The Quick Answer
Foundry VTT is incredible for combat, maps, and automation during sessions. A standalone loot tracker is better for persistent inventory, cross-VTT campaigns, mobile access, and theater-of-the-mind tables. They're not competitors—they solve different problems. Many groups use both.
When Foundry VTT Wins
If you're running a full-time Foundry campaign and all players have good PCs, Foundry's loot modules are powerful:
Visual Drag-and-Drop Looting
Literally drag loot tokens from the map into character sheets. Feels tactile and satisfying. Great for combat loot (enemies drop items visually).
Full Character Sheet Integration
Loot automatically updates character sheets, weight calculations, attunement slots, and spell components. Everything in one place.
Automation with Modules
Modules like "Loot Sheet NPC" let you auto-populate merchant inventories, treasure hoards, and enemy loot tables with one click.
All-in-One Solution
If your entire game lives in Foundry (maps, character sheets, rolls, music), adding loot tracking there keeps everything unified.
Bottom Line:
If you run 100% Foundry sessions and all players are comfortable with the interface, Foundry's loot modules are hard to beat for in-game looting.
When Standalone Loot Trackers Win
Here's where standalone trackers (like D20 Loot Tracker) excel—and why many Foundry users still use them:
1. Theater of the Mind Tables
Not every table uses VTTs. Many DMs prefer theater-of-the-mind, physical maps, or simple audio-only Discord calls.
Foundry requires everyone to run the client, learn the interface, and use a PC/laptop. Standalone trackers work from any device with a web browser.
Stat: ~60% of D&D tables don't use VTTs at all (per Wizards surveys).
2. Mobile-Only Players
Foundry barely works on mobile. The interface is designed for desktop (drag-and-drop, hover tooltips, tiny buttons).
If even one player in your group joins from their phone (commuting, traveling, in bed), they can't use Foundry effectively.
Standalone trackers are mobile-first. Large tap targets, responsive design, no horizontal scrolling.
3. Cross-VTT Campaigns
Your table uses Roll20 for combat but Discord voice for roleplay. Or you switch between in-person and online sessions.
Foundry loot data is locked inside Foundry. You can't easily export it to Roll20, Fantasy Grounds, or a physical table.
Standalone trackers are VTT-agnostic. Use them alongside any VTT (or no VTT).
4. Players Who Don't Want Foundry Accounts
Some players don't want to create Foundry accounts, download clients, or learn a complex interface just to track loot.
They're happy to use Foundry during combat (where the DM drives), but want something simpler for inventory between sessions.
Standalone trackers have zero installation. Just a shareable link. No accounts required for basic use.
5. Persistent Loot Tracking Across Multiple Campaigns
You run multiple campaigns in Foundry. Each has its own world. Loot data lives in each world separately.
Want to track loot across West Marches campaigns, rotating DMs, or one-shots? Foundry gets messy.
Standalone trackers let you manage multiple campaigns in one account. Easy switching. Shared players across campaigns.
The Complementary Approach: Use Both!
Here's the secret: Many groups use Foundry for combat/maps and a standalone tracker for persistent inventory. Best of both worlds.
How It Works:
During Combat (Use Foundry)
Drag loot from enemies to temporary "loot pile" actors. Visual, fast, integrated with combat flow.
After Session (Transfer to Standalone Tracker)
Manually add the session's loot to D20 Loot Tracker. Takes 2 minutes. Now it's permanently recorded with transaction history.
Between Sessions (Use Standalone Tracker)
Players access on mobile to check inventory, transfer items, sell loot. No need to boot up Foundry.
Long-Term Records (Standalone Tracker)
Complete campaign history lives in the tracker. Export reports, transaction logs, total wealth progression.
Why This Works: You get Foundry's visual looting during gameplay and a standalone tracker's persistence, mobile access, and simplicity for everything else. No compromises.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Foundry VTT | Standalone Tracker |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Drag-and-Drop | ✅ Excellent | ❌ Click-based only |
| Mobile Access | ❌ Poor (desktop-only UI) | ✅ Mobile-first design |
| Theater of the Mind | ❌ Requires VTT setup | ✅ Works standalone |
| Character Sheet Integration | ✅ Full integration | ⚠️ Separate system |
| Cross-VTT Support | ❌ Foundry-only | ✅ Works with any VTT |
| Transaction History | ⚠️ Manual logging | ✅ Automatic audit trail |
| Setup Complexity | ⚠️ Requires VTT hosting | ✅ Just a shareable link |
| Cost | $50 (one-time) | Free |
Which Should You Use?
Use Foundry Loot If...
- Your entire campaign runs in Foundry
- All players use PCs/laptops (no mobile)
- You love visual drag-and-drop looting
- You want everything in one system
Use Standalone Tracker If...
- You play theater of the mind / in-person
- Any players join from mobile devices
- You use Roll20, Fantasy Grounds, or other VTTs
- You want loot tracking separate from VTT
Use Both If...
You run Foundry sessions but want persistent inventory tracking that works on mobile, across campaigns, and with transaction history.
(This is actually the most common setup for serious Foundry groups—VTT for gameplay, standalone tracker for long-term records.)