of documentary, scientific, educational, and artistic content through various subscription levels. Enjoy continuous updates and a 24/7 stream of curated broadcasts.

**Highlights:** 3D/8K virtual guided tours, Global content library, Documentary, scientific, educational, artistic content, Tiered subscription access, 24/7 streaming, Continuous content updates

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bronze | $0.99 | per month |
| Silver | $1.99 | per month |
| VBIC Documentary Channel 3D/8K | $5.99 | per month |
| Gold | $6.99 | per month |
| Upgrade to 8K HLS Streams | $0.99 | one-time |
| VBIC Germany | $0.99 | one-time |
| Re-stream | $0.99 | one-time |
| VBIC Documentary Channel | $99.99 | one-time |
| Annual | $99.99 | one-time |


### Shortical

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shortical-stream-dramas-and-tv/id6745260515)

**Currently charting:** #83 Top Grossing · Entertainment, #172 Top Free · Entertainment (US App Store)

Stream captivating short-form dramas, reels, and mini-series with daily updates. Discover exclusive content across various genres, perfect for quick entertainment on the go. Enjoy personalized recommendations and join a community of drama lovers.

**Highlights:** Exclusive short dramas, reels, and mini-series, Daily content updates, Diverse genres including romance, fantasy, and mystery, Personalized recommendations, Bite-sized episodes for on-the-go viewing, Community features for drama fans

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly VIP | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly VIP | $19.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly VIP | $149.99 | per year |
| Yearly VIP | $199.99 | per year |
| One-time Purchase | $0.99 | one-time |
| One-time Purchase | $2.99 | one-time |
| One-time Purchase | $4.99 | one-time |
| One-time Purchase | $6.99 | one-time |
| One-time Purchase | $9.99 | one-time |
| One-time Purchase | $12.99 | one-time |
| One-time Purchase | $19.99 | one-time |
| One-time Purchase | $24.99 | one-time |
| One-time Purchase | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good stories
- 🚀 Engaging content

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Subscription issues
- 🔒 Lack of customer support response
- 💡 Need for user login and cross-device access

**Reported bugs**

- Subscription balance issues
- Inability to restore subscription on another device

**Requested features**

- User login option
- Ability to access content across devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VBIC free?

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

### Is Shortical free?

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

### Which has better reviews, VBIC or Shortical?

VBIC is rated higher. VBIC averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Shortical averages 4.7 from 57K ratings.

### Do VBIC or Shortical have ads?

Shortical shows ads; VBIC does not.

### Which is updated more often, VBIC or Shortical?

VBIC ships an update every 10 days, and Shortical weekly. Most recently, VBIC was updated on October 7, 2026 and Shortical on October 30, 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.*