Creating traditional storyboards can be a time-consuming process.
AI-powered tools offer a faster, more efficient way to visualize ideas. Two standout options in the market, Katalist AI and Boords, promise to simplify storyboard creation. These tools generate a series of visuals based on user prompts and can even conceptualize entire storylines. In this test, we analyzed their features, strengths, and weaknesses to help you make an informed choice.
Image quality
Boords excels with its impressive image quality. When using its Photographic mode, the visuals are so realistic they can be mistaken for actual photographs. Attention to detail is remarkable.
Katalist AI also delivers good quality visuals, but distortions are more frequent compared to Boords, potentially impacting the final visual output. While Katalist has its strong points, Boords remains the leader in this category.
Consistency
Consistency is a crucial element in storyboard creation. While using both tools, we faced challenges in maintaining uniform scenes, elements, or outfits across consecutive visuals. Although generated images can be edited, achieving the desired consistency often requires additional effort and multiple attempts.
Both tools struggled with storyboards involving more than one person. They frequently altered faces or duplicated characters.
In this category, Katalist takes the lead. It handles single-character storyboards significantly better. By allowing users to select a specific face at the start, it ensures that the same face appears consistently throughout the generated visuals. Notably, users can also upload a custom face.
Customization options
Both Boords and Katalist AI allow users to choose styles and formats for their visuals.
Boords offers a wider variety of styles, including Marker, Sketch, Photographic, Comic Book, and Anime. The platform supports multiple formats, such as:
- Portrait (9:16)
- Landscape (16:9)
- Square (1:1)
- Social (4:5)
- TV (4:3)
- Widescreen (1.85:1)
- Anamorphic (2.40:1)
Katalist, while providing fewer style options, offers enough variety to meet most users’ needs. Supported formats include:
- Portrait (9:16)
- Landscape (16:9)
- Square (1:1)
Both platforms allow post-generation edits. Boords lets users change the image style, edit prompts, and add negative prompts. Katalist offers slightly more flexibility, including prompt edits, negative prompts, and the ability to adjust character positions. Both tools support camera angle adjustments.
Animation capability
A key difference between Katalist and Boords is animation capability. Katalist AI stands out by enabling users to animate generated visuals, making it a more versatile tool. Users can create videos using prompts based on generated images, and the animations are of satisfactory quality.
Boords, on the other hand, does not offer animation. It focuses solely on generating static image sequences, which may be a limitation for creators looking for dynamic storytelling.
File export options
Boords simplifies turning storyboards into professional presentations with its PDF Builder feature. It also supports exporting animations as MP4 files and generates action description tables for easier pre-production.
Katalist users can export storyboards in ZIP format or as PowerPoint files. It also allows video slideshow exports. However, scripts are not visible after export, which can complicate workflows—a feature that Boords provides.
Pricing
Boords Plans:
- Lite: $9/month – Ideal for freelancers and solo creators.
- Standard: $44/month – Designed for small teams.
- Workflow: $89/month – Suitable for large teams.
Katalist Plans:
- Essential: $29/month – For freelancers and solo creators (first three months at $19/month).
- Pro: $31/month – Designed for small teams (up to 2 users).
- Business: $79/month – For larger teams (up to 5 users).
- Enterprise: Custom pricing – Tailored for large organizations.
Conclusion
Choosing between Katalist AI and Boords depends on your specific needs. Both tools have their strengths and weaknesses:
- Boords stands out for its superior image quality but lacks animation features.
- Katalist AI, while slightly less polished in terms of visuals, offers better single-character consistency and animation capabilities.
Your choice will ultimately depend on your project’s requirements and your personal preferences. Below is a comparative table to assist in decision-making.
| FEATURE | KATALIST AI | BOORDS |
| Image quality | Good, though distortions occur more frequently | High, Photographic style is close to real photos |
| Consistency | Issues with multiple characters, better consistency with one character | Issues with multiple characters |
| Styles and Formats | Medium but sufficient variety | Wide variety |
| Customization Options for Generated Graphics | Style changes, prompt editing | Prompt and character position editing |
| Animation | YES | NO |
| File Export Options | ZIP, PowerPoint, MP4 | PDF, MP4, table |
| Price for Individual Plan | 29 USD/month | 9 USD/month |
FAQ
Do Katalist AI and Boords offer free trials?
Answer: Yes, both platforms provide free trials. However, these may be limited for testing advanced features.
What are the system requirements for these tools?
Answer: Both tools are browser-based, so system requirements are minimal.
Do these tools offer technical support?
Answer: Yes, both Katalist AI and Boords offer technical support through email, live chat, and knowledge bases on their websites.
How long does it take to generate visuals?
Answer: The time depends on project complexity and server load, typically ranging from a few seconds to a few minutes. Both tools are designed for quick and efficient operation.
Can I collaborate with others using these tools?
Answer: Yes, both platforms support collaboration, allowing teams to work on storyboards together seamlessly.
