In our view, yes, for game masters on Apple devices: Summoning Stone. It offers more customization and more features, and its subscription costs less than Pocket Bard’s. Pocket Bard’s main advantage is that it’s also on Android and Windows.
We make Summoning Stone, so judge the details yourself.
Where Summoning Stone is stronger
- Customization. Build fully customizable scenes, group them by campaign, and create custom campaigns that fit each group you run.
- Features. Millions of songs, reverb room acoustics, a TV display with weather effects, and hands-free control with Siri and Stream Deck.
- It gets out of the way. Every scene plays exactly as you saved it, with one tap to switch, so there’s nothing to manage mid-game.
- Live streaming. Built-in audio is cleared for commercial use with attribution.
- Cost. As of October 2026, the subscription costs less than Pocket Bard’s, and there’s a free tier.
Where Pocket Bard is stronger
- It’s also available on Android and Windows.
- Its music is designed to follow the action, with intensity and music-state controls you adjust live.
Who is Summoning Stone for?
It’s a pro-level app with tons of features. It suits streamers, and professional game masters who run lots of different games and want a custom campaign for each group.
See the details
- Summoning Stone vs Pocket Bard, side by side
- Pocket Bard alternatives
- Cheaper alternative to Pocket Bard
- Best tabletop audio apps
Frequently asked questions
Is there an app better than Pocket Bard?
For game masters on Apple devices, we think Summoning Stone is: more customization, more features and a lower-cost subscription.
Is Summoning Stone better than Pocket Bard for streaming?
Its built-in audio is cleared for commercial use with attribution, and it has hands-free control with Siri and Stream Deck.
What apps are like Pocket Bard?
See Pocket Bard alternatives.
Can I try Summoning Stone for free?
Yes. It’s free to download, with a free tier.