Overview

Alchemy RPG is a virtual tabletop for groups who want a cinematic, scene-led approach to roleplaying. It suits gamemasters and players who value atmosphere alongside game management, and its generous free plan makes it easy to consider; the main caveat is that mobile and tablet use is not optimized.

Scenes put storytelling at the center while keeping game mechanics in the same structure. Music, animated environments, and overlays add ways to establish a mood, without making Alchemy a fit for every group: those seeking an optimized touch experience may be better served elsewhere.

Alchemy identifies Arboreal, LLC as its rights holder. The company says it will not sell user data or serve irrelevant third-party ads, and describes privacy as a guiding principle. Connecting Discord grants an active Alchemist subscriber a server role; Alchemy says it requests only the account username and ID.

Key features

Scene-led play

Alchemy’s scenes are designed to combine cinematic moments with game mechanics. Music, animated environments, and overlays give gamemasters tools for shaping a session’s presentation, while the scene-based structure keeps the practical work of play in view. This is a distinctive fit for story-driven games; groups who do not need that presentation focus may not gain as much from the approach.

Systems, assets, and communication

The free plan includes every game system and a homebrew system builder, which gives groups room to use a system or create one without a paid plan. Unlimited games, characters, universes, asset uploads, and voice and video chat mean the free tier is not restricted by stated caps on those core resources. Campaign tools are also available. Marketplace purchases are intended to be downloadable for use outside Alchemy as well as within it, which matters to buyers who want their purchases to remain useful beyond the platform.

Alchemist subscribers can import D&D Beyond characters in the desktop app. Discord connection adds a community role for active subscribers, while Alchemy also directs users to a Help Center, Discord community, in-app support chat, and support email.

Pricing

Free Unlimited — 0.00 USD per month

Free Unlimited includes unlimited games, characters, universes, voice and video chat, and asset uploads, plus every game system and the homebrew system builder. It is a strong starting point for groups that want core play and system flexibility without a recurring charge. The stated plan features do not include the Alchemist subscriber perks, and desktop D&D Beyond character import is reserved for Alchemy Unlimited subscribers.

Alchemist — custom pricing

Alchemist adds a 5% Marketplace discount, votes on the feature and games roadmap, seasonal perks and rewards, early access, exclusive development-team chats, and an Alchemist role and player badge. These benefits suit engaged users who want community participation and marketplace savings; they are perks rather than a stated expansion of the free plan’s core game, character, or communication limits. Alchemy does not publish a price for the plan.

Platforms

Alchemy offers a web application on computers, tablets, and mobile devices, plus desktop apps for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Desktop requirements are Windows 10 or later, macOS Monterey 12.0 or later, or Linux such as Ubuntu 22.04 or newer. A stable internet connection is required. Although the web app runs on tablets and phones, those experiences are not optimized, and there are no mobile apps. Choose the desktop app for supported computer use; tablet and phone users should expect a less tailored experience.

Who it's for

Alchemy is best suited to gamemasters, players, and creators who want story-led sessions, built-in voice and video, broad system coverage, and a free plan without stated caps on its listed core resources. Its homebrew builder also makes it worth considering for groups that want to create a system rather than rely only on existing ones. It is a weaker match for people whose primary device is a tablet or phone, or who want a dedicated mobile app.

Pros and cons

Pros: Free Unlimited combines unlimited games, characters, universes, asset uploads, and voice and video chat with every game system and a homebrew builder, avoiding stated resource caps on those features.
Pros: Scenes, music, animated environments, and overlays give story-focused groups ways to shape presentation alongside game management.
Pros: Marketplace purchases are intended to work outside Alchemy as downloadable content as well as on the platform.
Cons: The web experience on mobile and tablets is not optimized, and there are no mobile apps.
Cons: D&D Beyond character import is limited to Alchemy Unlimited subscribers, rather than the Free Unlimited plan.
Cons: Alchemist’s price is custom, so its 5% marketplace discount and community perks cannot be weighed against a published subscription cost.

Alternatives

For a category-wide comparison, browse Virtual Tabletop Software.

D&D Beyond Maps is worth considering for groups who want a freemium option with a free tier capped at six character slots and support for hosting games, inviting friends, and accessing purchased content; its platforms include Android, iOS, and web.
Quest Portal offers a free-forever plan with unlimited campaigns and characters, maps and tokens with fog of war, scenes with music, and dynamic lighting, on Android, iOS, and web. Choose it when those listed scene and map tools or mobile platforms are the priority.
Roll20 may fit groups seeking a browser-based option across Linux, macOS, Windows, and web. Its free plan includes base game-running tools but limits storage to 100MB and includes ads; its Pro plan is 8.33 USD per month, billed $99.99 pay once a year, with 10 GB upload storage and a 100MB maximum upload.
Fantasy Grounds offers a free-to-play plan with full Game Master and player functionality, unlimited campaigns, cloud connectivity, and free rulesets across Windows, macOS, and Linux. Consider it when those listed campaign and ruleset provisions matter more than Alchemy’s scene-led presentation.
Owlbear Rodeo is a freemium choice with a free Nestling plan limited to two rooms, random room names, and backgrounds, across Android, iOS, and web. It may suit groups looking for a web-based option on mobile platforms.
D20PRO has a one-time 10.00 USD Player License for one player seat, allowing its owner to join sessions without using a host’s guest seats; it runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows. Consider it if a permanent individual player license is the priority.
TaleSpire offers a free Guest Edition for joining a campaign when a seat is available, while campaign creation and seat purchases require its paid option; it supports Linux, macOS, and Windows. It is a relevant alternative for groups considering that guest-and-seat arrangement.
Mythic Table is an open-source option with a free hosted plan and web and self-hosted access.

Verdict

Choose Alchemy RPG if your group wants scene-based, cinematic play and a free plan with broad system support, built-in voice and video, and no stated caps on games, characters, universes, or asset uploads. Its strongest reason to look elsewhere is device fit: the web experience on tablets and phones is not optimized, and dedicated mobile apps are absent. Alchemist adds community and marketplace perks, but its custom pricing makes those benefits harder to assess.

	Alchemy RPG	Shard Tabletop
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Paid from	Free	Free
Platforms	Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Web, Windows	Web
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Video and audio	Yes	No
Campaign tools	Yes	Yes
Mobile apps	No
Rules compendium		Yes

Alchemy RPG vs Shard Tabletop

Alchemy RPG

Shard Tabletop