What Is the Best AI Tool to Storyboard a Video Concept?

Creating a storyboard is a crucial step in bringing video concepts to life. From visualizing ideas to planning each shot, storyboarding helps structure a video’s flow, tone, and visuals. 

Nowadays, there are various tools and apps that utilize advanced technologies to assist in storyboarding, making the process easier and more creative. But what is the best AI tool to storyboard a video concept?

We’ll go through some of the best ai tools available, each with unique features, strengths, and areas for improvement.

Why Storyboarding Tools Are Important for Video Creators

Storyboarding tools help video creators structure their ideas visually before production starts. They allow teams to collaborate seamlessly, share ideas, and ensure every frame matches the creative vision. 

Tools specifically designed for storyboarding also save time by offering templates, pre-designed assets, and easy drag-and-drop options. This makes the pre-production stage faster, allowing creators to focus more on storytelling and quality. Whether you’re a filmmaker, content creator, or marketing professional, these tools can streamline your workflow.

Best Tools for Storyboarding a Video Concept

Here are some of the top tools that can elevate your storyboarding process:

1. Storyboard That

Storyboard That provides a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface with thousands of customizable templates and characters. It’s ideal for creating visually detailed storyboards for videos and presentations.

Although it lacks real-time collaboration, it’s great for individual creators and educators needing simple storyboards quickly.

Pros: Easy to use, extensive library, beginner-friendly

Cons: Limited collaboration features, lacks advanced customization

Best For: Educators, beginner creators, small teams

2. Canva Storyboard

Canva Storyboard combines design and storytelling with various templates, fonts, and assets. Its intuitive layout and flexibility make it easy to create professional-looking storyboards without needing design skills. However, it may feel limited for large-scale projects or advanced users.

Pros: Large library, user-friendly, versatile

Cons: Not specialized for storyboarding, basic tools

Best For: Marketers, content creators, small businesses

3. Boords

Boords is a comprehensive storyboard and animatic tool that allows seamless team collaboration. It includes drawing tools, frame sequencing, and a script editor.

While it’s pricier, its collaboration features and intuitive setup are valuable for production teams and professional creators.

Pros: Great team collaboration, script integration, high-quality templates

Cons: Higher cost, limited free version

Best For: Production teams, animation studios, professionals

4. FrameForge

FrameForge is a 3D storyboarding software that lets users create complex, realistic scenes, making it perfect for live-action and animated projects. Its powerful 3D capabilities allow precise camera angles and character positioning, though it has a learning curve and requires a robust computer.

Pros: Advanced 3D features, customizable, realistic scenes

Cons: Complex for beginners, high system requirements

Best For: Filmmakers, animation professionals, advanced users

5. Plot

Plot is a cloud-based storyboarding app that emphasizes simplicity and efficiency. Quick drag-and-drop elements and straightforward tools make it great for brainstorming scenes and structuring ideas.

It lacks advanced features, but it’s ideal for beginners or smaller projects needing quick turnaround.

Pros: Fast setup, easy to use, cloud-based

Cons: Limited features for complex storyboarding

Best For: Beginners, solo creators, small-scale projects

6. Toon Boom Storyboard Pro

Toon Boom Storyboard Pro is a powerful software designed for professional animators, offering frame-by-frame drawing tools and timeline management. It’s highly customizable and integrates well with animation software, but it may feel overwhelming for beginners or those without an animation background.

Pros: Industry-standard, frame-by-frame drawing, integration options

Cons: Expensive, complex for new users

Best For: Professional animators, advanced creators, animation studios

7. StudioBinder

StudioBinder offers an end-to-end production solution that includes storyboarding, shot lists, and production scheduling.

It’s perfect for collaborative team environments and offers simplicity and depth, though the free version has limited features and is more suited to professional teams.

Pros: All-in-one production tool, team-friendly, customizable

Cons: Limited free features, may be overkill for small projects

Best For: Filmmakers, production teams, large-scale projects

8. Visme Storyboard

Visme provides a wide range of visual tools for storyboarding, allowing creators to easily create engaging, design-focused storyboards. Its emphasis on visuals makes it perfect for marketing videos, though it might lack specific features for advanced storyboarding.

Pros: Visual-centric, simple interface, great for marketing

Cons: Limited advanced features, fewer storyboarding tools

Best For: Marketers, educators, content creators

9. ShotPro

ShotPro allows for interactive 3D storyboarding with camera controls and environmental effects, making it excellent for planning complex scenes.

It’s ideal for users with live-action or animation experience but may be complex for casual users.

Pros: Realistic 3D settings, interactive, customizable

Cons: Learning curve, requires strong computer specs

Best For: Filmmakers, cinematographers, advanced animators

10. Storyboarder by Wonder Unit

Storyboarder is a free, open-source storyboard tool that’s simple yet functional. It allows for quick sketches and easy edits, making it a great tool for beginners. While it doesn’t have advanced features, it’s ideal for fast ideation and testing concepts without cost.

Pros: Free, intuitive, good for quick sketches

Cons: Limited advanced options, basic tools

Best For: Independent creators, students, beginners

11. Pixton

Pixton offers a unique take on storyboarding by allowing users to create comics. With character customization and various backgrounds, it’s great for planning story-based content, though it lacks the technical depth needed for film or animation projects.

Pros: Character options, simple comic-style creation

Cons: Limited for detailed storyboarding, no animation support

Best For: Educators, content creators, comic storytellers

Frequently Asked Questions

Can these tools work on mobile devices?  

Some tools like Canva and Visme have mobile apps, while others like FrameForge are desktop-only due to their advanced features.

Do I need to know how to draw to use these tools?  

Not necessarily. Many tools, like Storyboard That and Canva, offer templates and assets that don’t require drawing skills.

Which tool is best for beginners?  

Storyboarder by Wonder Unit, Storyboard That, and Canva are user-friendly options for beginners.

Are these tools free?  

Some have free versions, like Storyboarder and Pixton. However, others, like Toon Boom and FrameForge, require paid subscriptions for full access.

Which is best for animation projects?  

Toon Boom Storyboard Pro and FrameForge are well-suited for animation due to their detailed frame-by-frame and 3D capabilities.

Choosing the right storyboarding tool depends on the specific needs of your project. Tools like Canva and Storyboard are great for quick visuals for simpler projects, while advanced users might find more value in FrameForge and Toon Boom Storyboard Pro. 

With the right choice, you can transform your video ideas into organized, visually captivating storyboards that bring your concept to life.