Comparison

Samwise vs TTRPG Map Maker

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

Create, GM, and play Tabletop RPGs with your friends for free, 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. ——— Play for Free Whether you're a GM or a player, there's plenty of room to play your games without worrying about a subscription. ——— 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 Since Samwise can be used in full on every device, you can bring it 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 Your Own 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. Talk about your game, 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, even worse, 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/

About

TTRPG Map Maker

Design and display custom maps for tabletop role-playing games. This app offers flexible drawing tools, import options, and offline functionality to bring your campaign worlds to life.

Highlights
  • Freehand drawing tools
  • Shape creation and customization
  • Adjustable brush sizes and colors
  • Snap-to-grid functionality
  • Layer support for organization
  • Import custom images and assets
  • Offline functionality
Features
Read full description

TTRPG Map Maker - Design & Display Your Worlds Bring your tabletop adventures to life. TTRPG Map Maker is the fastest, most flexible way to design custom maps for your campaigns and share them with your players right from your iPad. Whether you're a Game Master prepping next week's dungeon crawl, sketching out a bustling town, or improvising a battlefield on the fly, TTRPG Map Maker gives you the creative freedom to build maps that match your story without fighting clunky tools. BUILT FOR THE TABLETOP Designed from the ground up for D&D, Pathfinder, Call of Cthulhu, and every other tabletop RPG. Plan your sessions in advance or create maps live at the table as your players explore. POWERFUL DRAWING TOOLS * Freehand draw directly on the canvas for organic shapes and quick sketches * Add rectangles, circles, and custom shapes to build rooms and structures in seconds * Adjustable brush sizes and colors for fine detail or bold strokes * Snap-to-grid for clean, gridded battle maps * Multiple layers so backgrounds, terrain, and tokens stay organized IMPORT & CUSTOMIZE * Import your own images as map backgrounds * Drop in custom artwork, tokens, props, and items * Mix hand-drawn elements with imported assets for a unique look DEMO MAPS INCLUDED * Bundled demo maps to get you started right away * Preview any map before opening it READY FOR THE TABLE * Display your maps on a TV or projector via AirPlay or HDMI * Edit on your iPad while players watch the action unfold on the big screen * Pinch-to-zoom and pan smoothly during play * Reveal areas as your party explores FAST & FLEXIBLE * Clean, intuitive interface that stays out of your way * Save and organize unlimited maps in your campaign library * Works fully offline, no account, no subscription, no internet required * Universal iPad support with Apple Pencil compatibility SPEND LESS TIME PREPPING, MORE TIME STORYTELLING Whether you plan every encounter or thrive on improvisation, TTRPG Map Maker gives you the tools to bring your worlds to the table, beautifully. Terms of Use: https://www.rpgmapmaker.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.rpgmapmaker.app/privacy

Screenshots

Samwise4 screens
TTRPG Map Maker2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Samwise at 5.0 against TTRPG Map Maker's 2.3. Samwise also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 4 months) and device support (4 vs 2). TTRPG Map Maker's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs freemium). On price and in-app purchases 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 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and TTRPG Map Maker sells 3 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 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 3 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Samwise ships an update every 4 days, TTRPG Map Maker every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Samwise versus TTRPG Map Maker: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSamwiseTTRPG Map Maker
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (10 ratings) — better2.3 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings10 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 4 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size115 MB26 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEstudio Pirilampo Mestre - Empresa de Desenvolvimento de Software LtdaMichael Blades

In-app purchases

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
3 purchases

TTRPG Map Maker

Subscriptions2
  • TTRPG Map Maker Pro – Monthly$2.991 Month
  • TTRPG Map Maker Pro – Yearly7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • TTRPG Map Maker Pro – Lifetime$39.99

Questions

Is Samwise free?
Samwise is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TTRPG Map Maker free?
TTRPG Map Maker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Samwise or TTRPG Map Maker?
Samwise is rated higher. Samwise averages 5.0 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while TTRPG Map Maker averages 2.3 from 3 ratings.
Do Samwise or TTRPG Map Maker have ads?
Samwise shows ads; TTRPG Map Maker does not.
Which is updated more often, Samwise or TTRPG Map Maker?
Samwise ships an update every 4 days, and TTRPG Map Maker every 4 months. Most recently, Samwise was updated on November 3, 2026 and TTRPG Map Maker on October 30, 2026.

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