
Dice Roller alternatives worth trying for RPG and board game nights
Dice Roller! by Harry Foster covers the basics well: roll up to 40 dice at once, lock individual results between rolls, shake or tap to trigger, and save your favourite setups for reuse. The catch is the cap of 10 saved setups, ads between rolls once you have played for a while, and no support for standard RPG dice notation like 4d6kh3 or 2d20+5. If you run D&D, Pathfinder, Warhammer, or a house-ruled homebrew, those gaps add up fast. Below are seven Dice Roller alternatives on Android, each tested against the kinds of rolls tabletop players actually make.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Paid starts at | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DnDice - 3D RPG Dice Roller | Realistic 3D physics rolls | Full app free | Optional donation | 3D dice with physics, no ads |
| RPG Simple Dice | Fastest tap-to-roll for D&D | Full app free | Free | Named dice pools for common rolls |
| Dice Roller - RPG & D20 Dice | Full D20 system set | Full app free | Free | D4, D6, D8, D10, D12, D20, D100 always ready |
| RPG Dice Roller | Dice notation parser | Full app free | Free | Types formulas like 4d6+2, keeps a full log |
| Virtual Dice EX | Custom dice with faces | Full app free | Free | Design your own dice faces from scratch |
| Dice (7Pixels) | Minimalist, ad-free | Full app free | One-off unlock | Clean UI, works with just one tap |
| Dice (Topobyte) | Open-source pick | Full app free | Free | Lightweight, no tracking, no ads |
Why people leave Dice Roller!
Dice Roller! is a solid casual dice app, but three real complaints keep coming up in reviews and RPG subreddits.
Ads interrupt the flow of play
Multiple users mention interstitial ads that pop up between rolls or when switching setups. During a tabletop session with the phone passed around, that becomes a rhythm-breaker. Alternatives further down solve this either by staying ad-free (DnDice, Dice by Topobyte) or by offering a small one-off unlock.
Ten saved setups is not enough for a real campaign
A D&D character alone might need seven or eight named rolls: to-hit, damage, saving throws, initiative, ability checks, spell attacks, healing, and inspiration. Add a second character, a DM screen worth of monster rolls, or a Warhammer squad, and the ten-slot cap becomes the ceiling on your play style.
No standard dice notation
Dice Roller! wants you to configure each roll from a menu. Most RPG players prefer typing 2d6+3 or 4d6kh3 (drop the lowest, a stat-generation classic) and getting a result. RPG Dice Roller and DnDice both parse this notation natively.
The alternatives
DnDice - 3D RPG Dice Roller, best for realistic physics-based rolls
DnDice was built by Christian Bar with tabletop RPG players in mind. It ships with the full D&D dice set (D4 through D20 plus D100), rolled with 3D physics on a tabletop surface, and it accepts dice notation like 2d20kh1 for advantage or 4d6kl3 for stat generation. Rolls log to a scrollable history so you can prove that critical hit later.
Where it falls short: the interface is functional rather than beautiful, and the 3D animation, while satisfying, does slow down a session if you have to roll dozens of dice. There is a fast mode that skips the animation for bulk rolls.
Pricing:
- Free: full app, no ads, all dice types, notation parser, history log
- Paid: none required. Optional in-app tips.
- vs Dice Roller!: cheaper (free, no ads) and better for anyone who thinks in dice notation.
Migrating from Dice Roller!: there is no import path for saved setups because DnDice does not use setup slots the same way. You just type your formula each time, or save presets from the menu. Rebuilding a full character’s roll set takes ten minutes.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: pick DnDice if you play D&D or Pathfinder and want dice notation with 3D animation. Skip it if you prefer designing custom dice with text or images on the faces.
RPG Simple Dice, best free tap-to-roll for D&D
RPG Simple Dice by CCP is exactly what its name promises. You get D4, D6, D8, D10, D12, D20, and D100 arranged on a single screen. Tap once to add a die to the pool, tap Roll, get the total. Long-press a die type to add several at once. The interface is fast enough that it keeps up with a busy DM.
Where it falls short: no 3D animation, no dice notation, no custom dice faces. It does one thing.
Pricing:
- Free: everything is free, ads are unobtrusive banner style.
- Paid: none.
- vs Dice Roller!: less flexible but faster for standard RPG rolls, and no interstitial pop-ups.
Migrating from Dice Roller!: trivial. There is nothing to migrate. Open the app, tap the dice you need, done.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: pick RPG Simple Dice if you want the least friction between “I need to roll” and a result. Skip it if you need saved presets or dice notation.
Dice Roller - RPG & D20 Dice, best for the full D20 spread
Dice Roller by Vaibhav Deshmukh keeps the full seven-die D20 system permanently on screen. Each die has a plus and minus button so you can quickly set the number to roll, then hit the shared roll button once. The history shows each individual result alongside the total, which matters when a DM wants to see the raw d20 before modifiers.
Where it falls short: no dice notation and no custom dice. The design is utilitarian rather than polished. Ads are present but not aggressive.
Pricing:
- Free: all seven D20-family dice, roll history, add/subtract counters.
- Paid: none.
- vs Dice Roller!: better if you always roll the same dice types and want them at your thumb.
Migrating from Dice Roller!: no migration needed. The layout is different enough that you learn it in a session.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: pick this if D&D 5e is your main game and you want one screen that covers 95% of rolls. Skip it if you play systems with weird dice like FUDGE or Genesys.
RPG Dice Roller, best dice notation parser
RPG Dice Roller by Tarlic is built around a text field. You type 4d6+2, 2d20kh1, 10d6! (exploding sixes), and the app parses it. Rolls stay in a searchable log with timestamps, and you can favourite common formulas for quick reuse.
Where it falls short: no 3D animation, no shake to roll, no custom dice faces. If you like the tactile feel of rolling, this app is not going to give it to you.
Pricing:
- Free: full parser, history, favourites, all standard dice.
- Paid: none.
- vs Dice Roller!: less pretty, but the notation parser makes it much faster for players who know what they want.
Migrating from Dice Roller!: rewrite your ten saved setups as formulas. A 2d6+3 roll takes about five seconds to type once and can be favourited for later.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: pick this if you already think in dice notation. Skip it if you would rather tap a saved setup than type a formula.
Virtual Dice EX, best for custom-face dice
Virtual Dice EX by Naturosoft leans harder into custom dice than any other app on this list. You can design your own dice from scratch, giving each face a text label, colour, or emoji. If your homebrew system uses a d3 with results labelled “advantage, neutral, disadvantage”, you can build it and roll it.
Where it falls short: the interface has a learning curve compared to point-and-tap apps. Standard D&D rolls take slightly longer to set up because the app assumes you want custom.
Pricing:
- Free: full custom dice builder, save presets, no time limits.
- Paid: none.
- vs Dice Roller!: more flexible custom dice, no cap on saved setups.
Migrating from Dice Roller!: rebuild your custom dice with the same face labels. The editor is straightforward once you get past the first setup.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: pick Virtual Dice EX if your table runs a homebrew or narrative system that needs unusual dice. Skip it if you play strictly by the 5e rulebook.
Dice by 7Pixels, best minimalist ad-free feel
Dice by 7Pixels is the app for people who want dice on their phone without a full RPG toolkit around it. A single screen, a set of clean dice icons, and a large roll button. No history, no favourites, no notation, no animations beyond a subtle bounce. That is the point.
Where it falls short: no advanced features means it will not carry a full D&D campaign. There is no shake-to-roll and no save slots at all.
Pricing:
- Free: full functionality, minimal ads.
- Paid: a small one-off unlock removes the banner.
- vs Dice Roller!: fewer features but a calmer interface.
Migrating from Dice Roller!: none required. Open, tap, roll.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: pick this for board game night when you just need a fair d6 without fuss. Skip it for RPG use.
Dice by Topobyte, best open-source pick
Dice by Topobyte closes the list because it is the option most different from Dice Roller!. It is lightweight, open-source, and free of tracking or ads. The UI is spare, offering the standard RPG die shapes with a counter for how many of each to roll. Because it is open source, you can inspect what it does or fork it if you want a custom build.
Where it falls short: the design will not win any awards, and there is no fancy 3D animation. It also lacks dice notation.
Pricing:
- Free: forever, no ads, no tracking, no in-app purchases.
- Paid: none.
- vs Dice Roller!: less polished but no monetisation surface at all.
Migrating from Dice Roller!: none. Configure the dice pool from the counter buttons and you are set.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: pick this if privacy and simplicity matter more than flair. Skip it if you want visual polish.
How to choose
Pick DnDice if you play D&D 5e or Pathfinder and you want the closest thing to real dice with proper notation support. It is the best all-rounder on this list.
Pick RPG Simple Dice if you value speed above anything else and only need the standard seven-die set. Nothing gets you from “roll” to “result” faster.
Pick RPG Dice Roller if you already think in 4d6kh3 and want a text-first workflow. Typing a formula is faster than tapping through menus once you know the syntax.
Pick Virtual Dice EX if your table needs custom dice, whether that is a homebrew narrative system or a board game with unusual results printed on cardboard dice.
Pick Dice by Topobyte if you care about open-source or hate the idea of any tracking or ads in a utility app.
Stay on Dice Roller! if you are a casual roller who already has your ten setups configured and finds the shake-to-roll gimmick genuinely fun. It is not broken, it just does not scale to a full RPG campaign.
FAQ
What is the best free dice roller app for D&D on Android?
For most D&D 5e players, DnDice or RPG Simple Dice will be the best free option. DnDice supports full dice notation and 3D animation with no ads. RPG Simple Dice is faster if you just want to tap the dice you need and see a total.
Is there a dice roller app that supports advantage and disadvantage rolls?
Yes. Both DnDice and RPG Dice Roller support notation like 2d20kh1 (roll two d20 and keep the highest) for advantage, and 2d20kl1 (keep the lowest) for disadvantage. Some apps also expose an advantage button that does the same thing without typing.
Can I create my own custom dice?
Virtual Dice EX is the best option on this list for building fully custom dice with your own text, emoji, or colour on each face. Dice Roller! also allows some custom setups but caps you at ten saved slots.
Do these dice roller apps work offline?
All seven of the alternatives above work offline. Dice rolling does not require a network connection, and most of these apps do not use the internet at all except for updates.
Is there an open-source dice roller for Android?
Yes. Dice by Topobyte is open source and available on the Play Store. If you want to inspect the code or roll your own build, it is the pick.
Why does Dice Roller! show ads between rolls?
Dice Roller! is free with in-app purchases, and the developer funds the app through banner and interstitial ads. Several of the alternatives here (DnDice, RPG Simple Dice, Dice by Topobyte) show no interstitial ads at all.