How to Pick a Storyboard Maker: Free vs Paid Tools for Film, Teaching, and Comics
Pick your storyboard maker by matching it to your output first, then check the free-tier limits before you commit. If you're planning film shots, you need frame-by-frame sequencing and export control. If you're teaching, you need assignment and template tools. If you're making comics or graphic novels, you need a deep art library and layout flexibility. Storyboard That is one option built for all three, with a free tier that caps you at two storyboards per week and paid plans that unlock premium features.
Match the tool to what you're actually making
The same software rarely wins across all three use cases, so decide your primary output before comparing features.
| Use case | What matters most | What to check before signing up |
|---|---|---|
| Film / video planning | Shot sequencing, camera notes, export quality | Can you export at a usable resolution? Are frames editable after export? |
| Teaching | Assignment tools, lesson plans, student access | Can you copy, edit, and assign to students? Is there a teacher signup? |
| Comics / graphic novels | Art library depth, panel layouts, character consistency | How many scenes, characters, and items are included? |
| Posters, timelines, infographics | Template variety | Are templates editable or locked behind premium? |
Storyboard That positions itself across all of these — its page lists posters, comics, novels, worksheets, storyboards, timelines, and infographics as starting points, and describes a "vast art library filled with hundreds of scenes, characters, items and more."
Check the free tier before you invest time
Free tiers are where most people get surprised. The limit isn't usually features — it's volume and export.
Storyboard That's stated free limit is two storyboards per week. That's workable for a single class activity or a quick concept test, but it won't carry a full film shoot or a multi-chapter comic. The site also flags certain capabilities as "Premium Feature" with an upgrade prompt, so expect some art or tools to be gated.
Before committing to any maker, test these four things on the free plan:
- Create one real storyboard — not a demo. Use your actual content.
- Try to export it — check format, resolution, and whether watermarks appear.
- Count your weekly limit — does it match your production pace?
- Look for the upgrade wall — which specific features triggered it?
If the free tier fails at step 2 or 3, you've learned the most important thing before paying.
Compare paid features that actually change your workflow
Paid tiers matter for different reasons depending on your role. Storyboard That's pricing page shows plans starting at $9.99 after a $1 first month promotion, with a separate tier noted at $13.99 after the promotional period. The site also offers a free teacher signup path.
What to weigh when comparing paid options:
- Art library depth — a bigger library matters for comics and graphic novels; less so for simple shot planning.
- Templates — education-focused templates (lesson plans, writing activities) save teachers setup time.
- Collaboration and assignment — if you're teaching, can you assign and review student work?
- Export restrictions — some tools gate high-resolution or watermark-free export behind payment.
- Seat pricing — per-teacher or per-classroom pricing changes the math for schools.
Storyboard That explicitly markets Common-Core aligned lesson plans and the ability to "copy, edit, and assign to your students in seconds," which points to education as a core strength rather than a film-production specialty.
Test with a small project first
Whatever you choose, run one small real project end to end before committing. For a film shot list, storyboard three scenes. For a class, build one activity and assign it. For a comic, complete one page.
This surfaces the things feature lists don't tell you: how fast the editor actually is, whether the art style fits your tone, and whether export quality holds up. Storyboard That's own pitch is that you can "create a digital story in minutes" without being an artist — a claim worth verifying against your specific output before you upgrade.
Quick decision guide
- Free and occasional (a few boards a week): Start with a free tier like Storyboard That's two-per-week limit and see if it covers your pace.
- Teaching with regular assignments: Prioritize tools with student assignment and lesson templates; check the teacher signup path.
- Film or video planning: Confirm export resolution and frame editing before paying — this is where free tiers most often fall short.
- Comics and graphic novels: Weight art library size and panel flexibility heavily; this is the most library-dependent use case.
- Any paid upgrade: Verify the post-promotion price ($9.99 or $13.99 in Storyboard That's case) and what specifically unlocks, rather than paying for features you won't use.