ParentSquare
ParentSquare is a unified school-to-home communication platform that streamlines mass notifications, classroom messaging, and school services into one central interface to increase family engagement and student success.
Storyboard That
Storyboard That is an intuitive online storyboard creator that helps you create visual narratives, graphic organizers, and educational resources through a massive library of customizable characters and scenes.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | ParentSquare | Storyboard That |
|---|---|---|
| Website | parentsquare.com | storyboardthat.com |
| Pricing Model | Custom | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Custom Pricing | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✓ 14 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2011 | 2012 |
| Headquarters | Santa Barbara, USA | Chicago, USA |
Overview
ParentSquare
ParentSquare provides you with a single, unified platform for all school-to-home communication, replacing the fragmented mix of apps and paper forms typically used in districts. You can manage everything from emergency alerts and district-wide announcements to individual teacher-parent messages and permission slips. By consolidating these tools, you ensure that every family receives information in their preferred language and through their chosen channel, whether that is email, text, or app notification.
The platform is designed specifically for K-12 districts and private schools looking to improve equity and engagement. You can track deliverability in real-time to identify families who aren't receiving messages, allowing you to bridge the communication gap. It simplifies administrative tasks like scheduling parent-teacher conferences, collecting digital signatures, and managing school payments, all while maintaining strict data privacy and security standards for your entire school community.
Storyboard That
Storyboard That is a versatile visual communication tool that helps you transform ideas into engaging storyboards, comics, and graphic organizers. Whether you are a teacher creating lesson plans, a student working on a project, or a business professional mapping out a user journey, the platform provides a drag-and-drop interface that requires no artistic skill. You can choose from thousands of customizable characters, scenes, and props to build your narrative visually.
The platform simplifies the storytelling process by providing pre-made templates and a flexible canvas. You can easily export your creations to PowerPoint, social media, or high-resolution PDFs for presentations and classroom handouts. It serves as a bridge between text-heavy information and visual understanding, making complex concepts easier to grasp for any audience.
Overview
ParentSquare Features
- Two-Way Messaging Chat directly with teachers or staff in real-time with automatic translation that breaks down language barriers for all families.
- Mass Notifications Send urgent alerts and general announcements across email, text, and voice calls simultaneously to ensure everyone stays informed.
- Digital Forms Create and send permission slips or health surveys that parents can sign electronically from any device in seconds.
- Conference Scheduling Set up parent-teacher conference slots and let families sign up for times that work for them without back-and-forth emails.
- Volunteer Management Post sign-up sheets for school events or classroom needs and track volunteer hours automatically within the platform.
- Secure Document Delivery Send report cards and private student documents securely to specific parents while maintaining a digital paper trail for compliance.
Storyboard That Features
- Extensive Art Library. Access thousands of customizable characters, scenes, and items to build any setting or scenario you can imagine.
- Drag-and-Drop Creator. Build your storyboards quickly by dragging elements onto the canvas—no drawing skills or technical expertise required.
- Custom Character Posing. Change facial expressions, limb positions, and clothing colors to make your characters match your specific narrative needs.
- Graphic Organizer Templates. Use pre-built layouts for Venn diagrams, T-charts, and flowcharts to organize your thoughts and data visually.
- Flexible Export Options. Download your finished work as high-resolution images, multi-page PDFs, or ready-to-use PowerPoint presentations for your team.
- Real-Time Collaboration. Work together with your students or colleagues on the same project to brainstorm and refine visual stories.
Pricing Comparison
ParentSquare Pricing
Storyboard That Pricing
- 2 storyboards per week
- 3 or 6 cell layouts
- Standard art library access
- Watermarked exports
- Personal use only
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Unlimited storyboard creation
- Over 100 different layouts
- Upload your own images
- No watermarks on exports
- Privacy controls for your work
Pros & Cons
ParentSquare
Pros
- Consolidates multiple communication tools into one easy-to-use interface
- Automatic translation helps reach non-English speaking families effectively
- High adoption rates among parents due to mobile app convenience
- Excellent customer support and onboarding for school staff
Cons
- Initial setup requires significant data syncing with student systems
- Notification settings can be overwhelming for parents if not configured
- Custom pricing makes it difficult to budget without a sales call
Storyboard That
Pros
- Massive library of diverse characters and scenes
- Extremely easy for non-artists to use
- Excellent variety of educational and business templates
- Flexible posing options for characters add realism
Cons
- Free version has strict weekly creation limits
- Interface can feel slightly dated to some
- Watermarks on free exports are quite prominent