Best Drawing Software for Storyboarding (Ranked and Reviewed)

Storyboarding is a demanding craft that requires both time and commitment. Mastering it takes patience, practice, and a strong creative vision. One of the biggest challenges artists face is finding software that truly supports their workflow.

As digital storyboarding becomes increasingly vital in film, TV, and game production, more artists are on the lookout for tools that can simplify the process without compromising on visual storytelling quality.

Storyboarding software can be complex, especially for beginners. It's tough to find an option that's both easy to learn and professional enough for industry work.

There are many drawing applications out there, but not all are designed specifically for storyboarding needs. If you don't know what to look for, it's easy to get overwhelmed by generic drawing programs that lack essential storyboarding features. Luckily, we've compiled a list of the best storyboarding software that combines drawing capabilities with specialized workflow tools.

Check out this list of the Best Drawing Programs!

Key Takeaways

• Storyboard Pro offers the most comprehensive storyboarding tools with industry-standard features
• Clip Studio Paint provides excellent drawing capabilities with good storyboarding templates
• Krita delivers professional storyboarding features at no cost with customizable panels
• Storyboarder is perfect for beginners with its simple interface and quick sketching tools
• Adobe Photoshop works well for teams already using Creative Cloud with robust collaboration features

What Is the Best Drawing Software for Storyboarding?

Almost every drawing application claims to be suitable for storyboarding, but few truly understand the unique requirements of the craft. Storyboarding needs specialized features like panel management, camera movement notation, timing controls, and quick sketch capabilities that go beyond basic drawing tools.

Here are the top options for professional storyboarding:

1. Storyboard Pro

Storyboard Pro by Toon Boom is the industry-standard software specifically designed for storyboarding. Used by major animation studios and film productions worldwide, it combines powerful drawing tools with comprehensive storyboard management features.

Key Features

• Specialized storyboard panels with automatic numbering and organization
• Built-in camera moves and transitions between shots
• Audio import and sync capabilities for animatics
• 3D camera and staging tools for complex scenes
• Export options for various production pipelines

User Experience

Storyboard Pro feels like it was built by storyboard artists for storyboard artists. The interface is designed around the storyboarding workflow, with tools that make it easy to create, revise, and organize your boards. The drawing tools are responsive and designed for quick sketching, while the panel management system keeps everything organized automatically. You can easily add camera moves, timing notes, and dialogue directly within the software.

Cost

• Subscription: $25/month (Essentials), $43/month (Advanced)
• Perpetual license: $565 (Essentials), $1,100 (Advanced)
• Free 21-day trial available

What We Like About Storyboard Pro

• Purpose-built for storyboarding with all necessary specialized tools
• Industry-standard software used by major studios
• Excellent panel management and organization features
• Audio sync capabilities for creating animatics
• Comprehensive export options for different production needs

What We Dislike About Storyboard Pro

• Expensive compared to general drawing software
• Steeper learning curve for artists new to specialized storyboard software
• Overkill if you only need basic storyboarding capabilities
• Subscription model for ongoing access

Scoring:

We give Storyboard Pro a perfect 5/5 for professional storyboarding. While expensive, no other software offers the same level of specialized tools and industry acceptance for serious storyboard work.

2. Clip Studio Paint

Clip Studio Paint has become increasingly popular among storyboard artists for its excellent drawing tools combined with useful storyboard templates and features. Originally designed for manga and comics, it translates well to storyboarding workflows.

Key Features

• Professional-grade drawing tools with natural brush feel
• Storyboard page templates and panel tools
• Layer management system perfect for revisions
• 3D reference models for consistent character poses
• Animation timeline features (in EX version)

User Experience

Clip Studio Paint offers a familiar drawing experience that many artists love, with the added benefit of storyboard-specific templates. The software makes it easy to create multi-panel layouts, and the drawing tools feel natural and responsive. You can quickly sketch ideas, make revisions on separate layers, and organize your boards using the built-in page management system.

Cost

• One-time purchase: $49.99 (Pro), $219 (EX)
• Subscription option: $4.49/month (Pro), $8.99/month (EX)
• Free 30-day trial available

What We Like About Clip Studio Paint

• Excellent drawing tools that feel natural for sketching
• Good value with one-time purchase option available
• Storyboard templates and panel management features
• Regular updates with new features
• Large community with tutorials and resources

What We Dislike About Clip Studio Paint

• Not specifically designed for storyboarding workflow
• Limited audio sync capabilities compared to specialized software
• Panel management not as robust as dedicated storyboard programs
• Initial interface can be overwhelming

Scoring:

We give Clip Studio Paint 4/5 stars for storyboarding. It offers excellent drawing capabilities and useful storyboard features at a reasonable price, though it lacks some specialized workflow tools of dedicated storyboard software.

3. Krita

Krita is an open-source drawing program that has developed into a capable storyboarding tool through community contributions and specialized plugins. It offers professional-quality features at no cost, making it accessible to indie creators and students.

Key Features

• Comprehensive drawing tools with customizable brushes
• Storyboard docker for panel management
• Animation timeline and onion skinning
• Customizable workspace layouts
• Python scripting for workflow automation

User Experience

Krita provides a solid storyboarding experience through its storyboard docker and animation features. While not as specialized as dedicated storyboard software, it offers enough functionality for most storyboarding needs.

The drawing tools are excellent, and the customizable interface allows you to create a workspace tailored to storyboarding. The community has developed useful plugins and templates specifically for storyboard artists.

Cost

• Completely free and open-source
• Optional donations to support development

What We Like About Krita

• Professional-quality features at no cost
• Decent storyboard management through docker system
• Excellent drawing tools suitable for quick sketching
• Active community with storyboard-specific resources
• Highly customizable interface and workflow

What We Dislike About Krita

• Storyboard features not as polished as paid alternatives
• Limited audio sync capabilities
• Can be resource-intensive on larger projects
• Fewer specialized storyboard templates compared to commercial software

Scoring:

We give Krita 5/5 stars for value in storyboarding. While it may not have all the specialized features of premium software, the combination of capable storyboard tools and zero cost makes it an exceptional choice for budget-conscious creators.

4. Storyboarder

Storyboarder by Wonder Unit is a free, open-source application designed specifically for digital storyboarding. It focuses on simplicity and speed, making it perfect for beginners or artists who need to quickly visualize ideas.

Key Features

• Simple, intuitive interface designed for quick sketching
• Built-in drawing tools optimized for storyboarding
• Automatic shot numbering and organization
• PDF export with proper formatting
• Photoshop integration for detailed artwork

User Experience

Storyboarder strips away complexity to focus on what matters most in storyboarding: quickly capturing ideas visually. The interface is clean and uncluttered, making it easy to jump in and start sketching. The drawing tools are simple but effective, designed specifically for the loose, expressive style common in storyboards. You can easily add notes, dialogue, and action descriptions to each panel.

Cost

• Completely free and open-source
• Available for Windows, Mac, and Linux

What We Like About Storyboarder

• Completely free with no limitations
• Extremely simple interface perfect for beginners
• Fast and responsive for quick idea capture
• Designed specifically for storyboarding workflow
• Good export options for sharing with teams

What We Dislike About Storyboarder

• Limited drawing tools compared to full art programs
• No audio sync capabilities
• Fewer advanced features for complex productions
• Development has slowed in recent years

Scoring:

We give Storyboarder 4/5 stars for beginners. The simplicity and free price make it an excellent entry point into digital storyboarding, though professionals may eventually need more advanced features.

5. Adobe Photoshop

While not specifically designed for storyboarding, Adobe Photoshop has become a popular choice for many storyboard artists, especially those working in team environments or studios already using Creative Cloud.

Key Features

• Professional drawing and painting tools
• Extensive layer management for revisions
• Custom brush creation and vast brush libraries
• Integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud apps
• Collaboration features through Creative Cloud

User Experience

Photoshop offers a familiar environment for many artists, with powerful drawing tools that work well for storyboarding. While it lacks specialized storyboard features, artists often create custom templates and action sets to streamline their workflow.

The extensive layer system makes it easy to handle revisions, and the integration with other Adobe apps helps in team environments.

Cost

• Subscription only: $20.99/month (Photoshop only)
• $52.99/month (Complete Creative Cloud)
• 7-day free trial available

What We Like About Adobe Photoshop

• Industry-standard software familiar to most artists
• Powerful drawing tools suitable for detailed storyboards
• Excellent collaboration features for team projects
• Integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud applications
• Vast library of brushes and community resources

What We Dislike About Adobe Photoshop

• No specialized storyboard features or templates
• Subscription-only pricing model
• Can be overkill for simple storyboarding needs
• Requires manual setup for storyboard workflow

Scoring:

We give Adobe Photoshop 3/5 stars for storyboarding. While it offers excellent drawing capabilities and team collaboration features, the lack of specialized storyboard tools and high subscription cost limit its effectiveness for dedicated storyboard work.

Best Storyboarding Software FAQ

What's the difference between storyboarding software and regular drawing software?

Storyboarding software includes specialized features like automatic panel numbering, shot organization, camera movement notation, audio sync for animatics, and export formats specific to production pipelines. Regular drawing software focuses on creating individual artworks rather than managing sequences of panels.

Do I need expensive software to create professional storyboards?

Not necessarily! While professional studios often use specialized software like Storyboard Pro, many successful storyboard artists use more affordable options like Clip Studio Paint or even free software like Krita and Storyboarder. The key is understanding storyboarding principles and having efficient drawing tools.

Can I create animatics with storyboarding software?

Yes, several options support animatic creation. Storyboard Pro offers the most comprehensive animatic features with audio sync and timing controls. Clip Studio Paint EX also has animation capabilities, while Krita includes basic animation timeline features for simple animatics.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right storyboarding software depends on your specific needs, budget, and career stage. For professional work requiring industry-standard features, Storyboard Pro remains the gold standard, offering specialized tools that streamline the entire storyboarding process from initial sketches to final animatics.

If you're looking for excellent drawing capabilities with good storyboard support at a reasonable price, Clip Studio Paint provides an outstanding balance of features and value. Budget-conscious creators and students will find Krita offers surprisingly professional capabilities at no cost, while beginners should consider starting with the simple, focused approach of Storyboarder.

Teams already embedded in the Adobe ecosystem may find Photoshop sufficient for their needs, especially when collaboration and integration with other Creative Cloud apps are important factors.

Remember that the most important aspect of storyboarding isn't the software you use, but your ability to clearly communicate visual ideas and story flow. The best software is the one that gets out of your way and lets you focus on the creative process.

Start with your budget and skill level in mind, and don't be afraid to try multiple options to find what works best for your particular workflow.

Whether you're creating storyboards for films, commercials, games, or personal projects, the right software can significantly improve your efficiency and help you bring your visual stories to life. Choose the tool that feels most natural to you and start storyboarding today!