Simple Initiative vs DnD Combat Initiative Tracker
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Simple Initiative
This combat tracker streamlines tabletop RPG sessions for Dungeon Masters. Easily manage initiative, track hit points, apply conditions, and add monsters from a built-in database. Designed for offline use and a clutter-free experience.
- Instant initiative sorting and combat start
- Player and monster tagging
- SRD monster database integration
- Intuitive HP tracking
- One-tap condition application
- Smart turn order management
- Save and reload encounters
Read full descriptionHide full description
Combat is supposed to be fun. Not a logistics problem. Simple Initiative is the combat tracker built for Dungeon Masters who want to spend less time managing turns and more time running the game. Add your fighters, roll initiative, hit Start Combat, and stay in the moment. No subscription. No ads. No account. No bloat. Just clean, fast, intuitive combat tracking made for D&D 5e, designed for the in-person table. ~BUILT FOR THE TABLE~ INSTANT SETUP Add players and monsters in seconds. Initiative auto-sorts highest to lowest. Hit Start Combat, and you're off. PLAYER + MONSTER SPLIT Tag combatants as players or monsters. At the end of an encounter, one tap keeps your whole party loaded and ready -- just add new monsters for the next fight. Added SRD monster database — DMs can now search and drop any monster from the 2014 5e SRD (334 monsters) or 2024 5.5e SRD (235 monsters) directly into an encounter. Initiative is auto-rolled using each monster's own modifier. HP and AC pre-fill automatically. Database is bundled in the app and works completely offline. HP TRACKING YOUR WAY Drag the HP bar to adjust hit points in real time. Every HP unit gives a satisfying haptic tick. Disable HP tracking for players who prefer to manage their own. CONDITIONS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Apply and remove them with a single tap, right from the combat screen. SMART TURN ORDER Active turn tracks by identity, not position. Drag to reorder mid-combat without losing your place. New creatures added mid-encounter slot in at the right initiative. SAVE ENCOUNTERS Quickly save and reload encounters to run multiple tables or stop mid-fight for the night and return later. ~ALSO DESIGNED FOR iPad ~ On iPad, Simple Initiative transforms into a split-screen command center. The initiative list lives on the left. On the right: the active combatant's name, HP bar, and full condition panel -- all in one glance, no scrolling required. ~ CLEAN. FAST. YOURS ~ - Works entirely offline -- perfect for the table where wifi won't - Dark and light mode with one tap. Font size support. - Auto-rolls initiative with modifier support if needed. - No ads. No tracking. No data collection. - One-time purchase -- pay once, own it forever Simple Initiative gets out of your way so you can focus on what matters: telling a great story. One purchase. Every session. Every fight.
DnD Combat Initiative Tracker
Read full descriptionHide 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
Verdict
The clearest difference is chart position: Simple Initiative at #196 against DnD Combat Initiative Tracker's unranked. DnD Combat Initiative Tracker's advantage is price ($1.99 vs $2.99) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases 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
Simple Initiative costs $2.99 and DnD Combat Initiative Tracker $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Simple Initiative ships an update every 4 days, DnD Combat Initiative Tracker every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Simple Initiative | DnD Combat Initiative Tracker |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | $1.99 — better |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days — better | Every 5 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Best chart rank | #196 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 4 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Benjamin Van Allen | ERIC ELIOT |
In-app purchases
Simple Initiative
No in-app purchases
DnD Combat Initiative Tracker
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Simple Initiative free?
Is DnD Combat Initiative Tracker free?
Do Simple Initiative or DnD Combat Initiative Tracker have ads?
Which is updated more often, Simple Initiative or DnD Combat Initiative Tracker?
Other comparisons















