# The Best Virtual Tabletops 2026 February: to play **URL:** https://www.compsmag.com/best/virtual-tabletops/ **Author:** Ayushi Chauhan **Published:** 2023-04-24 **Updated:** 2023-10-16 **Categories:** Best **Tags:** latest list, updated September 2023 **Reading Time:** 12 min --- Here are the **best virtual tabletops**software [apps](https://compsmag.com/best/apps/)you can use right now. Since the Internet came along, tabletop [games](https://compsmag.com/best/games/)have come a long way. You could always play this way using theater of the mind with detailed descriptions and a lot of trust in your party to be honest about their dice rolls. But you don't have to depend on all of that anymore. There are a lot of virtual tables for players and GMs to use. The fancier options almost look like [video games](https://compsmag.com/best/video-games/)because they have full immersion, a wide field of view, and complicated tools to help you improve your campaigns. And if you don't want to pay a monthly fee or a bigger one-time fee, there are plenty of simpler options that are completely free. ## Best Virtual Tabletops Comparison Table ### Roll20 ![Best Virtual Tabletops](https://compsmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/140-1.jpg) Roll20 was made by three college roommates in 2012. It now has at least eight million users. It looks like a two-dimensional picture with three layers: a map layer, an icon layer, and a hidden GM layer that players can see. There are a lot of extra features, like drawing, music, and, probably most importantly, character sheets and macros that can changed to fit your needs. It has a lot of pros, such as being well-known among RPG veterans, having a good text chat feature and a dice roller, and most people don't need to pay for it. It also makes it easy for players to connect, has a lot community and industry support, and will connect digital RPG collections from places like DriveThruRPG through a planned integration with OneBookShelf. #### The Good 1. Interface that is easy to use 2. Large group of people with a lot of resources and help to offer 3. It's free to use, but you can buy extra features that cost money. #### The Bad 1. Can sometimes be slow and glitchy 2. Paid features can cost a lot. ### Fantasy Grounds ![Best Virtual Tabletops](https://compsmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/141-1.jpg) Fantasy Grounds is a popular virtual tabletop for people who like a platform where they can fully customize their maps and character sheets and own and control everything used in a game. It's a program that you put on the hard drive of your computer and then connect to the internet to play with other people. Other benefits include automation for more complex games, unlimited local storage, wide community and industry support, no subscription, and a fairly modern feel to the UI. Cons include a steep learning curve because of the interface's complexity, online connection problems that happen often, and a high initial cost. #### The Good 1. There is a lot of pre-made content to choose from. 2. And the rules can be automated to speed up the game. 1. Interface can be hard to figure out at times. ### Tabletop Simulator ![Best Virtual Tabletops](https://compsmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/142-1.jpg) Tabletop Simulator takes place in a space that has three dimensions. It isn't made to work easily with TTRPGs, so you have to do some work and get used to it. Tabletop Simulator has a very active community, and it's easy to play almost any popular board game. You can also set up any TTRPG you want. You can look at the mods people have made for the game by going to the Steam workshop. Setting up a game will take time, but once you're done, you can play with 3D miniatures and even 3D maps. #### The Good 1. There is a lot of room for customization. 2. A lot of different games and game pieces 3. The built-in physics engine makes the game more realistic. 1. Can be hard to understand and use well. 2. Can sometimes be glitchy ### Astral ![Best Virtual Tabletops](https://compsmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/143-1.jpg) Astral is like putting Roll20 and Foundry VTT together. It's still on the web and works in a way that's similar to Roll20. It's technically free, but you can pay for it and there's also a marketplace. One of the things that makes Astral stand out is that it has dynamic visual FX. It adds more excitement to your game than a normal static battlemap. There are even tabs for keeping track of initiative and a tab you can pop as a GM for creatures that move quickly. Keep in mind that at the basic level, you can only upload up to 1GB of content, which can go quickly if you're balancing high-resolution maps and waves of epic soundtracks. #### The Good 1. Having all the rules in one book saves time and effort. 2. Dynamic lighting makes the game feel more real, and integration with Discord gives it more options. 1. Can sometimes be slow and glitchy ### Shard ![Best Virtual Tabletops](https://compsmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/144-1.jpg) Shard is a strong VTT that is free for people who play D&D 5e. It's too bad that it's still in its early stages, because that means there may be a lot of limitations or bugs. On the other hand, there also a very busy Discord server, users can usually get answers to their problems quickly. Users can buy manuals and adventures from third parties that work well with the system, but Shard doesn't have access to official guides like D&D Beyond and Above VTT. Shard is a great option for both DMs and players who don't need official content integration. #### The Good 1. Fog of war adds a layer of strategy to exploration, and dynamic maps make the game more fun. 2. A system for managing campaigns keeps games in order. 1. There isn't much ready-made content. ### Above VTT ![Best Virtual Tabletops](https://compsmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/145-1.jpg) Above VTT is one of the newer ways to make an RP session more interesting, but it has a lot of good points. Instead of being in a browser or app, it's a free Chrome extension that connects to a user's D&D Beyond account. This makes it easier for people to jump right into the game without having to do extra work. But Above VTT has problems that come with how new it is. There are bugs in the code, and the developers warn users not to plan too far ahead because their work could be lost. It might not be a great system yet, but the way it works with D&D Beyond is something that no other VTT can do. Overall, it is one of the best Virtual Tabletops that you can download. #### The Good 1. The web interface is easy to use and get to. 2. The built-in library of assets saves time and work. 3. Integration with Discord gives you more options 1. Few ways to change things 2. Can sometimes be slow and jerky ### Foundry Virtual Tabletop ![Best Virtual Tabletops](https://compsmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/146-1.jpg) Some [computer](https://compsmag.com/best/computers/)problems are hard to fix, like when repositories are broken or Windows files are missing. If you can't get rid of an error, your system may be broken in some way. We suggest installing Restoro, a tool that will check your computer and tell you what's wrong. Click here to get the file and start fixing it. Foundry Virtual Tabletop is a service that lets you create your own adventures and play them with other people over the web. Also, for D&D players, it is the best virtual tabletop. Foundry Virtual Tabletop is different from the other [apps](https://compsmag.com/best/apps/)on this list because you have to buy a one-time license to use it. #### The Good 1. Interface that is easy to change 2. Automating the rules speeds up the game. Combining it with other tools makes it more flexible. 1. Some users may have to pay a lot. ### Tableplop ![Best Virtual Tabletops](https://compsmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/147.jpg) Tableplop is a VTT that was made for 5e and came out in March 2020. It is simple and easy to use because it has a user-friendly interface, and it has all the basic functions of a VTT. It's easy to set up and comes with 5e character sheets built in. Tableplop is a web-based app that can be used on phones, laptops, and tablets. It is still being worked on, and there is a busy Discord server where people can give ideas to the developers. Overall, it is one of the best Virtual Tabletops that you can download. #### The Good 1. The interface is easy for both new and experienced users to understand and use. 2. Integration with Discord gives you more options 3. Dynamic maps make games feel more real. 1. Few ways to change things 2. A smaller number of players may not be a ## FAQs --- *End of Article*