Comparison

RPG Notebook vs Samwise

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

Head to head
About

RPG Notebook

This app helps you build worlds, manage your tabletop RPG campaigns, and organize all your notes. It offers customizable entries, linking between ideas, and map management. Keep your game world organized and accessible.

Highlights
  • Campaign management
  • Customizable entries with various section types
  • Automatic hyperlinking between entries
  • Map creation and pin functionality
  • Themed templates for different settings
  • Extensive icon library
  • Backup and export options
Features
Read full description

RPG Notebook will help you build worlds, manage campaigns, and keep your notes tightly organized. Here are some of its great features: *CAMPAIGNS: Choose a name, select a theme that matches your setting, and simply start filling it with all your ideas. *ENTRIES: They can be customized any way you like with 8 types of sections (from simple text fields to trackers, checklists, and images) that you can name and place in any order you like. *TEMPLATES: If there's a section arrangement that you like, save it as a template for future use. *HYPERLINKS: When you finish writing something, the app checks if your text contains any phrases that match an existing entry or group name and automatically creates a link for you. *MAPS: Every campaign has a dedicated segment where numerous maps can be added. *MAP PINS: You can add simple note pins or special pins that link to an entry, group, or map. *JOURNAL: Journal notes will help you keep track of important events that happened during your sessions. *THEMES: The fantasy theme is great for the most popular tabletop RPG systems like dnd 5e or pathfinder, but the app also has themes for other settings: cthulhu, sci-fi, cyberpunk, post-apocalyptic, steampunk and wuxia. *ICONS: There are over 4000 built-in icons and 40 colors that you can use in your entries, but you can also add your own. *BACKUP: You can create a backup file and store it locally or export it so it can be shared with other devices. *MODES: Both light and dark modes are supported. *EVERYTHING IN YOUR POCKET: No more forgotten or lost notes. You will always be prepared for the next session or be able to immediately write down ideas that suddenly come to your mind wherever you are! :)

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

RPG Notebook4 screens
Samwise4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Samwise at 5.0 against RPG Notebook's 4.0. Samwise also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 69%) and update cadence (every 4 days vs monthly). RPG Notebook's advantage is ratings volume (48 vs 9). 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. RPG Notebook sells 1 one-off in-app purchase 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 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RPG Notebook has 48 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of RPG Notebook's written reviews are positive against 100% of Samwise's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RPG Notebook ships an update monthly, Samwise every 4 days. Both last shipped on October 13, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
RPG Notebook versus Samwise: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRPG NotebookSamwise
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (48 ratings)5.0 (9 ratings) — better
Positive reviews69.4% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings48 — better9
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 4 days — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS15.615.6
Further details — not scored
Size198 MB113 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMarta FecioEstúdio Pirilampo Mestre de Arte Digital

Customer experience

RPG Notebook

All ratings48 ratings
Positive72.9%
Neutral10.4%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews36 reviews
Positive69.4%
Neutral16.7%
Negative13.9%

Samwise

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

In-app purchases

1 purchases

RPG Notebook

One-time1
  • Premium$4.99
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 RPG Notebook free?
RPG Notebook 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, RPG Notebook or Samwise?
Samwise is rated higher. RPG Notebook averages 4.0 out of 5 from 48 ratings, while Samwise averages 5.0 from 9 ratings.
Do RPG Notebook or Samwise have ads?
Both RPG Notebook and Samwise show ads.
Which is updated more often, RPG Notebook or Samwise?
RPG Notebook ships an update monthly, and Samwise every 4 days. Most recently, RPG Notebook was updated on October 13, 2026 and Samwise on October 13, 2026.

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