# Characterize vs NPC For Hire

The clearest difference is update cadence: Characterize at every 3 weeks against NPC For Hire's every 3 months. Characterize also leads on ratings volume (344 vs 79). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Characterize sells 16 one-off in-app purchases and NPC For Hire sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for Characterize against 4.3 for NPC For Hire. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 344 and 79 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 68% of Characterize's written reviews are positive against 76% of NPC For Hire's.

Characterize ships an update every 3 weeks, NPC For Hire every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 1, 2026 and September 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Characterize | NPC For Hire |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (344 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/characterize-randomize-names/id706661890/reviews) | **[4.3 (79 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/npc-for-hire/id1182788017/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **344** | 79 |
| Positive reviews | 68.3% of reviews | **75.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 295 MB | 75 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Alexander Winn](https://appshunter.io/developer/652547902) | [Knights of Vasteel LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1182788016) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### NPC For Hire

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/npc-for-hire/id1182788017)

This app assists Game Masters in creating and managing non-player characters (NPCs) for their tabletop role-playing games. It generates characters with unique personalities and provides hand-drawn portraits to enhance immersion.

**Highlights:** NPC generation, NPC builder, NPC management, Hand-drawn portraits, Story-driven aid, Fantasy world immersion

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Angels and Demons | $0.99 | one-time |
| Forest of Natlan | $0.99 | one-time |
| Deep Caverns | $0.99 | one-time |
| Diplomacy | $0.99 | one-time |
| Dragon Folk | $0.99 | one-time |
| Elves of Ilfelin | $0.99 | one-time |
| Heritage of Stone | $0.99 | one-time |
| Houses of Dimlodir | $0.99 | one-time |
| Leaders of the Occult | $0.99 | one-time |
| Lost Hills | $0.99 | one-time |
| Tales of Horror | $0.99 | one-time |
| The Call of Adventure | $0.99 | one-time |
| Thieves Guild | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Characterize free?

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

### Is NPC For Hire free?

NPC For Hire is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Characterize or NPC For Hire?

NPC For Hire is rated higher. Characterize averages 4.3 out of 5 from 344 ratings, while NPC For Hire averages 4.3 from 79 ratings.

### Do Characterize or NPC For Hire have ads?

Neither Characterize nor NPC For Hire shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Characterize or NPC For Hire?

Characterize ships an update every 3 weeks, and NPC For Hire every 3 months. Most recently, Characterize was updated on September 1, 2026 and NPC For Hire on September 2, 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.*