Battlegrounds patch 36.6.1 dropped Aberrations into the pool on September 22, and the meta shift is exactly the kind of moment when a tracker earns its keep. Hero picks look different, tribes rebalance, and knowing your MMR trajectory over the last 40 games is the difference between “the game feels good” and “I actually improved”. The Hearthstone client tells you almost none of that. Trackers fill the gap: hero win rates on your account, combat simulators that read the current board and tell you the odds of surviving turn 12, per-tribe pick logs, and lobby-wide MMR overlays that show who to worry about.
We tested 8 desktop apps for Hearthstone Battlegrounds tracking in 2026, ran each against the current patch, and scored them on lobby MMR accuracy, combat simulator quality, hero win rate depth, and how much they got in the way when you just wanted to play. This is our current shortlist for Windows and macOS.
What to look for in a Battlegrounds tracker
The visible overlay is a small part of the value.
- Real-time lobby MMR shown at hero-selection time.
- Combat simulator that ingests the current board (Bob’s Buddy engine or equivalent).
- Per-hero and per-tribe win rate over recent Battlegrounds sessions.
- Deck tracker mode for constructed as a bonus, since most trackers cover both.
- No modification to the game client (Blizzard’s rules require this).
- macOS support for players on Apple Silicon, not just Windows.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Paid tier | Combat sim |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hearthstone Deck Tracker | The default open-source tracker | Windows | Free | None | Bob’s Buddy built-in |
| Firestone | Deepest Battlegrounds features | Windows, macOS | Free | Firestone Premium around $5/mo | Yes, first-party |
| HSReplay | Cloud-side stats and meta reports | Web + companion app | Free | HSReplay Premium around $10/mo | No; stats only |
| Bob’s Buddy | Combat simulator, as a component | Windows | Free | None | The simulator |
| HSTracker | Native tracker for Mac | macOS | Free | None | Yes, Bob’s Buddy port |
| Battlegrounds Buddy | Overlay-first for stream setups | Windows | Free | Optional support | Yes |
| Untapped.gg for Hearthstone | Companion stats platform | Windows, macOS | Free | Untapped Plus around $5/mo | Partial |
| Blizzard Battle.net Companion | Official mobile / desktop companion | Windows, macOS | Free | None | No |
The apps
1. Hearthstone Deck Tracker – the default open-source tracker
Hearthstone Deck Tracker (HDT) is the tracker most players install first. It’s open-source, in continuous development since 2014, and now bundles Bob’s Buddy as a first-class Battlegrounds feature. Hero MMR shows next to each lobby portrait, hero win rates by the number of games you’ve played on your account, and a per-tribe pick log make the game legible in a way the client isn’t.
Where it falls short: Windows-only. Interface density is high; the first-run wizard hides most of the panels but they’re all there.
Pricing:
- Free: Everything
- Paid: None
Platforms: Windows
Download: github.com/HearthSim/Hearthstone-Deck-Tracker
Bottom line: The reference open-source tracker. Install this first, decide later whether you also want a paid overlay.
2. Firestone – deepest Battlegrounds features in one app
Firestone is the tracker built around Battlegrounds specifically. Hero pick win rates from the Firestone community feed into your hero-selection overlay, and the combat simulator runs on the current board with a live probability curve. Anomaly tracking, tribe filtering, and duo mode support are all first-class rather than bolted on.
Where it falls short: Free tier caps some historical stats behind Firestone Premium. Overlay density is higher than HDT’s out of the box; expect an evening tuning what shows on screen.
Pricing:
- Free: The core tracker
- Paid: Firestone Premium around $5 per month; monthly or annual
Platforms: Windows, macOS
Download: firestoneapp.com
Bottom line: The pick for a Battlegrounds-first player who wants every stat, overlay, and simulator wired in.
3. HSReplay – best cloud-side stats platform
HSReplay aggregates deck data and Battlegrounds performance from anyone who runs the HSReplay companion app or an HDT plugin. The web dashboards on hsreplay.net show meta win rates, hero tier lists, tribe frequency, and a per-account history that survives across reinstalls.
Where it falls short: The desktop overlay is thin; most of the value lives on the website. Analysis lags real matches by a few minutes.
Pricing:
- Free: Public dashboards and personal stat submission
- Paid: HSReplay Premium around $10 per month, or discounted annually, unlocks personal deep-dives
Platforms: Web dashboard from any OS; companion app on Windows
Download: hsreplay.net
Bottom line: The right layer when you want to study the meta between sessions, not stare at overlays during them.
4. Bob’s Buddy – best combat simulator as a component
Bob’s Buddy is the Monte Carlo combat simulator that most Battlegrounds trackers embed. Ships inside HDT and Firestone; also runs standalone for players who want a lightweight overlay that shows only the pre-combat probability distribution.
Where it falls short: Standalone mode has almost no other features. It’s a simulator, not a full tracker.
Pricing:
- Free: Everything
- Paid: None
Platforms: Windows
Download: github.com/mmulhall/BobsBuddy
Bottom line: Install as a component of HDT or Firestone; the standalone use case is narrow.
5. HSTracker – best native tracker for macOS
HSTracker is the macOS-native tracker that closes the gap for Mac players who can’t run HDT. Full Battlegrounds support, Bob’s Buddy port, and a lightweight overlay that respects macOS full-screen behaviour.
Where it falls short: Update cadence trails HDT by weeks after major patches; new mechanics need a manual dictionary update. Battlegrounds anomaly support is behind Firestone.
Pricing:
- Free: Everything
- Paid: None
Platforms: macOS
Download: github.com/HearthSim/HSTracker
Bottom line: The default on macOS if you don’t want to install Firestone.
6. Battlegrounds Buddy – best overlay for streams
Battlegrounds Buddy is designed for players who stream: the overlay layouts are colour-safe against green-screen keys, the widgets can be individually resized and repositioned, and the stats panels can be hidden from OBS while remaining visible on the player’s screen.
Where it falls short: Not as deep in personal stat aggregation as HDT or Firestone. Development is community-driven and quieter than the big projects.
Pricing:
- Free: Full feature set
- Paid: Optional developer support
Platforms: Windows
Download: Search “Battlegrounds Buddy” on the developer’s GitHub for the current release channel
Bottom line: The pick if the tracker is going on stream first and your own screen second.
7. Untapped.gg for Hearthstone – best cross-game companion
Untapped.gg is the Overwolf-hosted companion app that started with Magic: The Gathering and expanded into Hearthstone. Battlegrounds tracking is respectable, and the same account carries stats across Legends of Runeterra and other cards games if you play them.
Where it falls short: The Overwolf runtime is heavier than a native tracker. Sensitive to Windows updates that break Overwolf’s overlay hook.
Pricing:
- Free: Basic tracker
- Paid: Untapped Plus around $5 per month
Platforms: Windows, macOS
Download: untapped.gg
Bottom line: Only worth it if you also play other card games Untapped supports; otherwise HDT or Firestone is cleaner.
8. Blizzard Battle.net Companion – best official companion
The Blizzard Battle.net Companion desktop shows friend activity, achievements, and match history for Blizzard games including Hearthstone. Battlegrounds ranking history sits on your Battle.net profile; the companion surfaces it without third-party tools.
Where it falls short: No overlay, no combat simulator, no hero win rates. It’s a companion, not a tracker.
Pricing:
- Free: Everything
- Paid: None
Platforms: Windows, macOS
Download: Inside the Battle.net desktop client under Profile
Bottom line: Useful as a light-touch history log; not a substitute for HDT or Firestone.
How to pick the right one
- If you’re on Windows and haven’t installed anything: Hearthstone Deck Tracker.
- If Battlegrounds is 90% of your play time: Firestone.
- If you want to study meta between sessions: HSReplay.
- If you’re on a Mac: HSTracker or Firestone.
- If your tracker is going on stream: Battlegrounds Buddy.
- If you play multiple card games: Untapped.gg.
- If you only want first-party stats: Battle.net Companion.
FAQ
Are Hearthstone trackers legal?
Yes. Blizzard’s terms allow tools that read the game log file and do not modify the client. HDT, Firestone, and HSTracker all follow this rule.
Do trackers help in Battlegrounds specifically?
Yes. Lobby MMR overlays and combat simulators change how you play mid-game, and hero win rate stats change how you pick heroes at the start.
Which tracker has the best combat simulator?
Bob’s Buddy, which HDT, Firestone, and HSTracker all embed. Standalone accuracy is roughly equal across the three.
Do I need a paid tracker in 2026?
No. HDT, Bob’s Buddy, HSTracker, and Firestone’s free tier cover everything a serious player needs. Paid tiers add historical depth and personal analytics.
Can I run two trackers at once?
Technically yes, but the overlays conflict and one usually wins the hook. Pick one and stick with it.
