D&D Beyond
Free tier
Roll20
Free tier
D&D Beyond vs Roll20: Which Should You Use?
Last updated: 2026
Choose D&D Beyond if…
D&D 5e players and GMs who want an official, rules-accurate digital experience on any device.
Visit D&D Beyond →Choose Roll20 if…
New GMs who want to start quickly without spending money or installing software.
Visit Roll20 →Side-by-side comparison
| | | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | freemium |
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Free tier | ||
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web |
| Game systems | D&D 5e | D&D 5e, Pathfinder 2e, Call of Cthulhu, System agnostic |
| Self-hosted | ||
| AI-powered | ||
| Open source | ||
| Works offline | ||
| Official content | ||
| Launched | 2017 | 2012 |
Pricing breakdown
D&D Beyond
Free for basic character creation and SRD content. Content purchases unlock full sourcebooks. D&D Beyond Master Tier $5.99/mo enables campaign sharing of purchased books.
Roll20
Free tier available; Plus $5.99/mo, Pro $9.99/mo for GMs. Players always free.
Pros & cons
D&D Beyond
Pros
- Official, rules-accurate character builder for 5e
- Mobile app works well for at-table use
- Content is purchased once and accessible anywhere
Cons
- Entirely D&D 5e only — useless for other systems
- Digital content purchases are platform-locked and cannot be exported
- Content costs can add up quickly to match physical book prices
Roll20
Pros
- No software install — runs in any browser
- Largest existing user base and community
- Free tier is genuinely usable for basic games
Cons
- Dynamic lighting locked behind subscription
- Performance can degrade with large maps
- Older interface feels dated compared to newer VTTs
Frequently asked questions
Is D&D Beyond or Roll20 cheaper?
Both D&D Beyond and Roll20 have free tiers, so you can try both at no cost.
Can I use D&D Beyond and Roll20 together?
D&D Beyond and Roll20 are in different categories, so using both together is common — for example, using one for maps and the other for campaign management. They are complementary rather than competing.