Best D&D character builders for experienced DMs in 2026

Q: How much does D&D Beyond cost for a dungeon master?

D&D Beyond lists Hero Tier from $2.17 USD per month . It lists Master Tier from $4.58 USD per month . The tiers differ in price, so read the live listing for both before you decide which one suits the way you prepare sessions.

Q: How many characters can be kept on each plan?

Tavern Bag's free plan keeps 3 characters , and Tavern Bag Unlimited keeps as many characters as you like . D&D Beyond lists unlimited character slots with Hero Tier , which is a table fact rather than a page one. For the other builders, check their own listings.

Six D&D character builders compared for experienced dungeon masters, with facts on prices, character slots and questions to ask before choosing one.

By Desert Island Challenge · 2026-10-14

Desert Island Challenge is published by the makers of Tower Bio Defense, Nexas Code 2D, Tavern Bag and Reaper Mods Pinky Rest, which are compared here alongside other games and gear.

Six D&D character builders compared for experienced dungeon masters, with facts on prices, character slots and questions to ask before choosing one. D&D Beyond lists Hero Tier from $2.17 USD per month ^[1]. MPMB offers its D&D 5e Character Tools as Pay What You Want or through Patreon ^[2]. Tavern Bag lets you build a character step by step and search a library of spells, monsters and magic items, in any browser ^[3].

Option	Price listed	Free option	Characters kept
D&D Beyond	Hero Tier from $2.17 USD per month ^[1]; Master Tier from $4.58 USD per month ^[1]	not published	Unlimited character slots with Hero Tier ^[4]
Roll20	not published; the full API for the platform requires a Pro subscription ^[5]	not published	not published
Open5e	not published	not published	not published
Dungeon Master's Vault	not published	not published	not published
MPMB's Character Record Sheet	Pay What You Want or from $1 a month through Patreon ^[2] ^[2]	Pay What You Want ^[2]	not published
Tavern Bag	Free plan keeps 3 characters ^[3]; Tavern Bag Unlimited costs $3.99 a month ^[3]	The free plan keeps 3 characters, with no trial and no card required ^[3]	3 characters on the free plan ^[3]; Tavern Bag Unlimited keeps as many characters as you like ^[3]

What experienced dungeon masters need from D&D character builders

A dungeon master with years at the table is not learning what a class does. The rules are already in their head, and they often build several characters at once: a full party of player characters, or a cast of non player characters for one storyline.

The work is the bookkeeping. Ability scores, feats, subclass choices and gear all have to line up, and a magic item picked up mid session changes numbers on the sheet straight away. A builder is worth having when it shortens that work instead of adding a second set of rules to learn.

The limits matter just as much. A builder only helps if it covers the content the table actually plays with, published or home made. If the group plays from phones and laptops, the sheet has to travel with them.

Cost shapes the choice too. The options here sit at very different prices, from free to a monthly fee, so the question is what the tool adds on top of what the table already owns.

D&D Beyond for experienced dungeon masters

D&D Beyond lists Hero Tier from $2.17 USD per month ^[1]. It lists Master Tier from $4.58 USD per month ^[1].

Its pages say Hero Tier includes 1-week early access for pre-ordered books ^[1].

A dungeon master weighing the two tiers is choosing between two different sets of tools at two different prices, so read the current listing for each before deciding. Check the site for what a paid tier adds to character building at the table.

Roll20 for experienced dungeon masters

Roll20 says its full API for extending the platform requires a Pro subscription ^[5].

The facts available here cover that one point, so check the Roll20 site for what the character building side does and what it costs.

Open5e for experienced dungeon masters

Open5e says its site and API are open-source on Github ^[6]. It says the API includes all monsters and spells from the SRD and other OGL sources as well as a search API ^[6].

The facts here do not describe a character builder in detail, so check the Open5e site for how its content is used while you prepare a session.

Dungeon Master's Vault for experienced dungeon masters

Dungeon Master's Vault provides online resources for Dungeons & Dragons players and Dungeon Masters ^[7]. It offers a D&D 5e Character Builder ^[7].

Its page says over 20 million characters have been generated ^[7].

Check the site for what the builder covers and whether a finished character can be saved, printed or shared with the group.

MPMB's Character Record Sheet for experienced dungeon masters

MPMB's Character Record Sheet is a complete character builder, its page says ^[2]. The page offers its D&D 5e Character Tools as Pay What You Want or through Patreon ^[2].

The page says the sheet is designed for tabletop use with no ads, no subscription, and no internet connection required ^[2].

Check the page for what the sheet includes and how a table with several players would use it.

Tavern Bag for experienced dungeon masters

Tavern Bag is made by the team that publishes this site. You build a character step by step, choosing class, background, species, ability scores, subclass, feats and gear ^[3].

The library opens after a free sign-in and holds 8,381 entries ^[3]. You can search the whole library at once or filter it by book, level and class ^[3].

Putting a magic item on the character changes the numbers, with a note saying why ^[3]. You can make your own items, species, classes and backgrounds, and Tavern Bag says they work exactly like the published ones ^[3].

Tavern Bag says it works in any browser, on a phone or a laptop, and your characters follow your sign-in ^[3]. The free plan keeps 3 characters, with no trial and no card required ^[3]. Tavern Bag Unlimited costs $3.99 a month and keeps as many characters as you like ^[3].

Matching the tool to the job

Build a whole cast, not one hero. Dungeon Master's Vault offers a D&D 5e Character Builder ^[7]. Tavern Bag walks through class, background, species, ability scores, subclass, feats and gear ^[3].

Keep the monthly cost low. Tavern Bag Unlimited costs $3.99 a month ^[3]. D&D Beyond lists Hero Tier from $2.17 USD per month ^[1] and Master Tier from $4.58 USD per month ^[1]. MPMB offers its tools as Pay What You Want or through Patreon ^[2].

Play where the signal is poor. MPMB's page says its sheet needs no internet connection ^[2].

Look things up mid session. Tavern Bag lets you search the whole library at once or filter it by book, level and class ^[3]. Open5e says its API includes all monsters and spells from the SRD and other OGL sources as well as a search API ^[6].

Start without paying. Tavern Bag's free plan keeps 3 characters, with no trial and no card required ^[3]. Dungeon Master's Vault provides online resources for Dungeons & Dragons players and Dungeon Masters ^[7].

Extend a platform you already run. Roll20 says its full API for the platform requires a Pro subscription ^[5].

Questions to ask before you choose

Is the builder meant for one player or a whole table? Check each listing for how many characters a plan keeps.

What does the listing charge today? D&D Beyond lists Hero Tier from $2.17 USD per month ^[1]. Prices change, so read the live page before deciding.

Does the builder accept the content your table plays with? Check each site for the books and the home made options it takes in.

Can it be used where the table has no connection? MPMB's page says its sheet needs no internet connection ^[2]. For the others, check before you rely on it.

How much setup does a new option take? Check whether a tool is ready to use on arrival or asks for an account first.

Does the price buy content as well as tools? D&D Beyond lists Master Tier from $4.58 USD per month ^[1]. Read what each listing includes.

Frequently asked questions

Which D&D character builders have a free plan?

Tavern Bag has a free plan that keeps 3 characters, with no trial and no card required ^[3]. MPMB offers its D&D 5e Character Tools as Pay What You Want or through Patreon ^[2]. Dungeon Master's Vault offers a D&D 5e Character Builder ^[7]. For the rest, check each site for what it gives away at no cost.

How much does D&D Beyond cost for a dungeon master?

D&D Beyond lists Hero Tier from $2.17 USD per month ^[1]. It lists Master Tier from $4.58 USD per month ^[1]. The tiers differ in price, so read the live listing for both before you decide which one suits the way you prepare sessions.

Does MPMB's Character Record Sheet need an internet connection?

MPMB's page says the sheet is designed for tabletop use with no ads, no subscription, and no internet connection required ^[2]. That suits a table that plays where the signal is poor. For the other builders here, check their own sites before you rely on the same thing.

What does Tavern Bag Unlimited include?

Tavern Bag Unlimited costs $3.99 a month and keeps as many characters as you like ^[3]. It is the one paid plan, for keeping more characters ^[3]. The free plan keeps 3 characters, with no trial and no card required ^[3]. Check the listing for what else a paid month covers.

How many characters can be kept on each plan?

Tavern Bag's free plan keeps 3 characters ^[3], and Tavern Bag Unlimited keeps as many characters as you like ^[3]. D&D Beyond lists unlimited character slots with Hero Tier ^[4], which is a table fact rather than a page one. For the other builders, check their own listings.

The free plan keeps 3 characters, with no trial and no card required. ^[3]

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