The paid VRChat Plus subscription provides extra features such as more slots for "favorite" avatars, profile pictures, and the ability to attach an in-game photo to an invite request.

[7][8][9][10] Creating avatars and worlds is an involved process using external tools; they are uploaded by users of a Unity software development kit released alongside VRChat.

VRChat is also available as a native app for Android-based standalone headsets, including Meta Quest, Pico 4,[25] and HTC Vive XR Elite.

[29] The Android version was initially released in a closed alpha for VRChat Plus subscribers on August 18, 2023, and is compatible with content built for Android-based headsets.

[4] After an initial wave of viral popularity upon its release, the platform saw a steady increase in concurrent users with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and direct quarantine policies.

[37] The service reported a record of over 24,000 concurrent users over the Halloween weekend (with over half using it on a VR platform), spurred by holiday events and the recent release of the Oculus Quest 2.

These users, called mutes in a non-derogatory context, have meaningful social interactions through expressive body language or writing and are unlikely to speak even when asked repeatedly.

[40][41][42] The platform has attracted various music-oriented communities and events; dancers have leveraged full-body tracking support to give virtual performances and classes within VRChat, including ballet, breaking, and pole dance.

One club—Loner Online—was noted by an NME writer for its attention to detail in recreating an underground club experience (with the Akihabara nightclub Mogra cited by its developers as an influence), right down to having bathroom stalls.

[47] On December 31, 2020, Jarre presented a second virtual concert for New Year's Eve, "Welcome to the Other Side", which was broadcast across other radio, television, and online platforms from outside of the Notre-Dame cathedral, and featured an interactive companion experience on VRChat, taking place in a world recreating its interior.

[48] Users of VRChat are automatically classified into various "trust ranks" based on factors such as the time they spend on the platform, number of friends, and content uploaded.

[51] The players' model and mannerisms originated in a review by YouTuber Gregzilla and Forsen's Twitch stream respectively, in addition to lines from the Ugandan movie Who Killed Captain Alex?

[55] In February 2022, a BBC News report accused the service of not providing enough safeguards to prevent minors from entering worlds that may contain adult themes and interactions.

The announcement specifically cited griefers using mods designed to crash other users out of VRChat sessions, as well as issues with alleged account hijacking.

A spokesperson stated to Motherboard that its introduction of features such as OSC support had "enabled our users to have an entirely new dimension of creativity, as well as the ability to build accessibility tools to fit their needs".