Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Roll20 VS Parse-Server

Compare Roll20 VS Parse-Server and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Roll20 logo Roll20

Roll20 is a suite of easy-to-use digital tools that expand pen-and-paper gameplay.

Parse-Server logo Parse-Server

parse-server. Parse-compatible API server module for Node/Express. JS, 14271, 3819. parse-server-conformance-tests. Conformance tests for parse-server adapters.
  • Roll20 Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-20
  • Parse-Server Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-14

Roll20 features and specs

  • Accessibility
    Roll20 runs within a web browser, making it accessible on almost any device without needing special software installations.
  • Integrated Tools
    The platform offers built-in tools like character sheets, dice rollers, and rule sets that streamline game management.
  • Large Community
    A vibrant community provides extensive resources, including user-generated content, guides, and support forums.
  • Dynamic Lighting
    Advanced features like dynamic lighting enhance immersion by simulating realistic light and shadow effects in game maps.
  • Multimedia Integration
    Allows integration of music, sound effects, and visual aids to provide a richer game environment.
  • Versatility
    Supports multiple game systems such as Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and many others.

Possible disadvantages of Roll20

  • Learning Curve
    New users may find the platform overwhelming due to its vast array of features and settings.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users experience lag or slow performance, particularly during intense gameplay or when using advanced features like dynamic lighting.
  • Pricing
    While the free tier is functional, many advanced features require a subscription, which can be costly over time.
  • Complex Setup
    Setting up games, especially those with multiple systems or custom content, can be time-consuming and tedious.
  • Limited Native Content
    Although user-generated content is extensive, officially licensed material often requires additional purchase or subscription.
  • Internet Dependence
    A stable internet connection is required to use the platform, which can be a limitation in areas with poor connectivity.

Parse-Server features and specs

  • Open Source
    Parse-Server is open-source, which means it's free to use and you can modify the source code to fit your specific needs. It also benefits from community contributions and improvements.
  • Backend as a Service
    It provides a backend as a service (BaaS), offering out-of-the-box features like data storage, user authentication, and push notifications, which allows developers to focus more on the frontend.
  • Cloud Independence
    You can deploy Parse-Server on any cloud service of your choice, giving you flexibility and control over your server environment, unlike other closed BaaS options.
  • Rich Feature Set
    Parse-Server includes a rich set of features such as live queries, GraphQL support, and file storage, which helps in developing complex applications efficiently.
  • Community Support
    An active community supports Parse-Server, providing regular updates, plugins, and extensions that can help solve common issues and expand the server's capabilities.

Possible disadvantages of Parse-Server

  • Self-Hosting Requirements
    Unlike fully managed BaaS platforms, you need to set up and maintain your own server infrastructure to use Parse-Server, which can be time-consuming and require technical expertise.
  • Limited Native SDKs
    Although Parse-Server provides SDKs for various platforms, it may not offer the same level of support or regular updates as commercial platforms, leading to potential compatibility issues with newer technologies.
  • Scaling Challenges
    Managing and scaling a self-hosted service can be challenging, especially for applications with growing and fluctuating user bases, requiring additional resources and infrastructure management.
  • Potential Feature Lag
    As an open-source project, Parse-Server might lag behind the latest innovations or features that commercial BaaS providers can rapidly implement due to their resources and funding.
  • Community Reliance
    Since Parse-Server is community-driven, critical bug fixes and improvements depend on community input, which can result in slower resolution times compared to proprietary solutions with dedicated support teams.

Analysis of Parse-Server

Overall verdict

  • Parse-Server is considered a good choice, particularly for developers looking for a flexible, open-source backend solution that avoids vendor lock-in. It offers a robust set of features out of the box, which can significantly accelerate the development process.

Why this product is good

  • Parse-Server is an open-source backend platform that allows developers to build applications faster by leveraging features like user authentication, push notifications, cloud functions, and real-time database capabilities. It is highly customizable, scalable, and can be deployed on any infrastructure. Moreover, it's backed by a strong community and extensive documentation, making troubleshooting and development easier.

Recommended for

    Parse-Server is recommended for startups, small to medium enterprises, and individual developers seeking a cost-effective backend solution with full control over their infrastructure. It's also ideal for projects that require rapid prototyping and deployment, app developers who need pre-built SDKs, and teams looking to migrate away from Parse's legacy hosted services.

Roll20 videos

Roll20 Overview 2019 (Play 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons Online)

More videos:

  • Review - Why I Quit Roll20
  • Review - Roll20 Vs Fantasy Grounds | Which is REALLY the Cheapest?

Parse-Server videos

No Parse-Server videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Roll20 and Parse-Server)
Gaming
100 100%
0% 0
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Game Engine
100 100%
0% 0
Design Prototyping
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Roll20 and Parse-Server

Roll20 Reviews

  1. When it works, its mediocre

    As a DM for homebrew games, I used Roll20 for 2+ years. When it works, its OK. When it doesn't, its frustrating. I use a lot of custom rules and they are simply not supported due to a lack of modularity within the system. A simple variant of Proficiency Dice in 5e is outlined in the rules, and even it is hacky and not well supported on Roll20.

    The format feels like it was made two decades ago, and the web console spits out warnings and errors left and right. There has even been some conspiracies / drama with some of the higher-ups at Roll20, showing a lack of leadership.

    Please, let's let Roll20 die. Support another system.

    ๐Ÿ‘ Pros:    Can purchase modules like curse of strahd and tomb of annihilation|Free for dms and players|Use with a variaty of systems|Many features
    ๐Ÿ‘Ž Cons:    Not modular enough for me|Hacky programming|Ugly|Features feel clunky and slow|Some features do not work well at all|Buggy
  2. Diego Herrerรญas
    Not very easy to learn

    Not easy to learn, not friendly controls

    ๐Ÿ Competitors: digitald20.com Digital d20
    ๐Ÿ‘ Pros:    The most famous
    ๐Ÿ‘Ž Cons:    User experiance|Design|Costly pro plan

10 Best Sites Like Roll20 Alternatives For Tabletop Gaming
These tools aide gamers during online games. Both Roll20 and the Roll20 alternatives can be best described as table-top games. Launched in 2012, Roll20 has received a lot of positive feedback.
Roll20 Alternatives, Similar Games, Apps 2020
Roll20 is a set of easy-to-use digital tools that extend the pencil and paper set. It is the easiest and free way to play board games (such as paper and pencil role-playing games) online with others. Roll20 is completely online, so it runs directly in your browser.
7 Best Roll20 alternatives 2020
Programs like Roll20 and Best Roll20 alternatives are quite similar. So you can play and try one of them and easily download from play store, app store and Roll20 official Website.

Parse-Server Reviews

Firebase Alternative: 3 Open-Source ways toย follow
Parse Server comes with a gazillion out-of-the-box features that allows you to get your MVP out quick and effortlessly. Currently, Parse server is the most popular and robust BaaS framework available that helps developers build mobile apps faster without any technical locks. It is an open source version of the Parse backend that can be easily downloaded for free on GitHub....
Source: medium.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Roll20 seems to be a lot more popular than Parse-Server. While we know about 334 links to Roll20, we've tracked only 6 mentions of Parse-Server. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Roll20 mentions (334)

  • Friend screwed 3/4 of the table out of 1/2 the game.
    There are other options: https://roll20.net/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Looking for a DND/TTRPG group
    I've used roll20.net up until now. They have a find group feature and a virtual table top with character sheets and dice roller included, so everything you need to play virtually is all on the one site. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Iโ€™m here to giveaway $1,500 in RPG goodies to celebrate 1 Year of Roll20 x DriveThruRPG! [Mod Approved]
    1 Year Roll20 Pro Subscription ($109 value!) โ€“ use it yourself or give it to your GM! Source: over 2 years ago
  • Looking for advice on running DnD game on stream!
    There are plenty of D&D software programs out there that are free and paid versions. Many of them with the ability to have friends join and interact with the table. As basic as Tabletop Simulator to Fantasy Grounds (both on steam that I have experience with, not an endorsement). roll20.net being a popular browser based version. Source: over 2 years ago
  • I'm looking for someone to teach me how to Play DnD
    I have made a character on roll20.net that maybe border line iffy/OP, so I may have to make one that's not. My free time can be a bit unusual at times(it's 12:24AM as I write this)so someone who has similar free times as I do(if your interested let me know and we can talk times), basicly I've been listening to a DnD podcast and I think it sounds fun and I want to try it out Edit: I'm in PST timezone in... Source: over 2 years ago
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Parse-Server mentions (6)

  • AI Coding: Building a 1-Hour App Clone Is Easy. Shipping It Is the Work
    If youโ€™re coming from the Parse ecosystem, it may help to know that Parse itself is a long-running open source backend framework. You can start from the official Parse Platform site, or go deeper with the communityโ€™s Parse Server repository. Our own developer docs are organized around that reality. If you want implementation-level guides, start with our SashiDo Documentation. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • What to choose for backend
    If you like headless CMS / Backend As A Service you should consider https://directus.io/ or https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server. Both nodejs and open source. Source: about 4 years ago
  • Any general purpose visualisation "just add the data" framework
    There's numerous standard backends which frontenders could use in simplistic cases to start, say https://github.com/PostgREST/postgrest or https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server. Source: over 4 years ago
  • Show HN: Caffeine, minimum viable back end for prototyping
    Parse is still around and supported: https://github.com/parse-community/parse-server. - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago
  • Ask HN: What Back End Framework with User Management Is Your Favorite?
    I am curious what backend framework you would choose to run with for prototyping an application with run of the mill user management requirements. That is functionality along the lines of: session management, password policies, password reset, user verifications, etc. Sadly it seems there really aren't any frameworks that have user management natively supported. The only one I am aware of is [Parse... - Source: Hacker News / about 5 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Roll20 and Parse-Server, you can also consider the following products

Foundry Virtual Tabletop - A self-hosted, modern, and developer-friendly roleplaying platform.

Firebase - Firebase is a cloud service designed to power real-time, collaborative applications for mobile and web.

D&D Beyond - Official online toolset for Dungeons & Dragons tabletop gaming

Marvel - Turn sketches, mockups and designs into web, iPhone, iOS, Android and Apple Watch app prototypes.

Astral Tabletop - Create, host, and manage your tabletop role-playing games โ€” online or in person

Moovweb Platform - Other Mobile Development