Comparison

VirtualFriend vs Vactrex

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

Head to head
About

VirtualFriend

Experience classic Nintendo Virtual Boy games in true 3D on Apple Vision Pro and iOS. This open-source emulator allows you to explore the entire official library and homebrew titles with customizable color palettes and flexible control options.

Highlights
  • 3D Virtual Boy experience
  • Explore official and homebrew libraries
  • Customizable color palettes
  • Flexible control options (touchscreen, controller, keyboard)
  • 3D title screen previews
Features
Read full description

VirtualFriend: A new, open source Nintendo Virtual Boy emulator Relive the unique red-and-black world of Nintendo's most ambitious '90s console. Whether you're experiencing these classics for the first time or revisiting fond memories, VirtualFriend delivers the definitive Virtual Boy experience on Apple Vision Pro and iOS devices. Experience the Virtual Boy in high fidelity 3D on the Apple Vision Pro, or play on the go on iOS. - Explore the entire official library of Virtual Boy titles and the most popular homebrew with provided metadata and 3D title screen previews - Tired of red and black? Adjust the display's color palette between a series of presets, or choose your own colors - Play using flexible controls; either touchscreen, controller, or keyboard VirtualFriend is open source and available under the MIT license. Join the community, contribute back, or simply ask questions at https://github.com/agg23/virtualfriend Disclaimer: VirtualFriend is an independently developed, free, open source emulator. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Nintendo Co., Ltd. in any way. "Nintendo" and "Virtual Boy" are trademarks of Nintendo Co., Ltd. All rights reserved to their respective owners.

About

Vactrex

Experience the classic Vectrex vector-graphics console on your mobile device. This emulator meticulously recreates the original hardware's analog display, including phosphor glow and beam tracing. Bring your own legally obtained game cartridges to play a wide library of retro titles.

Highlights
  • Authentic vector display simulation
  • Cycle-accurate processor emulation
  • Accurate sound and timing
  • Bring your own ROMs and cartridges
  • Organize games with folders
  • Adjustable on-screen controls
  • Game controller support
Features
Read full description

Vactrex is an emulator for the 1982 vectrex vector-graphics console — the one with a real CRT that drew lines directly with an electron beam instead of pixels. It comes with Star Stomper, an original vector game written for it, so there is something to play the moment you open the app. THE DISPLAY IS THE POINT Most emulators of this machine draw approximations. Vactrex models the analog hardware: the digital-to-analog converter, the sample-and-hold channels, the X and Y integrators, and the beam-blanking signal. Every line you see was traced by a simulated beam, the same way the original did it — including the dots that make up bullets, mines and explosions, which are drawn by parking the beam and lighting it in place. Phosphor persistence and glow are rendered on the GPU, so bright objects bloom and fading trails linger, the way they do on the real tube. ACCURATE UNDERNEATH - Cycle-accurate MC6809 processor - 6522 VIA timers, shift register and port emulation - AY-3-8912 sound with correct tone, noise and envelope generation - Emulated time paced against the real clock, so games run at their true speed, including slowing down exactly where the original did when a scene has more to draw BRING YOUR OWN CARTRIDGES Star Stomper is included and needs nothing. To play the rest of the library you supply your own, legally obtained: an 8 KB system ROM, and any cartridge files you own. Connect your device and open it in Finder, or use the Files app. Drop cartridge files into the Vactrex folder and they appear in your library — no import step, no hidden storage, your own filenames kept. Organise them into subfolders if you like. Delete a file and the game disappears. ZIP archives work too, so files from an existing collection can go straight in without unpacking. Identical files are recognised as one game, however they are named. The app validates what you give it and tells you plainly if a file will not work, rather than failing later. CONTROLS On-screen controls sit over the game, with adjustable size and opacity. Volume and mute are in settings. Game controllers are supported. MFi, Xbox and PlayStation pads pair through iOS Bluetooth settings and are picked up automatically — and because the original console had an analog stick, an analog pad maps straight onto it. PRIVACY No accounts, no analytics, no network access, no data collected. Nothing leaves your device.

Screenshots

VirtualFriend4 screens
Vactrex4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: VirtualFriend at Free against Vactrex's $2.99. Vactrex's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 24 months). On review sentiment, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

VirtualFriend is free to download; Vactrex costs $2.99 up front. VirtualFriend sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Vactrex asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

VirtualFriend ships an update every 24 months, Vactrex every 5 days. Both last shipped on October 14, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
VirtualFriend versus Vactrex: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVirtualFriendVactrex
PriceFree — better$2.99
Rating4.8 (20 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews95.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings20 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 24 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAdam GastineauJavier Sandoval

Customer experience

VirtualFriend

All ratings20 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews20 reviews
Positive95.0%
Neutral5.0%
Negative0.0%

Vactrex

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

VirtualFriend

One-time4
  • Small Tip$0.99
  • Medium Tip$2.99
  • Large Tip$4.99
Show 1 more
  • Extra Large Tip$9.99
None

Vactrex

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is VirtualFriend free?
VirtualFriend is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Vactrex free?
Vactrex costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do VirtualFriend or Vactrex have ads?
Neither VirtualFriend nor Vactrex shows ads.
Which is updated more often, VirtualFriend or Vactrex?
VirtualFriend ships an update every 24 months, and Vactrex every 5 days. Most recently, VirtualFriend was updated on October 14, 2026 and Vactrex on October 14, 2026.

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