# Background Noise vs Characterize

The clearest difference is price: Characterize at Free against Background Noise's $2.99. Characterize also leads on rating (4.3 vs 2.9) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 39 months). Background Noise's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 16) and iOS requirement (13.2 vs 15.0). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Characterize is free to download; Background Noise costs $2.99 up front. Characterize sells 16 one-off in-app purchases. Background Noise asks for nothing beyond the download.

Characterize holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Characterize has 344 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Background Noise's written reviews are positive against 68% of Characterize's.

Background Noise ships an update every 39 months, Characterize every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 5, 2026 and September 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Background Noise | Characterize |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [2.9 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/background-noise/id404937835/reviews) | **[4.3 (344 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/characterize-randomize-names/id706661890/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 9 | **344** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **68.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 39 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 2 MB | 295 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.2** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Erik A. Dewey](https://appshunter.io/developer/404937838) | [Alexander Winn](https://appshunter.io/developer/652547902) |

## What reviewers say

### Background Noise

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/background-noise/id404937835)

Instantly create detailed backstories for fantasy characters. Explore their upbringing, family, childhood events, personality, and more through a vast array of randomized options. Perfect for role-playing games and creative writing.

**Highlights:** Randomized character background generation, Detailed family and upbringing details, Childhood and adult life events, Personality trait determination, Millions of unique combinations, Ideal for role-players and authors

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Characterize

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/characterize-randomize-names/id706661890)

Generate unique characters with names, traits, and stats instantly. Explore diverse categories and save your favorites for any creative project. Unlock additional themed packs for even more variety.

**Highlights:** Unlimited name generation, Rich character details (age, traits, etc.), Themed character packs, Save and share creations, Diverse character categories

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

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Heroes & Villains Generator | $0.99 | one-time |
| Wizards & Witches Generator | $0.99 | one-time |
| Gods & Goddesses Generator | $0.99 | one-time |
| Anime & Manga Generator | $0.99 | one-time |
| Demons Generator | $0.99 | one-time |
| Anthros Generator | $0.99 | one-time |
| Aliens Generator | $0.99 | one-time |
| Kings, Queens, & Nobles Generator | $0.99 | one-time |
| Apocalypse Survivors Generator | $0.99 | one-time |
| Assassins Generator | $0.99 | one-time |
| Angels Generator | $0.99 | one-time |
| Demigods Generator | $0.99 | one-time |
| Dragons Generator | $0.99 | one-time |
| Fantasy Races Bundle | $4.99 | one-time |
| Mythology Bundle | $5.99 | one-time |
| All Generators | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for character creation
- 🚀 Great for writers and RPG players
- 💡 Lots of creative and random traits

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive, many features require purchase
- 🐛 Bugs with saving and restoring purchases
- 🔍 Limited free options

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on startup
- Issues with custom generators and editing characters
- Purchased content not unlocking properly

**Requested features**

- More free generators
- Ability to edit and customize generated characters
- Sorting and organization options for saved characters


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Background Noise free?

Background Noise costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Characterize free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Background Noise or Characterize?

Characterize is rated higher. Background Noise averages 2.9 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Characterize averages 4.3 from 344 ratings.

### Do Background Noise or Characterize have ads?

Neither Background Noise nor Characterize shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Background Noise or Characterize?

Background Noise ships an update every 39 months, and Characterize every 3 weeks. Most recently, Background Noise was updated on June 5, 2026 and Characterize on September 1, 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.*