# VirtuPet vs Pathlings

The clearest difference is monetization model: Pathlings at free against VirtuPet's freemium. Pathlings also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks) and rating (4.5 vs 4.3). VirtuPet's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 88%). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. VirtuPet sells 8 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.

Pathlings holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 8 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of VirtuPet's written reviews are positive against 88% of Pathlings's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

VirtuPet ships an update every 3 weeks, Pathlings weekly. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | VirtuPet | Pathlings |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/virtupet-walking-pet-game/id6757349837/reviews) | **[4.5 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pathlings-step-tracker-game/id6785328555/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **8** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 87.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 483 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-walking-pet-game/id6757349837)

This app transforms your daily steps into a virtual pet game. Walk to keep your digital companion healthy, hatch eggs found on a map, and collect over 100 unique animals. Compete with friends and complete quests to earn rewards.

**Highlights:** Step tracking integration, Virtual pet care, Egg hatching and collection, Map-based egg discovery, Friend leaderboards and challenges, Daily quests and rewards, Home screen widget

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 4.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Pathlings averages 4.5 from 8 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 every 3 weeks, and Pathlings weekly. Most recently, VirtuPet was updated on November 5, 2026 and Pathlings on November 5, 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.*