Best Story Board Apps and Websites for all platforms
The sole purpose of the StoryBoard apps is to get a visual representation withdrawingsor photos of the film or any video you are going to create. The basic feature of these apps is to draw or upload the photo with description, sound, action, camera angle, and movements. Some professional-level apps even provide features like tracking, 3d animation support, timeline, etc.
Similarly, there are multiple StoryBoard apps that are available on different platforms and offer unique features to stand out from one another. I will be mentioning the best apps available for different platforms including Android, iOS, Windows, Mac and even Linux.
1. StudioBinder
StudioBinder is a web-based StoryBoard app making it the app available on all the platforms. This appoffers an all-round package of services for story writers including scriptwriting, shoot locations, call sheets, workflow planning, story breakdowns, and StoryBoards. In short, you can control your entire project in one place.
you may add your team members into the project and everyone can work on a single place. Coming to the StoryBoard part, it offers all thebasic features needed for a StoryBoard app like the description for the scene, music, etc and also has the ability to add shot type and shot size, VFX shots, lens, camera, etcwhich provides a pre-planned control not only on the story but also on the shot design you wanted to implement. This app also offers the print option that arranges all your StoryBoard details in a clean layout according to dates and locations you planned.
OpenStudio Binder(Web App)
2. Ray Story Board
Ray Story Board is undoubtedly the best StoryBoard app available for Android. It is asimple storyboard app that offers the ability to add images, music, and a small description. You can also draw with the pencil feature right inside the app. You can also set the duration of each shot and play a slideshow which gives even more control over the shot you are making.
Though there is no print option, you can export the project as a PDF or even a JPG image format. It has ads which aren’t really distracting, but you can go to the pro mode which costs $4 to stop ads and you also get free cloud storage to store your projects online
DownloadRay Story Board(Android)
3. Shot Pro
Shot Pro is a visualization software and also used as a StoryBoard app by a large group of people. It used to be only available on Mac and iOS, now you may also install on Android and Windows too. But still, the app is not available on the play store, but you can download the APK file from their website.
The app has few nifty features like augmented reality, character design, face mocap to apply expressions and voice to your character, etc.
DownloadShot Pro(iOS, Mac, Windows, Android)
Boords is a web app like Studio Binder, but the only difference is its main focus is only Story Boards. You canadd images, sounds, descriptions, etc. You also have theability to draw on the website directly instead of depending on third-party services like Photoshop.
But unlike Studio Binder, there are no other options like camera setup descriptions, etc. If your main focus is drawing, then you can go with Boords or if your main focus is giving details to the shot, then you can go with Studio Binder. The major advantage for Boords over Studio Binder is the integration with After Effects by adding a small plug-in.
OpenBoords(Web App)
5. Make Storyboard
Make Storyboard is also a web app. But it has anoption to add multiple descriptions for a single boardthat no other app offers even on pro versions. Along with that, it offersall the basic features you need to draw images right inside the app, sound details, exporting to PDF format, etc.
If adding more of your own description to a board is what you are searching for, then Make StoryBoard can be the perfect app. But the free version only supports 1 board and 10 scenes which can be considered too less for any kind of project you take. If you are going with Make StoryBoard, you most probably have to go with the Pro version.
OpenMake Storyboard(Web App)
6. Frame Forge
Frame Forge is the most professional StoryBoard app in the list which is even used by Marvel, Netflix, BBC, etc. With that, you must have already understood that this doesn’t leave any features. Unlike other apps, youcan create 3d models and move the camera angle with-in minutes and get the perfect angle right from the software.
It is obviously the most complex app as you are dealing with 3d models here. Anyhow,the app itself offers basic models like people, props, etc. You can even customize the default models easily with few settings.
DownloadFrame Forge(Windows, Mac)
7. Prolost Boardo
Prolost Boardo is not an app of its own but a plugin of After Effects. If you are already a user an After Effects, then its better to choose Prolost Boardo as it just comes for $29 instead of subscription plans and offers all the features you expect from a professional StoryBoard app.
Though you don’t deal with 3d models and animations like Frame Forge, you have a lotbetter control over the 2d drawing.Andif you are already an After Effects user, it doesn’t take much time to understand this tool.
DownloadProlost Boardo(After Effects Plugin)
8. Storyboard Fountain
Storyboard Fountain is a new software which just released recently and still on the beta stage. But the app works absolutely fine with the modern and easy to use interface.
This is a profession grade sketching app but it is free as it is being developed as an open-source project. As it is a professional sketching app, you’re able to expect all the features you expect from a sketching app. As it is a new app, there are many updates adding new features like pressure levels, etc.
Download Storyboard Fountain(Mac)
9. Storyboard That
Storyboard That is an app that concentrates on designing the image yet you don’t need to draw anything. Ithas a lot of backgrounds of cities, landscapes, interiors, exteriors, public places, etc. And you may also find a lot of characters, animals, things, shapes, etc which you can use and create a storyboard.
If you could not find the background or property, you can also upload photos on your own. So if you have taken any photo of a location, you can upload it to use that as a background.
OpenStoryboard That(Web App)
10. StoryBoarder
StoryBoarder is an app specially made for drawing andoffers a lot of features like different kinds of brushes, grid layouts, layers, colors and even has support for timeline.If you want to have more editing options, youcan switch the scene to photoshop on the go and continue your editing from where you have left. As StoryBoarder is synced with Photoshop, you can just edit and the changes will be applied to StoryBoarder.
Apart from that, StoryBoarder is not a great app to create a list of your scenes. You can create scenes in the timeline and play them in a slideshow format.
you’re able to use apps like Studio Binder for it. The best part is, this app is entirely free.
DownloadStoryboarder(Mac, Windows, Linux)
11. Shot Designer
Shot Designer is a lot more than just a normal StoryBoard app.Apart from adding images, music, and description, you can also design the shot with characters, cameras, lights, movements, props, etc.
This is a bit complicated app that requires a bit of learning curve if you are just starting out. Anyhow, the app offers a clean design that you may easily pick up all the features within a few minutes. It also provides you tutorials in case you need it. And it is one of the few apps which supports both mobile and desktop operating systems.
DownloadShot Designer(Android, iOS, Windows, Mac)
12. Toon Boom Storyboard Pro
This is a perfect mix of features from almost all the apps mentioned above. It hasdrawing options, animating tools, built-in camera, story flow options, many storyboard layouts, collaborating options, timeline, etc.
Best Animation studios like Universal, Ubisoft, Lucasfilm, Fox, and Cartoon Network use Toon Boom StoryBoard Pro not only for the storyboarding but also for animation purposes. Another app from Toom Boom called Harmony gives you even more control over the Animation part.
DownloadToon Boom Storyboard Pro
Best Storyboard Apps on all platforms
You can find basic storyboard apps on all the platforms like Ray Storyboard on Android, Shot designer on Android and iOS, Web Apps like Studio Binder and Boords, etc. But if you are looking for a professional editor with a lot of drawing potential, you can choose a storyboard fountain and storyboarder. If you are an After Effects user, you can go with Prolost Boardo.
But if you want to choose an all-round feature-rich app, I can highly recommend you Toon Boom Storyboard Pro or Frame Forge. Both the apps offer you a free train, you may check them on your own and check out which works great for you and your project.
Related:7 Best Free Video Editing Apps For Android & iPhone (No Watermark)
Ravi Teja KNTS
Tech writer with over 4 years of experience at TechWiser, where he has authored more than 700 articles on AI, Google apps, Chrome OS, Discord, and Android. His journey started with a passion for discussing technology and helping others in online forums, which naturally grew into a career in tech journalism. Ravi’s writing focuses on simplifying technology, making it accessible and jargon-free for readers. When he’s not breaking down the latest tech, he’s often immersed in a classic film – a true cinephile at heart.
