Comparison

Samwise vs Dnd Character Journal

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

Head to head
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/

About

Dnd Character Journal

This app helps Dungeons & Dragons 5e players manage their characters and campaign world. It offers tools for downtime activities, character development, and campaign documentation, with an optional premium upgrade for more features.

Highlights
  • Downtime activity completion
  • Character backstory prompts
  • Campaign world documentation
  • Session note-taking
  • In-session inspiration
  • Share downtime results
Features
Read full description

Dnd Character Journal allows 5e players to engage with their characters and the larger campaign world like never before! Using this app, you can: – Complete downtime activities such as searching for treasure, competing in an archery contest, or crafting your signature magic item. – Develop your character through backstory prompts and fun role-play questions. – Document the campaign and larger world using the organized journal area. – Write session recaps and impromptu notes. – Earn inspiration by completing tasks between each session. – Share the results of your downtime with your group and DM. All with the click of a button! Upgrade to the premium version (one-time purchase) for additional features and customization: – Unlimited character slots – Additional character token customization All completely offline! No ads, no signups, no hassle. Simple and easy to use. (Token art by Ben Chang, @BChangArt)

Screenshots

Samwise4 screens
Dnd Character Journal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Samwise at 100% against Dnd Character Journal's 60%. Samwise also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Dnd Character Journal's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). On price, ratings volume, 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. Samwise sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Dnd Character Journal sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. 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 4.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 9 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Samwise's written reviews are positive against 60% of Dnd Character Journal's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Samwise ships an update every 4 days, Dnd Character Journal every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Samwise versus Dnd Character Journal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSamwiseDnd Character Journal
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (9 ratings) — better4.8 (9 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better60.0% of reviews
Number of ratings99
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 3 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac
Requires iOS15.613.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size113 MB61 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperEstúdio Pirilampo Mestre de Arte DigitalMichael Wu

Customer experience

Samwise

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

Dnd Character Journal

All ratings9 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral11.1%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative20.0%

In-app purchases

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
1 purchases

Dnd Character Journal

One-time1
  • Premium Version$1.99

Questions

Is Samwise free?
Samwise is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Dnd Character Journal free?
Dnd Character Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Samwise or Dnd Character Journal?
Samwise is rated higher. Samwise averages 5.0 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Dnd Character Journal averages 4.8 from 9 ratings.
Do Samwise or Dnd Character Journal have ads?
Samwise shows ads; Dnd Character Journal does not.
Which is updated more often, Samwise or Dnd Character Journal?
Samwise ships an update every 4 days, and Dnd Character Journal every 3 months. Most recently, Samwise was updated on October 13, 2026 and Dnd Character Journal on September 23, 2026.

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