Comparison

Embers vs DnD Combat Initiative Tracker

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

Head to head
About

Embers

This app offers a comprehensive toolkit for tabletop RPG players and game masters. It includes character creation, a virtual tabletop for live sessions, and world-building tools. Content syncs across devices, with a free tier for core features and an optional upgrade for unlimited content.

Highlights
  • Character creation and management
  • Integrated virtual tabletop
  • World-building tools
  • Cross-device content syncing
  • Support for multiple RPG systems
Features
Read full description

Embers is the all-in-one toolkit for tabletop RPG (TTRPG) players and game masters. Three powerful tools in one app, plus an integrated virtual tabletop with no extra subscription. Free forever for your main characters, campaign, and world. No ads, ever. VAULT: Create and manage characters with full digital sheets that support combat, ability scores, inventory, and spells. PLAY: Run live sessions with a built-in virtual tabletop. Initiative tracking, battle maps, tokens, and session notes in one place. IMAGINE: Build and browse your worlds. Pages, timelines, people, and places on iPhone and iPad. Your content syncs across iPhone, iPad, and the web. Upgrade for unlimited characters, campaigns, and worlds. Compatible with D&D 5e and 5.5e, Pathfinder, Pathfinder 2e, and Savage Worlds Deluxe. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

DnD Combat Initiative Tracker

Features
Read full description

Run 5e combat without the spreadsheets, index cards, or scraps of paper. Ultimate 5e Initiative Tracker keeps every combatant, stat, and condition on one screen, built specifically for running a game at the table. ROLL AND TRACK - Roll initiative with one tap or type it in directly - Sort the whole order by initiative automatically - HP, Temp HP, AC, Passive Perception, and Exhaustion for every combatant - Every number field has quick +/- buttons, no keyboard required NEVER LOSE YOUR PLACE - Undo and Redo any change, up to 30 steps back, including deletions and sorting - Everything saves automatically as you play - close the app and pick up right where you left off - Death save boxes appear automatically at 0 HP, and skip a downed character in the turn order - Track Concentration and Reaction per character, so nobody forgets an active spell mid-fight TRACK CONDITIONS WITHOUT THE TYPING - Tap to add Poisoned, Prone, Restrained, and every standard condition - Add your own custom conditions just as easily - Exhaustion tracked by level, with the tag updating itself as it changes - Death save marks use distinct shapes and colorblind-friendly colors, not just red and green RUN THE WHOLE ENCOUNTER - The active card is clearly highlighted with an End Turn button - Add Lair Actions that sort themselves into the initiative order like any other combatant - Duplicate a card in one tap for a pack of identical enemies - Drag and drop to reorder combatants by hand - A Notes field for tactics, loot, or anything worth remembering BUILT FOR THE TABLE - Six color palettes, three light and three dark, for any table or lighting - Export an encounter to share or back up, and import it again later - Runs on iPhone and iPad, portrait or landscape WORKS OFFLINE, RESPECTS YOUR DATA No account, no sign-in, and no internet connection required. Everything is saved locally on your device only. Nothing is ever uploaded, tracked, or shared with anyone, including us. This app includes material from the System Reference Document 5.1, used under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. It is unofficial content, not approved, endorsed, or sponsored by Wizards of the Coast.

Screenshots

Embers4 screens
DnD Combat Initiative Tracker4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Embers at Free against DnD Combat Initiative Tracker's $1.99. DnD Combat Initiative Tracker's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 months). On ads and device support 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

Embers is free to download; DnD Combat Initiative Tracker costs $1.99 up front. Embers sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. DnD Combat Initiative Tracker asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Embers ships an update every 3 months, DnD Combat Initiative Tracker every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 5 level
Embers versus DnD Combat Initiative Tracker: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEmbersDnD Combat Initiative Tracker
PriceFree — better$1.99
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEmbers Design Studios, LLCERIC ELIOT

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Embers

Subscriptions2
  • Vaultkeeper$4.991 Month
  • Storyweaver$9.991 Month
None

DnD Combat Initiative Tracker

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Embers free?
Embers is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is DnD Combat Initiative Tracker free?
DnD Combat Initiative Tracker costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Embers or DnD Combat Initiative Tracker have ads?
Neither Embers nor DnD Combat Initiative Tracker shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Embers or DnD Combat Initiative Tracker?
Embers ships an update every 3 months, and DnD Combat Initiative Tracker every 5 days. Most recently, Embers was updated on November 5, 2026 and DnD Combat Initiative Tracker on October 29, 2026.

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