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

Create, GM, and play Tabletop RPGs with your friends, on any device ——— Designed with Care Samwise gives GMs and players a clean interface that keeps everything organized and uncluttered, no matter the size of your campaign. Every detail is thought through and developed by a team of RPG enthusiasts like you. ——— Free Edition If you're a GM, you get plenty of room to run your campaigns for free, with the option to upgrade to Legendary Edition if you ever need more. Players can join as many campaigns as they want, completely free. ——— Wherever You Go Samwise has the full set of features on all your devices, so you don't have to give anything up when switching between your phone, tablet, or computer. Character sheets, rulebooks, campaign notes, dice rolling, chat, interactive maps, and more, all synced in real time for you to pick up right where you left off. ——— Together or Apart You can bring Samwise right to the table on your phone or tablet for in-person sessions, or use it remotely when you and your friends are apart. ——— Create RPGs or Play D&D and More Create your own Tabletop RPGs with an easy-to-use and flexible editor, without writing a single line of code. Or find D&D and many other RPGs at the Emporium, including creations from the community, and start playing right away. ——— Everything Can Be a Sheet In Samwise, everything in your RPG can be represented by a sheet, not just characters. Weapons, armor, consumables, creatures: each can have their own fields, calculations, resources, and everything else available to character sheets, instead of being just text entries or rulebook references. ——— Interactive Maps Create maps from scratch or add interactivity to maps created elsewhere. Character tokens, lighting, fog of war, and rulers for measuring distances and areas of effect are just some of what you can use, with straightforward tools so you can quickly get a map ready for your session. ——— Chat & Roll Chat and roll dice in real time with your group. Coordinate your next session, discuss strategies, or celebrate those miracle rolls without having to switch to another app. ——— Campaign Notes Capture and organize important information or just jot down random thoughts to remember later. No more need for a separate note-taking app or a bunch of handwritten notes you have to bring to every session. ——— Built with the Community We want to make Samwise the best it can be for GMs and players, and we know no one has all the answers. That's why our community means so much to us, and you can be a part of it by sharing your creations at the Emporium or bringing us your ideas and feedback on Discord and Reddit as we continue to improve Samwise together. ——— Make Samwise Part of Your Next Adventure Our goal is to give GMs and players everything they need in a Tabletop RPG platform that can be used anywhere and on any device, embracing modern technology but never forgetting what makes Tabletop RPGs so special: the shared moments, the creativity, the storytelling that draws you in. Welcome to Samwise, and may the dice always roll in your favor! ——— 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 (51 vs 10). 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 4 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 51 ratings behind it against 10, 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. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
RPG Notebook versus Samwise: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRPG NotebookSamwise
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (51 ratings)5.0 (10 ratings) — better
Positive reviews69.4% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings51 — better10
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 MB117 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 ratings10 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

RPG Notebook

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • App crashes completely after recent updates
  • App gets stuck on the home page after an update
  • Backup restoration fails, showing a loading wheel indefinitely
  • App force closes during note-taking, losing progress
  • Ads cannot be closed without opening their links
Show 1 more
  • App no longer opens completely before crashing out

Requested features

24 requests
  • Journal functionality for play-by-post games (disable name links)
  • Italicize text and other text editor functions
  • Trackers that reset to zero for accumulation
  • World building tools to combine campaigns
  • Link campaigns together for NPC referencing
Show 19 more
  • Output to PDF
  • Dedicated NPC section
  • Draw on uploaded maps
  • Always allow option for pasting from other apps
  • Font size adjustment for descriptions
  • Ability to invite or share notes with other players
  • Inventory management with counters
  • Add images or thumbnails to entries
  • Organize maps into groups
  • Allow icon links in maps to lead to other maps
  • Better map linking to zoom into specific spots
  • More markers for points of interest on maps
  • Add scenes that are not maps
  • List NPCs for points of interest
  • Attach NPCs to certain maps
  • Cloud sharing or accounts for cross-device sync
  • Share link for a campaign
  • DM view with hidden notes/locations
  • Formatted preview of all entry content at once

Samwise

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

RPG Notebook

One-time1
  • Premium$4.99
4 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

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 51 ratings, while Samwise averages 5.0 from 10 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 November 3, 2026 and Samwise on November 7, 2026.

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