Desert Island Challenge Plain comparisons of games and gaming gear

D&D character builders for new D&D players in 2026

Compare Tavern Bag, D&D Beyond, Roll20 and Open5e for a first D&D character, with plans, prices and questions to ask first.

By Desert Island Challenge ยท

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.

New players can compare what each tool says about building a first character, what it costs and what it needs before use. The comparison below lists what each source says, so you can match a tool to your table.

OptionFree accessPaid priceCharacter builder
Tavern BagFree plan keeps 3 characters, no card required [1]Tavern Bag Unlimited $3.99 a month [2]Step by step build [3]
D&D BeyondMaps online table with a free account [4]Hero Tier from $2.17 USD a month [5]; Master Tier from $4.58 USD a month [6]Premade or custom options [7]
Roll20not publishednot publishednot published
Open5enot publishednot publishednot published

What new D&D players need from D&D character builders

A new player usually has one urgent job: get a legal first character on a sheet before session one. That means picking a class, a background and a species, then setting ability scores without knowing what each score does. A good builder takes those choices one at a time and shows what each choice changes.

The second job is looking things up. New players meet spells, items and rules they have never seen, and they need to find them fast at the table.

The third job is staying flexible. Your first character may not survive, or you may want to try a different class after a few sessions. Check how many characters a plan lets you keep.

There are limits too. Some tools need an account before you can use them. Some content is not available in every tool, because of how the game's rules are licensed. Your Dungeon Master may also want a particular tool, so ask before you build.

Tavern Bag for new D&D players

Tavern Bag is made by the team that publishes this site. [8] You can build a character 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. [9]

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. [10] You can search the whole library at once or filter it by book, level and class. [11]

It runs in any browser on a phone or laptop, and your characters follow your sign-in. [12] The free plan keeps 3 characters, with no trial and no card required. [1] Tavern Bag Unlimited costs $3.99 a month. [2]

D&D Beyond for new D&D players

D&D Beyond says its character builder offers premade or custom options and mobile and tablet support. [7] It also says its Maps virtual tabletop can be played with a free account. [4]

The Hero Tier subscription is listed from $2.17 USD per month. [5] D&D Beyond says this subscription includes a subscriber content library and unlimited character slots. [13]

The Master Tier subscription is listed from $4.58 USD per month. [6] D&D Beyond says it includes content sharing and using homebrew content in Maps. [14]

Roll20 for new D&D players

The Roll20 source given here covers one point. Roll20 says its add-on tools, which add new features and automate campaigns, require a Pro subscription. [15]

The source says nothing about Roll20's character builder, free access or prices. Check those on its own site before you decide, and ask your Dungeon Master whether your table already plays there.

Open5e for new D&D players

Open5e says it includes all monsters and spells from the free rules text the publisher released and other openly licensed sources, plus a way to search them. [16]

Open5e also says some content is missing because it was not part of the free rules text the publisher released. [17] If your table uses a book you own, check whether the entries you need are there.

The source does not describe a step by step character builder or any prices. Look at the site itself for those.

Matching the tool to the job

Building a first character with guidance. Tavern Bag builds step by step through class, background, species, ability scores, subclass, feats and gear. [3] D&D Beyond says its builder offers premade or custom options. [7]

Looking up spells, monsters and rules. Tavern Bag lets you search the whole library at once or filter by book, level and class. [11] Open5e says it offers a way to search monsters and spells. [16]

Keeping more than one character. The Tavern Bag free plan keeps 3 characters. [1] Tavern Bag Unlimited at $3.99 a month lets you keep as many as you like. [18] D&D Beyond says a subscription includes unlimited character slots. [13]

Playing from a phone. Tavern Bag runs in any browser on a phone or laptop. [12] D&D Beyond says its builder has mobile and tablet support. [7]

Trying your own ideas. Tavern Bag lets you make your own items, species, classes and backgrounds. [19]

Playing on an online table with maps. D&D Beyond says its Maps online table can be played with a free account. [4]

Questions to ask before you choose

Frequently asked questions

What should a new D&D player look for in a character builder?

Look for a tool that takes class, background, species and ability scores one step at a time and shows what each choice changes. Also check whether it needs an account, how many characters it keeps for free, and whether it works on the device you bring to the table.

Is there a free D&D character builder for beginners?

Some tools have free access. Tavern Bag's free plan keeps 3 characters, with no trial and no card required. [1] Check each site for what the free level covers.

How many characters can a free D&D character builder keep?

It depends on the tool. Tavern Bag's free plan keeps 3 characters. [1] D&D Beyond says a subscription includes unlimited character slots. [13] For other tools, the sources here give no limit, so check the site.

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

Tavern Bag runs in any browser on a phone or laptop, and your characters follow your sign-in. [12] D&D Beyond says its character builder has mobile and tablet support. [7] Check the other tools directly.

Does Open5e include every D&D book?

Open5e says some content you may expect was not part of the free rules text the publisher released, so it is left out of the site. [17] If your table relies on a specific book, check whether the entries you need are listed before you commit to it.

The free plan keeps 3 characters, with no trial and no card required. [1]

Try Tavern Bag

Sources

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

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