Software Alternatives & Reviews

Second Life VS IMVU

Compare Second Life VS IMVU and see what are their differences

Second Life logo Second Life

Second Life is a virtual reality platform where individuals interact in a virtual world. The software was developed in 2003 by Linden Labs. More than one million people now regularly use the software.

IMVU logo IMVU

IMVU is multiplayer online video game created by ‘IMVU Inc’.
  • Second Life Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-27
  • IMVU Landing page
    Landing page //
    2020-04-05

Second Life videos

SECOND LIFE IN 2020

More videos:

  • Review - Second Life & More: Virtual World Games Are Weird [IMVU, Whirled, Zwinky] | Billiam
  • Review - SECOND LIFE IN 2019

IMVU videos

OMG MY FIRST TIME TRYING IMVU! 💖

More videos:

  • Review - IMVU IS AN AWFUL GAME
  • Review - Second Life & More: Virtual World Games Are Weird [IMVU, Whirled, Zwinky] | Billiam
  • Review - Jesse Starseed: How I Ended Up On IMVU

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Second Life and IMVU)
Virtual Worlds
65 65%
35% 35
Virtual Reality
65 65%
35% 35
Games
63 63%
37% 37
Social & Communications
48 48%
52% 52

User comments

Share your experience with using Second Life and IMVU. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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  1. Jesse Li Starseed avatar
    Jesse Li Starseed
    · almost 2 years ago
    · Reply

    In most virtual worlds, whether on a 2D screen or 3D headset, the platform provides the means, but most of the userbase provides the "content". I am no stranger to 3D virtual. I was on the very first one called Cybertown back in 1999, and I still have my accounts in Second Life and Sansar. To be honest, I had tried IMVU over a decade ago, but it seemed marketed to teens and the younger generation. But it is now 2022, and IMVU has made great strides in the past several years in graphic quality, creator tools (IMVU Studio), and even V-COIN, the first cryptocurrency approved by the SEC for use in virtual worlds and convertable to real life currency. Quality of the content is the most important to me, but especially that of both IMVU and Second Life "avatars", which I have to say "still" greatly surpass most of the avatar looks available in standard 3D VR Headset platforms. The content available for objects, rooms, and outfits, poses, movements, audio and even shadow/shade rendering is leaps and bounds better than it was many years ago, and much more is available in the IMVU Store for purchase. IMVU is now a subsidiary company of "Together Labs", has procured 35 million dollars in venture funding, and was ranked a few years ago as the Best Virtual World Game for Realistic Graphics for 2020 by Lifewire, a prominent tech site. I choose to use IMVU as a platform because it is a very good quality one, both technically and socially, and have developed ways of marketing and streaming music and video to and from online broadcasting sites in conjunction with this platform. There are problems with unscrupulous people (accounts) who try to steal, cheat, scam and hack others, but you are going to find this on any online site that is ripe for the picking. IMVU has made improvements in the past year and a half with this, and their Help and Discussions portion of their website have a wealth of information on how to use their tools and how to protect yourself.

    I recommend - IMVU.

  2. User avatar
    Cyrthulem
    · over 3 years ago
    · Reply

    Imvu has people on there trying to steal other people's credits and such. The people doing that will send you a message to a link that steals your IMVU stuff. I have not had anything like that happen in Second Life since I joined Second Life. Imvu sends you messages about credit sales and other things on sale which you cannot opt-out of. Imvu puts Guest in front of your name and keeps it that way until you use real money to buy a name registration token which lets you get rid of Guest in front of your name. Imvu does not let you change your display name. In other words, the name you choose when you signed up for IMVU is the name you are stuck with unless you buy a name change token or a Premium Name. The stuff in Second Life looks better than what IMVU has.

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Second Life and IMVU

Second Life Reviews

Best Virtual Worlds for Adults – Top 5 Options for 18+ People
You can even create content and get paid by other players, and if you come up with something incredibly unique and famous, you can also win prizes, so your time at Second Life can really pay off in the future.
Top Ten Virtual Worlds for Adults
Second Life is currently the largest virtual world in existence. While it isn’t designed for VR, you can explore the world wearing a Virtual Reality headset. The universe was designed and created by users and people have actually been able to earn a living playing the game. In fact, Ailin Graef (better known by her game-name Anshe Chung) became a millionaire through the real...

IMVU Reviews

  1. Immersiveness and Realism is not always based on the Platform

    In most virtual worlds, whether on a 2D screen or 3D headset, the platform provides the means, but most of the userbase provides the "content". I am no stranger to 3D virtual. I was on the very first one called Cybertown back in 1999, and have accounts in Second Life and Sansar. To be honest, I had tried IMVU over a decade ago, but it seemed marketed to teens and the younger generation. But it is now 2022, and IMVU has made great strides in graphic quality, creator tools (IMVU Studio), and even V-COIN, the first cryptocurrency approved by the SEC for use in virtual worlds and convertable to real life currency. The bottom line though is the quality of the content, but especially that of the IMVU "avatars", which I have to say "still" greatly surpass most of the avatar looks available in standard 3D VR headset platforms. The content available for objects, rooms, and outfits, poses, movements, audio and even shadow/shade rendering is leaps and bounds better than it was many years ago, and much more is available in the IMVU Store for purchase. IMVU is now a subsidiary company of "Together Labs", has procured 35 million dollars in venture funding, and was ranked a few years ago as the Best Virtual World Game for Realistic Graphics for 2020 by Lifewire, a prominent tech site. I choose to use IMVU as a platform because it is a very good quality one, both technically and socially, and have developed ways of marketing and streaming music and video to and from online broadcasting sites in conjunction with this platform.

    🏁 Competitors: Second Life, Sansar, VRChat, Anakin
    👍 Pros:    Quality of content|Ease of use|Large selection of content|Two client platforms available for computer|Phone app|Cryptocurrency|Creator tools|Custom content can be made by users who are creators|Age verification required for adult content (ap)|: free, or paid-subscription vip tier levels|Greeters program|Live chatrooms can have thousands in the room|Furniture (tvs & screens) in live chatrooms can stream audio/video content directly from youtube
    👎 Cons:    Not a true 3d vr world, like vrchat|Not available for 3d vr headset|Limit of 10 avatars in a chatroom, although more can be invited or pulled in

Best Virtual Worlds for Adults – Top 5 Options for 18+ People
When using IMVU, you will be able to make your real-life come true in the virtual world, too, because at first, you will only be able to explore the people around you and the rooms created by people in your surroundings.
Top Ten Virtual Worlds for Adults
IMVU (the name doesn’t stand for anything) is a social networking game that was released in 2004. In it, you create 3D avatars where you can meet new people. This virtual world is best known for its vast virtual goods catalog, which boasts more than 40 million items.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Second Life seems to be a lot more popular than IMVU. While we know about 82 links to Second Life, we've tracked only 1 mention of IMVU. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Second Life mentions (82)

  • Looking for Non-Violent Open World Game
    Have you tries Second life ? Its free or you can pay for it, its kind of like the sims combines with a chatroom and most of the items in it are made by the gamers. You can explore shop for items by buying lindens. Make items its entirely up to you. Would be a good starting point for her as there are people of all ages in it. https://secondlife.com that the link for you to check out. TC Darkguyver. Source: 8 months ago
  • Why are people so try hard in this game?
    I think you're literally looking for Second Life. Source: 11 months ago
  • Some music for you all: Chicane feat. Máire Brennan - Saltwater 2009 (Paul Thomas Remix) (Description in comments)
    Ok, first head over to Official Site | Second Life - Virtual Worlds, Virtual Reality, VR, Avatars, and Free 3D Chat to create your account! Source: 12 months ago
  • In some videogames there has been an option to hang with your friends in a threatre and watch a movie and chatting in voicechat together. Is there something similar for linux where you could get the cinema or gallery experience when watching videos? "multiplayer" would be cool but is not a must.
    Are you talking about Second Life? (Or am I that old...?). Source: about 1 year ago
  • For the price of the subscription, the Replikas could look a lot better
    When you consider other consumer 3D experiences like World of Warcraft or Second Life (both of which had better graphics 20 years ago than Replika has today), it becomes evident that Replika under-delivers. I'm not sure why this is, considering that these other 3D worlds can offer so much more on devices no more powerful than an average smartphone. Source: about 1 year ago
View more

IMVU mentions (1)

  • Alternatives to Everskies
    Games I don't know enough about that can be played in a browser that DON'T have forums or forum-like features: MovieStarPlanet2 (made by the same company as MSP1, so expect it to be just as pay to win and unsafe as the first game) Games I don't know enough about that don't have forums (as far as I'm aware) that you have to download: Habbo Hotel IMVU Hotel Hideaway The Sims 4 (it's free and lets you dress up... Source: 11 months ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Second Life and IMVU, you can also consider the following products

VRChat - Create and play in virtual worlds with others

Habbo - Hobbo is also known as ‘Hobbo Hotel’.

Avakin Life - Imagine a virtual world where you, the user, are an integral part of its evolution, where you can...

Movie Star Planet - Movie Star Planet is an Online Virtual World, MMO, and RPG Simulation by MovieStarPlanet.

Onverse - Onverse is game that includes a huge three dimensional world for you to explore.

Vircadia - Vircadia is an open-source and decentralized real-time VR creation platform for university, enterprise, social, and OpenSim users.