# Cartographer vs Samwise

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Samwise at 100% against Cartographer's 34%. Samwise also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.2) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 weeks). Cartographer's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Cartographer sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and Samwise sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Samwise holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 27 and 10 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 34% of Cartographer's written reviews are positive against 100% of Samwise's.

Cartographer ships an update every 2 weeks, Samwise every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cartographer | Samwise |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (27 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cartographer-rpg-world-maker/id1125792703/reviews) | **[5.0 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/samwise-rpg-assistant/id1663948907/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **27** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | 34.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 102 MB | 115 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Alexander Winn](https://appshunter.io/developer/652547902) | [Estudio Pirilampo Mestre - Empresa de Desenvolvimento de Software Ltda](https://appshunter.io/developer/1561022049) |

## What reviewers say

### Cartographer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cartographer-rpg-world-maker/id1125792703)

Create custom maps for fantasy worlds, alien landscapes, and imaginary realms. Easily generate diverse terrains and adjust geographical features like sea levels and landmasses. Offers professional-looking styles for writers and RPG players.

**Highlights:** Custom map generation, Landscape customization, Adjustable sea level, Terrain transformation, Custom map styles, Random world creation

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Mode | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pro Mode | $1.99 | one-time |
| Pro Mode | $2.99 | one-time |
| Pro Mode | $3.99 | one-time |
| Pro Mode | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎲 Random map generation is creative and useful
- 💰 Free version available with basic functionality
- 🎨 Good for world-building inspiration and brainstorming
- ⚡ Quick and easy map generation
- 🎯 Helpful for D&D campaigns and fantasy writing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🚫 Extremely limited editing capabilities
- 💸 Aggressive monetization and paywall
- 🔍 Cannot view full map or zoom in/out
- 🎨 Low resolution output quality
- ❌ Cannot draw or place custom elements

**Reported bugs**

- 3D viewer has no interactive controls
- Cannot save 3D planet visualization
- Map visualization loads as blank or partial
- Sea level adjustments sometimes don't work properly
- Sliders behave unpredictably

**Requested features**

- Manual terrain editing and drawing tools
- Ability to add mountains, valleys, lakes, and rivers
- Place structures, buildings, towns, and landmarks
- Different map projections (Mercator, Robinson, etc.)
- Globe rotation and interactive 3D controls


### Samwise

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/samwise-rpg-assistant/id1663948907)

This platform helps you create, manage, and play tabletop role-playing games. It offers tools for building custom RPG systems, interactive maps, and real-time chat for remote or in-person play. Enjoy a paperless gaming experience with seamless syncing across devices.

**Highlights:** Create custom RPG systems, Interactive map builder, Real-time chat and dice rolls, Campaign note-taking, Cross-device syncing, Community content library

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Legendary Edition Offer (Monthly) | $2.99 | per month |
| Legendary Edition (Monthly) | $4.99 | per month |
| Legendary Edition Offer (Yearly) | $23.99 | per year |
| Legendary Edition (Yearly) | $47.99 | per year |
| LIFETIME Legendary Edition | $59.99 | one-time |
| LIFETIME Legendary Edition | $79.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cartographer free?

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

### Is Samwise free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Cartographer or Samwise?

Samwise is rated higher. Cartographer averages 4.2 out of 5 from 27 ratings, while Samwise averages 5.0 from 10 ratings.

### Do Cartographer or Samwise have ads?

Samwise shows ads; Cartographer does not.

### Which is updated more often, Cartographer or Samwise?

Cartographer ships an update every 2 weeks, and Samwise every 4 days. Most recently, Cartographer was updated on October 24, 2026 and Samwise on October 27, 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.*