# Get started with Scape Optimizer

Compare your first loadouts, find an upgrade and decide when to save a character.

Canonical: https://scapeoptimizer.com/help/getting-started/
Reviewed: 2026-10-25

## Choose the tool for your next decision

Use DPS calculator when you already have gear combinations to compare. Use Best setups when you want the app to search for equipment within a purchase budget or from the items you own.

Flipping helps allocate a GP investment across available Grand Exchange slots. Boss trainers provide focused timing practice, and Guides brings together cached OSRS Wiki strategies and money-making articles.

1. Open Scape Optimizer and choose DPS calculator in the navigation.
2. Choose a monster. Open Saved loadouts → Character to enter your levels, then return to DPS calculator.
3. Choose gear for each loadout, or start from a gear preset.
4. Review the selected prayers, boosts and target settings before comparing results.

## Search for an upgrade

Best setups considers your target, character settings, eligible equipment and additional spending. Owned items contribute zero additional purchase cost. You can also search only the gear marked owned or imported.

1. Open Best setups and choose one monster or an encounter path.
2. Set a purchase budget, mark owned gear and review available reward unlocks.
3. Run the search, then expand a result to inspect its gear and purchase breakdown.
4. Add a result to the calculator when you want to compare it with a manual loadout.

> A completed bounded search reports the best setup it found. It does not always establish the best possible setup across every equipment combination.

## Keep a separate workspace for each character

You can calculate as a guest. Guest work lasts only while the current app page remains open. Sign in to use saved character workspaces, a loadout library and completed searches across devices.

Signing in or creating an account loads the account's character workspace; it does not automatically transfer the guest comparison. To keep a guest comparison, choose Export JSON in the footer first. After signing in, select the intended character and use Import workspace to bring that comparison into it.

An app character is a label for planning settings. It does not connect to or verify a RuneScape account, and Scape Optimizer does not need your RuneScape password.

> Check for All changes saved before leaving signed-in work. Installing the app adds a standalone window or Home Screen shortcut; a connection is still needed for normal use.

## Related guides

- [Compare gear in the DPS calculator](https://scapeoptimizer.com/help/dps-calculator/)
- [Find stronger setups within your budget](https://scapeoptimizer.com/help/best-setups/)
- [Create an account, sign in and recover access](https://scapeoptimizer.com/help/account-access/)
- [Export and import a comparison workspace](https://scapeoptimizer.com/help/workspace-backups/)