See the slideshow summary of the 10 best open source apps for Mac OS X.Read about the winners of InfoWorld's 2009 Best of Open Source Software Awards. That's just the foundation. Following is a curated list of Top 15 source code and text editor software for Windows and Mac platforms. All the editors in the list are Free to use. The code editor could be standalone or integrated into an IDE. Best Free Code Editors for Windows & Mac. Jun 28, 2020  'An easily approachable video editing software for those just getting started.' Best Open-Source Software: Shotcut at Shotcut 'A multi-track editing software like any other serious software, and you can readily rearrange the workspace to suit your editing needs.' Popular open source Alternatives to Inkscape for Linux, Windows, Mac, Web, BSD and more. Explore 22 apps like Inkscape, all suggested and ranked by the AlternativeTo user community. Inkscape is a professional vector graphics editor for Linux, Windows and macOS. It's free and open source. Open Source For You is Asia's leading IT publication focused on open source technologies. Launched in February 2003 (as Linux For You), the magazine aims to help techies avail the benefits of open source software and solutions. Techies that connect with the magazine include software developers, IT managers, CIOs, hackers, etc.

1. Free Open Source Software Downloads

Free Software for Windows :- We can understand that excitement of getting a new laptop, however, it gets really perplexing with so many pre-installed softwares on the Windows. While you may be happy with the fact that you are being offered with a wide range of apps, eventually you will realize that most of them are of no use to you. These softwares therefore, end up jamming your computer’s memory adding no value to you.

In such cases, you can rather re-install Windows from the start to refresh the whole operating system that ensures removal of any unnecessary software. Once, the process is complete you can then install any software that you feel would be useful to you. With plenty of nice software available online for Windows, we cannot ask for more. And, most of them we will be talking about are really essential to almost every PC.

See also :- free. software download websites

Get your hands on the top free and open source software that can replace those pricey applications quite effectively. So, we handpicked a few must-have softwares that are not only completely free to download but are the best in the lot. They are simply the best in open source category with first-rate features that are no less than the paid ones.

These softwares are free of spyware and are reviewed by the best of editor’s. They are segregated into different categories based on their use. So go ahead and download the list and convert your PC into a super device.

Mozilla Firefox

Maybe the last time I saw how the Internet Explorer looks was when I downloaded Mozilla Firefox. If you’ve been already using it, you would know how up to date it is with its incredible plugins that let you do so much with your browser. Not to mention those irritating pop ups which are smartly taken care of by the Firefox. So, if you do not want to end up paying for that upgrade to the IE 11 version or just want a replacement for Chrome, get Firefox today for free!

Google Chrome

The next popular browser to Firefox that you can think of is easily Google’s Chrome. It may not be open source software, but it’s free, fast, easy to use, syncs your settings efficiently and boasts of an amazing library extension. There are plenty of add-ons, and even the choice to open the browser page in incognito mode.

Apache Open Office

Microsoft Office is the widely used software by the tech giant which is unfortunately not free. Even though we are used to this, you can quickly find an efficient replacement with Apache Open Office that offers the same features as Microsoft Office with excel sheets, graphics, database management tools, word file creation and more for free.

LibreOffice

LibreOffice is a 100 percent free office program designed to meet your needs replacing the Microsoft Office. This cross-platform program helps you with word processing, excel sheet tools, and the presentation maker that does a fair job at no price.

Thunderbird

Get an alternative for the quintessential Microsoft Outlook with Thunderbird (a web-based email solution) that showers you with some wonderful features, and fast speed. It is a fully featured software that’s lightweight, filters your spam efficiently and keeps you informed on those phishing attacks.

Mozilla Lightning Calendar

Designed to be used in conjunction with Thunderbird, Mozilla Lightening Calendar keeps you organized with your daily schedule. Now, mark your important with this tool that’s also assimilated with your email in the form of calendar.

SumatraPDF

Simply forget that Adobe Reader as soon as it prompts you with its installation pop up, and move over to a faster, uncomplicated, and lightweight application like the SumatraPDF which is free and awesome. Trust me; you won’t need Adobe Reader anymore unless your browser has compatibility issues.

PDFCreator

PDF Creator is an amazing piece of software that allows you to print your favorite document and convert it into PDF that can be read on any PC with Acrobat Reader. This super software supports password protection and 128-bit encryption, and many other features of Adobe PDF.

The Ninite Pack

It’s not actually a software, but its a complete pack of all free open source trusted softwares for your PC.Unquestionably the best of the lot, as it offers a package of applications to be installed in just a single click for your Windows OS. You can either choose a complete pack (Essentials Pack for everyone and Extended Pack for advanced users) or choose to pick individual apps and Ninite helps install all of them in the congregation.

Wunderlist

One of our favorites in the category of To-Do apps is undoubtedly the Wunderlist. What we love about this app is that it syncs to the cloud, works with any device that you can think of and the best part is, it’s totally free. Simply launch it and begin making your lists. This easy to use app allows you to add and shift tasks equally easily.

Link: https://www.wunderlist.com/

GanttPV

Manage your projects effortlessly with GanntPV that’s a great replacement for the Microsoft Project. It’s quick, easy and allows you manage projects candidly. Go deep inside the app and once you know about the abundance of features you may not want to move to MS Project.

Link: https://sourceforge.net/projects/ganttpv/

FreeMind

FreeMind is a cross-platform mind mapping application that’s absolutely free to use and is especially useful for those who are into research projects or writing and want their ideas to be streamlined into one logical summary.

Link: http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

VirtualBox

VirtualBox is a unique concept that creates a virtual version of your desktop. It enables you to access your desktop apps and space from any location as the real desktop is detached from them. With a powerful processing speed that doesn’t bog down your PC and the ability to restore lost files, makes it a must-have in the list.

Link: https://www.virtualbox.org/

Notepad++

An easy alternative to the Microsoft Windows Notepad can be the Notepad++ which is free and supports multiple languages. It’s a user-friendly app and its features like word auto-completion, bookmarking, multi-view, zoom option, and multiple tabs for individual documents along with its unique ability consume less CPU power, makes it stand out in the category.

Link: https://notepad-plus-plus.org/

Greenshot

Visually describe your ideas by capturing a screenshot where you can also add texts and shapes to it. It makes it easier for your co-workers to understand what you are trying to explain. Greenshot is free, open source and works with multiple image formats.

Link: http://getgreenshot.org/

FileZilla

If you need to transfer the file to any other device periodically, FileZilla can be of great help to you. It helps you with FTP much faster and smoothly via their drag-and-drop feature and works best for those who intend to transfer files in bulk.

Link: https://filezilla-project.org/

ResophNotes and Evernote

Sync your simple text notes via Dropbox or Simplenote with Resophnotes, and keep them safe in there. On the other hand, you can store your text notes, web portions or anything else that you would need later. Best of all, they are both free.

ResophNotes: http://www.resoph.com/ResophNotes/Welcome.html;

Evernote – https://evernote.com/

Dropbox

Dropbox is one such app that can turn any of your devices, whether it’s your computer or a handheld device. Keep all your files, documents and other important things in sync with Dropbox which gives you 2GB to begin with. You can also expand the space in your app for free.

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/

GnuCash

If you have been using Microsoft Money, you would know that Gnu Cash (free accounting software) is a similar adaptation in a compressed form. It retains all the functionalities of MS Money, though and lets you manage your money efficiently. It comes with an exceptionally easy interface that works more like a checkbook ledger on your device, however, offers much more than that.

Link: http://www.gnucash.org/

PhraseExpress

Want to save some time on that regular typing session on your computer for your work? Install Text Expander by Phrase Express that helps complete most used phrases during email composition, writing address, codes, etc., automatically in just a few keystrokes.

Paint.NET and GIMP

You really don’t need Adobe Photoshop if you are not an expert user, For the regular user, Paint.NET is the best option that helps you to edit images easily for free. However, if you are looking for an advanced alternative you can resort to GIMP which is a versatile image editor available for free.

Paint.net : http://www.getpaint.net/index.html;

GIMP : –http://www.gimp.org/

Picasa

Picasa offers a basic, yet fantastic professional photo editing and saving experience for the normal laptop users for everyday use. It does exactly what you want, scanning your image folder and updating the photos automatically in its library. You can also edit your pics for free that works fine with its basic editing tools and lets them sync with Google for cloud backup. If you are a beginner it makes life easier for you.

Link: http://picasa.google.com/

Blender 3D

Blender 3D works just great for beginners and advanced users alike with its ample graphics creation features such as creating animations, modeling, producing, post-production, 3D enhancements and much more. It is a perfect alternative for its paid competitors like 3DSMax or Maya.

Link: https://www.blender.org/

Dia

Wish you got some help for your school/college projects or for that presentation at your office tomorrow? Get Dia for your laptop that helps you with a wide range of charts such as, flowcharts or relationship charts. Once completed, you can then convert your diagrams into XML, EPS or SVG formats.

Link: https://sourceforge.net/projects/dia-installer/

Scribus

If you are looking for an efficient publishing tool for free, Scribus can be just the answer to your solution. This open source software works with the majority of popular graphic formats and works to get a professional page layout. You can also import and export files in SVG format.

Link: http://www.scribus.net/

VLC Media Player

There’s nothing better than the VLC Media Player that you can think of as a replacement over its paid adversaries. It’s free, fast and a powerful multimedia player that is compatible with major audio and video codecs like, MP3, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-3, and DivX. It also supports Video CDS and DVDs and can play near about any file from DVDs, CDs and other media devices.

Link: http://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html

Handbrake

Wondering how to carry DVDs while on a trip? Doesn’t that get messy and above all that fear what if the fragile piece breaks off into pieces! Software to read mac hard drive on windows. Well, that’s why Handbrake is a perfect solution for your needs that helps you to transfer the movie from your computer’s DVD drive to the hard drive for your convenience.

Link: https://handbrake.fr/

CCleaner

Remove all those unwanted files and stuff using CCleaner that can help free up your computer’s hard drive space in no time. Maintain your PC by sweeping off any temporary files and cookies from your browser temporary file, and any junk from Windows or other installed apps effortlessly.

Link: http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

Avast! Free Antivirus

The first free security for your computer that should come to your mind is undoubtedly Avast! Free Antivirus. It maintains the perfect balance of being a lightweight tool and the strong ability to identify viruses that are harmful to your device. It does a fantastic job in eliminating viruses and replaces the MS Security Essentials damn well.

Link: https://www.avast.com/index

Audacity

Not many may require this software, but for those who need a microphone for recording purpose, Audacity can be the best choice hands down. It’s free and helps you record voices, your own voice or even podcasts if you are really into it.

Link: https://sourceforge.net/projects/audacity/

Media Player Classic

If you want a simple media player that can play your media files (sound clips, songs or videos), Media Player Classic can be another free alternative for you, if you really do not want VLC Media Player. It supports a wide variety of formats including DivX, MPEG, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, Xvid and CD or DVD or VCD.

Link: https://mpc-hc.org/

MusikCube

Yes! Even iTunes has its free adversary and MusikCube is its name. It’s different if you already have iTunes, but if you don’t then this music player and organizer can more than meet your needs for free. It helps arrange your MP3 files, makes it extremely convenient and fast to look for them, and enables you to create some wonderful playlists.

Link: http://musikcube.com/

MusicBee

Get a freeware like MusicBee that’s a great app to download especially if you are a beginner. It’s a lightweight program that can be customized and easily used. While it allows you to adjust its interface in many different ways, you can also install additional plugins and does exactly what you want. So manage your huge music collection today with MusicBee.

Link: http://getmusicbee.com/

KeePass Password Safe

There are high chances of getting baffled with all those passwords that you need to remember on a daily basis, for emails, social networking, apps, websites and so on. N the recent times it’s very normal to have hundreds of passwords and above all, the pressure of having different passwords. Therefore, you can keep your passwords locked under KeePass Password Safe in the most secured way and be tension free.

Link: http://keepass.info/

Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition

If you are looking for an alternative to the Norton Antivirus simply because you don’t it, the next free contender can be easily the Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition. The program runs smoothly and quietly at the background, and does a superb job in blocking or eliminating the harmful viruses along with providing protection from phishing.

Link: http://www.bitdefender.com/solutions/free.html

HealthMonitor

As the name suggests, Healthmonitor keeps a check on your computer’s overall health. It tracks down the reason for the slow computer speed and any other hidden issues that might be affecting the performance. It keeps you updated on each and every status, and also alerts you on the memory usage. So, stay updated to be free of any unforeseen issues that your computer might encounter.

Link: https://sourceforge.net/projects/healthmonitor/

Gaim

Get a simple, neat and a steady instant messaging platform with Gaim. It is a free and suitable alternative to the famous contenders like, Yahoo Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger or the MSN Messenger. While there are other free replacements as well, but Gaim tops the chart with its simplicity.

Skype

One of the most popular video chat software available for free is undoubtedly Skype. The best part is that you will get at least some of your friends or relatives on Skype whom you can text or video chat with. If you may not use this for regular contacts, keeping Skype on your Windows is almost like keeping a smartphone headphone in your pocket.

Pidgin

It’s quite possible that you have a different set of contacts on different platforms like, on the hangout, Facebook or AIM and at times you may need to converse with them at once. In such cases, opening different windows and handling chat session with individual contacts becomes really difficult. Pidgin is a free desktop client that can help you sign into several accounts at a time and continue with multiple conversations effortlessly.

Link: http://pidgin.im/

Gnucleus

Gnucleus is an open source file sharing software that offers the basic solution to your file sharing needs. You can search, share and download file on the internet with this tool for free just like you would do with LimeWire or BearShare. What we like about this program is that it comes with no additional junk or spyware that otherwise slows down your PC.

Link: http://gnucleus.sourceforge.net/Gnucleus/

7-Zip

7-Zip is a free zip archive tool for those who may encounter unfamiliar file formats frequently such as, the RAR or the 7Z. It helps you to create folders for different formats, open the archive for them and even password protect them for security. With its features, it is a perfect solution for file compression or transmitting sensitive data over the internet.

Link: http://www.7-zip.org/

Revo Uninstaller

A must have for any windows user, Revo Uninstaller removes every bit of the program that you want to get rid of. It removes traces of all those programs in just one simple click that leave behind additional files or registry. You can also uninstall such programs using the “Hunter Mode” simply by clicking on the program.

Link: http://www.revouninstaller.com/index.html

Juice

Subscribe to podcasts readily with Juice that also helps you to organize the podcasts and even listen to them at your comfort. Juice is free and when used along with PodNova it becomes even easier to arrange podcasts than you would do with iTunes.

Link: http://juicereceiver.sourceforge.net/

Saurav is associated with IT industry and computers for more than a decade and is writing on The Geek Page on topics revolving on windows 10 and softwares.

From action scenes to snappy dialogue, everything can be captured in a great storyboard.

The entertainment industry needs quality storyboard artists and those artists need great software. If you search around you’ll find plenty of options but they each have a range of features, benefits, and prices(some free!)

So what kind of software is best for storyboarding? And which programs offer the best features to support your creative projects?

I’ll go through all the best options in this post and get you started on the path to magnificent digital storyboards.

Storyboarder

Price: Free
Platforms: Mac, Windows, Linux

The team at Wonder Unit has developed some really cool stuff for filmmakers. One of their coolest projects is Storyboarder, a free app made for visualizing stories.

This runs on all 3 major operating systems and it’s 100% free to download and use forever. At that price who can complain?

I’d think if you’re a newbie to storyboarding then you’d want to save money at every turn. That is why Storyboarder makes such a great choice for beginners who need a simple application to practice their boards.

From a single screen you can draw each shot, add dialogue/stage directions, and even port the entire thing into Adobe Photoshop if you need a larger toolset.

Also Storyboarder comes with a play feature so you can demo your boards in a slideshow preview much like a real animatic for animation.

An excellent program for presenting to clients, or just for mucking around and practicing on your own. And you can’t beat that price tag.

Toon Boom Storyboard Pro

Price: $60/mo or $999 one-time fee
Platforms: Mac, Windows

Looking at the complete opposite of free we’ll find Toon Boom Storyboard Pro. To my knowledge this is the most expensive storyboarding software on the market and it’s also the industry standard.

A good majority of studios use Toon Boom for boarding & animating so this is something you may want to learn if you want to break into the industry.

Now with that said, it does offer a cheaper monthly fee that most people could afford compared to the upfront cost.

This monthly fee gives you a chance to test the waters and see what you think of Toon Boom without committing to a massive single use license.

So what exactly does this program give you?

Really it’s a combo of both sketching and animating together. It’s a way to sketch your boards and see how they’d animate, all while tracking your script to make sure your scenes are on target.

Toon Boom is definitely more of an animator’s program.

It can work well for ad agencies or for board artists doing small skits. But the Story Flow tool makes it a breeze for writers to switch between board & script to follow each sequence, each scene, and each act.

You can also create dynamic camera movements along with some experimental 3D features that work nicely for 3D animators. Easily import scripts from Final Draft or export your layered panels for Photoshop. Plenty of support across all the typical art industry programs.

To put it bluntly: Toon Boom Storyboard is really the professional’s program. It is not necessary to buy this in order to create a pro-level board. However it would be worth learning if you want to work in animation someday.

Adobe Photoshop

Price: $9.99/mo
Platforms: Mac, Windows

Good ol’ Photoshop.

It’s been around for 20+ years and I don’t see it going away anytime soon.

Although isn’t it funny how much Photoshop gets used for other things besides photo editing? We see it used for digital painting, pixel art, and of course for storyboarding.

You can draw digitally just as well in PS as you can in other programs. In fact, I’d argue there’s even more support now with tons of brushes for the PS environment.

Not to mention all the free storyboard templates you can get in PSD format specifically for Photoshop.

I don’t think there’s much to say about this program because every artist knows about it already.

The biggest downside is the lack of support for Linux users.

But in general Photoshop is well-supported and managed by a trusted brand. Not to mention if you already use Photoshop for digital painting then you’ll know how to use it for boarding.

Storyboard Fountain

Price: Free
Platforms: Mac

Storyboard Fountain is a newer program that I found just recently. It’s exclusive to MacOS only so it’s not an option for Windows or Linux users.

That said, if you do wanna give it a shot you’ll be impressed.

You can download the program totally free of charge from the main website. It’s currently in beta so there are many features still being worked out and smaller bugs in the process.

Once it does reach its v1.0 release I think it’ll stay free because the entire project is on GitHub. This means the source code is freely available and I doubt the creators would end up charging for it.

I really like the interface and the sidebar flow works incredibly well at presenting scenes in a linear fashion. You can quickly spot scenes that need work and rearrange them without messing up the rest of the story.

Take a peek at their preview video to see this software in action.

Considering it’s limited to Mac users this will have a smaller audience. But I’m really pleased with the GUI and the many complex features of Storyboard Fountain—especially given the $0 price.

Boords

Price: $12-$24/mo
Platforms: Mac, Windows, Linux

Online SaaS products are quickly becoming “the norm” for software. I don’t think desktop programs will go away but we are seeing more web-based programs like Boords that offer great solutions.

Boords works as a native storyboarding platform that gives you tons of free templates and collaboration tools.

If you’re working with clients they can log into your project space and drop comments on the work right from their computer.

Free Open Source Software Downloads

You can also setup team accounts with multiple users if you’re working on a group project.

Boords has flexible frame sizes, tons of free templates, and a really cool animatic tool for presenting your storyboards before animating.

The monthly price is definitely affordable and this can work on every major operating system. Not many programs can offer this much functionality for so cheap.

Anyone looking for a collaborative solution should check out Boords. It may not suit your needs but it does offer a free trial period to see if you like it or not.

FrameForge

Price: $199
Platforms: Mac, Windows

Typically I see FrameForge referenced more in the live action world. It’s still a great program but may not be the #1 choice for animators.

Still, the art of storyboarding is not explicitly for animation. Plenty of marketing agencies need storyboards for commercials or small teaser videos. Same goes for complex movie scenes or indie filmmakers.

The nice thing with FrameForge is that you can work just like any other program, but with a heavier focus on the script.

It supports importing from the most common script writing programs like FadeIn and Final Draft. Plus you can easily jump back & forth between scenes to get an overview of the whole story.

I’d recommend this program more for artists with an interest in directing and cinematography.

It’s also fantastic for indie artists or aspiring filmmakers who want to get a new project off the ground without a huge budget.

Prolost Boardo for After Effects

Price: $29
Platforms: Mac, Windows

So this isn’t technically a piece of software, but rather a complex add-on to the Adobe After Effects program.

Yet I think Prolost Boardo still belongs in this list because it almost feels like its own program. Not to mention plenty of TV & film artists will know the After Effects interface so it’s one of the best programs to work with.

This add-on lets you easily tilt, pan, zoom, and handle many other camera directions with a few presets. And you have the power of After Effects to alter anything else you place on the screen.

Add life to your boards with shaking motions and export everything into one final animatic, all from AE. Pretty cool!

This add-on does cost money but it’s a one-time fee of $29. That does not include the price of the After Effects software but if you already have a license for that you won’t need to worry.

Clip Studio Paint

Price: $49
Platforms: Mac, Windows

Many artists use Clip Studio Paint for drawing their comics and custom manga pages. These work well because CSP has tools that help you structure pages with boxes in a comic-esque style.

This also works nicely for storyboards since they take on a very similar look.

You can design a CSP template page and use that many times over to design your storyboards quickly. Or you could download a PSD template and import that into the software.

We recently covered a bunch of tutorials on Clip Studio Paint and it’s pretty easy to learn if you already do some digital artwork.

It also comes at a reasonable price considering it’s one of the better digital drawing/painting programs out there.

Will this work for everyone? Probably not.

But I do think it’s a viable option similar to Photoshop where you have one piece of software that gives you everything you need: drawing, painting, sketching, and boarding.

StoryboardThat

Price: $9.99/mo
Platforms: Mac, Windows, Linux

I want to include Storyboard That even though it’s not made specifically for artists.

This free web-based program is made for quick informative boards and organizing stories fast. It does not directly support drawing beyond their pre-existing library of graphics.

Or at least, I didn’t see a way to draw judging from their free plan. To use this program you’d need to pay a monthly fee and that grants you unlimited boards with far nicer tools.

All that said I’d like to restate that I do not think this works well for animators. At least not in the serious scripting phase.

Use this more for planning compositions quickly or just getting ideas down. Even if you don’t have any artistic ability, Storyboard That can work well.

But I’d really recommend this program for anyone designing webcomics or small tidbits of visual information in a frame-by-frame format.

Certainly a nice program for marketing agencies or anyone working with an ad company that requires storyboards.

OpenToonz

Price: Free
Platforms: Mac, Windows

The more I look around the more impressed I get with free art software. It seems like the open source movement really has grown rapidly with no end in sight.

OpenToonz is a very nice open source program for storyboarding.

I still personally like Storyboard Fountain a little more if we’re talking about free options, but with OpenToonz you can run Mac or Windows which is nice.

The software is based on an original 2D drawing program Toonz which was used and customized by Studio Ghibli. OpenToonz is the free open source alternative to that.

It’s still under active development but it does have a lot of neat features. I specifically like the visual story mapping that lets you connect different scenes together and organize your storyline in a flow chart.

With that said, I do think the painting features need some work. OpenToonz doesn’t even come close to a powerhouse like Photoshop in regards to digital painting so it may not suit all your needs.

But for a free program it works very well. Especially if you’re just sketching boards and organizing a small story from scratch.

Krita

Price: Free
Platforms: Mac, Windows, Linux

Totally free, open source, and surrounded by a loving community of artists. What more could you ask for?

Krita has to be the fastest-growing open source painting program on the market. It’s got hundreds of free brushes along with tons of handy tutorials for beginners to learn the ropes.

That said, Krita is not really a storyboarding program. It’s a digital drawing & painting program.

But here’s why Krita makes the list: it’s totally free and easy to learn!

Many storyboard artists like to draw or paint their work in color. And most storyboard artists enjoy just being artists, whether that’s drawing their own characters or doing some digital paintings for fun.

Krita lets you do all of this from one program with one set of tools, all at no charge.

And it runs on every operating system so there’s plenty of support for everyone. If your drawing tablet has working drivers you’re good to go.

As of this writing I have not found any Krita storyboard templates that match the dozens of PSD templates out there. But you can export a PSD into a PDF file and import that into Krita yourself.

Not the simplest option but it’s a great way to bring templates into a Krita workflow.

In general I’m a huge fan of Krita and really do recommend giving this a try if you need a free painting program. This software will be around for years and it’s only getting better with time.

Plot

Price: $10/mo
Platforms: Mac, Windows, Linux

Plot makes visual storytelling super easy. For $10/mo you get unlimited boards, unlimited projects, and unlimited add-on users.

It’s basically the web-based equivalent of a beginner’s storyboarding app with some nice features that apply to animators too.

With this program you can run any operating system and still get access to a drawing pane. This way you can easily draw your frames and import them directly to your project, along with added dialogue and stage directions.

Since the app is visual you can easily change scenes just by clicking and dragging different pieces around the page. Easy peasy.

I also think the collaboration features are exquisite and far beyond other programs of this price range.

Now if you can work out your drawings in a desktop program you’ll definitely have more control. Then you can always import those drawings into Plot and organize them accordingly. This way you’ve still got collaboration features with very detailed drawings all managed online.

You can try Plot’s free demo if you visit the homepage and click “create free storyboard”. Might be worth a quick test run.

Mischief

Price: $25
Platforms: Mac, Windows

Mischief is custom art software made for drawing and sketching. You can find out more on their homepage and in this piece published by ArtStation.

Suffice it to say this program is pretty darn cool. It is not designed explicitly for storyboarding, however it is designed for continuous drawing and rough sketching without excessive tools getting in the way.

Because of its simplicity you can easily dive into Mischief and start boarding ideas fast. Almost no learning curve here.

I’d consider Mischief more of an idea program for artists. This is the best way to get your ideas down onto a page and see how they work in visual form.

No messing with templates or worrying about formalities. Also this program has a really cool feature infinite canvas which lets you just keep drawing onwards into infinity.

Your boards may feel a bit messy in this format but you won’t be hindered by any square borders or edges on the page. Keep on drawing to your heart’s content and get those ideas down!

Best of all Mischief offers two plans: one totally free with limited features and a pro upgrade for $25.

Creative Bloq published a review of this program if you wanna check out their opinion. But really it’s just a neat drawing program without limits on your creativity.

TVPaint

Price: $600
Platforms: Mac, Windows, Linux, Android

TVPaint is a fairly common program within the entertainment industry. However it does not have the same market share as Toon Boom so it’s not as well known or as powerful(in my opinion).

Yet many animators do enjoy TVPaint including veteran Disney animator Aaron Blaise. He publishes online art courses for animators and most of them feature TVPaint.

This program is incredibly versatile and it works exceptionally well for storyboarding. It can also be used as a true-blue animation program just like Adobe Animate or Toon Boom Animate.

Anyone who wants to do professional storyboarding would do well with TVPaint’s many awesome features geared towards boarding & animatic creation.

So why is this so far down on the list?

Mostly it’s an issue of price. For the same $600 you could basically buy Toon Boom which is, in my opinion, more powerful and a preferred choice in the animation world.

Yes there are major differences between the two programs and TVPaint does feel more like a “complete” animation package. It’s just tough to justify the price considering there are so many alternatives, even with limited features.

Now TVPaint still made the list and for good reason. It’s a great piece of software! So it’s totally worth checking out if you’ve got the scratch or if you like what you see on their website.

If you’re interested in serious 2D animation work or professional storyboarding then it’s worth looking into TVPaint. But if you’re a newbie to storyboarding I wouldn’t make this your first choice.

Absolute newbies would do better with free programs like Storyboarder, Storyboard Fountain, or even Krita if you can find some templates.

And no matter what stage you’re at with storyboarding I guarantee there’s a program in this list that’ll fit your needs.