D&D Beyond vs Roll20 in 2026
Compare D&D Beyond and Roll20 on what each says it does, what it costs, and how to start, with Tavern Bag as another option to weigh.
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.
D&D Beyond says its virtual tabletop, called Maps, can be played with a free account [1]. Roll20 says its full API extends the platform and needs a Pro subscription [2]. Tavern Bag is a third option with a step by step character builder [3].
| Option | Monthly price listed | Plan that gives more characters |
|---|---|---|
| D&D Beyond Hero Tier [4] | From $2.17 USD per month [4] | Unlimited character slots [1] |
| D&D Beyond Master Tier [4] | From $4.58 USD per month [4] | not published |
| Roll20 | not published | not published |
| Tavern Bag Unlimited [3] | $3.99 a month [3] | Keep as many characters as you like [3] |
The short answer
D&D Beyond says its character builder offers premade or custom options and mobile and tablet support [1]. It also describes Maps as the official D&D virtual tabletop available to all D&D Beyond users [1]. Roll20 says its full API lets you add new features and automate campaigns, and that it needs a Pro subscription [2]. Tavern Bag lets you build a character step by step [3].
If you want to play on a virtual tabletop with a free account, D&D Beyond's page says you can do that in Maps [1]. If you want unlimited character slots, D&D Beyond says Hero Tier includes them [1] and lists Hero Tier from $2.17 USD per month [4], and Tavern Bag Unlimited is $3.99 a month [3] and lets you keep as many characters as you like [3]. If you want to search openly licensed books after a free sign-in, Tavern Bag says that is what it offers [3]. Roll20 needs a closer look on its own pages, since the sources used for this page cover only its Pro API [2].
What D&D Beyond and Roll20 offer
D&D Beyond. D&D Beyond says its Maps tool can be played with a free account [1]. It calls Maps the official D&D virtual tabletop available to all D&D Beyond users [1]. Its character builder offers premade or custom options, with mobile and tablet support so you can play anywhere [1].
It says the Hero Tier subscription includes a subscriber content library and unlimited character slots [1]. The Master Tier subscription includes sharing book content and using homebrew content in Maps [1].
Roll20. Roll20 says its full API is for extending the platform: you add new features and automate campaigns with it, and a Pro subscription is required [2]. Beyond that, the sources used for this page say nothing more about what Roll20 does, so check its own pages for the rest.
What Tavern Bag is built for
Tavern Bag is made by Lunar Werx, the team that publishes this site [3].
After a free sign-in you can search 1,817 spells, 3,144 monsters, 2,861 magic items and 175 rules pages from 18 openly licensed books [3]. The library has 8,381 entries and opens after a free sign-in [3]. You can search the whole library at once or filter it by book, level and class [3].
For characters, you build step by step: class, background, species, ability scores, subclass, feats and gear [3]. When you put on a magic item, your sheet's numbers change and a note explains why [3]. You can make your own items, species, classes and backgrounds, and Tavern Bag says they work like the published ones [3].
Tavern Bag says it runs in any browser on a phone or laptop, and your characters follow your sign-in [3].
Pricing and fees
D&D Beyond. The Hero Tier is listed from $2.17 USD per month [4]. The Master Tier is listed from $4.58 USD per month [4]. D&D Beyond says Maps can be played with a free account [1].
Roll20. The sources used for this page do not publish a Roll20 price. They say only that a Pro subscription is required for the full API [2]. Check Roll20's own pricing before you decide.
Tavern Bag. Tavern Bag Unlimited costs $3.99 a month [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].
Getting started
D&D Beyond. You can play in Maps with a free account [1]. In the character builder you choose from premade or custom options [1]. If you want unlimited character slots, that comes with the Hero Tier subscription [1].
Roll20. The sources used for this page do not describe how to set up or start a game on Roll20. They say only that its full API, for adding features and automating campaigns, needs a Pro subscription [2].
Tavern Bag. Start with a free sign-in, which opens the library of 8,381 entries [3]. Search everything at once, or filter by book, level and class [3]. To make a character, you move step by step through class, background, species, ability scores, subclass, feats and gear [3]. Tavern Bag says it opens in any browser on a phone or laptop, and your characters follow your sign-in [3]. The free plan keeps 3 characters [3].
Things to check before you choose
These questions apply to any of the tools:
- Which books and rules do you need, and does the tool include them or ask you to buy them separately?
- Do you need a virtual tabletop for online play, or mainly a place to build and keep characters?
- How many characters do you want to keep, and what does the plan that holds them cost per month?
- Which devices will you and your table use, and does the tool work well on them?
- Do you want to make your own items, species, classes or backgrounds, and on which plan?
- Does your group need to share content, and what does sharing require?
- Is the price for the plan you need published, or do you have to look it up on the tool's own page?
- Which rules systems does your group play, and does the tool cover them?
How to choose
If you want a virtual tabletop you can try with a free account, D&D Beyond's page says Maps can be played that way [1]. If you also want to use homebrew content in Maps, D&D Beyond ties that to the Master Tier [1].
If you want unlimited character slots, D&D Beyond says Hero Tier includes them [1] and lists it from $2.17 USD per month [4], and Tavern Bag Unlimited is $3.99 a month [3] and lets you keep as many characters as you like [3].
If you want to search a library and filter by book, level and class, Tavern Bag says it offers that [3]. If you want magic items to change your sheet's numbers with a note explaining why, Tavern Bag says it does that [3].
If you want to extend a platform with your own features and automation, Roll20 says its full API is for that and needs a Pro subscription [2].
Frequently asked questions
Can you play D&D Beyond Maps with a free account?
D&D Beyond says you can. Its page invites you to play in its Maps virtual tabletop with your free account [1]. It also describes Maps as the official D&D virtual tabletop available to all D&D Beyond users [1]. Check D&D Beyond's own pages for exactly what a free account includes before you plan a session around it.
How much does D&D Beyond Hero Tier cost?
D&D Beyond lists Hero Tier from $2.17 USD per month [4]. It says Hero Tier includes a subscriber content library and unlimited character slots [1]. Master Tier is listed from $4.58 USD per month [4]. Confirm the current price on D&D Beyond's own page, since the listing may change.
What does Roll20 say a Pro subscription is needed for?
Roll20 says its full API requires a Pro subscription [2]. Its page describes the API as a way to extend Roll20, add new features and automate campaigns [2]. The sources used for this page give no Roll20 price and no other plan details, so look at Roll20's own pricing page for the full picture.
How many characters can you keep free in Tavern Bag?
The free plan keeps 3 characters, with no trial and no card required [3]. Tavern Bag Unlimited costs $3.99 a month and lets you keep as many characters as you like [3]. It is the one paid plan, for keeping more characters [3].
Can you build D&D characters on a phone browser?
D&D Beyond says its character builder offers premade or custom options and mobile and tablet support [1]. Tavern Bag says it runs in any browser on a phone or laptop, and your characters follow your sign-in [3]. The sources used for this page say nothing about Roll20 on phones, so check its own pages.
The free plan keeps 3 characters, with no trial and no card required. [3]
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