Comparison

Samwise vs MyBacklog

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

MyBacklog

Manage, track, and discover games across all platforms. Organize your collection with custom lists, get personalized recommendations, and connect with other gamers. Features include data import, in-depth game info, and screenshot galleries.

Highlights
  • Import game data from consoles and Steam
  • Organize games into custom lists (Wishlist, Backlog, Playing, Played, etc.)
  • Personalized game recommendations
  • Detailed game information including playtime
  • Connect with other gamers and view activity feeds
  • Add private notes and build screenshot galleries
  • Exclusive game giveaways
Read full description

MyBacklog is built to be your ultimate gaming hub! Whether you're a dedicated gamer or a casual player, MyBacklog has everything you need to manage, track, and discover games across all platforms. **Easy Data Import and Syncing:** Quickly get started by importing your game data from PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam. Keep your game collection up to date automatically with optional continuous syncing. **Organize and Track Your Collection:** Effortlessly organize your games with extensive tracking options built into your core lists: Wishlist, Backlog, Playing, Played, Completed, Replaying, Replayed (complete with playthrough tracking), Endless, Shelved, and Abandoned. Customize your lists with extensive sorting options, including both manual sorting and sorting by how long to beat. **Create Custom Lists:** Create your own lists to suit your needs. Whether you wish to rank your favorite games of a particular series or track your favorite games of a certain genre, you can do it all! **Personalized Recommendations:** Discover new games tailored to your exact tastes with our advanced recommendation algorithm, customizable to your platform and age-rating requirements. Our algorithms consider every aspect of every game so we can guarantee your recommendations will lead you to finding a lifelong favorite. **In-Depth Game Information:** Explore detailed information on every game, including how long it will take you to beat them; everything you could ever wish to know can be found in our extensive data. **Connect with Other Gamers:** Find and connect with users who share your interests. Write reviews, read others' opinions, and engage in discussions with our intuitive commenting system. **Stay Updated with Friends:** Keep an eye on your friends' gaming activities with the activity feed. Share your gaming experiences and see what games your friends are playing. **Intuitive and User-Friendly Interface:** Enjoy a smooth and modern interface designed for speed and ease of use. Utilize swipe and hold gestures for quick actions, ensuring each action is within reach of one or two taps! **Add Notes to Games:** Add private notes to games to jot down your progress, thoughts, or in-game to-do lists. The possibilities are endless! **Build Screenshot Galleries:** Are you a proud virtual photographer? Upload a limitless number of screenshots and build private or public galleries for your games, ensuring everything stays in one place. **Exclusive Game Giveaways:** Join exclusive game giveaways and win items from your wishlist! **+SO MUCH MORE!** As a sole developer, I built MyBacklog to make your gaming life easier and more enjoyable. I can't wait to see you join our community and take control of your gaming journey! MyBacklog offers an optional premium subscription that helps support the development of the app as well as take your gaming life to the next level. If you choose to subscribe, please refer to Apple's standard terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/.

Screenshots

Samwise4 screens
MyBacklog4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Samwise at 100% against MyBacklog's 40%. Samwise also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.9) and update cadence (every 8 days vs every 5 months). MyBacklog's advantage is ads (none vs shown). 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 MyBacklog sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. 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 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 7 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Samwise's written reviews are positive against 40% of MyBacklog's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Samwise ships an update every 8 days, MyBacklog every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Samwise versus MyBacklog: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSamwiseMyBacklog
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (9 ratings) — better3.9 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better40.0% of reviews
Number of ratings9 — better7
Update frequencyEvery 8 days — betterEvery 5 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size114 MB5 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperEstúdio Pirilampo Mestre de Arte DigitalJoshua Whitehouse

Customer experience

Samwise

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

MyBacklog

All ratings7 ratings
Positive71.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative28.6%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative60.0%

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
3 purchases

MyBacklog

Subscriptions3
  • MyBacklog Premium (Weekly)$1.997 Days
  • MyBacklog Premium (Monthly)$2.991 Month
  • MyBacklog Premium (Annual)$29.991 Year

Questions

Is Samwise free?
Samwise is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MyBacklog free?
MyBacklog is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Samwise or MyBacklog?
Samwise is rated higher. Samwise averages 5.0 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while MyBacklog averages 3.9 from 7 ratings.
Do Samwise or MyBacklog have ads?
Samwise shows ads; MyBacklog does not.
Which is updated more often, Samwise or MyBacklog?
Samwise ships an update every 8 days, and MyBacklog every 5 months. Most recently, Samwise was updated on September 9, 2026 and MyBacklog on September 11, 2026.

Other comparisons