# Google Cardboard vs iVRy

The clearest difference is review sentiment: iVRy at 72% against Google Cardboard's 27%. iVRy also leads on rating (3.9 vs 2.7) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). Google Cardboard's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (679 vs 153). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. iVRy sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Google Cardboard asks for nothing beyond the download.

iVRy holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 2.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 679 and 153 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 27% of Google Cardboard's written reviews are positive against 72% of iVRy's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Google Cardboard | iVRy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.7 (679 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-cardboard/id987962261/reviews) | **[3.9 (153 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ivry/id1210129937/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **679** | 153 |
| Positive reviews | 26.6% of reviews | **72.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 60 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Google](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) | [Ian Dean](https://appshunter.io/developer/1210129936) |

## What reviewers say

### Google Cardboard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-cardboard/id987962261)

Experience virtual reality on your iPhone. This app guides you through setting up a compatible viewer and offers initial immersive experiences to explore.

**Highlights:** VR viewer setup, Introductory VR experiences, iPhone compatibility, Cardboard viewer integration

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great VR experience
- 🎉 Fun and immersive
- 👍 Simulates VR headset well
- 🌟 Awesome for the price

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Spinning/glitching issues on newer iPhones
- 🤕 Can cause motion sickness
- 📺 Limited content/demos
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate/interact

**Reported bugs**

- Constant spinning/shaking on some devices
- Crashes and freezes on launch
- Incompatibility with certain VR headsets

**Requested features**

- More VR games and interactive experiences
- Ability to view own photos/videos in VR
- Support for newer iOS versions
- Improved navigation and controls


### iVRy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ivry/id1210129937)

Transform your iPhone into a PC VR headset for SteamVR. Play PC VR titles without an expensive headset by connecting your iPhone via USB or Wi-Fi. Enjoy customizable quality and performance options for an immersive experience.

**Highlights:** SteamVR compatible VR headset, High-performance native driver, Wired (USB) and Wireless (Wi-Fi) connections, Automatic quality adjustment, User configurable quality and performance, QR code scanning for lens correction, Native SteamVR integration

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Edition | $8.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent value for affordable VR experience
- 👍 Easy setup and installation process
- 🎮 Works seamlessly with SteamVR games
- 📱 USB wired connection with low latency
- ⚙️ Highly customizable settings (resolution, quality, tracking rate)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent disconnection issues (WiFi and USB)
- 🐛 App crashes after 5 minutes in free version
- 🐛 Screen flickering and flashing lights
- ⚠️ Wireless connection unstable and laggy
- ⚠️ Wired connection frequently drops

**Reported bugs**

- Screen turns black and white unexpectedly
- App crashes after 5 minutes of use
- Flashing lights and screen glitches
- WiFi/USB connection switching automatically
- Connection drops during gameplay

**Requested features**

- Mac OS support
- VR controller support
- Full body tracking (FBT) integration
- Higher resolution options
- 120Hz support for compatible phones


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Google Cardboard free?

Google Cardboard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is iVRy free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Google Cardboard or iVRy?

iVRy is rated higher. Google Cardboard averages 2.7 out of 5 from 679 ratings, while iVRy averages 3.9 from 153 ratings.

### Do Google Cardboard or iVRy have ads?

Neither Google Cardboard nor iVRy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Google Cardboard or iVRy?

Google Cardboard ships an update every 3 months, and iVRy every 3 months. Most recently, Google Cardboard was updated on October 23, 2026 and iVRy on October 24, 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.*