Boords

Boords is a web-based video preproduction tool for bringing scripts, storyboards, animatics, and client reviews together. Build storyboard frames from original artwork, uploaded images, or AI-generated images with consistent characters. Its script editor supports free-form, audio/visual, and screenplay formats, with scripts convertible into frames. Clients can follow a shared link to comment on individual frames and approve them or request changes without an account. Add voiceover or music to time a storyboard, then export boards as PDF or image files and animatics as MP4. Boords offers a public API and signed webhooks, and lists Slack notifications, Dropbox, and Google Drive integrations. It runs on the web and has a free plan; paid pricing starts at $26/user/mo (annual). The free plan is limited to five active storyboards and up to five team members. Boords says customer content is not used to train its AI models, and account administrators can disable AI features. Its infrastructure is primarily in Ireland, and it is not currently SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certified.

Boords combines script writing, storyboard creation, animatics, and client sign-off in a web workflow. Its free plan has active-board and team limits, while paid pricing starts at $26/user/mo (annual).

Boords suits video and advertising agencies, creative directors, production managers, in-house brand teams, and animation studios. It may also suit teams that want clients to review frames through a shared link without creating accounts.

Overview

Boords brings scripting, storyboarding, animatics and client review into a web-based preproduction workflow. It is a strong fit for teams that need clients to comment on and approve frames without joining the service. The integrated path from script to sign-off is its central advantage; growing teams should weigh seat limits and monthly AI-image allowances against the price of higher tiers.

Key features

Scripts can be drafted in free-form, audio/visual or screenplay format and converted into storyboard frames. Frames can use original artwork, uploaded images or AI-generated images with consistent characters, so teams can work from existing visual assets or develop visuals within the same process. AI generation has a monthly quota, however, and that allowance rises with the plan.

Teams can time boards to voiceover or music and export animatics as MP4. Storyboards can be exported as PDF or image files, alongside DOCX, XLSX, Google Slides, Markdown and plain text. Shot annotations and scene layouts add structure for production work. These options make Boords useful beyond visual planning alone, though the range matters most to teams that want script, board and animatic work connected.

Shared links let clients comment on individual frames, approve them or request changes without an account. That removes a sign-up hurdle from review, a practical advantage for agencies and production teams working with outside stakeholders. Team collaboration is supported, and integrations include a public API, signed webhooks, Slack notifications, Dropbox and Google Drive.

Boords says traffic is protected with HTTPS and 256-bit SSL, while files and backups are encrypted at rest. Its managed AWS and Heroku infrastructure is primarily in Ireland, in the EU. It is not currently SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certified, a material consideration for organizations whose vendor requirements call for either certification. Boords also says customer content is not used to train its AI models, and account administrators can disable AI features.

Pricing

Boords offers a free plan and a free trial. Solo (free) costs nothing and is for one user, with 250 AI images per month and unlimited storyboards and scripts. The free plan is described as capped at five active storyboards and up to five team members, so the plan's unlimited storyboard allowance should not be read as unlimited active boards. It suits individual exploration, but the active-board cap may constrain ongoing work.

Solo (yearly) is $26 a year, billed yearly, for one user with 250 AI images/month and unlimited storyboards; Solo is $39 a month, billed monthly, with the same seat and image allowance. Both are aimed at individual users who need more room than the free plan's active-board cap allows. The annual option costs less per month when considered over a year, but commits to yearly billing.

Pro (yearly) is $50 a year, billed yearly, for up to five users and 1,000 AI images/month. Pro is $75 a month, billed monthly, for up to five users, 1,000 AI images/month and unlimited storyboards. This is the first tier for a small team sharing work, though its monthly quota still places a ceiling on AI image generation.

Team (yearly) is $85 a year, billed yearly, for up to 10 users, 2,000 AI images/month and advanced team controls. Team is $125 a month, billed monthly, with those limits and unlimited storyboards. Agency (yearly) is $165 a year, billed yearly, for up to 30 users, 3,000 AI images/month and priority support. Agency is $250 a month, billed monthly, with unlimited storyboards as well. These higher tiers suit larger teams that need more seats, image capacity or support, but the annual plans require a longer billing commitment.

Enterprise has custom pricing and billing terms, custom seat counts and AI credit pools, dedicated support and onboarding, and SAML single sign-on. It is the relevant option for organizations that need tailored capacity or those enterprise provisions; teams that do not need them can choose a published tier instead.

Platforms

Boords is available on the web, with API access also supported. That makes it a fit for browser-based workflows and teams seeking programmatic integration, rather than a native desktop app.

Who it's for

Boords is designed for video and advertising agencies, creative directors, production managers, in-house brand teams and animation studios. Its strongest case is for groups that need scripts, boards, timed animatics and external sign-off in one process. A solo creator focused chiefly on image generation, or a team that needs certified SOC 2 or ISO 27001 controls, should weigh other options.

Pros and cons

• Connected preproduction workflow: Script formats convert into frames, boards can become timed animatics, and clients can review through shared links without accounts.
• Flexible asset and export options: Teams can use their own artwork, uploaded images or AI-generated visuals, then export boards and animatics in formats including PDF, Google Slides and MP4.
• Capacity scales by tier: Paid plans raise seat limits from one to 30 and monthly AI-image allowances from 250 to 3,000, with advanced team controls or priority support on higher tiers.
• Limits need attention: The free plan's five-active-board cap narrows its usefulness for continuing projects, while teams relying on AI generation must monitor plan quotas.
• Certification gap: Boords is not currently SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certified, which may rule it out for organizations requiring those standards.

Alternatives

For a broader set of storyboard tools, compare the Storyboard Software list; for AI-focused options, see AI Storyboard Generators.

Cygnus is a web and macOS alternative with a free tier that includes 200 credits per month, two projects, all seven pipeline stages, 720p exports and watermarked output. Drawstory, GOGUL, Shai, Story2Board, StoryBirdie, CinemaScape AI and Krock.io are also alternatives.

Verdict

Boords is best for agencies and production teams that want a shared route from script to storyboard, animatic and client approval. Account-free review links and broad export support make that workflow especially compelling. Look elsewhere if certification is mandatory, or if the free tier's active-board cap and paid plans' AI quotas do not suit the way your team works.