World Anvil
worldanvil.com
What it is
World Anvil is a browser-based set of tools for creating, organizing and storing settings for games, novels and comics. Its wiki supports linked articles, categories, tags and search across a world. Interactive maps connect locations to articles, while timelines track events across eras or parallel histories. Campaign tools provide a digital GM screen, statblocks, NPC creation, character sheets and session reports connected with campaign notes. Online novel-writing software works with the wiki, allowing setting details to be referenced and edited while drafting. Listed integrations include Discord, Google Analytics and Patreon links. Private material is visible only to the user and authorized collaborators, and autosaved work is backed up across multiple servers and in the cloud. World Anvil requires an internet connection; mobile use is through an optimized browser, with no mobile app. The Freeman plan allows two worlds, 42 articles and 100 MB storage.
Spec sheet
- What it does
- World Anvil is a browser-based platform combining worldbuilding wikis, interactive maps, timelines, RPG campaign management and novel-writing software.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldanvil.com
- Product
- World Anvil describes itself as a set of worldbuilding tools for creating, organizing, and storing a world setting, with wiki-like articles, interactive maps, timelines, an RPG campaign manager, and novel-writing software.Read 30 Sep 2026 · worldanvil.com
- Intended users
- The FAQ describes users ranging from beginners and hobbyists to gaming studios, bestselling authors, and professional game masters; Sage is presented for professional authors, gamemasters, studios, and publishers.Read 30 Sep 2026 · worldanvil.com
- Integrations
- Official plan materials list Discord webhooks, Google Analytics, Patreon supporter import, Ko-fi support and Foundry VTT integration.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldanvil.com
- Support
- The FAQ directs users to its tutorials and Learn guides, support by email, and the community Discord help channel; the pricing comparison lists Fast Lane Support as a Guild feature.Read 30 Sep 2026 · worldanvil.com
- Founded
- 2017Read 28 Sep 2026 · worldanvil.com
- Maker
- The FAQ says World Anvil was created by Janet Forbes, a writer, and Dimitris, a game master.Read 30 Sep 2026 · worldanvil.com
- API access tier
- Application keys are available from the Grandmaster tier upward and requests are manually reviewed.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldanvil.com
- API authentication
- API calls use an application key and user authentication token supplied in request headers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldanvil.com
- API availability
- World Anvil exposes JSON APIs with GET, POST, PUT, PATCH and DELETE endpoints and Swagger documentation.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldanvil.com
- API licence
- The API documentation states that API use and its contents cannot be used commercially without prior World Anvil authorization.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldanvil.com
- API reliability disclaimer
- The API terms provide no promise about reliability, availability, specific functions or suitability and provide the API as-is.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldanvil.com
- API support limitation
- World Anvil says it does not provide dedicated support for building API applications and directs developers to community Discord support.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldanvil.com
- Campaign tools
- Its campaign tools include a digital GM screen, statblocks, NPC creation, player character sheets, and session reports integrated with campaign notes.Read 30 Sep 2026 · worldanvil.com
- Changelog: family trees
- A June 29, 2026 update moved family-tree creation and relationship management into the new article editor.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldanvil.com
- Changelog: live editing
- A June 22, 2026 update added live editing indicators, live Discovery updates and live dashboard Continue Working updates.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldanvil.com
- Collaboration
- World owners can add co-authors, editors and writers while controlling permissions and removing collaborators.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldanvil.com
- Company facts
- LinkedIn lists World Anvil as a privately held computer-games company founded in 2017 with 2–10 employees and headquarters in London, Surrey.Read 15 Oct 2026 · uk.linkedin.com
- Company legal entity
- A LEI record identifies the legal entity as WORLD ANVIL LTD, with headquarters at 48 East End, Melton Mowbray, LE14 4NG, Britain.Read 15 Oct 2026 · lei.bloomberg.com
- Crunchbase profile
- Crunchbase describes World Anvil as a private London company with 11–50 employees and identifies Dimitris Havlidis as co-founder and CTO.Read 15 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
- Data ownership
- World Anvil states that users retain intellectual property rights, that it does not sell data without consent and does not train AI models on user work.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldanvil.com
- Documentation
- The Learn center contains beginner courses, workflow guides and feature tutorials covering articles, maps, manuscripts, access rights, campaigns, timelines, styling and APIs.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldanvil.com
- Free tier limits
- The FAQ says free accounts can create two worlds and 42 articles, while the pricing comparison lists 100 MB storage and maximum uploads of 1 MB or 3.5 MB for maps.Read 30 Sep 2026 · worldanvil.com
- Independent assessment
- WorldMetrics rated World Anvil 7.1 out of 10, highlighting navigable character pages and cross-links while calling the structure heavier than single-document writing.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldmetrics.org
- Independent map assessment
- Gitnux rated World Anvil 7.9 out of 10 for fantasy mapping, praising linked map locations while noting setup complexity and limited external export workflows.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gitnux.org
- Interactive maps
- Maps support linked locations, nested map navigation, layers, labels and multiple marker types.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldanvil.com
- Limit: annual billing complaint
- One Reddit poster reported an unexpected $110 annual renewal, refusal of reimbursement and loss of access to previously created content.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reddit.com
- Limit: interface complexity
- Independent Reddit reviewers repeatedly describe the interface as confusing, clunky, rigid or difficult to maintain.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reddit.com
- Limit: reliability
- Reddit users report occasional lost writing, buggy behavior and formatting problems during editing.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reddit.com
- Limit: subscription cost
- Independent reviewers repeatedly complain that subscription pricing and premium paywalls are too expensive for hobby use.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reddit.com
- Maker history
- World Anvil says it launched on October 25, 2017, founded by writer Janet Forbes and gamemaster Dimitris R. Havlidis.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldanvil.com
- Maps and timelines
- The service offers interactive maps linked to world articles and timelines for tracking events across eras or parallel histories.Read 30 Sep 2026 · worldanvil.com
- Mobile availability
- World Anvil states that it has no native mobile app and recommends using its mobile website in a browser.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldanvil.com
- Novel writing
- Manuscripts provides an integrated online writing workspace with plotting, planning, chapters and scenes linked to worldbuilding content.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldanvil.com
- Offline and mobile
- World Anvil says it is browser-based and requires an internet connection; mobile use is through an optimized browser, with no mobile app currently available.Read 30 Sep 2026 · worldanvil.com
- Praise: feature breadth
- Trustpilot reviewers praise the wide feature set for writing, planning, mapping, timelines and cross-linking.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
- Praise: organization
- Reddit users report that wiki-style articles, categorization and custom CSS help organize large worldbuilding projects.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reddit.com
- Privacy and security
- World Anvil says private material is visible only to the user and collaborators they authorize, and that autosaved work is backed up on multiple servers and in the cloud.Read 30 Sep 2026 · worldanvil.com
- Privacy policy
- Its privacy policy says it takes measures including encryption of data at rest and in transit, and describes the policy as applying to the World Anvil online service.Read 30 Sep 2026 · worldanvil.com
- Publishing and access
- Worlds and individual articles, campaigns, novels, maps and timelines can be public, private or restricted to selected subscriber groups.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldanvil.com
- Rating on Trustpilot
- 4 out of 5 from 258 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
- RPG support
- The platform includes campaign management, statblocks, digital GM tools and character sheets for more than 100 RPG systems.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldanvil.com
- Security statement
- World Anvil says content is served over HTTPS, servers are monitored and backed up, and private content is hidden from search engines.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldanvil.com
- System requirements
- The service requires an internet connection and an updated Chrome-based browser; it is optimized for desktop, laptop and smartphone browsers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldanvil.com
- Timelines and chronicles
- Timeline and Chronicle tools display parallel histories and connect events to map locations.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldanvil.com
- Worldbuilding wiki
- Users create linked, searchable articles for settings such as characters, places, factions, items and histories, with templates and categories.Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldanvil.com
- Writing tools
- The online novel-writing software works with the worldbuilding wiki so writers can reference and edit world details while writing.Read 30 Sep 2026 · worldanvil.com
Plans and prices
Freeman Free 2 worlds · 42 articles · 100 MB storage · 2 maps · 20 statblocks Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldanvil.com
Master $4.50 a month billed annually, excluding applicable taxes 10 worlds · unlimited articles · 2 GB storage · 4 co-authors · 10 subscribers · 10 campaigns Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldanvil.com
Grandmaster $8.25 a month billed annually, excluding applicable taxes Unlimited worlds and articles · 5 GB storage · 9 co-authors · 100 subscribers · 20 campaigns · API access Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldanvil.com
Sage $25 a year $25.00/mo billed annually (excl. VAT) 15 GB storage · 20 co-authors · 1,000 subscribers · unlimited worlds and articles · white labeling · custom domain Read 30 Sep 2026 · worldanvil.com
Sage $25 a month billed annually, excluding applicable taxes Unlimited worlds and articles · 15 GB storage · 20 co-authors · 1000 subscribers · unlimited campaigns · custom domain Read 15 Oct 2026 · worldanvil.com
Master $54 a year $54.00 per year (= $4.50/month, billed annually) · $4.50/mo billed annually (excl. VAT) 2 GB storage · 4 co-authors · 10 subscribers · 10 RPG campaigns · 10 worlds · private content · novel writing software Read 30 Sep 2026 · worldanvil.com
Grandmaster $99 a year $99.00 per year (= $8.25/month, billed annually) · $8.25/mo billed annually (excl. VAT) 5 GB storage · 9 co-authors · 100 subscribers · 20 RPG campaigns · unlimited worlds and articles · API access Read 30 Sep 2026 · worldanvil.com
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Wiki articles with categories, tags and search
- Interactive maps and historical timelines
- Integrated campaign management tools
- Novel writing linked to world details
- Private access and autosaved backups
Limits
- Internet connection is required
- No mobile app is available
- Free tier limits worlds and articles
- No revision history listed
Who it suits
World Anvil suits worldbuilders, game masters, novelists and comics creators who want linked reference material, maps, timelines or campaign tools. Its browser-based workflow also fits collaborators who need authorized private access.
Verdict
World Anvil brings wiki, mapping, timeline, campaign and novel-writing tools into one online workspace. The free Freeman plan is limited, while paid plans add storage, collaborators, domains and other capabilities.
Where Specifiction places it
- Game Wiki Software#4 of 198.3
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