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Best D&D character builders in 2026

Compare D&D Beyond, Roll20, Open5e and Tavern Bag for building D&D characters, with what each says it offers and what to check first.

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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 builder offers premade or custom options with mobile and tablet support. [1] Tavern Bag lets you build a character step by step. [2] Open5e says its site and API are open-source on Github. [3] Roll20 says its full API needs a Pro subscription. [4]

OptionPaid plan price as listedCharacter limit as listed
D&D BeyondHero Tier from $2.17 USD per month [5]Hero Tier has unlimited character slots [6]
Roll20not publishednot published
Open5enot publishednot published
Tavern BagUnlimited $3.99 a month [7]Free plan keeps 3 characters [8]

How to read this list

D&D Beyond, Roll20, Open5e and Tavern Bag are the four options here, and each is described below by what its own source says. Prices are as each source lists them, and they can change.

Things to check before you choose: where the rules content comes from, how many characters you can keep, and what a paid plan costs.

D&D Beyond: character builder, subscriptions and a virtual tabletop

D&D Beyond says its character builder offers premade or custom options and mobile and tablet support. [1]

It says Maps is the official D&D virtual tabletop available to all D&D Beyond users. [9] It also says Maps can be played with a free account. [10]

Its Hero Tier is listed from $2.17 USD per month. [5] It includes unlimited character slots, monthly new character options and 150+ cosmetic perks. [11] Master Tier is listed from $4.58 USD per month. [12] It includes content sharing and using homebrew content in Maps. [13]

Roll20: a full API that needs a Pro subscription

Roll20 says its full API for extending the platform requires a Pro subscription. [4]

The source does not say how its character sheets work or what a free account keeps. Check its current pages for character building, limits and pricing before you decide.

Open5e: open-source site and API with spells and monsters

Open5e says its site and API are open-source on Github. [3] It says its API includes all monsters and spells from the SRD and other OGL sources plus a search API. [14]

It also says some content is missing because it was not released as part of the 5e SRD. [15] Check whether the books your table uses are covered. The source does not describe a step by step character builder.

Tavern Bag: step by step character builder

Tavern Bag is made by Lunar Werx. [16]

You can build a character step by step: class, background, species, ability scores, subclass, feats and gear. [2] When you put on a magic item, your sheet's numbers change and a note explains why. [17] You can make your own items, species, classes and backgrounds, and they work like the published ones. [18]

It runs in any browser on a phone or laptop, and your characters follow your sign-in. [19] The free plan keeps 3 characters, with no trial and no card required. [8] Tavern Bag Unlimited costs $3.99 a month. [7]

How to choose

If you want a builder with premade or custom options and phone and tablet support, D&D Beyond says it offers that. [1] If you also want its official virtual tabletop, it says Maps works with a free account. [10]

If you want to make your own items, species, classes and backgrounds, Tavern Bag lets you do that, and they work like the published ones. [18] If you want to keep many characters, Tavern Bag Unlimited is the one paid plan, for keeping more characters. [20] The free plan keeps 3 characters. [8]

If you want to look up spells and monsters in an open-source reference, Open5e says its API includes them from the SRD and other OGL sources. [14] Check that the content you need is there. [15]

If you plan to extend a tabletop with scripts, Roll20 says the full API needs a Pro subscription. [4] Check its builder and limits yourself.

Frequently asked questions

Does D&D Beyond have a free character builder?

The sources here do not say what D&D Beyond's free account covers for character building. They say Maps can be played with a free account. [10] They also say Hero Tier includes unlimited character slots. [6] Check its current pages for free character limits before you commit to a plan.

How many characters can Tavern Bag keep for free?

The free plan keeps 3 characters, with no trial and no card required. [8] Tavern Bag Unlimited costs $3.99 a month. [7] Tavern Bag Unlimited at $3.99 a month lets you keep as many characters as you like. [21] Tavern Bag Unlimited is the one paid plan, for keeping more characters. [20]

Is Open5e open source?

Open5e says its site and API are both open-source on Github. [3] It also says its API includes all monsters and spells from the SRD and other OGL sources, plus a search API. [14] It adds that some content is missing because it was not released as part of the 5e SRD. [15]

What does D&D Beyond Hero Tier cost?

D&D Beyond lists Hero Tier from $2.17 USD per month. [5] It says the tier includes unlimited character slots, monthly new character options and 150+ cosmetic perks. [11] Master Tier is listed from $4.58 USD per month. [12] Check the current page, since listed prices can change.

Can a D&D character builder be used on a phone?

D&D Beyond says its character builder has mobile and tablet support. [1] Tavern Bag runs in any browser on a phone or laptop, and your characters follow your sign-in. [19] For Roll20 and Open5e, the sources here say nothing on phones, so check their pages.

The free plan keeps 3 characters, with no trial and no card required. [8]

Try Tavern Bag

Sources

  1. D&D Beyond, dndbeyond.com, read 2026-10-07
  2. Tavern Bag's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  3. Open5e, open5e.com, read 2026-10-07
  4. Roll20, roll20.net, read 2026-10-07
  5. D&D Beyond, dndbeyond.com/subscribe, read 2026-10-07
  6. D&D Beyond, dndbeyond.com, read 2026-10-07
  7. Tavern Bag's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  8. Tavern Bag's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  9. D&D Beyond, dndbeyond.com, read 2026-10-07
  10. D&D Beyond, dndbeyond.com, read 2026-10-07
  11. D&D Beyond, dndbeyond.com/subscribe, read 2026-10-07
  12. D&D Beyond, dndbeyond.com/subscribe, read 2026-10-07
  13. D&D Beyond, dndbeyond.com, read 2026-10-07
  14. Open5e, open5e.com, read 2026-10-07
  15. Open5e, open5e.com, read 2026-10-07
  16. Tavern Bag's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  17. Tavern Bag's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  18. Tavern Bag's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  19. Tavern Bag's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  20. Tavern Bag's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  21. Tavern Bag's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)

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