Comparison

NPC For Hire vs DnD 5e Encounter Keep

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

Head to head
About

NPC For Hire

This app assists Game Masters in creating and managing non-player characters (NPCs) for their tabletop role-playing games. It generates characters with unique personalities and provides hand-drawn portraits to enhance immersion.

Highlights
  • NPC generation
  • NPC builder
  • NPC management
  • Hand-drawn portraits
  • Story-driven aid
  • Fantasy world immersion
Features
Read full description

NPC For Hire is a story-driven aid for GMs that allows you to generate, build, and manage NPCs paired with beautiful hand-drawn portraits. GMs will be able to spin up a story that is not only compelling, but will immerse players in a fantasy world with ease. NPC For Hire includes a full library of hand-drawn portraits spanning multiple races — all free, no purchases required. Don't know where to start? Generate an NPC and use it as a launching point to craft a unique and memorable personality for your players. Already have an NPC in mind? Head to the builder and whip them up to help your players see the NPC as you do.

About

DnD 5e Encounter Keep

This app helps Dungeon Masters manage Dungeons and Dragons 5e encounters in real-time. It allows for pre-planning battles, inviting players to see stats, and automating combat actions. Features include monster management, encounter generation, and built-in cheatsheets for easier gameplay.

Highlights
  • Real-time encounter management
  • Player and enemy stat tracking
  • Automated attack rolls
  • Built-in monster sheets
  • Custom monster creation
  • Encounter generation
Features
Read full description

Welcome to Encounter Keep, your real-time battle tracker for Dungeons and Dragons 5e. As a Dungeon Master, you can plan your encounters and invite your players to join, enabling you to see each other's stats. With the built-in cheatsheets, monster sheets, and automatic attack system, running encounters has never been easier. Leave the battle management to Encounter Keep, so you can focus on having fun. DESIGN YOUR BATTLES: - Prepare for your next session by creating encounters in advance. - Select a difficulty and add monsters from a vast list of enemies. - Create custom monsters for your epic boss battles. GENERATE ENCOUNTERS: - Automatically generate encounters for different player levels and difficulties. - Support different encounter types: boss fight, boss with minions, horde of monsters etc... - Specify environment and enemy type for a better monster match. INVITE YOUR PLAYERS: - You and your players can see each other's characters in real time. - Roll for initiative and control the encounter as you want. - Check your players' character sheets as they update their HP and other stats. MANAGE ENEMIES: - Streamline the encounter with automated enemy attack rolls. - Access built-in detailed info sheets for hundreds of monsters. - Quickly manage the enemies, tracking their hit points, armour class, and other stats during the fight. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula

Screenshots

NPC For Hire4 screens
DnD 5e Encounter Keep4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: DnD 5e Encounter Keep at none against NPC For Hire's 13. DnD 5e Encounter Keep also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 76%) and iOS requirement (12.4 vs 15.1). NPC For Hire's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (81 vs 2). On price, rating, update cadence and device support 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. NPC For Hire sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. DnD 5e Encounter Keep asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

DnD 5e Encounter Keep holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NPC For Hire has 81 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of NPC For Hire's written reviews are positive against 100% of DnD 5e Encounter Keep's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NPC For Hire ships an update every 3 months, DnD 5e Encounter Keep every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
NPC For Hire versus DnD 5e Encounter Keep: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNPC For HireDnD 5e Encounter Keep
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (81 ratings)4.5 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.6% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings81 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.112.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size75 MB26 MB
Age rating12+9+
DeveloperKnights of Vasteel LLCFanni Putnoczki

Customer experience

NPC For Hire

All ratings79 ratings
Positive81.0%
Neutral11.4%
Negative7.6%
Written reviews45 reviews
Positive75.6%
Neutral15.6%
Negative8.9%

DnD 5e Encounter Keep

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

NPC For Hire

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • 🐛 Purchased packs won't download
  • 🐛 Download promise timing out
  • 🐛 App locked to portrait mode on iPad
  • 🐛 Cannot write down stats
  • 🐛 Downloading custom pictures not working with standard photo files

Requested features

21 requests
  • More job/occupation options
  • More details like race/basic stats
  • Landscape orientation support for iPads
  • Export as PDF or other formats
  • Ability to save photos for reuse within the app
Show 16 more
  • Filter by race during random generation
  • Option to create custom 'jobs'
  • More free character photos
  • Discounted 'purchase all' option
  • More racial diversity in initial packs
  • More unique 'legends' or customized content per pack
  • Integration of stats, actions, and features (like 5e)
  • Ability to delete custom images
  • Alphabetical order for groups
  • Dark Sun themed NPCs
  • More color images
  • More races and characters
  • More depth: mannerisms, talents, flaws, traits
  • Option to add NPCs under a tag directly from random screen
  • Import own images/portraits
  • Print function

DnD 5e Encounter Keep

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

13 purchases

NPC For Hire

One-time13
  • Angels and Demons$0.99
  • Forest of Natlan$0.99
  • Deep Caverns$0.99
Show 10 more
  • Diplomacy$0.99
  • Dragon Folk$0.99
  • Elves of Ilfelin$0.99
  • Heritage of Stone$0.99
  • Houses of Dimlodir$0.99
  • Leaders of the Occult$0.99
  • Lost Hills$0.99
  • Tales of Horror$0.99
  • The Call of Adventure$0.99
  • Thieves Guild$0.99
None

DnD 5e Encounter Keep

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is NPC For Hire free?
NPC For Hire is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is DnD 5e Encounter Keep free?
DnD 5e Encounter Keep is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, NPC For Hire or DnD 5e Encounter Keep?
DnD 5e Encounter Keep is rated higher. NPC For Hire averages 4.3 out of 5 from 81 ratings, while DnD 5e Encounter Keep averages 4.5 from 2 ratings.
Do NPC For Hire or DnD 5e Encounter Keep have ads?
DnD 5e Encounter Keep shows ads; NPC For Hire does not.
Which is updated more often, NPC For Hire or DnD 5e Encounter Keep?
NPC For Hire ships an update every 3 months, and DnD 5e Encounter Keep every 2 months. Most recently, NPC For Hire was updated on October 21, 2026 and DnD 5e Encounter Keep on October 7, 2026.

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