If you want to stay official, D&D Beyond Maps is the direct successor: it runs in the browser and basic hosting is free for D&D Beyond accounts. If what you liked about Sigil was watching spells and combat come alive, Lumen VTT is the browser alternative built around that, with 500+ automated spells, feats, class features, and monster abilities, 800+ animated spells and abilities, phone controls, and a free plan. TaleSpire is the pick for true 3D terrain and miniatures, Foundry VTT for full control, and Roll20 for the familiar hosted platform.
Wizards of the Coast is closing Sigil, the 3D virtual tabletop it built for D&D Beyond. Sigil stays available through October 31, 2026; after that its servers shut down and content made inside Sigil is no longer accessible. If your group played there, you need a new table before the next session, not after it.
Quick picks
- D&D Beyond Maps: Best official path for groups whose characters and books live on D&D Beyond.
- Lumen VTT: Best for animated, automated D&D 5e combat in the browser, online or around a TV.
- TaleSpire: Best for groups that want real 3D scenes and miniatures in a desktop app.
- Foundry VTT: Best for power users who want full control and do not mind hosting and modules.
- Roll20: Best for a familiar hosted VTT with a large marketplace.
The options at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Strengths | Tradeoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| D&D Beyond Maps | The official successor | Official D&D Beyond library and characters; Free basic hosting; Runs in the browser | 2D top-down maps; custom map uploads and larger storage sit behind the Master tier |
| Lumen VTT | Best for animated, automated combat | Animated spells tied to rules results; D&D 5e combat automation out of the box; Phone controls and TV table display | Top-down 2D maps rather than Sigil-style 3D scenes; D&D 5e (2014) rules only |
| TaleSpire | Best for real 3D | True 3D terrain and miniatures; Strong building tools; Dramatic presentation | Paid desktop app for Windows and Mac, still in Early Access; D&D rules automation only through community plugins |
| Foundry VTT | Best for full control | Deep customization; Large module ecosystem; One-time license | Self-hosting or a paid host, plus module setup and upkeep |
| Roll20 | Best familiar hosted platform | Hosted browser platform; Large marketplace; Familiar to many players | Busy combat is more hands-on; the interface feels dated to many tables |
The options compared
This is not a universal ranking for every table. It is a way to sort the major choices by how they feel during a real D&D session: setup load, player access, map flow, combat state, and what the GM still has to manage by hand.
D&D Beyond Maps
The official successor
D&D Beyond Maps is Wizards of the Coast's own browser VTT and the natural landing spot for Sigil groups who want to stay inside the official ecosystem. Basic Maps hosting is free for registered D&D Beyond users, and it connects to the characters, monsters, and maps you already own there. It is a 2D map tool rather than a 3D one.
Best fit: Official D&D Beyond library and characters, Free basic hosting, Runs in the browser.
Tradeoff: 2D top-down maps; custom map uploads and larger storage sit behind the Master tier.
Lumen VTT
Best for animated, automated combat
Lumen is the closest match if the spectacle was the point. Spells play 800+ animations tied to the actual result, and 500+ spells, cantrips, feats, class features, and monster abilities resolve attacks, saves, damage, and conditions for you. Players act from their phones, a TV can show the battlemap for an in-person table, and the free Lumen Core plan includes 6 rooms with no credit card. It is a 2D battlemap with animated effects, not a 3D world.
Best fit: Animated spells tied to rules results, D&D 5e combat automation out of the box, Phone controls and TV table display.
Tradeoff: Top-down 2D maps rather than Sigil-style 3D scenes; D&D 5e (2014) rules only.
TaleSpire
Best for real 3D
TaleSpire is the alternative for groups who loved building and exploring in 3D. It is a desktop app for Windows and Mac sold on Steam, with tile-based 3D terrain and miniatures, and it is not tied to any one ruleset. Rules are handled by the table rather than automated, so expect to track spells, saves, and conditions yourselves.
Best fit: True 3D terrain and miniatures, Strong building tools, Dramatic presentation.
Tradeoff: Paid desktop app for Windows and Mac, still in Early Access; D&D rules automation only through community plugins.
Foundry VTT
Best for full control
Foundry VTT is a one-time license with deep D&D 5e support and a huge module ecosystem, including animation and automation modules. It can get close to anything Sigil did, as long as someone at the table enjoys hosting, configuring, and maintaining it.
Best fit: Deep customization, Large module ecosystem, One-time license.
Tradeoff: Self-hosting or a paid host, plus module setup and upkeep.
Roll20
Best familiar hosted platform
Roll20 is the long-running hosted VTT most groups already know, with character sheets, a large marketplace, and free and paid tiers. It is a practical place to land quickly, though combat and spell resolution stay more manual than in Sigil or Lumen.
Best fit: Hosted browser platform, Large marketplace, Familiar to many players.
Tradeoff: Busy combat is more hands-on; the interface feels dated to many tables.
When Lumen is not the right fit
If your group used Sigil mainly because it was official and part of D&D Beyond, D&D Beyond Maps keeps you closest to that. If the 3D world was the whole appeal, TaleSpire is the better fit. Lumen is for groups who want spells, saves, and damage handled for them and shown on the battlemap, online or around a TV.
Questions to ask before switching
When does Sigil shut down?
Wizards of the Coast says Sigil stays available through October 31, 2026. After that the servers shut down and content created in Sigil is no longer accessible.
Can I move my Sigil maps to another VTT?
Wizards has not announced a way to download Sigil content. Save screenshots or reference images now; most VTTs, including Lumen, let you upload map images to rebuild a scene.
Is there a free Sigil alternative?
Yes. D&D Beyond Maps offers free basic hosting, Owlbear Rodeo has a free tier, and Lumen VTT's free Lumen Core plan includes 6 active rooms with no credit card.
Which alternative is closest to Sigil's spell effects?
Lumen VTT, if you play in the browser: it animates 800+ spells and abilities from the rules result. Foundry VTT can get there with animation modules if you are willing to set them up.
Related reading
Sources and notes
10
- D&D Beyond Sigil Sunset FAQ
- D&D Beyond: Closing the chapter on Sigil
- D&D Beyond free Maps experience
- D&D Beyond Maps support overview
- D&D Beyond subscription pricing
- TaleSpire on Steam
- Foundry VTT purchase page
- Foundry VTT module management
- Roll20 VTT basics
- Roll20 feature breakdown and subscription pricing
Lumen VTT is an independent product and is not affiliated with D&D Beyond Maps, TaleSpire, Foundry VTT, Roll20, Wizards of the Coast, Dungeons & Dragons, or any referenced trademark owner. This guide is written to help groups compare workflow fit.