Toon Boom Storyboard Pro vs PanelForge

Toon Boom Storyboard Pro9.3Visit PPanelForge7.9Visit

Higher score Toon Boom Storyboard Pro #1 in Storyboarding Software 9.3/10 14-day trial Free trial✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Toon Boom

vs

P PanelForge #8 in Storyboarding Software 7.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 4 features Visit PanelForge

• Toon Boom Storyboard Pro fits best

  Animation teams needing a full-featured 2D/3D tool

• PanelForge fits best

  Desktop artists creating drawn animatics on a budget

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Side by side

Feature	Toon Boom Storyboard Pro 9.3/10 Visit ↗	PPanelForge 7.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.3	7.9
Ranking	#1 in Storyboarding Software	#8 in Storyboarding Software
Best for	Animation teams needing a full-featured 2D/3D tool	Desktop artists creating drawn animatics on a budget
Pricing model	Paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	$90/yr	£7/user/mo
Free plan	—	✓ (best)
Free trial	14 days	—
Deployment	Desktop	Desktop
Platforms	Windows, macOS	Windows, macOS
Support	Tickets, Community, Docs	Community, Email, Phone
Integrations	4 integrations	4 integrations
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Toon Boom Storyboard Pro 0/4 · PanelForge 1/4
Real-time collaboration	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Animatic tools	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Script import	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Custom characters	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Export formats	PDF, QuickTime Movie (.mov), H.264/MPEG-4 (.mov), Windows Media Video (.wmv), PSD, TGA, JPG/JPEG, PNG, CSV, EDL, AAF, XML, Harmony, FBX	MP4 H.264, QuickTime, PDF, PNG, JPEG, PSD, XML, Alembic
Supported platforms	Not checked yet	Windows, macOS
Our review
Pros	Combines bitmap and vector drawing with 2D/3D camera and layout tools Animatics include effects, transitions, audio editing and unlimited sound tracks Exports to production formats and integrates with major editing tools	Layered 2D canvas and 3D stage support detailed storyboard work Timeline, multitrack audio and preview tools support animatic production Exports to MP4, QuickTime, PDF, XML, Alembic and image sequences
Cons	The standard plan starts at $90 per month Desktop-only, with support limited to tickets, community and documentation Its broad production toolkit may exceed the needs of simple storyboarding	Runs on Windows and macOS desktop systems only Free projects are limited to 100 panels and 1080p resolution Unlimited panels, 8k+ output and priority support require Studio
Our verdict	Toon Boom Storyboard Pro is desktop software for creating storyboards and animatics across animation, live action, games and other visual productions. Its drawing, layout, camera, timing and audio tools suit storyboard artists, directors… Read the review →	PanelForge is desktop pre-production software for animation, video and film teams. It brings together a layered 2D drawing canvas with brush and tablet support, a 3D stage for geometry, cameras, lighting and materials, storyboard panel… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Toon Boom Storyboard Pro — where it wins

  • Combines bitmap and vector drawing with 2D/3D camera and layout tools
  • Animatics include effects, transitions, audio editing and unlimited sound tracks
  • Exports to production formats and integrates with major editing tools

  Where it doesn't

  • The standard plan starts at $90 per month
  • Desktop-only, with support limited to tickets, community and documentation
  • Its broad production toolkit may exceed the needs of simple storyboarding

• PanelForge — where it wins

  • Layered 2D canvas and 3D stage support detailed storyboard work
  • Timeline, multitrack audio and preview tools support animatic production
  • Exports to MP4, QuickTime, PDF, XML, Alembic and image sequences

  Where it doesn't

  • Runs on Windows and macOS desktop systems only
  • Free projects are limited to 100 panels and 1080p resolution
  • Unlimited panels, 8k+ output and priority support require Studio

• Toon Boom Storyboard Pro9.3/10 · 14-day trial

  A full-featured 2D/3D storyboard and animatic tool, priced for committed production work.

  Visit Toon BoomFull verdict →
• PPanelForge7.9/10 · Free plan

  A budget-friendly desktop toolkit for drawn storyboards, timed animatics and production exports.

  Visit PanelForgeFull verdict →