Katalist alternative

The Katalist alternative,script first.

Katalist turns a script into a storyboard and video, built for ad and performance teams. ScreenWeaver starts from a real screenplay, free to write, for films and series. Your script stays the source of truth.
Start writing for freeCompare the two
  • Screenwriting free, no expiry
  • Storyboard built from your script
  • Video generation available now
The ScreenWeaver screenplay editor: acts, sequences and beats above a formatted scene from The Yellow Umbrella
ScreenplayStoryboard

Two ways to start

Imported script or written screenplay?

Both lead to a storyboard. The difference is where the script lives while you change it.

Import-first · Katalist

Bring a script in

  1. 1Import a script as FDX, PDF, DOCX or CSV, paste it, or type it in the tool.
  2. 2Katalist splits it into shots and generates the storyboard.
  3. 3Cast characters once from a reference to keep the same face and look.
  4. 4Refine framing, regenerate shots, then share a link or export PowerPoint, ZIP or video.

Fast for ads, pitches and campaign variations, when the script is already written elsewhere.

Script-first · ScreenWeaver

Write the screenplay here

  1. 1Write in a real screenwriting editor: industry formatting, outline and beats. Free.
  2. 2The shot breakdown and storyboard are generated from your scenes. You control each shot.
  3. 3Characters, locations and references carry from shot to shot.
  4. 4Footage pipelines connected to the script and storyboard. Video generation is available now.

Built for writers and directors of films and series, who rewrite the script while the boards take shape.

What stays in your hands

The script leads. The AI follows.

  • The screenplay is the reference

    Every storyboard frame is linked to its scene and beat. Rewrite a scene and you know which shots it touches.

  • Manual control of each shot

    Framing, angle, movement and duration: you set them, shot by shot.

  • Continuity from shot to shot

    Characters, locations and references carry from one shot to the next.

  • Pipelines you can open

    Footage pipelines optimized out of the box and fully editable, powered by Seedance 2.0 and 2.5.

The pipeline

Write. Board. Produce.

  1. ScreenWeaver screenplay editor: acts, sequences and beats above the formatted script of The Yellow Umbrella

    01The screenplay, enriched

    An industry-standard screenplay editor, and more: a visual outline and beat editor, your writing inspirations (notes, photos, audio) kept next to the page, and an AI researcher to support your writing, not replace it.

  2. ScreenWeaver storyboard: shot S3 of The Yellow Umbrella with characters, shot settings and the script beside it

    02The storyboard, made easy

    Shot breakdown generated from your screenplay, manual control over every shot (frame, angle, movement, duration), and generative AI previsualization in one click.

  3. ScreenWeaver production canvas: shots S3 and S4 as connected nodes carrying their storyboard panels and prompts

    03AI production, with finesse

    Footage generation pipelines connected to your screenplay and storyboard. Optimized out of the box, fully editable workflow.

Where things stand

What you can use today.

Katalist and ScreenWeaver both go from storyboard to video. Here is exactly what each ScreenWeaver plan includes.
  1. Available

    Screenwriter

    $0does not expire

    Unlimited projects and pages, industry formatting, outline and beats, PDF and Final Draft (.fdx) export.

  2. Available

    Auteur

    $39.99a month, 6,000 credits

    The storyboard generated from your screenplay, then AI video from the same shots, with the latest models.

  3. Available

    Studio

    $149.99a month, 25,000 credits

    Everything in Auteur, plus real-time collaboration, unlimited seats and Owner, Editor and Viewer permissions.

Side by side

ScreenWeaver vs Katalist

Features as each company describes them. Katalist's plans change often, so we link to their pricing rather than quote it.
ScreenWeaverKatalist
Built forFilms, series, short dramasAd and performance video teams
Writing the scriptScreenwriting editor, industry formattingScript typed, pasted or imported
Script filesExport to PDF and Final Draft (.fdx)Import FDX, PDF, DOCX or CSV
Storyboard from the scriptAuteur plan, $39.99/moYes, script split into shots
Shot controlFraming, angle, movement, durationFraming changes, regenerate per shot
ConsistencyCharacters, locations, referencesCharacters cast once from a reference
Video generation todayYes, in the Auteur plan
Video modelsSeedance 2.0 and 2.5Not named on their site
Free optionWriting free, no expiryFree trial with starter credits
Paid plansAuteur $39.99/mo (6,000 credits), Studio $149.99/mo (25,000 credits)Monthly plans with image and video credits, see katalist.ai
ExportsScript as PDF and Final Draft (.fdx)Public link, PowerPoint, ZIP, video slideshow
CollaborationReal-time, Studio planMulti-user seats on higher plans

Competitor information as of October 2026, from katalist.ai. Katalist plans run on image and video credits and their published prices vary from page to page, so check their site for the latest.

Fair is fair

What Katalist does well

Katalist is an AI storyboard and video tool aimed at advertising and performance teams. It takes a finished script to boards and video quickly.

  • Broad script import: FDX, PDF, DOCX and CSV, or pasted text
  • Consistent characters cast once from a reference and kept across the storyboard and video
  • A storyboarding agent that builds the boards from the script on its own
  • Client-ready sharing: a public presentation link, PowerPoint, ZIP and video exports

Katalist is still a good fit if you produce ads in volume, the script arrives finished from a client, and you need many variations fast.

Our verdict

If you write the script, write it here.

Katalist is built for ad teams who receive a finished script and need boards and variations fast. If you write and rewrite your own film or series, ScreenWeaver keeps the screenplay as the source of truth: free professional writing, a storyboard generated from your scenes, and production connected to the same project.

  • Professional writing, free and unlimited, with PDF and Final Draft export
  • A storyboard generated from your screenplay, shot by shot
  • Production connected to the same project, characters kept consistent
Start writing for free

More options

Other Katalist alternatives

Looking for software like Katalist? Here are the other tools we compared, each on its own page, with prices checked on their sites.

Read more

Guides and comparisons

FAQ

Questions Katalist users ask

Is ScreenWeaver an alternative to Katalist?
Yes, for filmmakers who write their own screenplay. Katalist imports a script and turns it into a storyboard and video, with a focus on advertising teams. ScreenWeaver starts with a free screenwriting editor, then generates the shot breakdown and storyboard from your script.
Does ScreenWeaver generate video today?
Yes. Video generation is available in the Auteur plan, at $39.99 a month. The footage is generated from your storyboard, so each shot stays tied to the scene you wrote.
How much does Katalist cost in 2026?
Katalist sells monthly plans with image and video credits, and advertises a free trial with starter credits. Its own pages list different prices for the same plans, so check katalist.ai for the current price before you compare.
Can I import my Final Draft script into Katalist?
Katalist says it imports scripts as FDX, PDF, DOCX or CSV. It is not a screenwriting editor. ScreenWeaver is one, with industry formatting, outline and beats, and PDF and Final Draft (.fdx) export, for free.
What is the difference between importing a script and writing it in ScreenWeaver?
When the script is imported, every rewrite happens elsewhere and has to be brought back in. In ScreenWeaver the screenplay and the storyboard live in the same project, so each frame stays linked to its scene and beat while you rewrite.
How does ScreenWeaver keep characters consistent?
Characters, locations and references carry from shot to shot, tied to the same script. Each storyboard frame is linked to its scene and beat, and you set framing, angle, movement and duration yourself.
Which video models does ScreenWeaver use?
ScreenWeaver is powered by Seedance 2.0 and 2.5. Footage pipelines are connected to your script and storyboard, optimized out of the box and fully editable.
Is ScreenWeaver free?
Writing is. The Screenwriter plan costs $0 and does not expire: unlimited projects and pages, PDF and Final Draft export. The Auteur plan costs $39.99 a month for 6,000 credits, and the Studio plan $149.99 a month for 25,000 credits.
What is the best software like Katalist?
It depends on where your script comes from. For ads with a finished client script, Katalist and LTX Studio are built for speed. For films and series you write yourself, ScreenWeaver keeps the screenplay, the storyboard and the footage in one project. Boords and StudioBinder are the closest storyboard tools. Each one is compared on its own page, linked above.

Katalist is a trademark of its respective owner. ScreenWeaver is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Katalist. Product names are used only to identify the products compared.

Write the film first. Then board it.

Start with a free screenplay editor. The storyboard is built from your pages, and the video from your storyboard.
Start writing for freeSee the AI storyboard