Your guide to the best official and alternative Warhammer 40k 10th Edition army list builder apps and programs out there (to replace Battlescribe.)
Updated on May 5th, 2025, by Rob Baer with new information, new 40k army builder apps, and links to relevant content.
Battlescribe had a good run, but let’s be honest, it’s been hanging on by duct tape and good intentions. If you’ve ever lost a list mid-edit or stared at outdated points with the rage of a Black Templar chaplain, you’re not alone.
With Warhammer 40k 10th Edition in full swing, it’s time for something better. This list cuts through the noise and gives you five solid army list builders that actually work in 2025—fast, accurate, and built for real hobby time, not frustration. Whether you’re prepping for a tournament or theorycrafting your next crusade, these are the tools worth your clicks.
Guide to Warhammer 40k Army Builders:
When it comes to building the perfect Warhammer 40k army list, Battlescribe has long been the mainstay for players. However, with many hobbyists seeking fresh options, there are some exciting 10th Edition list builder alternatives that bring new features and functionality to the table. Here are four of the best Battlescribe alternatives for building your ultimate 40k list:
- Newrecruit EU
- Quartermaster
- Battle Forge (in Warhammer 40,000 app)
- Phalanx Tools
- Battlebase
- Oldworldbuilder (For Warhammer The Old World)
One other thing to mention is that there isn’t much point in paying for Battlescribe. From all indications, the developer stopped working on it long ago. As Battlescribe’s data maintainers are quick to point out, the developer gets all the money from the payments. In contrast, the incredible team that updates all the data for the app does not make a dime from all their hard work!
| Army Builder | Pros | Cons |
| Warhammer Units |
|
|
| Phalanx Tools |
|
|
| New Recruit EU |
|
|
| Quartermaster |
|
|
| Battlebase |
|
|
| Warhammer 40k App (Battle Forge) |
|
|
| Oldworldbuilder |
|
|
WH40k List Builders & The Battlescribe Situation
Historically, Battlescribe has been the go-to tool for many Warhammer players, offering a lot of functionality and a large community that helps keep unit data up-to-date. But, as the game evolves, so do the needs of its players. More folks are starting to seek a Battlescribe alternative—one that might be easier to use, offers better visuals, or simply adapts faster to the latest edition.
Enter the world of alternative 40k list makers! These fresh tools offer new ways to organize and optimize your army lists. Some come with added features like streamlined interfaces, faction-specific recommendations, and better points tracking—all while keeping things nice and clear.
1. New Recruit EU
New Recruit is a community-driven tool that’s quickly gaining traction, particularly in Europe. This web-based list builder covers Warhammer 40k and other games with a no-nonsense design that gets you from idea to army fast.
- Pros: Free to use, community-supported updates, straightforward design.
- Cons: Limited features; community updates can vary in timing.
If you’re on the hunt for a no-fuss way to keep your lists in check without losing accuracy, New Recruit is your new best friend. It might not have all the flashy extras, but it gets the job done like a reliable Swiss Army knife.
Originally whipped up for 9th Age tournaments, it claims it can make sense of those Battlescribe files too—so that’s a bonus! You can check it out by clicking here New Recruit EU.
2. Quartermaster
Quartermaster has been in the game for a while, focused on flexibility across multiple wargames. This app offers easy access to many army-building options, keeping your list neat and organized like a veteran sergeant’s kit.
- Pros: Works offline, supports multiple wargames, and has customization galore.
- Cons: Limited official support; requires some manual data updates; site may be down.
For those who play more than just 40k, Quartermaster is a versatile tool. Just be prepared to do a bit of manual work to keep things current. This is an iOS replacement that doesn’t use the same data format, so while it’s not compatible, you can use this to build your rosters on iOS.
They have forms for factions that are also updated by the community, so if you want to help, you definitely can, and if you’re looking for an alternative, you might as well download it and give it a shot! As of this writing, it appears to be down, but you can check it out by clicking here: Quartermaster. to see if it is live again.
3. Battle Forge (in Warhammer 40,000 app)
From the source, Battle Forge is naturally an alternative to Battlescribe built into the official Warhammer 40,000 app. It’s like getting your bolter directly from Mars—official, effective, and with all the latest data straight from Games Workshop HQ.
- Pros: Always up-to-date, GW’s official tool, seamless integration with faction rules.
- Cons: It requires a subscription; it is limited to 40k, naturally.
If you’re all about the latest official rules and a polished interface, Battle Forge is a great choice. The subscription fee might be a bit like tithing to the Emperor, but hey, it’s as official as you can get. You can get it here.
4. Phalanx Tools
Phalanx Tools is a fresh face with some solid features, designed to be as flexible as a guardsman on leave. It offers a straightforward, no-fuss interface, making list-building fast without making you dig through endless options.
- Pros: Clean, simple design; easy to navigate; no app download required.
- Cons: Limited customization compared to Battlescribe; not yet as data-rich as other options.
This is an open-source roster editor project to replace BattleScribe by the Data maintainers themselves. This is a cool idea as the code can be seen, and you can go on and point out things you think are wrong and raise ideas.
Obviously, at this point, this is in pre-alpha, but with the way they are going about it, this could turn out to be very rewarding down the road! They also already have a giant Discord, so while it might be a little while until this comes to fruition, things are looking good, and it is worth checking out.
Especially if you know how to code, you could help get the project moving along to completion so we all could benefit from an alternative Warhammer 40k army builder alternative app! You can check it out by clicking here Phalanx Tools.
5. BattleBase:
Building a tournament-ready army list used to feel like cramming for a math test—BattleBase fixes that, making roster-building fast, easy, and completely legal (no spreadsheets, no tears). Once you’ve got your army locked and loaded, the app walks you through game setup step-by-step, so you won’t forget that one secondary objective again and have to awkwardly explain it later.
During the match, BattleBase has your back with phase-by-phase tracking, keeping every move, point, and ability exactly where it should be. Need to know your available stratagems or how many CP you’ve got left? It’s all tracked automatically—no codex-flipping marathons required. And because real-time victory point tracking is baked right in, you’ll always know if you’re winning… or if it’s time to start praying for hot dice.
Feeling nostalgic (or mildly traumatized) about a past game? Full battle logs let you relive every brilliant play—or hilariously bad decision—after the dust settles. Plus, you can connect with friends, track your personal win/loss records, and hand out some well-earned bragging rights.
No matter how you like to play, BattleBase syncs across your phone, tablet, or laptop, so your battlefield stays organized instead of descending into paper chaos. It even packs in bonus tools like a dice roller, photo uploads, chess timer, livestream overlay, and detailed personal stats—because who doesn’t love showing off a 90% win rate?
And the best part? Even more features are rolling in soon, including tournament support, faction rankings, and full Crusade campaign management. It’s like your whole Warhammer world, streamlined and upgraded.
6. Old World Builder: Warhammer The Old World App
Don’t sleep on the latest addition to the army builder scene—Oldworldbuilder is here! This free app is built specifically for Warhammer: The Old World, letting you whip up and tweak your army lists anytime, anywhere. Think of it like a command center that fits right in your pocket—minus the flashing lights and shouting generals.
Sure, it doesn’t pack every unit rule under the sun (yet), but Oldworldbuilder nails the important stuff: simplicity and speed. Building an army by points couldn’t be easier. Right now, it’s running as a mobile-optimized website you can slap onto your home screen like an app, with a full Android release coming once the rest of the army data rolls in.
Web App Perks
You can already create, edit, duplicate, delete, export, and print your units and lists with ease. Oldworldbuilder supports fan-favorite armies like Orcs & Goblins, Empire, and Dwarfs—magic items included—making it a must-have tool for Warhammer: The Old World players who want to spend less time fiddling and more time fighting.
This gem was cooked up by a longtime Warhammer Fantasy fan who also happens to be a front-end developer. Tired of overpriced or clunky army builders, they built Oldworldbuilder to be fast, free, and frustration-free. If you’re ready to simplify your army building without handing over a pile of gold crowns, give Oldworldbuilder a shot.
Final Thoughts on the List Builder Alternatives
In conclusion, while Battlescribe has served us loyal Warhammer 40k players well, it’s clear that the tides of technology are shifting. With a range of fresh alternatives like Phalanx Tools, Quartermaster, Battle Forge, and Newrecruit, there are plenty of exciting new options to help you craft your ultimate army list.
Whether you’re looking for a straightforward interface, a community-driven spirit, or the latest data straight from the source, there’s an alternative Battlescribe Warhammer 40k list builder out there for everyone.
See The Best Warhammer 40k Armies Right Now
What’s your favorite alternative 10th Edition Warhammer 40k army list builder app program to Battlescribe? Which of the others have you tried?
