Is Roll20 Free to Use and Do I Need to Download Anything?

Roll20 is free to start and runs entirely in your browser — no download, no server setup, and no credit card required to create an account. You can play Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, Call of Cthulhu, and more than 1,200 other game systems on the free plan, and according to Roll20's own site, that free access is permanent for both GMs and players. The one thing that isn't free is the advanced customization layer: full API access requires a Pro subscription.

What you get for free

Roll20's homepage states that a free account gives you permanent access to its core feature set. Based on the site's feature list, that includes:

• Integrated dice, character sheets, and automation — roll dice and track characters without leaving the table.
• Campaign organization — built-in pages, folders, and asset management for your game.
• Dynamic lighting and fog of war — maps reveal progressively as players explore.
• Dungeon Scrawl map maker — a free integrated tool for creating maps in minutes, no drawing skill needed.
• Character sheet support for 250+ game systems, with pre-built sheets covering D&D, Pathfinder, and other classics, plus the option to build custom sheets.
• Hundreds of free adventures available across the supported systems.

The site also notes that macros let you automate complex rolls, spell effects, and character actions with one click, and that this works across any game system.

What requires a subscription

The only paid feature called out on the page is advanced customization via the full API. Roll20 describes this as an option for advanced users who want to extend the platform's functionality — adding features, automating campaign flow, and similar applications. The page explicitly states this "requires a Pro subscription."

The site does not list current subscription prices or tier details on this page, so check Roll20's subscription page directly if cost matters to your decision.

Do you need to download or install anything?

No. Roll20 describes itself as requiring no downloads, no server hosting, and no setup — you open your browser and play. That applies to joining a game as a player and running one as a GM.

The practical implication: there's no local install to maintain, no port forwarding, and no machine that has to stay online as a host. If you've avoided virtual tabletops because of technical setup, that barrier doesn't exist here.

How to actually get started

1. Create a free account. The site says no credit card is required. You'll see a "Create Free Account" option on the homepage.
2. Pick your game. Choose from D&D, Pathfinder, Call of Cthulhu, or 1,200+ other systems. Hundreds of free adventures are available if you don't have content yet.
3. Find a group. Invite friends via a link, use Roll20's looking-for-group tool, or join the official Discord — the site says it has over 100,000 members. There are also solo-play options if you'd rather not join a table yet.
4. Play. Click and go. If you're new to tabletop RPGs entirely, Roll20 offers beginner guides, including an article on whether D&D is right for you and a guide to finding your first game group.

Expected result: you're in a browser-based game session with dice, sheets, and a map, without installing anything.

Common sticking points

• Assuming "free" means limited-time. Roll20's page frames the free plan as permanent access, not a trial.
• Confusing the free map tool with paid assets. Dungeon Scrawl is free and integrated, but the broader Marketplace is a separate storefront — the page doesn't state that marketplace content is free.
• Expecting API automation on the free plan. If your goal is heavy automation or custom scripting, budget for the Pro subscription rather than assuming it's included.
• Worrying about hosting. Because there's no server setup, the usual "who hosts the game" problem doesn't apply.

Bottom line

If you want to try online tabletop RPGs with zero cost and zero installation, Roll20's free tier covers the core experience: dice, sheets, maps, fog of war, and access to over 1,200 systems. Subscribe only if you need full API-level customization.