Comparison

Samwise vs DnD 5e Encounter Keep

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 5e Encounter Keep

This app helps Dungeon Masters manage Dungeons and Dragons 5e encounters in real-time. It allows for pre-planning battles, inviting players to see stats, and automating combat actions. Features include monster management, encounter generation, and built-in cheatsheets for easier gameplay.

Highlights
  • Real-time encounter management
  • Player and enemy stat tracking
  • Automated attack rolls
  • Built-in monster sheets
  • Custom monster creation
  • Encounter generation
Features
Read full description

Welcome to Encounter Keep, your real-time battle tracker for Dungeons and Dragons 5e. As a Dungeon Master, you can plan your encounters and invite your players to join, enabling you to see each other's stats. With the built-in cheatsheets, monster sheets, and automatic attack system, running encounters has never been easier. Leave the battle management to Encounter Keep, so you can focus on having fun. DESIGN YOUR BATTLES: - Prepare for your next session by creating encounters in advance. - Select a difficulty and add monsters from a vast list of enemies. - Create custom monsters for your epic boss battles. GENERATE ENCOUNTERS: - Automatically generate encounters for different player levels and difficulties. - Support different encounter types: boss fight, boss with minions, horde of monsters etc... - Specify environment and enemy type for a better monster match. INVITE YOUR PLAYERS: - You and your players can see each other's characters in real time. - Roll for initiative and control the encounter as you want. - Check your players' character sheets as they update their HP and other stats. MANAGE ENEMIES: - Streamline the encounter with automated enemy attack rolls. - Access built-in detailed info sheets for hundreds of monsters. - Quickly manage the enemies, tracking their hit points, armour class, and other stats during the fight. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula

Screenshots

Samwise4 screens
DnD 5e Encounter Keep4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Samwise at 5.0 against DnD 5e Encounter Keep's 4.5. Samwise also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (9 vs 2). DnD 5e Encounter Keep's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and iOS requirement (12.4 vs 15.6). On price, review sentiment and ads 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. DnD 5e Encounter Keep asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Samwise holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 2 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Samwise ships an update every 4 days, DnD 5e Encounter Keep every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Samwise versus DnD 5e Encounter Keep: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSamwiseDnD 5e Encounter Keep
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (9 ratings) — better4.5 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings9 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.612.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size113 MB26 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperEstúdio Pirilampo Mestre de Arte DigitalFanni Putnoczki

Customer experience

Samwise

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

DnD 5e Encounter Keep

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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
None

DnD 5e Encounter Keep

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Samwise free?
Samwise is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is DnD 5e Encounter Keep free?
DnD 5e Encounter Keep is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Samwise or DnD 5e Encounter Keep?
Samwise is rated higher. Samwise averages 5.0 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while DnD 5e Encounter Keep averages 4.5 from 2 ratings.
Do Samwise or DnD 5e Encounter Keep have ads?
Both Samwise and DnD 5e Encounter Keep show ads.
Which is updated more often, Samwise or DnD 5e Encounter Keep?
Samwise ships an update every 4 days, and DnD 5e Encounter Keep every 2 months. Most recently, Samwise was updated on October 13, 2026 and DnD 5e Encounter Keep on October 7, 2026.

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