# VirtuPet vs Pathlings

The clearest difference is monetization model: Pathlings at free against VirtuPet's free with in-app purchases. Pathlings also leads on update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly). VirtuPet's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 88%). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. VirtuPet sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and Pathlings sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for VirtuPet against 4.6 for Pathlings. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 9 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of VirtuPet's written reviews are positive against 88% of Pathlings's.

VirtuPet ships an update fortnightly, Pathlings weekly. Both last shipped on November 15, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | VirtuPet | Pathlings |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/virtupet-step-counter-pet/id6757349837/reviews) | **[4.6 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pathlings-step-tracker-game/id6785328555/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **9** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 87.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 520 MB | 249 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.6** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MONTEL ANTHONY NEVERS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1855098153) | [Dave Mohan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1893202959) |

## What reviewers say

### VirtuPet

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/virtupet-step-counter-pet/id6757349837)

This app transforms your daily walks into an engaging game by linking your step count to the well-being of a virtual pet. Discover and hatch a variety of creatures, collect them, and compete with friends while staying active.

**Highlights:** Step tracking for pet health, Map-based egg discovery, Hatch and collect 101 animals, Maintain daily step streaks, Walk with friends and leaderboards, Daily quests and in-game currency

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VirtuPet Premium Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| VirtuPet: Premium - Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| VirtuPet: Premium - Annual | $79.99 | per year |
| Scout Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| 1000 Paw Coins | $2.99 | one-time |
| Ranger Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| 2500 Paw Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| Naturalist Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Curator Pack | $19.99 | one-time |


### Pathlings

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pathlings-step-tracker-game/id6785328555)

This app transforms your daily steps into a gentle adventure with a virtual companion. Nurture your unique buddy, unlock new stages of growth, and complete daily quests to build a consistent routine. Goals are customizable to fit your lifestyle, making fitness fun and private.

**Highlights:** Virtual companion with unique personalities, Daily step-based adventures and quests, Unlockable growth stages and rewards, Customizable step goals, Collect in-game items, Private and ad-free experience

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 500 Rubies | $0.99 | one-time |
| 1,200 Rubies | $1.99 | one-time |
| 3,000 Rubies | $4.99 | one-time |
| 6,500 Rubies | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VirtuPet free?

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

### Is Pathlings free?

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

### Which has better reviews, VirtuPet or Pathlings?

Pathlings is rated higher. VirtuPet averages 4.5 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Pathlings averages 4.6 from 9 ratings.

### Do VirtuPet or Pathlings have ads?

Neither VirtuPet nor Pathlings shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, VirtuPet or Pathlings?

VirtuPet ships an update fortnightly, and Pathlings weekly. Most recently, VirtuPet was updated on November 15, 2026 and Pathlings on November 15, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*