Automate combat, initiative, attacks, damage, saves, conditions, effects, line of sight, lighting, and vision so your group can stay focused on the story.
Official adventures and rulebooks are converted for Fantasy Grounds with maps, encounters, NPCs, items, images, and reference material ready to use.
Fantasy Grounds VTT is free to download and use. You can host, play, create campaigns, use free rulesets, and buy optional content when you want it.
| What Matters Most | Fantasy Grounds | Roll20 | Foundry VTT | Alchemy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free to Start | ✅ Yes — free full app | ⚠️ Yes — free feature-limited account | ⚠️ No — paid license | ✅ Yes — free account |
| Subscription Required | ✅ No | ⚠️ Not required, but key features are subscription-gated | ⚠️ Not for main app unless hosting through 3rd party. | Optional subscriptions / paid tiers |
| Best Fit | Automated, ready-to-play RPG campaigns | Browser-based general VTT play | Highly customizable self-hosted play | Cinematic, theater-of-the-mind play |
| Rules & Combat Automation | ✅ Extensive native automation | ⚠️ Light to Moderate; varies by game system | ✅ Yes, but heavily dependent on fan-made modules | ⚠️ Light to moderate; story-first focus |
| Official Licensed Content | ✅ Extensive catalog | ✅ Extensive catalog | Growing, but more limited | ⚠️ Growing, more curated |
| Ready-to-Play Adventures | ✅ Converted for direct VTT play | Available for many systems | Varies by publisher and system | Available for supported products |
| Edit & Customize Purchased Adventures | ✅ Fully editable — modify encounters, NPCs, story, and add your own content | ⚠️ Limited editing of marketplace content | ⚠️ Possible but requires duplication or setup | ❌ Limited structured editing |
| Online Reading Access | ✅ My Library Online Reader for supported products | Compendium access and PDFs for some products | ⚠️ No | Digital content access for supported products |
| Built-in Map Making & Image Export | ✅ Multi-layer map tools with tiles, brushes, LOS, and image export | ⚠️ Basic drawing tools only (no layered map building) | ⚠️ Strong via modules, but requires setup and configuration | ❌ No built-in map creation tools |
| 3D Dice & Visual Dice Effects | ✅ Built-in, highly customizable, and performant (per character, NPC, and damage type) | ⚠️ Basic 3D dice with limited customization (often disabled for performance) | ⚠️ Yes, with community module, requires install and management | ⚠️ Visual dice style, but limited customization and control |
| Community Content | FG Forge for free and paid creations | Marketplace and community resources | Large package/module ecosystem | Marketplace and creator tools |
| Update Experience | ✅ App, rulesets, official content, and Forge subscriptions update through Fantasy Grounds | Web app updates handled by Roll20 | Core updates can require package checks, backups, or reinstall steps | Web app updates handled by Alchemy |
| Technical Setup | ✅ Download app; cloud connection available | Browser-based | ⚠️ Install, host, and manage packages. 3rd party hosting or firewall config | Browser-based |
Fantasy Grounds handles the busywork so you can spend less time checking rules and more time running the action at the table.
Supported rulesets connect the pieces of play directly inside the VTT — from combat and conditions to maps, records, and prepared adventures.
New players learn faster when the VTT helps enforce the rules. Busy GMs prep faster when published adventures arrive ready to run.
See Official ContentFantasy Grounds products can include Online Reader access through My Library, letting you browse and reference supported books from any device—no VTT required.
Review rules, prep sessions, or look things up during play with everything connected to your Fantasy Grounds account.
Players can reference rules faster and come prepared—so your game flows smoothly and the GM spends less time answering repeat questions.
Open My LibraryFantasy Grounds includes a powerful built-in 3D dice system that looks great, performs smoothly, and connects directly to gameplay.
The Fantasy Grounds Forge is a built-in platform for creators to share, sell, and distribute content directly to Fantasy Grounds users.
Install community modules with a click and receive updates automatically— no manual downloads, no version conflicts, and no extra setup.
Build, publish, and support your content inside Fantasy Grounds without sending users to manage downloads or chase compatibility issues.
Visit the ForgeAutomation handles combat, attacks, damage, effects, and conditions so you can focus on storytelling instead of bookkeeping.
Jump into fully prepared adventures and rulebooks with everything linked, organized, and ready to play instantly.
Core features like automation, 3D dice, lighting, and tools are built in—no extra setup or maintenance required.
Edit adventures, tweak encounters, add your own content, and make every campaign uniquely yours.
Create maps, customize dice, manage assets, and build campaigns with tools designed specifically for RPG gameplay.
Access community content through the FG Forge, publish your own creations, and enjoy seamless updates that keep everything working.
Download Fantasy Grounds, load free content, and start playing right away—no subscription required.
