D D Beyond Reviews

I don’t want to buy a digital copy of books I already own so that I can use DDBeyond… I know you hear it a lot, but I just wanted to use DDBeyond as a bit of a character creator and maybe some of the other functions but all of the character creator stuff is locked behind buying the players handbook. It is a bit more frustrating that all of the classes and subclasses information can be found online already with very little effort for free anyway. I was actually going to buy the digital copy in the marketplace when I got an error, I would like to thank the server error for saving me some money.
I am sure this is great for someone getting into the hobby, but for people who have all the physical supply already it is a tall ask.
An idea could be to allow access for all of the feats, classes, sub-classes and whatnot to be available but to restrict the items or some other feature so people could still experiment with your character builder without immediately being hamstrung… at least put the player handbook stuff in there is it really that big a deal to hide the various cleric subclasses behind a paywall?

DDBeyond is really good for beginners but once you get more experience it is really hard to make characters and host campaigns. You can only do so much unless you purchase a whole bunch of books and premium options. I also think it’s very unhelpful in trying to find basic information cause you have to purchase books to get that information. Also I had to change my email, I reached out to customer support and they didn’t reach back to me. I now have to remake my entire BBEG on a completely new account without any access to my old stuff. I had purchased so much and it is so frustrating that all that money went down the drain. My players and I all agree that it’s so limiting and hard to make actual characters we want. It is so much easier to just make it yourself without the help of D&D beyond. I’m really tired of fighting with it and wish that there was an easier way to do everything.

Hey Guys,
I hesitate to give this 3 Stars because I’m so thankful to have it and believe with a few patches it’ll easily be a 5 star app in my opinion. DDBeyond , as it is right now, is polished in appearance and very user friendly. However I feel it misses the mark in how you can’t edit aspects of the character sheet or read spell/item descriptions unless you go to “View Character on Website”. This feels like an extra step and almost defeats the purpose of DDBeyond . As in, why not just pull up my character sheet on Safari instead? I’m confident this will not be the case it future patches but for now it’s kinda inconvenient and feels self defeating.

Hate saying that because, once again, I’m thankful to have this and believe it has great potential. In due time I suppose!

The recent changes have made considerable improvement to the user experience. The best change since launch has been the addition of speed descriptions when they’re selected. Not having to reach for additional resources is my biggest “must” in a character sheet application. I would note that spell and item descriptions only come up when in the equipment or spells menu; you can’t view weapon or spell descriptions from the Actions page. I would like the ability to edit my Notes instead of just view them so I could add to them during the session. Toggled check-boxes for spells and equipment still have lag, and while it’s lessened since launch it’s still noticeable.
My favorite thing about the browser was the character sheet portrait mode, I could use my tablet and have so much information on a single page. Unfortunately, until DDBeyond has a more comprehensive landscape arrangement I won’t be using it in sessions.

DDBeyond has many fantastic reasons to use it but needs way more quality of life improvements to be a great app that I would recommend over a paper character sheet. The ability to edit on DDBeyond and delete characters is something that is beyond required. I understand you can go to the site and make edits but if there’s an app for this why make someone visit the site. As well the fixed HP value still seems to roll still rather than give max HD + con mod. Maybe that’s on me for a misunderstanding on the terminology of “fixed” but I still have issues with it.

Either way DDBeyond is fine but it’s not great, I’ll up the rating if we see better QoL features on future updates.

Ok first of all, in terms of user interface this is basically just a web browser that only goes to DND beyond’s website. Editing a character is fairly difficult, requiring several steps to even add an item into the inventory. Near as I can tell it also just doesn’t translate character background abilities and features to the user interface. Add into that the fact that this is a feature that users have been begging for and expecting since DND Beyond’s release several years ago and what we get is a half finished effort with no note taking section or description section, and I’m very disappointed in DDBeyond. It’s saving grace is that DND beyond has the specific races and backgrounds that I wanted for my character builds, or I would most certainly be using a different app.

Love DDBeyond have been using it for over 2 years now. We are some of the blessed. My homie and DM won a raffle from you guys and shared the full collection with us. And we’ve noticed while using your app a particular issue. When creating a character after a previous update (not sure when) post Tasha Cauldron of Everything, I can’t create an artificer! Every other class and unlocked subclass (That we own) works fine in creation except Artificer! One of our homies had a multiclassing Artificer created pre-patch, and wanted to use it (considering we can’t creat a new one) to multiclass into a blood-hunter. I thought that sounded awesome! but ran into all the problems above and found even after troubleshooting on his app the pre patch Artificer he already had made was unable to multi-class into a blood hunter.

Otherwise Lovely App!!
As a DM and a player, there’s just nothing else like D&D Beyond!

DDBeyond is great. It saves me from having to debate with friends over how some of the rules work, because it does it for you. It saves me time when I’m not sure about exactly what a spell does, I can simply click on the spell and it will tell ‘‘em how it works.

Now I do have some problems with DDB. This first is a very common one: having to repurchase the books when you already have the physical copies. However, I do love how the books are cheaper on DDB than most other places, like a book store. My other complaint is not a very big issue for me, but might be for others; the phone interphase, in my opinion, is hard to use. Again, not a problem for me because I am lucky enough to to be able to have a laptop I can take to sessions, it not everyone can and I can see the issue being a problem for some. The interface for an tablet is good, but on a phone, I find it difficult to use.

For a player, this is great. For a DM? Not so much. You can’t browse any homebrew content. You can’t make or view custom items or spells that you create from a desktop/laptop device. The website and mobile platform are very different in scope. You can’t view encounters either. I still give it a four in hopes that it will arrive at the desired function for a dm, and thus become a 5, but until then, it’s basically a character sheet/dice roller. The non-mobile capacity is awesome. Love what they’ve done with the DNDBeyond site; however, as a dm, there’s soooo much you’re having to look at that an app that only gives you source books, means it’s not really a solution. Let me view my campaign, or the PC’s within it (that have joined). I can’t research backstories, or plan encounters, or tweak magic items from my web-based content!

I wrote the below a week or two ago and I can now eat some crow. Extras finally shows your pets and that is amazing and awesome.

It's great for what it is, which is a massive compendium of content. But there's this crazy place called Google that does the same thing... just not in one place. Here's what's broken: Searching for multiple words takes the first word of the search and ignores everything else. Searching also fails when using an apostrophe (like in the word Tasha's) and returns no results. Lastly (and most importantly), the fact that you can't create or level up characters within DDBeyond and are taken to the website breaks utilization if you have no internet. Who designs a core feature for a tabletop game that REQUIRES internet? As someone who's written software for almost 20 years, there's no reason for this.

Everyone complaining about a lack of content: Shut up. While DDBeyond has issues, content isn't free and creators should be paid. You are free to grab the SRD (free) and create your own homebrew content (free).

When I was doing D&D in the 80s, this thing would’ve been Star Trek technology. It has everything and it’s wonderful. It makes the mechanics very nice. It has good access to your characters and allows the game to go a lot more smoothly without you having to work every mechanic.

At least on The iPhone there are some things that can be improved. There are some things that can only be done on the website that can’t be done on DDBeyond . And it’s easy to fat finger and get totally lost because DDBeyond resets itself to whatever you were looking at DDBeyond before you went to the website, and you lose whatever it was you were doing on the website.

From what I can see of DDBeyond , it’s pretty good! It did take a little while to download, but that might just be because of my device. However, I don’t see a way to roll dice like on the website. DDBeyond will be extremely useful, as it allows me to only need one tab open on my computer when I play. It makes it so much easier to access all my character’s stats and info, even if some of the tabs (such as notes) are still under development and can’t be used. Even with two monitors, needing two websites open at the sane time while also having a communication software open on the second monitor can be a little difficult to manage. Thank you for making DDBeyond, it’s going to make my life so much easier!! My only suggestion at this point is to add a dice rolling feature like the one on the website.

I have waited so long for this! I know its not perfect and i don't believe they will be truly done with this for quite a while but this is an amazingly huge step towards perfection for D&D Beyond. It obviously isn’t where the web site is at just yet but they still have a few new browser additions in beta cant expect everything to go straight to DDBeyond immediately. I will continue to use the site on my laptop for most things but having the pocket character sheet is huge for me and my players to finally have!

Always a fan of dndbeyond and their tools. This is a nice, simple, and clean app. For what is there, it seems to function properly and it’s easy to cycle around. I cant seem to manage from DDBeyond to “prepare” spells, so I’d have to go to the website and come back, resolving that would be nice. It’d also be nice to integrate backgrounds and frames onto DDBeyond as well so all the characters don’t look the same; it’s a little dark as is. I see this growing and becoming a nice alternative for players versus logging in through the web browser as it becomes more expansive.

Fandom owners of D&D Beyond have really put a lot of work into DDBeyond. Not everything is in place yet, but they also don’t control new content and rules, as well as errata so they are frequently having to change things. They have a relatively small development tram and what they accomplished is really well done. I can’t do anything but hope more people buy into subscriptions and content so it can get features faster and the features that are created are better for it. Here’s hopping for many more years of continued support and expansion in tools and abilities!

Used DDBeyond (or DDBeyond that was this one’s predecessor) since 2019 and the improvements are spectacular. The compendium library is easy to access, get updates, and the search and bookmark features work really well.

The recent addition of the campaigns and characters tabs - even though the editing of the characters is still a web view experience, it is well done - make DDBeyond great for getting a DM inspiration and you maybe want to check your player’s stats. Keep up the great work.

I know you’ll be getting that home brew monster or magic item creation feature coming soon, right?

Oh and check the sound (does DDBeyond play sound anywhere in DDBeyond ?) Sometimes when I’m listening to Apple Music and I tap into a character the sound stops playback. Could be Bluetooth related. But not a showstopper.

Great work, great improvements, and great experience for getting all my D&D lore needs met. Thanks! Keep it up!

I really wish DDBeyond didn’t make you pay for the stuff that you use to make your character like you have to pay just for all the rest of the races, classes, weapons, armor, etc! But other than that it’s a great app and I understand you need a way to make money but if you make people pay for what I said earlier it’s gonna drive people away to other dnd apps like 5e companion app. I really hope in the future you really consider making those things free so people won’t go to other apps that are better because they have more things than DDBeyond!

Sincerely, Ghost

Using DDBeyond is a little tricky at first but once you get it. it makes gameplay extremely easy. it’s awesome to be able to hit one of the tabs at the bottom and bring up all the books in your library look up stuff on the fly from monsters a magic items. in ease of access to the D&D Beyond site makes using homebrew stuff incredible. I new to D&D and have been using DDBeyond since I started playing. around updates are the only time I have issues because there’s usually a lot of bugs to be worked out. but other than that it is so easy to use. DDBeyond does all the game mechanics adding up numbers and formulas for your character sheet.

First, let’s get one thing out of the way: buying physical copies of the books does not entitle you to all the content on DnDBeyond. I am amazed that I am still seeing that nonsense, years after they started licensing the digital content. This is a companion app for DnDBeyond and you only have access to what you have purchased through DnDBeyond. Okay? Get it? Alright, let’s move on. Yeesh.

DDBeyond works great for everything it supports. The search engine is fast and reliable, character pages look great and are nearly all features on the web are supported now. It’s smooth and book updates are much easier on data now. At this point, if you use DDB and not DDBeyond , you’re crazy.

Because DDBeyond is still in early development, my rating is based on the quality of what’s there, not what they’re still working on implementing. I love that they finally made an easy way to access character sheets on mobile (the website worked fine, but it was still more of a hassle than just going to an app). The features they’ve added so far are great. I can do most of the essential things in DDBeyond , and there’s an easily accessible pop up for the website that lets you do everything else. Once DDBeyond is finished I’m sure it will be a great way to manage my characters. In addition to implementing all of the regular character sheet stuff, something I would like to see added would be access to my campaigns, so I can see my friends’ characters in DDBeyond too.

Finally! I was so excited for DDBeyond , that I had to be one of the first to write a review. Then, I actually went into DDBeyond to figure out it’s not a standalone app. Howso? The character sheet is awesome. Sadly, all that time to create the dice roller went to waste on the website and hopefully you will incorporate it here. Don’t be so discouraged as the next reason people want an app did not happen. It’s still web based when you create a character, so it’s not just linked but it’s a skin of the website. So you can access the website via DDBeyond and get to the dice roller, btw just stay in website view to use your character sheet as DDBeyond isn’t fully functional. Really disappointed. To help this along, here is a suggestion, have it linked to pull information from DND Beyond app, to create characters while not online, we already downloaded all that info.

7/8 I like the descriptions added for conditions. Quick tip for others: you can select the link to view you online character sheet within a slightly smaller window, at least it will make you feel like your using DDBeyond and you can have access to the dice roller.

I don’t know why WoTC have Fandom, Inc. operating their official D&D web tools, and now Apps, but after paying hundreds of dollars for digital access to content that I’ve already purchased physical copies of, my expectations for the support of said content are in-line with the extremely premium pricing.

This is not a premium presentation. Basic functionality (like looking up what a spell or ability does) requires opening up, and logging into a separate app, with no hot-linking between apps currently working. You just have to search manually again. This slows games down to a crawl.

In the current state, both these apps are a waste of the user’s time, and an insult to the money spent on access to the content.

Can't look at description, notes, or extras (so wildshape and ranger companions are incompatible at the moment). Doesn't look like you can edit a character's xp or level yet either (or if you can I can't find it).

Spells have no detail information. Doesn't look like you can alter prepared spells either.

It honesty fees like a beta version. I have no problem with it being a beta thing. My problem is it was advertised as a completed app, which comes with a certain level of expectation. As someone who has regularly participated in early access games, I have no problem with releasing an unfinished product. Just call it that up front. Don't pull a bait a switch.

I love using DnD Beyond. However, DDBeyond is, at the moment, barely functional for anything. The community has wanted an app for so long that everyone seems to be happy with having any official DnD Beyond character sheet app. However, you cannot add or remove inventory items, edit your character, level up, etc. These things should be quite simple to implement (I’m not a developer but I can’t imagine it would be too hard, they could at least include a link to an in browser editor to add items like they did with character creation).

Once DDBeyond is updated with more content I will change my review, but as is I’ll likely keep using the mobile website.

Out of the gate the menus are easy to work with. So far I’m unable to use any of the digital content on the D&D Beyond app which I was hoping this was going to be added to so I can’t make my characters 100% do to much of the content I need isn’t available on DDBeyond or I’m simply missing something. Maybe link the apps together so the player app has access to all the tools (books) already purchased needed to set up a character. I’m not about to pay for the stuff I already paid for in the other app just so I can make characters.

As soon as it is finished, I will change my review to 5 stars, but for now, I’d say 3. I LOVE DDBeyond, it is a wonderful idea, the best character sheet app I have ever seen. I know DDBeyond is brand new, and I hope that more will be added soon.
An option to delete characters would be useful, I accidentally made another character that i don’t know how to delete. Also, a way to update items in the characters’ inventory after they have been made would be very useful.
Again, I know that DDBeyond is brand new and needs some tweaks, as soon as it is more developed, I will give it five stars.

Also, add the subclasses from the Player’s Handbook, because I want to be able to have my war cleric on here.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad that D&D Beyond finally put DDBeyond out there! It’s nice to have access to my character sheets in-app and offline. However, it would be nice to have an option to have all of your info on the same screen at one time (like a regular character sheet, or like the online version) instead of having to flip through tabs. Still, DDBeyond seems pretty smooth, and the handoff of my character’s status from the online version to DDBeyond works great.

Honestly, once DDBeyond is fully developed it will be incredible! The UI is great and intuitive, and having everything stored in an app is much nicer than having to sign in via your web browser.

Obviously some work still needs to be done to add info on spells and their effects, and generally providing a more fleshed out experience. But the foundation seems great so far! Can’t wait for more updates

DDBeyond is amazing. It explains everything in such understandable detail, and it’s easy to navigate and use!
Couple of suggestions; pictures and more in-depth explanations of some items would be wonderful, as well as a walkthrough of the menus. It took me a couple of minutes to figure out how things worked, but once I did, I found it extremely user-friendly.
All in all, DDBeyond is amazing, and is so, so useful.

I was under the impression that when I ordered books from this site, I would get them in hard copy. I was wrong, and when you call their "books" they are online versions of the books. I could just find a pdf copy of the dnd books online rather than paying 150 dollars for them. When I ordered them, it asked me for a shipping address. Why would I need to give them a shipping address if they are not hardcopy? I am very disappointed in this and have spent my money on online copies of books when I could find versions of those online for free.

DDB is a site that steals from you, purely and simply. They sell you digital books, and can from one day to the next cut off access to functionality and prevent you from accessing what you have paid for. This is on top of dubious commercial practices like selling early access to new books, then putting them on sale before they are even released, and refusing to reimburse the difference. Don't buy digital books from them.