Unlike the Oculus Rift, these 5 VR alternatives won’t break the bank

Image by Maurizio Pesce

If you’re anything like me, you watched the edgy dubstep video for Oculus Rift and tried to stop from drooling all over your screen as you imagined yourself playing one of those games and becoming the lightning-wielding superhero you were always meant to be.

And then you probably checked the price tag and crashed back down to earth.

It is my dream that VR will someday be as fun as my Sims make it look.

US$600 plus tax and shipping is a hefty amount to spend for the virtual reality headset, even if it does come with everything you need to plug it into your PC – sensor, remote, cables, an Xbox One controller, and a free game to start you off. A quick look at the HTC Vive, which includes two wireless controllers, two base stations, link box, and earphones with the headset, put the price at US$800. Since the site was kind enough to estimate my shipping for me, it tacked on US$30 to that total to give me an estimated US$830 price tag before taxes.

I could have sworn I heard my bank account sobbing softly in the distance.

If you’d rather, say, drop half that or even less on a VR headset – or if you want to have your VR through your phone instead of your computer – you might want to look into some of these options before you say goodbye to your dreams of becoming a lightning-wielding, dubstep-dropping virtual beast. You may have your day in the sun yet (so to speak). Here are five of several alternatives that will keep your wallet smiling.

1. Samsung Gear VR

Cost: US$99
Dimensions: 20.19 x 11.64 x 9.26 cm (318g)
Connect: Smartphone (Samsung Galaxy)
Field of View: 96 degrees
Ideal Owner: Thrifty Rift seekers and Team Samsung

If you’re looking for an alternative to Oculus Rift, why not go with Oculus’ own bargain alternative? The Gear VR, which runs on Oculus systems, only costs a sixth of its sibling – just slide your phone in and go. As an added perk, you can get it shipped to you now and not have to wait until July like you would with the Rift.

The catch, though, is that you can only use it with Samsung phones – specifically the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, Galaxy S6 Edge+, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, and the Galaxy Note 5. (The Note 5 and S6 Edge+ may require a software update.) Anything else won’t fit.

All the power comes from your phone, meaning you don’t have to charge the headset, but that also means it can drain your battery, though you can charge your phone through the headset. You may also need to buy additional products to protect your screen from fog.

2. Google Cardboard

3. Freefly VR

4. Razer OSVR