What does the Warhammer 40,000 app do, and is it free?
App facts checked against Games Workshop articles dated up to 23 July 2026.
It is Games Workshop's rules companion for a phone or tablet, and it launched as free to download. It carries all the Combat Patrol rules at no charge, scores your games in a tool called War Journal and shows you your opponent's army rules. Games Workshop says Combat Patrol content needs no rulebook, codex or subscription.
What it does
- Combat Patrol support. Datasheets, army rules, enhancements and a mission written for each army.
- War Journal. You set up a game, play it and keep score in the app. Combat Patrol games can be played in it.
- Your opponent's rules. You can see their army rules and datasheets as you play.
- Points. The June 2026 app update brought full unit points, with an interactive Munitorum Field Manual online alongside.
- Updates. The July 2026 rules update reached the app within hours of release.
What is free and what is not
| You want to | What Games Workshop says |
|---|---|
| Play a Combat Patrol game | All Combat Patrol rules in the app are free (23 July 2026) |
| Download the app | The 2023 launch post said it was free to download on iOS and Android, and that some other elements would eventually become paid features |
| Use rules you unlocked before | Codex rules you unlocked last edition stay accessible after the update (15 June 2026) |
| Check points | New points were announced on 15 June 2026 and went live in the app and online on 17 June 2026 |
We do not know the app's current prices, so check the store page for anything that costs money.
Before you rely on it
- It follows the current edition only. If you buy our 10th Edition Introductory Set (£33.58, in stock), keep its handbook for that game's rules.
- Older Combat Patrol boxes may lag. Support began with one current box per army. Our page on 10th edition models and boxes says what to check before you plan around the app for an older box.
Rules and points keep moving too, and the app follows them; a printed copy will not. What changed in 11th edition covers the update schedule.
If you would rather not use a phone
The Starter Set (£126.40) holds a full Core Rulebook and reference sheets, so a first game needs no screen. The core rules are also a free download. Our page on which boxes hold the rules covers the rest.
Common questions
Is there a Warhammer 40K app?
Games Workshop's Warhammer 40,000 app is on the Apple and Google stores. Its 23 July 2026 update added full Combat Patrol support, including missions you play through in War Journal and score in the app.
How much is the 40K app?
It launched as free to download, and all the Combat Patrol rules in it are free. In 2023 Games Workshop said some other elements would later become paid, so check the store listing for current prices.
Do I need Warhammer+ to use the app?
Not for Combat Patrol, which needs no rulebook, codex or subscription. Warhammer+ is Games Workshop's subscription, and we cannot say what it adds beyond that.
Can I use the app for 10th edition games?
Not the updated app. It does not support older editions of Warhammer 40,000, and Games Workshop told players to turn off auto-updates if they wanted to finish games of 10th edition first.
Warhammer Community articles: Combat Patrol support, 23 July 2026; points and app update, 15 June 2026; July rules update, 22 July 2026; app launch and pricing statement, 21 June 2023; core rules download, 1 June 2026; Starter Set contents, 5 July 2026. Prices and stock: this shop, read live.