The Quick Answer
Roll20's inventory lives inside character sheets—great for individual gear during sessions. A standalone tracker handles party loot, between-session management, mobile access, and transaction history. They're complementary tools, not competitors.
When Roll20 Inventory Wins
Roll20's built-in character sheet inventory works well in specific scenarios:
During-Session Combat Gear
When you need to roll weapon damage during combat, Roll20's inventory lets you click items to roll directly. Integrated with the game you're already in.
All-in-One During Sessions
If everyone is in Roll20 for combat, having basic inventory there means no tab-switching for simple gear checks. Everything is on one screen.
Compendium Integration
Roll20's marketplace content (if you've purchased it) lets you drag items from compendiums directly to character sheets with stats pre-filled.
Simple Games
For one-shots or simple campaigns with minimal loot, Roll20's basic inventory fields handle things fine. No need for a separate tool.
Bottom Line:
If your sessions are Roll20-only, your loot is simple, and nobody needs mobile access between sessions, the built-in inventory works.
Roll20 Inventory Limitations
Roll20's inventory system has known limitations that affect many tables:
1. No Party Loot System
Roll20 has no built-in party loot pool. Each character has their own inventory, but there's no shared "party treasure" location.
Most tables create a "Party Loot" character sheet or use the chat to track shared items. Neither is ideal.
2. Clunky Item Transfers
Transferring items between characters in Roll20 requires manually copying item details from one sheet to another, then deleting from the source. There's no drag-and-drop between players.
3. Poor Mobile Experience
Roll20's interface is designed for desktop browsers. The mobile experience involves tiny buttons, horizontal scrolling, and difficulty editing character sheets.
If players want to check their inventory between sessions on their phone, Roll20 isn't the answer.
4. No Transaction History
Roll20 doesn't log inventory changes. If gold goes missing or an item disappears, there's no audit trail. You can check the chat log, but that's not reliable for inventory tracking.
5. Requires Active Game Access
To access your Roll20 inventory, you need to load the game. Between sessions, this means launching the full Roll20 interface just to check what's in your backpack.
When Standalone Trackers Win
Here's where dedicated loot trackers complement Roll20:
Party Loot Management
D20 Loot Tracker has dedicated party funds, shared containers, and one-click transfers between party members. No workarounds needed.
Mobile Access Between Sessions
Check your inventory on your phone during lunch. Trade items with party members via the app. No need to boot up Roll20.
DM Prep Features
Prepare treasure hoards in the DM Tab before sessions. Create unidentified items with mystery descriptions. Use hide/reveal to control what players see.
Multi-System Support
Roll20 supports multiple systems, but inventory features vary by character sheet. D20 Loot Tracker has consistent inventory features across D&D 5e, Pathfinder 2e, and Pathfinder 1e.
Transaction History
Complete audit trail of every item transfer, gold exchange, and inventory change. Resolve disputes instantly with logged history.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Roll20 | D20 Loot Tracker |
|---|---|---|
| In-Session Dice Rolling | ✅ Integrated | ❌ No dice |
| Party Loot Pool | ❌ Workarounds only | ✅ Built-in |
| Item Transfers | ⚠️ Manual copy/paste | ✅ One-click |
| Mobile Access | ❌ Poor experience | ✅ Mobile-first |
| Transaction History | ❌ Not available | ✅ Full audit trail |
| DM Loot Prep | ⚠️ Manual setup | ✅ DM Tab |
| Unidentified Items | ⚠️ GM notes workaround | ✅ Built-in |
| Equipment Slots | ⚠️ Sheet dependent | ✅ Visual management |
| Cost | Free (Plus $5.99/mo) | Free |
The Complementary Approach
How Many Tables Use Both:
During Sessions (Roll20)
Use Roll20 for maps, combat, and dice. Equipped weapons stay in Roll20 character sheets for quick rolls.
Loot Distribution (D20 Loot Tracker)
When loot is found, add it to D20 Loot Tracker. Party votes on distribution. Items transfer with one click.
Between Sessions (D20 Loot Tracker)
Players check inventory on mobile. Trade items. Sell loot. Plan purchases. No Roll20 needed.
DM Prep (D20 Loot Tracker)
DM prepares treasure hoards in the DM Tab. Creates unidentified items. Ready to distribute during next session.
Which Should You Use?
Use Roll20 Inventory If...
- You only need basic equipped gear tracking
- Everyone accesses inventory during sessions only
- Item transfers rarely happen
- You want everything in one tab
Add D20 Loot Tracker If...
- You need party loot management
- Players want mobile access between sessions
- You want DM prep tools for loot
- You need transaction history