Comparison

D&D Beyond vs Samwise

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

Head to head
About

D&D Beyond

Manage your Dungeons & Dragons characters, access your digital library of adventures and sourcebooks, and roll dice with a built-in dice roller. This app provides offline access to your content and tools to make gameplay faster and more convenient for players and Dungeon Masters alike.

Highlights
  • Digital character sheets
  • Built-in dice roller
  • Offline library access
  • Guided character creator
  • Monster stat lookup
  • Spell and item management
Features
Read full description

Make your Dungeons & Dragons fifth edition games faster, easier, and more fun wherever your fantasy role-playing adventures lead with the free D&D Beyond app! Never enter a D&D campaign without your character sheet - access all your characters online or offline, roll using the built-in dice roller and be ready for skill checks, attack rolls, saving throws, or whatever twists & monsters your DM throws at you. Manage health and spell slots, access your equipment, and know your proficiencies from the palm of your hand. Access all your Dungeons & Dragons content anywhere you go-adventures, sourcebooks, and more are at your fingertips. Forgot your favorite 20-sided die? Roll directly in the app and crit in style with themed digital dice sets. * Start playing D&D fast with premade characters from Baldur's Gate 3 and Lost Mine of Phandelver or use our Guided Character Creator * Use your D&D character sheets, spells, and stats on the go * Save time with the built-in dice roller to roll any D20, D100, D12, D10, D8, D6 & D4s - we do the math! * Pull up monster stats like owlbears, dragons, or mimics or others seen in movies such as Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves * Offline access to your library--never miss your books, even in areas without wifi * Bookmarks and Search so you can find the rules, spells, items, and monsters when you need them! * Great for beginners, regular players, and seasoned Dungeon Masters * Easy to use digital tools used on shows like Critical Role More features coming soon! Check back for updates. Find us on Discord, X, Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest: @dndbeyond or @wizards_dnd Watch us: https://www.twitch.tv/dndbeyond or https://www.youtube.com/c/dndbeyond D&D Beyond is the official digital toolset and tabletop game companion for Dungeons & Dragons from Wizards of the Coast. Learn more at http://www.dndbeyond.com https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Samwise

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
Read full description

Life is better with good friendships and great adventures! ——— MEET SAMWISE Every part of Samwise is made to help your sessions flow smoothly, with an intuitive, organized, and responsive design that stays clean and uncluttered, no matter the size of your campaign. ——— WHEREVER YOU GO Start on one device, continue on another. Samwise is fully featured across all your devices: if something happens to your phone or computer, just sign in on another one. Everything is saved online and synced in real time. ——— CREATE YOUR OWN TABLETOP RPGs Use a powerful and intuitive editor to create sheets, rulebooks, characters, classes, and more — all without writing a single line of code. And if you want to jump straight into adventure, play D&D and many other RPGs available at the Emporium, including community-made systems. ——— RALLY THE CLAN Whether in the same room or miles apart, embark on adventures with your friends while Samwise handles the rest. Manage sheets, take campaign notes, roll dice, chat, create interactive maps, and more. ——— MADE WITH LOVE Built to bring people together and spark meaningful connections, Samwise embraces the theatrical spirit and rich interactivity that make Tabletop RPGs so special. And with a green mindset, there's no need for paper and other materials, helping you protect the environment while you play. ——— COMMUNITY-DRIVEN You can play a vital role in shaping Samwise, be it by sharing creations at the Emporium or ideas and feedback on our Discord and Reddit communities (download the app to join them). ——— INTERACTIVE MAPS Quickly build maps from scratch or add interactivity to externally created ones. Walls, doors, items, characters — these are just a few of the various elements you can add to your maps, all designed to be easy to use. ——— CHAT & ROLL Chat and share dice rolls in real time along your journeys. Whether you're strategizing, celebrating victories, or just having fun, make every moment unforgettable. ——— CAMPAIGN NOTES Capture ideas, plans, character insights, and more throughout your adventures, ditching paper and physical clutter. ——— DOWNLOAD SAMWISE NOW AND START YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE! Samwise is here to celebrate the essence of Tabletop RPGs. We cherish what makes these games special: the shared moments, the player interactions, the theatrical storytelling. Our goal is to offer a complete, intuitive solution for Game Masters and players alike — one that stays true to the tastes of those who love this style of game while embracing modern technology. --- Standard Apple Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

D&D Beyond4 screens
Samwise4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Samwise at 100% against D&D Beyond's 54%. Samwise also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and update cadence (every 8 days vs every 3 weeks). D&D Beyond's advantage is ratings volume (91K vs 9) and chart position (#62 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. D&D Beyond sells 27 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month 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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Samwise holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: D&D Beyond has 91K ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of D&D Beyond's written reviews are positive against 100% of Samwise's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

D&D Beyond ships an update every 3 weeks, Samwise every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
D&D Beyond versus Samwise: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterD&D BeyondSamwise
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (91K ratings)5.0 (9 ratings) — better
Positive reviews54.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings91K — better9
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 8 days — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
Best chart rank#62 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS16.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size333 MB114 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperWizards of the CoastEstúdio Pirilampo Mestre de Arte Digital

Customer experience

D&D Beyond

All ratings90,992 ratings
Positive94.6%
Neutral2.4%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews995 reviews
Positive54.0%
Neutral13.6%
Negative32.5%

Samwise

All ratings9 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

D&D Beyond

Reported bugs

7 issues
  • Artificial character creation issues
  • Inconsistent character sheet data
  • Crashes and freezes
  • Incompatibility with older devices
  • Login issues
Show 2 more
  • Incorrect spell/ability scaling
  • Unreliable offline functionality

Requested features

11 requests
  • Ability to scan physical books
  • More customization options
  • Game log tracker
  • Integrate ApplePay for subscription
  • Ability to manage experience, levels, items, etc. within the app
Show 6 more
  • Ability to create/edit campaigns, encounters, items, spells, etc. within the app
  • Ability to view custom modifications, backgrounds, frames, etc. within the app
  • Integrate dice rolling feature
  • Integrate character preparation features
  • Add dark mode option
  • Improve accessibility for visually impaired users

Samwise

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

27 purchases

D&D Beyond

Subscriptions4
  • Hero Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Master Monthly$5.991 Month
  • Hero Annual$25.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Master Annual$54.991 Year
One-time23
  • Valda’s Spire of Secrets:...$14.99
  • The Pugilist Class (2024)$14.99
  • Valda’s Spire of Secrets$14.99
Show 20 more
  • The Illrigger Revised$14.99
  • Grim Hollow: Player Pack$14.99
  • Eberron: Forge of the...$19.99
  • Monster Manual$29.99
  • The Book of Many Things$29.99
  • Arcana Unleashed$29.99
  • Dungeon Master's Guide$29.99
  • Xanathar's Guide to Everything$29.99
  • Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything$29.99
  • Player's Handbook$29.99
  • Monsters of the Multiverse$29.99
  • Player’s Handbook (2024)$29.99
  • Heliana’s Guide to Monster...2 variants$29.99
  • Obojima: Tales from the...$29.99
  • Monster Manual (2024)$29.99
  • The Griffon’s Saddlebag:...$29.99
  • Dungeon Master’s Guide (2024)$29.99
  • Ravenloft: The Horrors Within$39.99
  • Lord of the Rings Roleplaying$39.99
  • Book of Ebon Tides$39.99
6 purchases

Samwise

Subscriptions4
  • Legendary Edition Offer (Monthly)$2.991 Month
  • Legendary Edition (Monthly)$4.991 Month
  • Legendary Edition Offer (Yearly)$23.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Legendary Edition (Yearly)$47.991 Year
One-time2
  • LIFETIME Legendary Edition$59.99
  • LIFETIME Legendary Edition$79.99

Questions

Is D&D Beyond free?
D&D Beyond 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, D&D Beyond or Samwise?
Samwise is rated higher. D&D Beyond averages 4.7 out of 5 from 91K ratings, while Samwise averages 5.0 from 9 ratings.
Do D&D Beyond or Samwise have ads?
Both D&D Beyond and Samwise show ads.
Which is updated more often, D&D Beyond or Samwise?
D&D Beyond ships an update every 3 weeks, and Samwise every 8 days. Most recently, D&D Beyond was updated on September 25, 2026 and Samwise on September 9, 2026.

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