Best DnD Character Builders Online

Best DnD Character Builders Online

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D&D is a deep and rewarding pastime, but one that’s about as easy to get into as a jar of sovereign glue. There is a lot of material a player must read through to pick up the game and create a character, and this isn’t a task made any easier by later inclusions to the base mechanics. Fortunately, it is no longer necessary with the advent of the best DnD character builders online.

For those that find the prospect of filling out a character sheet by hand to be rather dull, these tools can assist any player in creating a new character from the ground up.

Bottom Line, Up Front

Here are all the upcoming online character builders, organized into sections for fast reference:

What to Look for in an Online Character Builder

An excellent online character builder comes in many forms and has to excel in many areas due to how expansive the process can be. To help, I’ve boiled this process down into three core elements that I look for: the “Three Fs“. My ideal online character builder is equal parts flexible, functional, and foolproof.

Flexible

Flexibility refers to how much the online builder can do, extending from homebrew and custom sections to which information is available for reference purposes. The ability to boil down the entire character into a character sheet you have the option of printing off is also a huge boon that comes from adherence to this quality.

Functional

Functional refers to how intuitive it is to create characters using the online builder. It mostly comes down to general ease of use but also considers automatic functions, such as one-button presses for skill checks.

Foolproof

Foolproof refers to how stable the online builder is. The last thing you want from your online builder is for it to crash, lose all your data, and lock you out of your whole character for an entire session (always have a backup!).

It’s also easy to miss parts of the building process or input details incorrectly with a sub-par builder, which this quality also takes into account.

DnD Beyond

dnd beyond

Quite possibly the most well-known of all DnD references, DnD Beyond provides an excellent basis for forming an online character sheet. Its builder comes intrinsically linked to its reference pages, meaning that you can get a detailed breakdown of every ability, skill and item in the game, allowing you to focus on the game without worrying about forgetting specific details.

Spell slots, limited ability uses, short/long rests and a wide variety of other mechanics are all updated at the touch of a button; it even comes with its own dice roller!

Whilst the character builder is free, getting any content further than the core rulebooks will cost you. For anyone who has already bought hard copies of the expansion material, buying a duplicate online copy to access their desired content might not be worth it.

That said, you get six character slots without spending a penny, and most builds can be approximated with the free material, so it ends up not being much of a deal breaker.

Pros

  • Extensive library of useful tools and references.
  • Complete customization options with full multi-class support.
  • Attractive, intuitive, and easy to use.

Cons

  • Getting access to all the available material is expensive.
  • Creating characters is a slow process.
  • Homebrew is challenging to integrate.

Roll20’s Charactermancer

roll20's charactermancer

Roll20’s character builder is one of the best. High levels, homebrewed content, and multi-classing characters are all supported here, with direct links to the Roll20 campaign system. All these features are complemented by full integration with Roll20’s Compendium, meaning that you can pull elements from the game straight into your character sheet, automatically updating it.

Specific subclasses and custom lineages need a little fiddling with to make work, but nothing too strenuous or time-consuming. You also only get access to the creator if you’ve started or joined a Roll20 game, and you can’t export your sheet to other systems.

Nevertheless, If you’re looking for a comprehensive character builder that doesn’t overwhelm you with needlessly complicated systems, they don’t come better than the Charactermancer.

Pros

  • Drag-and-drop system instantly imports features from Roll 20’s Compendium.
  • Auto-calculations, built-in rolls, and tons of customizable options.
  • Fully multi-class and homebrew compatible.

Cons

  • Character sheets cannot be exported.
  • Elements of the builder can be confusing at times.
  • Committing to a Roll20 game is required to gain access to the builder.

Aidedd Character Builder

aidedd character builder

One of my personal favorites, this option does a great job of simplifying online building, utilizing a step-by-step design that streamlines the entire process. This makes it fantastic for beginners and those that struggle with the particular peculiarities of character creation.

You can also import/export the XML file, print out your sheet for a game, and then import it back and change it for the next session.

Its selection lacks a few options but covers most things, with its spell section being exceptionally expansive. The “Generate Spellbook” button provides a pop-out list with detailed breakdowns of all your current spells, which is one of my favorite features. Sadly, the lack of custom options means you can’t manually replace anything that isn’t included as standard.

Pros

  • Streamlined and straightforward to use.
  • Wide variety of options.
  • The “Generate Spellbook” feature is perfect for spellcasters.

Cons

  • No homebrew or custom support.
  • Missing some content.
  • Somewhat cluttered and bland interface.

Dungeon Master’s Vault

dungeon master's vault

An underrated gem, this builder allows you to carefully adjust every aspect of your character while allowing DMs to create random NPCs quickly. It comes with full support for multi-classing and homebrew content and has a colossal compendium of informational aids for easy referencing.

The interface has a clean design, which is super easy to navigate for the most part. It even tells you whether or not your character is legal for the Adventurer’s League; excellent to know if you’re planning on attending any public-accessible game day events.

Sadly, it only contains some published content, but that is a manageable hurdle to overcome. It can be a little time-consuming, but you can use the builder’s custom settings to fill in whatever’s missing for your particular build.

Pros

  • Massive reference compendium.
  • Intuitive interface makes it easy to use.
  • Custom options allow for any additions.

Cons

  • Some content is missing.
  • Specific character creation is time-consuming.
  • Spell lists can be tricky to navigate at times.

5e Companion App

5e companion app

The portability of an online character builder app can be an advantageous option. At least half of all the players at my tables use one, for a good reason. Why cart around an entire folder of character information when you can access it all from the phone you’re probably carrying around with you anyway?

Being full of reference material is excellent for checking spells, abilities and item descriptions, but it makes the interface a little crowded, especially on a phone screen. As a result, it can be confusing to get used to, but it’s well worth persevering with for the extra information.

On top of this, it also comes with all published content as standard, allowing you to create homebrew additions easily. It even comes with a complete bestiary, a fantastic addition for druid players.

Much like Roll20’s Charactermancer, there’s no way to export the character sheets you create outside of the app, but that’s less of a hindrance if you’re planning on only using one source of character building. Even if you’re not, it still serves as a fantastic reference aid.

Pros

  • Massive amount of easily accessible information.
  • Custom features allow for homebrew content. 
  • All published content provided.

Cons

  • Character sheets cannot be exported.
  • Initially challenging to learn.
  • Crowded interface can be tricky to read.

Lion’s Den’s Fight Club 5th Edition

lion's den's fight club 5th edition

Here’s another app option, and a brilliant one at that. Versatile and flexible, it has everything a player needs to keep tabs on their character. It has an excellent compendium that can be easily updated with new and homebrewed information. Being incredibly simple and easy to use, this can significantly help those just starting and makes switching to pen and paper later on effortless.

There needs to be more space to put down certain things, like proficiencies and languages, and whilst multi-classing is supported, there’s no way to track more than one set of spell slots, so combining caster classes can become a little tricky to manage. Aside from these niggling criticisms, this is an excellent app for newcomers and veterans alike!

Pros

  • Intuitive and fun to use.
  • Easy to customise and add homebrewed content.
  • Dice roller and auto-calculations do the work for you.

Cons

  • Complete compendium requires downloading a collection of XML files.
  • Some spaces are missing, and some stats need some manual tweaking.
  • Multi-classing spellcasters take a lot of work to structure.

Fast Character Builder

fast character builder

This online builder is well-named: it builds characters fast. Whilst you don’t have the plethora of options as the other builders on this list, sometimes you don’t need a complex character; you need one (or twenty) quickly. If you’re not invested in the design, you can use the random generator to speed up the process even more.

The downside, as you can imagine, is a lack of customization. Some subclasses, items, feats, and spells are missing, and multi-class characters are impossible to make, though this has recently been made a little better by its updated, expanded options.

Overall, this isn’t a builder that I suggest players use. Instead, this is a DM tool, best used for creating many quick characters with relatively simple details. As that, it excels.

Pros

  • Easy, straightforward, and super-fast creation.
  • The random generator does a lot of the work for you.
  • Character sheet comes in several styles.

Cons

  • Lacks features for complex and detailed characters.
  • Some reference material and content aren’t provided.
  • Statistic assignments can be a little awkward.

Ninetail

ninetail

Ninetale’s character builder lacks the extensive detail of the other options on this list but makes up for that by creating characters that are elementary and quick.

Whilst you’ll never get the depth of complexity required for most playable characters, it becomes a DM’s dream for its ability to spit out NPCs. To this end, it creates a helpful stat block which you can pop into your planned campaigns, making it invaluable for running adventures.

Unfortunately, this is specifically a DM’s tool. It doesn’t perform well for player characters, as it doesn’t provide anything past level 1, and many racial and class aspects are not provided. Items and feats are also severely limited, but that might be fine, depending on your needs.

Stay away from this if you want to complex design, but if you need to create a vast amount of simple characters to populate your world, there’s no better tool than this.

Pros

  • Convenient stat block makes referencing easy.
  • Cool sprite designs covering most monsters.
  • Fast and easy to build.

Cons

  • Lacking in customizable options.
  • Limited in available content.
  • Abilities lack descriptions.

FAQs

Question: Can You Play D&D Online?

Answer: Yes. With such tools as roll20, fantasy grounds and talespire, playing entirely online with the use of a virtual tabletop has never been easier. My favourite is foundry vtt, which includes everything you need to run your adventures.

It takes a little time to plan and create the maps you need for a campaign, but well worth the extra immersion factor that comes with features like the dynamic line-of-sight.

Question: Is a DND Beyond Subscription Worth It?

Answer: Whilst this is a subjective opinion, and answers will vary depending on what you need, I have never seen much point in a dnd beyond subscription, even if I’m using their builder to a significant degree.

Practically, the only bonus you get from it is content sharing and an increase in the number of characters you can create. The standard amount is already generous, and I’ve never felt myself needing more space than the default provides.

Question: Is It Better To Use Pen and paper Or Online Builders?

Answer: Both have pros and cons, so whichever you feel happiest with will be the best for you. Of course, the only way to find that out is to try them! Online builders are generally easier to make characters with, as much of the heavy lifting is done for you, but pen and paper are more reliable and easier to adjust on the fly.

If you’re unsure which is for you, give both a shot until you settle on one you like better, or simply do what I do: use both! Nothing is stopping you from taking both a physical and digital copy of your character to your sessions, and it’ll give you the best of both worlds.

Just remember to update both simultaneously, or you’ll risk confusing yourself on which represents your character at any given time.

Conclusion

While individual needs differ, all good online builders have certain things in common. All these examples do a great job of putting all the parts of a character together without leaving out any details that are easy to forget whilst giving enough room for the personal touches that make a character truly unique.

I’ve gotten the most use out of DnD Beyond, but I have found myself gravitating more towards Aidedd Character Builder more and more over the last few months. Which builder works best for you will be based on your particular needs and tastes.

Don’t be afraid to mix, match and experiment with this entire list; whatever you need them for, these builders are there to help!

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