# RPG Notebook vs Heartforge

The clearest difference is monetization model: RPG Notebook at free with in-app purchases against Heartforge's subscription. RPG Notebook also leads on rating (4.0 vs 3.8) and ratings volume (51 vs 8). Heartforge's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (100% vs 69%). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. RPG Notebook sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Heartforge sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

RPG Notebook holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RPG Notebook has 51 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 69% of RPG Notebook's written reviews are positive against 100% of Heartforge's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

RPG Notebook ships an update monthly, Heartforge fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RPG Notebook | Heartforge |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.0 (51 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rpg-notebook-campaign-manager/id1617656328/reviews)** | [3.8 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heartforge-daggerheart-app/id6749210068/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **51** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | 69.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 198 MB | 189 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Marta Fecio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1617656330) | [Lauri Kieksi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1829298529) |

## What reviewers say

### RPG Notebook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rpg-notebook-campaign-manager/id1617656328)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Highly useful for TTRPG organization
- 💡 System-neutral and customizable
- 🚀 Easy to use and navigate
- ✨ Great for worldbuilding and lore
- 📝 Excellent for keeping track of characters and info

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- 🐛 App won't load backups
- 🐛 Ads are intrusive and inappropriate
- 🤔 Confusing interface for new users
- 🚫 No account or cross-device sync

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


### Heartforge

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heartforge-daggerheart-app/id6749210068)

This app is a digital assistant for the Daggerheart tabletop role-playing game, offering tools for both game masters and players. It facilitates character sheet management, campaign building, encounter tracking, and provides a searchable compendium of game content. Features include offline functionality, soundscapes, and guided leveling up.

**Highlights:** Character sheet management, Campaign building tools, Combat encounter tracker, Searchable compendium, Offline functionality, Soundscape integration, Guided character leveling

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Heartforge Premium (Monthly) | $2.99 | per month |
| Heartforge Premium Yearly | $22.99 | per year |
| Heartforge Premium Lifetime | $38.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RPG Notebook free?

RPG Notebook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Heartforge free?

Heartforge is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, RPG Notebook or Heartforge?

RPG Notebook is rated higher. RPG Notebook averages 4.0 out of 5 from 51 ratings, while Heartforge averages 3.8 from 8 ratings.

### Do RPG Notebook or Heartforge have ads?

RPG Notebook shows ads; Heartforge does not.

### Which is updated more often, RPG Notebook or Heartforge?

RPG Notebook ships an update monthly, and Heartforge fortnightly. Most recently, RPG Notebook was updated on November 3, 2026 and Heartforge on November 5, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*