CharGen alternatives for AI battle maps
CharGen is an AI toolkit for game masters: NPCs, settlements, encounters, a long list of free text generators, and an AI battle map generator, all under one account. Images and maps are paid for with an in-site currency called gold: free accounts get 10 gold a day, and a low quality battle map costs 2.
Where CharGen is the better choice
If you want one site for everything, CharGen is a strong choice. The text generators are free, and it links the pieces together, so the NPC you generate can live in the settlement you generate. For a game master who wants a toolkit rather than a map tool, that breadth is the point.
Why people look for an alternative
Maps are one feature among many there, and the rights question matters if you publish: maps from a free account are for personal use only, and commercial rights come with a paid plan. People who mostly need battle maps often want a tool that does only that, with commercial rights included.
CharGen and Text to Tabletop side by side
| CharGen | Text to Tabletop | |
|---|---|---|
| What it makes | NPCs, text generators, images and AI battle maps. | Top-down battle maps generated by AI from a text description. |
| Map style | AI generated in several styles, top-down or isometric, with quality levels at different gold prices. | Fully illustrated, painted-style scenes at battle-map scale. |
| Free tier | Unlimited text generators, 10 gold a day and a few free map tries. Free downloads carry a watermark. | 3 free tokens at signup, enough for three maps or one at 4K. No credit card. |
| Paid plans | Plus from 9.99 pounds a month and Elite from 19.99, each with a monthly gold allowance, or gold packs. | A one-time $1 trial pack, token packs from $2, or $10 a month. Tokens never expire. |
| Grid and VTT export | PNG with an optional square or hex grid, scaled for Roll20, Foundry VTT, Fantasy Grounds or print. No Universal VTT file that we could find. | Grid-aligned at 1K, 2K or 4K. PNG, plus .dd2vtt for Foundry VTT and other Universal VTT importers. |
| Changing a map | Generate again with a changed prompt. | Select any area and regenerate only that part. |
| Commercial use | Paid plans only. Its pricing page lists it from Elite, while its battle map page says Plus and above. | Included for every map, including maps made with the free tokens. |
CharGen details checked September 2026. Prices and plans change, so confirm on their site before you buy.
What Text to Tabletop does differently
- Built only for battle maps, with every map locked to a straight-down, grid-first view.
- A .dd2vtt export as well as images, for Foundry VTT and other Universal VTT importers.
- Area regeneration: select the part of the map that is wrong and redo only that.
- Commercial use included on every map, including maps from the free tokens.
Questions people ask
Is CharGen free?
Its text generators are free, and free accounts get 10 gold a day plus a few free battle map tries. A low quality map costs 2 gold, and downloads from a free account carry a watermark.
Can I use CharGen maps commercially?
Only on a paid plan: CharGen says free maps are for personal use. Text to Tabletop includes commercial use on every map, free tokens included.
Does Text to Tabletop make NPCs?
No. It makes battle maps and nothing else, which is why it is worth comparing on maps alone.
Try it on your next encounter
Describe the scene and get a grid-aligned battle map back. New accounts get 3 free maps with no credit card, and every map is yours to use, including commercially.