The right initiative tracker depends on where you play and who needs to see the order. A browser tracker or a phone app usually suits a group at one table. A virtual tabletop module usually suits a group that plays remotely.
The four kinds of initiative tracker
| Kind | Install | Account | Works with no internet | Players see the order | Maps and tokens | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Browser tracker | No | Usually no | Usually needs a connection to load | Varies | Usually no | One table, quick setup |
| Phone app | Yes | Varies | Usually yes | Varies | Usually no | One table, game master on a phone |
| Virtual tabletop module | Part of the virtual tabletop | Usually yes | Usually no | Usually yes | Yes | Remote or hybrid groups |
| Pen and paper | No | No | Yes | Only if you show the list | Physical map and miniatures, if you use them | Tables that want no screens |
What to check before you pick one
- Turn order and rounds: does it sort by initiative, step to the next turn and count rounds?
- Hit points and conditions: can you track damage, healing, temporary hit points and conditions with a duration?
- Undo: can you reverse a wrong hit point change?
- What players can see: can they see the order, and how do they reach it?
- Where data is stored: is it on the device, in the browser or in an account, and can you get it out?
- Whether it is still updated: check the last update date before you rely on it.
If your phone tracker was discontinued
First check whether the old app can export your party or combat data to a file. Keep it installed until you have copied everything you need, because deleting an app can delete its data. Then set up your party in the new tool. D20 Desk has no importer made for other trackers’ files, so plan to enter your party by hand.
Where D20 Desk fits
D20 Desk has a free browser tracker. It needs no account, works on a phone and saves the combat in that browser only, with nothing sent to a server. It tracks turn order, rounds, hit points, temporary hit points and all 15 SRD conditions, with an optional round countdown. Picking an SRD monster fills in its initiative bonus, hit points and Armor Class. It has no players link, no undo and no death saves, and it needs a connection the first time you open it.
The Android app is on Google Play now. It is free to download, with unlimited combats in the tracker, and has no account, no ads and no analytics. It adds death saves, concentration check reminders, 30 steps of undo and an ongoing notification that shows who is up and who is on deck. Players can scan a QR code and follow the turn order in their own browser, with no app and no account. That link works on local Wi-Fi only and closes when combat ends. The free version allows the notification and the link in two combats a month. Pro, a one-time purchase and not a subscription, makes them unlimited.
When D20 Desk is the wrong choice
- Your players are remote. The table link works on local Wi-Fi only.
- You want maps and tokens on screen. D20 Desk has no battle map.
- You want an app on iPhone today. It is not out yet. The browser tracker works on a phone.
- You need sync across devices. There is no account, and your data stays on your device.
- You run a game that is not fifth edition. The creatures and rules are for 5E.
- Your table wants no screens at all. Pen and paper suits that better.
Frequently asked questions
Which initiative tracker should a DM use?
Pick the kind that matches where your players sit. A browser tracker or a phone app usually suits one table, and a virtual tabletop module usually suits remote play.
Is there a free online initiative tracker?
Yes. The D20 Desk initiative tracker is free, needs no account and runs in your browser. It saves the combat in that browser only.
What can replace a discontinued phone initiative tracker?
Another phone app or a browser tracker, chosen with the checks on this page. Export your data first if the old app allows it, and keep the old app installed until you have copied what you need.
Do I need an app if I play on a virtual tabletop?
Usually not. A virtual tabletop usually has a turn order of its own, so a separate tracker is only worth adding if it does something yours does not.