- Character builders, sheets and tabletops compared
- Ten places to build and keep a D&D character
- Official builder, virtual tabletop or standalone app?
- What to look for in a character builder
- Questions for your group before you choose
- My plain advice on picking a D&D character builder
- Frequently asked questions
A D&D character builder walks you through creating a character, then keeps the sheet up to date as you level. The options split, as of Oct 2026, into the official builder and printable sheets, virtual tabletops where the sheet sits beside the map and dice, and standalone builders or campaign trackers. Ten follow in no particular order.
Every D&D player hits the same question sooner or later: where should my character live? A paper sheet is easy to start with, but once you're levelling up, tracking spells and playing online, the tool you pick decides how much bookkeeping you do.
The ten options below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order. Each description comes from the tool's own website, as of Oct 2026, and official status is stated only where a page says so.
Character builders, sheets and tabletops compared
| Tool | Type | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Aurora Builder | Standalone 5e character builder | Building characters with added content |
| D&D Beyond | Official D&D digital toolset | The official builder, campaigns and dice |
| Fantasy Grounds | Virtual tabletop for many RPGs | D&D and Pathfinder with a character vault |
| Foundry VTT | Self-hosted virtual tabletop | Hosting your own game and data |
| Hero Lab Online | Browser-based character builder | Taking characters anywhere in a browser |
| Obsidian Portal | Campaign website builder | Tracking a party on a campaign site |
| Reroll | Visual character sheet app | Pixel art characters with a mobile sheet |
| Roll20 | Browser virtual tabletop | Sheets, tokens and dice beside the map |
| Shard Tabletop | 5e virtual tabletop | Building, levelling and playing characters |
| Wizards of the Coast character sheets | Official printable character sheets | Filling in a sheet by hand |
Ten places to build and keep a D&D character
Aurora Builder
Best for: Anyone who wants a character builder to create and manage characters for their Dungeons & Dragons games, with documentation for adding extra content.
D&D Beyond
Best for: Players who want the official digital character builder for fifth edition, with campaigns, dice and a mobile app in the same toolset.
Fantasy Grounds
Best for: Groups playing D&D, Pathfinder and other RPGs online who want rulesets, modules and a character vault in one virtual tabletop.
Foundry VTT
Best for: Game masters who want to self-host a game server on Windows, Mac or Linux, own their data and let players join free through a browser.
Hero Lab Online
Best for: Players who want to create characters online and take them anywhere in a browser, from the makers of Hero Lab Classic and its automatic rules checking.
Obsidian Portal
Best for: DMs and groups who want a campaign website with a character tracker for everyone in the game; the page says it's free to use.
Reroll
Best for: Fans who want to create and customise their character in pixel art, then track stats and inventory on a mobile character sheet.
Roll20
Best for: Groups playing online who want character sheets, tokens, rulebooks and dice in a browser tabletop with no downloads; the page names a free tier.
Shard Tabletop
Best for: Fifth edition groups who want a full character sheet that makes it easy to build, level up and play, online or in person.
Wizards of the Coast character sheets
Best for: Tables that still play on paper and want the official fifth edition character sheets to download, from the official toolset's resources page.
Official builder, virtual tabletop or standalone app?
The official route is D&D Beyond, which calls itself the official digital toolset of fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons and says it's free to use with the Basic Rules. Its resources page also lists the official character sheets you can download and print.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Outside that, the tools split two ways. Roll20 offers character sheets, tokens, rulebooks and dice in a virtual tabletop, and Shard Tabletop covers creating characters, running encounters and managing campaigns, so the sheet lives beside the map. Fantasy Grounds and Foundry VTT are virtual tabletops too, and the second is one you host yourself. Then there are the standalone tools: Aurora Builder is a character builder that lets you create and manage characters, Reroll is a visual character sheet app, Hero Lab Online promises you'll never leave a character behind, and Obsidian Portal has a character tracker for whole campaigns.
What to look for in a character builder
- Rules support. Does it handle the edition you play, and the books your table uses?
- Levelling up. A good builder tracks what changes at each level, so you don't miss a feature or a spell slot.
- Playing at the table. Can you use the sheet on a phone or tablet during a session, or print it?
- Sharing with your DM. Some tools let the DM see every character in the campaign.
- Homebrew and extra content. Check whether you can add your table's own species, items or house rules.
Questions for your group before you choose
- Do you play in person, online or both?
- Does your DM already run games on a virtual tabletop?
- Which edition and books does your table use?
- Do you want the sheet on your phone during play?
- Will the DM need to see everyone's characters?
- Would you like a paper copy as a backup?
New to tabletop games? My guide to what role-playing games are covers the basics.
Do you make D&D character builders or tabletop RPG tools? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on picking a D&D character builder
Ask your DM first, because the table's choice usually decides yours. If the group plays online on a virtual tabletop, keep your character there so the sheet sits beside the dice. If you play in person, the official builder or a standalone app on your phone saves a lot of rubbing out, and a printed sheet is still a fine backup. If you're the DM, a campaign tracker keeps everyone's characters in one place.
Looking for other ways to play with friends? My list of cooperative board games is a good place to start.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
What is a D&D character builder?
It's a tool that walks you through choosing a species, class, background and abilities, then keeps your character sheet up to date as you level up.
Is there an official D&D character builder?
Yes. The official digital toolset for fifth edition includes a character builder, and its resources page lists official character sheets to download.
Can I make a D&D character for free?
Several options on this list say they're free to use or name a free tier. Check each tool's own site, because extra books and features may need a purchase.
What's the difference between a character builder and a virtual tabletop?
A builder creates and stores your character. A virtual tabletop runs the whole game online, with maps, tokens and dice, and usually includes character sheets too.
Can I use a character builder at the table in person?
Yes. Many players keep the sheet on a phone or tablet during a session, and printable sheets still work well if you'd rather use paper.
Can my DM see my character?
On many campaign tools and virtual tabletops, yes. Check that your DM uses the same tool, or share a printed or exported copy.
