# Characterize vs PRD Characters

The clearest difference is update cadence: Characterize at every 3 weeks against PRD Characters's every 4 months. Characterize also leads on rating (4.3 vs 4.1) and review sentiment (68% vs 56%). PRD Characters's advantage is iOS requirement (10.3 vs 15.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Characterize sells 16 one-off in-app purchases and PRD Characters sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per 3 months. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Characterize holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 344 and 146 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of Characterize's written reviews are positive against 56% of PRD Characters's.

Characterize ships an update every 3 weeks, PRD Characters every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 1, 2026 and July 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Characterize | PRD Characters |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (344 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/characterize-randomize-names/id706661890/reviews)** | [4.1 (146 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/prd-characters/id1330667410/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **344** | 146 |
| Positive reviews | **68.3% of reviews** | 56.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 295 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **10.3** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Alexander Winn](https://appshunter.io/developer/652547902) | [Shiny Button Software, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/339401189) |

## 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


### PRD Characters

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/prd-characters/id1330667410)

Create, level up, and track characters for the Pathfinder gaming system. Get guidance on ability scores, classes, races, and spells. Includes a die roller and iCloud backup.

**Highlights:** Character creation and leveling, Ability score guidance, Class and race selection, Spell slot tracking and preparation, In-app die roller, iCloud backup and sync

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 3 Month Subscription | $2.49 | per 3 months |
| 1 Year Subscription | $5.49 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Characterize free?

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

### Is PRD Characters free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Characterize or PRD Characters?

Characterize is rated higher. Characterize averages 4.3 out of 5 from 344 ratings, while PRD Characters averages 4.1 from 146 ratings.

### Do Characterize or PRD Characters have ads?

Neither Characterize nor PRD Characters shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Characterize or PRD Characters?

Characterize ships an update every 3 weeks, and PRD Characters every 4 months. Most recently, Characterize was updated on September 1, 2026 and PRD Characters on July 17, 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.*