Toon Boom Storyboard Pro
Toon Boom Storyboard Pro is an all-in-one storyboard software that combines drawing, scripting, and camera controls to help you create visual stories for film, television, and games.
Storyboarder
Storyboarder is a free, open-source storyboarding software that provides artists with a fast, simple interface to draw, animate, and export visual stories directly to professional creative suites.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Toon Boom Storyboard Pro | Storyboarder |
|---|---|---|
| Website | toonboom.com | wonderunit.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Free |
| Starting Price | $71/month | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 21 days free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✘ No product demo |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 1994 | 2017 |
| Headquarters | Montreal, Canada | New York, USA |
Overview
Toon Boom Storyboard Pro
Toon Boom Storyboard Pro gives you everything you need to take your ideas from script to screen in one seamless environment. You can sketch directly into the software using advanced drawing tools, import your scripts, and time your panels to create animatics with sound and transitions. It eliminates the need to jump between different applications for drawing and editing, allowing you to focus entirely on your visual storytelling and pacing.
You can manage complex camera movements in 3D space and integrate 3D models directly into your 2D scenes for better perspective and depth. The software is designed to handle high-end production demands, making it easy for you to export your work to various formats or pass it along to the next stage of the animation pipeline. Whether you are working on a solo project or as part of a major studio team, it provides the structure to keep your creative vision organized.
Storyboarder
Storyboarder provides you with the fastest way to visualize your stories. Whether you are a filmmaker, animator, or novelist, you can quickly draw rough sketches to test your ideas without the friction of complex tools. You can use the built-in drawing tools or print out paper templates to draw by hand, then snap a photo to import your frames instantly.
The software integrates deeply with your existing creative workflow, allowing you to open your boards in Photoshop for detailed editing. You can also export your finished boards directly to Premiere, Final Cut, or Avid for timing and assembly. Because it is open-source and community-driven, you get a professional-grade toolset entirely for free, making it accessible for independent creators and large studios alike.
Overview
Toon Boom Storyboard Pro Features
- Advanced Drawing Tools Create natural-looking sketches with pressure-sensitive brushes and textured lines that mimic traditional media on your digital canvas.
- 3D Space Integration Import 3D models and move them within a 3D environment to create perfect perspective and complex spatial layouts.
- Cinematic Camera Animate camera movements across panels with built-in 3D camera controls to preview exactly how your shots will look.
- Script Integration Import your scripts from Final Draft or PDF and drag-and-drop text directly into your panels to save time.
- Animatic Creation Add audio tracks and adjust panel timing on a timeline to turn your static boards into a moving preview.
- Pipeline Export Export your projects directly to Harmony, Maya, or various video formats to keep your production moving smoothly.
Storyboarder Features
- Quick Drawing Tools. Use a light pencil for roughing, a hard pencil for lines, and a brush for tones to create boards quickly.
- Shot Generator. Type a description to instantly generate 3D characters and sets when you need to visualize complex camera angles.
- Paper Import. Print storyboard templates, draw with a real pencil, and take a photo to automatically import and crop your frames.
- Photoshop Integration. Edit any board in Photoshop with one click and see your changes update automatically inside Storyboarder.
- Professional Export. Send your storyboards directly to Premiere, Final Cut, Avid, or PDF to begin your editing and production process.
- Layer Management. Organize your drawings with simple layers to separate characters, backgrounds, and notes for better visual clarity.
Pricing Comparison
Toon Boom Storyboard Pro Pricing
- Full access to all features
- Advanced drawing & 3D tools
- Complete animatic toolset
- Standard support included
- Monthly billing flexibility
- Everything in Monthly, plus:
- Significant annual discount
- Billed as $528 per year
- Continuous software updates
- Priority access to new versions
Storyboarder Pricing
- Unlimited storyboards
- Shot Generator 3D tool
- Photoshop integration
- Export to Premiere and Final Cut
- Printable paper templates
- Open-source source code access
Pros & Cons
Toon Boom Storyboard Pro
Pros
- Industry-standard tool used by major animation studios
- Seamless integration of 2D drawing and 3D assets
- Powerful timeline for creating high-quality animatics quickly
- Excellent export options for professional production pipelines
Cons
- Significant learning curve for new or hobbyist users
- Higher price point compared to basic sketching apps
- Requires high-performance hardware for complex 3D scenes
Storyboarder
Pros
- Completely free and open-source for all users
- Extremely fast interface for rapid sketching
- Seamless round-trip editing with Adobe Photoshop
- Unique 3D shot generator for non-artists
Cons
- Limited advanced drawing features compared to Photoshop
- Occasional stability issues on certain hardware
- Smaller community support compared to paid alternatives