Comparison

Encounter+ Virtual Tabletop vs Construct for 5e

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Encounter+ Virtual Tabletop

This app empowers Game Masters to run immersive tabletop RPG sessions. It offers tools for tracking player stats, managing encounters, and utilizing battle maps with various customization options. Enhance your game with features like initiative tracking, a random encounter generator, and support for multiple RPG systems.

Highlights
  • Support for multiple RPG systems
  • Initiative, health, and condition tracking
  • Random encounter generator
  • Battle map tools with Fog of War
  • Dice roller and roll tables
  • Content import/export
  • External display support
Features
Read full description

Encounter+ is a system-agnostic virtual tabletop and toolkit for Game Masters. Download game-system packages for D&D 5e, Daggerheart, Pathfinder and other tabletop RPGs from the in-app public repository. Track initiative and hit points, look up monsters and spells, and run battle maps with fog of war, line of sight and dynamic lighting on iPad and iPhone. Start free with initiative tracking, encounter building, campaigns, a searchable library and dice rolls. Unlock battle maps with a one-time purchase, or subscribe to Premium for battle maps, remote play and animated effects. No ads, ever. Free Features: • Downloadable game-system packages from the in-app public repository • D&D 5e and Daggerheart packages include system definitions and System Reference Document (SRD) content • Pathfinder package includes the system definition only • Initiative, health, experience, and condition tracking • Random encounter generator and difficulty calculator • Searchable library for monsters, magic items, spells and your own content • Bookmarks, quick search, and customizable shortcuts • Campaigns, modules and asset packs • Rich page content editor • Dice roller and roll tables • Content import/export • iPad Multitasking, split screen, and drag & drop • External display support via AirPlay • No ads—ever Battle Maps — One-Time Purchase: • Tokens, auras, tiles, and spell areas of effect • Square, hex, and custom grid options • Fog of War and dynamic lighting, with bright and dim lights, token vision and multiple wall types • Apple Pencil drawing tools • Animated video backgrounds Premium — Optional Subscription: • Includes all Battle Map features while subscribed • 3D dice roller with multiple themes and styles • Animated tiles, auras, and spell effects • Weather effects including rain, snow, and fog • Built‑in web server with Remote Play Information about subscriptions: • Eligible subscribers can try Premium free for one week. • Any unused portion of a free trial, if offered, is forfeited when you purchase a subscription. • Payment will be charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. • Your subscription automatically renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period. • Premium features remain available while your monthly or yearly subscription is active. • Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period. • You can manage or cancel your subscription in your App Store account settings. • Read our terms of service (https://encounter.plus/terms) and privacy policy (https://encounter.plus/privacy-policy) for more information.

About

Construct for 5e

This app assists Dungeon Masters in running Dungeons & Dragons sessions by helping them build and track encounters, including initiative, monster HP, and conditions. It offers a clean interface to manage session details, allowing DMs to focus on the story and players. All monsters and spells from the SRD 5.1 are included.

Highlights
  • Build and track encounters
  • Manage initiative
  • Track monster HP and conditions
  • Includes SRD 5.1 monsters and spells
  • Open source development
Features
Read full description

Construct is the easy to use companion app for Dungeon Masters of D&D, the greatest table top role playing game. It helps you build & track encounters including initiative, monster hp, conditions and more.  With its clean design, Construct is the perfect DM side-kick during sessions. Let it track encounter details, so you can keep your eyes on the players and your mind on the story. Construct comes with all monsters and spells from the SRD 5.1, licensed under the Open Gaming License. Construct is open source. Follow along with the development at https://github.com/Thomvis/Construct.

Screenshots

Encounter+ Virtual Tabletop4 screens
Construct for 5e4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Construct for 5e at 4.6 against Encounter+ Virtual Tabletop's 4.3. Encounter+ Virtual Tabletop's advantage is ratings volume (566 vs 46) and review sentiment (75% vs 64%). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Encounter+ Virtual Tabletop sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Construct for 5e sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Construct for 5e holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Encounter+ Virtual Tabletop has 566 ratings behind it against 46, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of Encounter+ Virtual Tabletop's written reviews are positive against 64% of Construct for 5e's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Encounter+ Virtual Tabletop ships an update monthly, Construct for 5e every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Encounter+ Virtual Tabletop versus Construct for 5e: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEncounter+ Virtual TabletopConstruct for 5e
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (566 ratings)4.6 (46 ratings) — better
Positive reviews74.6% of reviews — better64.3% of reviews
Number of ratings566 — better46
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.618.6
Further details — not scored
Size132 MB36 MB
Age rating9+12+
DeveloperQBITThomas Visser

Customer experience

Encounter+ Virtual Tabletop

All ratings566 ratings
Positive83.4%
Neutral5.1%
Negative11.5%
Written reviews240 reviews
Positive74.6%
Neutral9.2%
Negative16.3%

Construct for 5e

All ratings43 ratings
Positive90.7%
Neutral2.3%
Negative7.0%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive64.3%
Neutral14.3%
Negative21.4%

Bugs and requests

Encounter+ Virtual Tabletop

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Map display issues on external screens
  • Inconsistent behavior after updates
  • Inability to restore previous purchases

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to duplicate monsters
  • Lair actions for custom monsters
  • Integrated character sheet management
  • Improved map import and editing tools
  • Dice rolling and sound effects

Construct for 5e

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

8 purchases

Encounter+ Virtual Tabletop

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$24.991 Year
One-time6
  • External ScreenFree
  • Small Tip$0.99
  • Medium Tip$2.99
Show 3 more
  • Large Tip$6.99
  • Huge Tip$8.99
  • Battle Map Support$10.99
3 purchases

Construct for 5e

One-time3
  • Small Tip$0.99
  • Medium Tip$4.99
  • Large Tip$9.99

Questions

Is Encounter+ Virtual Tabletop free?
Encounter+ Virtual Tabletop is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Construct for 5e free?
Construct for 5e is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Encounter+ Virtual Tabletop or Construct for 5e?
Construct for 5e is rated higher. Encounter+ Virtual Tabletop averages 4.3 out of 5 from 566 ratings, while Construct for 5e averages 4.6 from 46 ratings.
Do Encounter+ Virtual Tabletop or Construct for 5e have ads?
Neither Encounter+ Virtual Tabletop nor Construct for 5e shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Encounter+ Virtual Tabletop or Construct for 5e?
Encounter+ Virtual Tabletop ships an update monthly, and Construct for 5e every 3 weeks. Most recently, Encounter+ Virtual Tabletop was updated on October 2, 2026 and Construct for 5e on September 22, 2026.

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