AR/VR & Metaverse · head to head
SteamVR vs Bigscreen
SteamVR
AR/VR & Metaverse
Ultimate VR platform for PC gaming and experiences
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- They diverge on capability: SteamVR covers Room-scale tracking, Bigscreen covers Virtual theaters.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which SteamVR and Bigscreen actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (AR/VR & Metaverse).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in SteamVR
- Room-scale tracking
- Lighthouse tracking
- Multi-headset support
- VR compositor
- Steam Store
- OpenXR
- Valve Index
- Windows support
Only in Bigscreen
- Virtual theaters
- Social viewing
- Desktop streaming
- 3D movies
- Pluto TV
- Paramount+
- Desktop apps
- Quest support
Both cover
- Vr support
- Pc support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
SteamVR
- VR Gaming
- AR Marketing
- Virtual Training
- 3D Visualization
- Immersive Experiences
Bigscreen
- VR Gaming
- AR Marketing
- Virtual Training
- 3D Visualization
- Immersive Experiences
Both are used for vr gaming, ar marketing, virtual training, 3d visualization, immersive experiences, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
SteamVR
- Platform performance does not scale well on non-Valve Index headsets
- Automatic benchmark sets visual clarity limits that cannot be manually adjusted
- Capricious software prone to tracking hiccups and overlay issues
- Requires connected router and network access for multiplayer functionality
Bigscreen
Nothing recorded yet. See the Bigscreen review.
Pricing, plan by plan
SteamVR
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the SteamVR review.
Bigscreen
Free- FreeFree
- Social viewing
- Private rooms
- Desktop streaming
Which should you pick?
Choose SteamVR if
- You need room-scale tracking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows PC, Valve Index, HTC Vive, Windows Mixed Reality.
- You also want lighthouse tracking.
Choose Bigscreen if
- You need virtual theaters.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Vr, Pc, Quest, Psvr.
- You also want social viewing.
Questions people ask
- Is SteamVR or Bigscreen better?
- Neither clearly leads. SteamVR starts at Free and Bigscreen at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, SteamVR or Bigscreen?
- SteamVR starts at Free and Bigscreen at Free.
- Does SteamVR or Bigscreen run on more platforms?
- SteamVR runs on Windows PC, Valve Index, HTC Vive, Windows Mixed Reality. Bigscreen runs on Vr, Pc, Quest, Psvr.
- Can I use SteamVR for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is SteamVR best used for?
- SteamVR is most often used for vr gaming, ar marketing, virtual training, 3d visualization.
- What can SteamVR do that Bigscreen cannot?
- SteamVR covers Room-scale tracking, Lighthouse tracking, Multi-headset support, VR compositor. Bigscreen covers Virtual theaters, Social viewing, Desktop streaming, 3D movies. Both handle Vr support, Pc support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
SteamVR: Is SteamVR free?
Yes, SteamVR is free to download and use. You only need the Steam desktop application installed to access it.
SourceSteamVR: What headsets work with SteamVR?
SteamVR supports Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Windows Mixed Reality headsets, and other compatible devices.
SourceSteamVR: Can I play SteamVR games on Meta Quest?
Yes, Meta Quest 2, 3, and Pro can wirelessly stream SteamVR games using Steam Link, which requires a 5GHz WiFi network and minimum RTX2070 GPU on your PC.
Source