- Six storyboard template sources
- Storyboard sources compared
- Three checks before you fill in a storyboard
- Storyboarding a video from start to finish
- Storyboards for marketing and business, not only film
- Which free plan suits a regular video schedule
- The storyboard template I'd start with
- Frequently asked questions
The short version: the best places to get a free storyboard template are Boords, StudioBinder, Canva, Milanote, Miro and Visme. Boords and StudioBinder offer printable templates for video and film, Canva suits a storyboard you'll pitch to a client, Milanote covers animation and app flows, Miro puts it on a whiteboard, and Visme lets you share by link. Test any template against three points first.
You don't need to draw well to storyboard. I've seen brilliant marketing videos planned with stick figures and arrows. What you do need is a template that gives you room to think in shots, with space for what's said and what's shown. Here's where to get a free storyboard template, and the quick test I'd run before filling one in.
Six storyboard template sources
In no particular order:
- Boords: best for ready-to-use templates you download, print and start sketching on.
- Canva: best for a polished video production storyboard you can present to a client during a pitch.
- Milanote: best for animation storyboards and app storyboards that map the flow and navigation of an app.
- Miro: best for storyboarding with a team on a whiteboard, for film or for business.
- StudioBinder: best for range, with 60+ free templates for video, film, TV, animation or pitching a story.
- Visme: best for personalising a storyboard online and sharing it with a link.
Storyboard sources compared
| Source | Best for | Free plan (as of Nov 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Boords | Printable templates to sketch on | Yes |
| Canva | Client pitch storyboards | Not stated |
| Milanote | Animation and app flow storyboards | Not stated |
| Miro | Team storyboards on a whiteboard | Yes |
| StudioBinder | A wide range of downloadable formats | Not stated |
| Visme | Online editing and link sharing | Yes |
Pages and plans change, so check the vendor's own page before you rely on a limit.
Three checks before you fill in a storyboard
Boords sets out what makes a good storyboard template, and it's the clearest test I've seen. First, clear, well-sized panels with enough room to sketch or place images. Second, dedicated space for action notes, dialogue and voiceover scripts. Third, a layout that matches your project's aspect ratio.
That third point catches people out. If you're making a vertical video for social, a template full of wide panels will mislead you about what fits in the frame. If you're making a widescreen explainer, tall panels will do the same. Check the shape of the panels against where the video will be watched before you draw a single shot.
Format matters too. StudioBinder says its templates come as PDF, PSD, Word or PPT, so you can print and sketch by hand, or edit on screen. If you think best with a pen, print a PDF. If you're dropping in screenshots or stills, an editable file saves time. Run any template through Boords' three checks and the format question, and you'll know in a minute whether it suits your project.
Storyboarding a video from start to finish
- Write the script or a rough outline first, so you know what each scene needs to say.
- Pick a template with the right panel shape for where the video will be watched.
- Break the script into shots, one panel per shot, and number them.
- Sketch or drop an image into each panel. Stick figures are fine.
- Add the action, dialogue and voiceover under each panel, using the template's notes space.
- Read it through in order and cut any panel that doesn't move the story on.
- Save and share it. Canva and Visme let you download or share online, and Boords templates print as they are.
Storyboards for marketing and business, not only film
Miro makes the point that while storyboards are usually linked with planning scenes for films and TV, they've been widely adopted in the business world. That matches what I see. A storyboard is just as useful for a product demo, a social ad or a customer story as for a short film. Milanote goes further with its app storyboard template, which maps the flow and navigation of an app rather than a video.
If you're planning a video ad, I've made a video ad storyboard template you can use straight away. To fill the gaps between your main shots, my B-roll shot list template pairs well with any storyboard, and if the script is the hard part, try my video script prompt pack.
Which free plan suits a regular video schedule
If you make videos every week, it's worth knowing what the free plans allow. Boords' free plan gives you 5 active storyboards and 3 active scripts, with no credit card required. Miro's free plan gives you 3 editable boards. Visme's free plan includes a limited set of templates, assets and AI tools. If you'd rather avoid limits altogether, a downloaded PDF from StudioBinder or Boords costs you nothing to reuse.
Canva's storyboards are saved and downloaded once you've finished, and Canva says its video production templates are polished enough to present to a client during a pitch. That makes it a good fit if you're pitching ideas rather than shooting them yourself.
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The storyboard template I'd start with
For a quick, printable template, start with Boords or StudioBinder. If you're pitching to a client, use Canva. If you're planning an app or an animation, Milanote has templates built for it, and if your team plans together, Miro is the easiest place to share. Whichever you pick, check the panels, the notes space and the aspect ratio before you sketch.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get free storyboard templates?
Boords, StudioBinder, Canva, Milanote, Miro and Visme all offer storyboard templates. StudioBinder says it has 60+ free templates for video, film, TV, animation or pitching a story.
What file formats do storyboard templates come in?
StudioBinder says its storyboard templates are available as PDF, PSD, Word or PPT.
What should a storyboard template include?
Boords says the best templates have clear, well-sized panels, dedicated space for action notes, dialogue and voiceover scripts, and a layout that matches your aspect ratio.
Can I use a storyboard for a marketing video?
Yes. Miro says storyboards, usually linked with film and TV, have been widely adopted throughout the business world.
Is there a free storyboard tool with no credit card?
Yes. Boords says its free plan needs no credit card and includes 5 active storyboards and 3 active scripts.
Can I share a storyboard online?
Yes. Visme lets you personalise a storyboard and download it in high quality or share it online with a link.
