# Garmin VIRB vs Bluetooth Remote for GoPro®

The clearest difference is rating: Bluetooth Remote for GoPro® at 4.0 against Garmin VIRB's 1.9. Bluetooth Remote for GoPro® also leads on ratings volume (619 vs 205). Garmin VIRB's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.2). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bluetooth Remote for GoPro® sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Garmin VIRB asks for nothing beyond the download.

Bluetooth Remote for GoPro® holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 1.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 205 and 619 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 16% of Garmin VIRB's written reviews are positive against 21% of Bluetooth Remote for GoPro®'s.

Garmin VIRB ships an update monthly, Bluetooth Remote for GoPro® every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Garmin VIRB | Bluetooth Remote for GoPro® |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.9 (205 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garmin-virb/id723092894/reviews) | **[4.0 (619 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bluetooth-remote-for-gopro/id1553411394/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 205 | **619** |
| Positive reviews | 16.3% of reviews | **20.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 152 MB | 91 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Garmin](https://appshunter.io/developer/411046952) | [Harald Meyer](https://appshunter.io/developer/389514018) |

## What reviewers say

### Garmin VIRB

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/garmin-virb/id723092894)

Control and manage your Garmin VIRB action cameras, including the VIRB 360. Playback, edit, and share your footage, or even live stream directly from your mobile device. Features include remote control, live viewfinder, and advanced editing tools.

**Highlights:** Remote camera control, Live viewfinder, Video editing, 360 video playback and editing, Live streaming, G-Metrix data overlays, Multi-camera control

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great app for Garmin dashcam
- 👍 Works well with dashcam
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes frequently
- 🐛 Connectivity issues with dashcam
- 🐛 Unreliable and unstable
- 🐛 Doesn't work with newer iOS versions
- 🐛 Slow video transfer speeds

**Reported bugs**

- App doesn't detect dashcam
- Can't connect to dashcam via WiFi
- Crashes when trying to view videos
- Dashcam footage not showing up in app

**Requested features**

- Live video preview
- Ability to view and download videos directly
- Improved video editing features
- Better compatibility with wider range of dashcams


### Bluetooth Remote for GoPro®

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bluetooth-remote-for-gopro/id1553411394)

Control multiple GoPro cameras simultaneously using low energy Bluetooth. Start/stop recording, tag moments, manage settings, and monitor camera status remotely. Offers advanced features like live preview and media download for enhanced shooting experiences.

**Highlights:** Start/stop recording via Bluetooth, Tag moments, Set camera date and time, Power off camera, Locate camera, Show camera state, Control multiple cameras simultaneously

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Activate all features | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great app to control GoPro cameras
- 👍 Reliable connection and control
- 💡 Useful features like spot metering

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent connection issues
- 🤔 Confusing setup and instructions
- 💰 Paywall for full functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Doesn't work with older GoPro models
- Live preview lags or doesn't work
- Unexpected charges or billing issues

**Requested features**

- Apple Watch app for remote control
- Ability to rename cameras
- Improved UI and organization


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Garmin VIRB free?

Garmin VIRB is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Bluetooth Remote for GoPro® free?

Bluetooth Remote for GoPro® is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Garmin VIRB or Bluetooth Remote for GoPro®?

Bluetooth Remote for GoPro® is rated higher. Garmin VIRB averages 1.9 out of 5 from 205 ratings, while Bluetooth Remote for GoPro® averages 4.0 from 619 ratings.

### Do Garmin VIRB or Bluetooth Remote for GoPro® have ads?

Neither Garmin VIRB nor Bluetooth Remote for GoPro® shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Garmin VIRB or Bluetooth Remote for GoPro®?

Garmin VIRB ships an update monthly, and Bluetooth Remote for GoPro® every 3 weeks. Most recently, Garmin VIRB was updated on November 6, 2026 and Bluetooth Remote for GoPro® on November 7, 2026.

---

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