---
{"title": "MPMB's Character Record Sheet alternatives in 2026", "description": "Character tools to try after MPMB's Character Record Sheet, with plain facts on each and a short guide to choosing.", "url": "https://desertislandchallenge.com/mpmbs-character-sheet-alternatives/", "date": "2026-10-16"}
---
Character tools to try after MPMB's Character Record Sheet, with plain facts on each and a short guide to choosing.

Tavern Bag, D&D Beyond and Dungeon Master's Vault are character tools to try after MPMB's Character Record Sheet, with plain facts on each and a short guide to choosing.

| Option | Price listed in source | Play or access detail |
|---|---|---|
| MPMB's Character Record Sheet | $1 or more per month as a patron [^1] | Form-fillable PDFs [^1] |
| D&D Beyond | Hero Tier from $2.17 USD per month [^2] | Maps VTT playable with a free account [^3] |
| Dungeon Master's Vault | not published | Online resources for D&D, with a D&D 5e Character Builder [^4] [^4] |
| Open5e | not published | Site and API open source on Github [^5] |
| Roll20 | not published | Full API requires a Pro subscription [^6] |
| Tavern Bag | $3.99 a month for Tavern Bag Unlimited [^7] | Build a character step by step in any browser [^7] [^7] |

## Why gamers look past MPMB's Character Record Sheet

MPMB's Character Record Sheet is a set of form-fillable PDFs for D&D 5e [^1]. The sheet has optional extra pages for content such as spells, backgrounds, magic items and notes [^1]. A patron option starts at $1 or more per month [^1]. Some players want a character tool with a different shape, and that is a fair reason to browse. Check the current pages before you compare how each tool runs or what each one costs. A tool that lives in a browser or on a phone may suit a player who does most of a game night at a table. Match the way a tool is run to the way you actually play.

## Tavern Bag: a D&D 5e character builder you use in a browser

Tavern Bag is made by the team that publishes this site, Desert Island Challenge. You can build a character step by step: class, background, species, ability scores, subclass, feats and gear [^7]. Its library, which opens after a free sign-in, has 1,817 spells, 3,144 monsters, 2,861 magic items and 175 rules pages from 18 openly licensed books [^7]. You can search the whole library at once or filter it by book, level and class [^7]. When you put on a magic item, the numbers change, with a note saying why [^7]. You can make your own items, species, classes and backgrounds, and Tavern Bag says they work exactly like the published ones [^7]. Tavern Bag says it works in any browser, on a phone or a laptop, and your characters follow your sign-in [^7]. The free plan keeps 3 characters, with no trial and no card required [^7]. Tavern Bag Unlimited, the one paid plan, costs $3.99 a month and lets you keep as many characters as you like [^7] [^7] [^7].

## D&D Beyond: a digital D&D service with a virtual tabletop

D&D Beyond is a digital service for Dungeons & Dragons. Its Hero Tier subscription is listed from $2.17 USD per month [^2]. The Hero Tier includes a subscriber content library and unlimited character slots [^3]. D&D Beyond says its Maps virtual tabletop can be played with a free account [^3]. Deals change, so check the current price.

## Dungeon Master's Vault, Open5e and Roll20

The facts gathered for this page only cover these three tools in the table below, so a reader should compare them on the facts that are listed. The table shows which one is a D&D 5e character builder, which one keeps its site and code open source, and which one needs a paid plan for its full tools.

## How to pick the right MPMB's Character Record Sheet alternative

If you want a browser-based builder with a searchable library, Tavern Bag has one with 1,817 spells, 3,144 monsters and 2,861 magic items that opens after a free sign-in [^7]. If you want to keep many characters, Tavern Bag Unlimited at $3.99 a month lets you keep as many characters as you like [^7] [^7]. If you want a digital service for D&D, D&D Beyond lists a Hero Tier from $2.17 USD per month [^2] with unlimited character slots [^3]. If you want to use D&D Beyond's Maps option, D&D Beyond says it can be played with a free account. For Dungeon Master's Vault, Open5e and Roll20, the facts listed here are thin, so check each tool's own page for how it runs, what it covers and what it costs. Match the way a tool is run to the way you actually play, and check the current pages before you compare prices.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is a good alternative to MPMB's Character Record Sheet?

A few tools do the same character work in a different shape. Tavern Bag lets you build a character step by step and search a library of spells, monsters and magic items in any browser [^7]. D&D Beyond lists a Hero Tier with unlimited character slots. Dungeon Master's Vault offers a D&D 5e Character Builder [^4]. Match the way each tool is run to the way you actually play.

### Is there a free way to use a character tool like MPMB's Character Record Sheet?

Tavern Bag's free plan keeps 3 characters, with no trial and no card required [^7]. D&D Beyond says its Maps option can be played with a free account. MPMB's Character Record Sheet offers Pay What You Want or a patron option for its D&D 5e Character Tools [^1]. Check each page for the current terms before you pick.

### Can a tool like MPMB's Character Record Sheet keep many characters?

Tavern Bag Unlimited at $3.99 a month lets you keep as many characters as you like [^7] [^7]. D&D Beyond's Hero Tier includes unlimited character slots. Where a source does not list a limit, check that tool's page for how many characters it keeps.

### Can MPMB's Character Record Sheet make custom content?

Tavern Bag lets you make your own items, species, classes and backgrounds, and says they work exactly like the published ones [^7]. D&D Beyond's Hero Tier includes a subscriber content library and unlimited character slots. MPMB's Character Record Sheet has optional extra pages for content such as spells, backgrounds and notes [^1]. Check the page for the tool you choose to confirm how homebrew works.

### How is Tavern Bag different from MPMB's Character Record Sheet?

MPMB's Character Record Sheet is a set of form-fillable PDFs for D&D 5e [^1]. Tavern Bag, made by the team that publishes this site, is used in a browser, and you can search its library or build a character step by step there [^7] [^7]. The library opens after a free sign-in [^7]. Your characters follow your sign-in on a phone or a laptop [^7]. Match the tool to how you play.

The free plan keeps 3 characters, with no trial and no card required. [^7] - [Visit Tavern Bag](/go/start-tavernbag)

## Sources

[^1]: MPMB's Character Record Sheet, flapkan.com, read 2026-10-12 (https://www.flapkan.com)
[^2]: D&D Beyond, dndbeyond.com/subscribe, read 2026-10-07 (https://www.dndbeyond.com/subscribe)
[^3]: D&D Beyond, dndbeyond.com, read 2026-10-07 (https://www.dndbeyond.com/)
[^4]: Dungeon Master's Vault, dungeonmastersvault.com, read 2026-10-12 (https://www.dungeonmastersvault.com)
[^5]: Open5e, open5e.com, read 2026-10-07 (https://open5e.com/)
[^6]: Roll20, roll20.net, read 2026-10-07 (https://roll20.net/)
[^7]: Tavern Bag's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher) (/go/start-tavernbag)