What you get at each D&D Beyond subscription level
D&D Beyond offers four subscription tiers: a free account with limited features, plus three paid plans called Legendary, Legendary Plus, and Master Tier. Each paid tier unlocks more character options, digital tools, and content access. The free account lets you create one character and access basic rules, but you cannot use most official sourcebooks or advanced features.
The paid tiers differ mainly in how much official D&D content they unlock and what tools they provide for running games. Legendary is the entry-level paid option. Legendary Plus adds more sourcebooks and the ability to share content with your group. Master Tier is the highest level and includes nearly all official D&D books plus the most powerful collaboration and campaign management tools.
Your choice depends on whether you play casually or run campaigns regularly, and whether you want to buy individual books or pay monthly for access to a larger library. The subscription does not include digital miniatures, battlemaps, or video conferencing — those are separate purchases or integrations.
Key Takeaways
- D&D Beyond's free tier lets you make one character and read basic rules, but blocks access to official sourcebooks and most character creation options.
- Legendary tier costs roughly $5 per month and unlocks several official sourcebooks plus the ability to create multiple characters with more class and race options.
- Legendary Plus adds more sourcebooks and lets you share character sheets and campaign content with your group members at no extra cost to them.
- Master Tier includes the broadest library of official D&D books and the most advanced campaign tools, but costs significantly more than the lower tiers.
- You can buy individual sourcebooks outside any subscription, and those purchases stack with whatever tier you hold.
Legendary: The entry-level paid subscription
Legendary costs approximately $5 per month when paid monthly, or less per month if you commit to a year upfront. It unlocks several official D&D sourcebooks beyond the basic rules, including the Player's Handbook, Xanathar's Guide to Everything, and Tasha's Cauldron of Everything. You can create multiple characters instead of just one, and you gain access to more races, classes, and subclass options during character creation.
Legendary also gives you the ability to create and manage a campaign, invite other players to join it, and use D&D Beyond's character sheet tools with those players. However, your players still need their own accounts to view shared content — the subscription does not give them automatic access to the books you own. If they want to use the same sourcebooks, they need to either buy those books individually or hold their own Legendary subscription.
Legendary Plus: Sharing content with your group
Legendary Plus costs roughly $10 per month and includes everything in Legendary plus a larger collection of official sourcebooks. The key difference is that when you share a campaign or character with another player, they can view and use content from the books you own through D&D Beyond — without needing to own those books themselves. This makes it much cheaper for a group where one person buys the subscription and shares it with the rest of the table.
Legendary Plus also includes more sourcebooks than Legendary, though not the complete library. The exact list changes as D&D Beyond adds new official releases. If you run a campaign and want your players to have access to character options from books you own, Legendary Plus is usually the most cost-effective choice for a group.
Master Tier: The complete library and advanced tools
Master Tier costs roughly $15 per month and includes nearly all official D&D sourcebooks published by Wizards of the Coast, including setting books, adventure modules, and supplemental guides. Like Legendary Plus, it lets you share content with your group members. Master Tier also includes advanced campaign management features such as the ability to build encounters, manage initiative, and track monster statistics within D&D Beyond itself.
Master Tier is aimed at Dungeon Masters who run regular campaigns and want the broadest possible library without buying individual books. The cost is higher, but if you would otherwise buy multiple sourcebooks separately, the subscription can pay for itself quickly. However, Master Tier does not include third-party content or homebrew material — only official Wizards of the Coast publications.
Buying individual sourcebooks outside a subscription
You do not have to hold a subscription to buy sourcebooks on D&D Beyond. You can purchase individual books, and they stay in your account permanently. If you later buy a subscription, the books you already own are still there and count toward what you can share with your group.
Some players buy a few key books outright and skip the subscription entirely. Others subscribe for a month or two to try out new content, then cancel and keep the books they bought. The free tier plus a few purchased books can work well if you play casually and do not need the full library.
How subscriptions work with character creation and content sharing
When you create a character on D&D Beyond, the character sheet can only use content you own or that your subscription unlocks. If you try to pick a race or class from a sourcebook you do not own, D&D Beyond will block that choice. This is why a higher subscription tier or individual book purchases expand your character creation options.
If you share a character with another player, they see the character sheet as you built it. If the character uses content from a book you own, they can view it. If the character uses content you do not own, they see a note that the content is locked. This prevents accidental sharing of content you have not purchased.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cancel my subscription and keep the characters I made?
Yes. Your characters stay in your account even after your subscription ends. However, if a character uses content from a sourcebook you no longer own, you cannot edit that character until you buy the book again or resubscribe. You can still view and use the character in games.
Do my players need subscriptions to join my campaign?
No, but it depends on the tier you hold. With Legendary, your players need their own accounts but do not need subscriptions — they just cannot use the books you own unless they buy those books separately. With Legendary Plus or Master Tier, your players can view and use content from your books without their own subscriptions, though they still need free D&D Beyond accounts.
What happens if I downgrade from Master Tier to Legendary?
You keep access to the books you bought outright, but you lose access to the additional sourcebooks that came with Master Tier. Any characters using content from those lost books become locked for editing until you buy those books or resubscribe to a higher tier.
Are there sales or discounts on subscriptions?
D&D Beyond occasionally runs promotions, usually around major D&D releases or holidays. Annual subscriptions cost less per month than paying monthly. Check the D&D Beyond website directly for current pricing and any active offers.
Can I use D&D Beyond offline?
No. D&D Beyond is a web-based tool and requires an internet connection. You cannot download your character sheets or campaign data to use without a connection.