Choose Atlas VTT if your game master already uses Obsidian, wants maps and campaign notes together in a local vault, and is happy to share the player view while handling token movement. Choose Foundry VTT if players need to join and interact through their own browsers, or your group wants a wider range of game systems and hosting options. The key difference is not just price: Atlas is an Obsidian-based, screen-shared tabletop, while Foundry is a dedicated server-based VTT for browser play.
Atlas VTT vs. Foundry VTT at a glance
| Decision | Atlas VTT | Foundry VTT |
|---|---|---|
| Core model | A virtual tabletop inside Obsidian; campaign materials stay in the user’s vault. | A standalone roleplaying platform; a host runs a server and players connect in a browser. |
| Price | Free and open source under AGPL-3.0, according to the Atlas site. | $50 USD plus applicable tax for an individual license, according to the Foundry FAQ. One license covers one active game server and unlimited players. |
| How players join | The GM shares the player view by streaming, such as through Discord screen share, and moves tokens for players. Optional online multiplayer is planned, not currently documented as available. | Players connect to the host’s server through a browser invitation link. The host may self-host or use a hosting partner. |
| Best workflow fit | Obsidian-first, file-oriented campaign preparation with maps and notes together. | Dedicated VTT use with game systems, community modules, and server or hosting choices. |
| Feature ecosystem | Scenes, maps, encounters, characters, tokens, fog, dice, notes, and map tools. | Foundry reports more than 200 actively supported tabletop RPG systems and offers an API and community modules; the system count is Foundry’s own claim. |
| Device support | Obsidian 1.8.7 or later on desktop Windows, macOS, or Linux. Phones and tablets are not supported. | Desktop client guidance and a modern supported browser; Foundry says its core software does not support mobile devices and will not work via iPad at this time. |
Can your players join online?
Atlas VTT: shared view, GM-controlled tokens
Atlas’s documented player workflow is for the GM to share the player view over a stream and move tokens on players’ behalf. That can work for a group already using voice chat and screen sharing, but it is not the same as each player connecting to a live VTT and controlling a character. Atlas says optional online multiplayer, including player control of characters and tokens, is planned; its documentation does not establish it as a current feature. See the Atlas troubleshooting guide.
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Foundry VTT: players connect to a host server
Foundry is designed for browser access to a game server run by the host or a hosting provider. The host shares an invitation URL, and players use a browser to join. Only the host needs the Foundry license. Self-hosting gives the GM control but may require network and router setup; partner hosting is an alternative for those who would rather not manage the server hardware. See the Foundry FAQ and requirements guide.
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How Atlas fits an Obsidian campaign
Atlas describes itself as a virtual tabletop inside Obsidian. Maps, tokens, and scenes sit alongside campaign notes as vault files, and Atlas says no signup is required. It is a separate project, not affiliated with Obsidian. For a GM who already plans sessions in Obsidian, that file-oriented approach can keep spatial play and written campaign material close together without maintaining a separate VTT workspace.
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Its Asset Manager organizes maps, scenes, encounters, characters, and collections. A scene can hold its grid, tokens, fog, and notes. The scene toolbar provides token selection and movement, fog controls, drawing and text, distance measurement, note pins, dice, and a loot roller. Atlas’s quick tour shows the workflow.
What Foundry offers beyond the basic table
Foundry is a system-agnostic platform for tabletop roleplaying games. Foundry reports that more than 200 tabletop RPG systems are actively supported; that is the company’s published count, not an independent inventory audit. Its API and community modules allow substantial customization, and a purchase includes starter content packs such as battlemaps, tokens, audio, and premade adventures. The official Foundry home page describes its systems and platform features.
Its flexibility comes with choices to make: the host must decide whether to run the server locally, use cloud infrastructure, or pay a hosting partner. With self-hosting, the GM takes on more of the network and availability work than in Atlas’s screen-share workflow.
Cost and licensing
Atlas is free and open source
Atlas says it costs nothing and is licensed under AGPL-3.0. Its maps, tokens, and scenes are stored as vault files, so the workflow centers on the GM’s own Obsidian vault rather than an Atlas-hosted campaign account. Details are on the Atlas site.
Foundry is a one-time license purchase
Foundry lists its individual license at $50 USD plus applicable tax. It covers one active game server with unlimited players, and core software updates are included for license owners, according to the FAQ. Optional Patreon support is not required to use software features. The listed price can change, so check Foundry’s official information before buying.
Requirements and setup trade-offs
Atlas requirements and map handling
- Atlas requires Obsidian 1.8.7 or later on a desktop Windows, macOS, or Linux computer.
- Atlas documentation says phones and tablets are not supported.
- Add map images through the Asset Manager rather than copying them directly into Atlas’s folder.
- Atlas shrinks maps whose long side exceeds 8,192 pixels and stores each map in smaller WebP format. This may reduce detail in very large world maps.
These details come from the Atlas troubleshooting documentation.
Foundry client requirements
Foundry’s published minimum client guidance includes Windows 10/11, macOS Sonoma or newer, or supported Linux; an integrated GPU; 8 GB RAM; a 1366×768 display; and a modern hardware-accelerated browser. Recommended guidance includes 16 GB RAM, a dedicated GPU that supports WebGL 2.0, and a 1920×1080-or-better monitor. These are published specifications, not a guarantee that every world or module combination will perform identically. See the Foundry requirements page.
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For self-hosting, Foundry’s guide calls for a network that permits IPv4 port forwarding and does not use carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT), along with router port forwarding and firewall configuration. The guide recommends at least 1.5 MB/s (12 Mbps) upload. A hosting provider can take server hardware management off the GM’s plate, though the group still uses Foundry’s browser-based game workflow. These are Foundry’s hosting recommendations, not a claim that every table needs a high-end gaming PC.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which VTT should your group choose?
Choose Atlas if
- The GM already uses Obsidian and wants campaign notes, maps, and scenes in the same vault.
- You want a free, open-source desktop tool and value local, file-oriented campaign materials.
- Your group is comfortable with the GM streaming the player view and moving tokens for players.
Choose Foundry if
- Players need to connect remotely through their own browsers and interact with the game.
- Your table wants a broad range of supported RPG systems, APIs, and community modules.
- The GM is willing to self-host and configure networking, or prefers to use a hosting partner.
Pause if mobile support or minimal setup is essential
Neither product is a strong match for a group that depends on phones or tablets. A group that also wants interactive multiplayer with little setup and no screen sharing or server administration may want to consider another VTT rather than assume either platform meets that need.
Quick Recap
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