Alchemys vs Cygnus

Alchemys Storyboard is a web workspace for planning cinematic shots, generating still images and video clips, and maintaining continuity across a sequence. It can turn a project brief into a numbered shot list that users can add to a board or use to replace its current list. Shot prompts can describe camera movement, lighting, and action, with a cinematic prompting guide for refinement. A shot’s final frame can become the next shot’s opening frame, one connection at a time or across the board. Users can work in a list view or a node-based Canvas, and bring in reference images from uploads, Studio files, or connected Google Drive. Finished clips can be assembled into a film or downloaded separately. Settings include five aspect ratios and 480p, 720p, or 1080p resolution; shot duration is adjustable and defaults to five seconds. Sign-in is required, and Storyboard shares credits, model catalogue, and file library with Studio. New users receive 1,000 free credits; AI usage consumes credits based on model and workload.

Cygnus turns screenplays into video sequences with consistent characters across frames, supporting a workflow from initial concept through review and export. The stages cover concept, script, character and location references, storyboard, video, timeline, review, and export. Scripts can be imported from Final Draft, PDF, Fountain, plain text, treatments, or outlines. Reference images are used to maintain character appearances across storyboard frames and clips. Collaborators can comment, annotate, and approve work through shareable review links. Listed exports include Premiere Pro, After Effects, Frame.io, and PDF, plus Premiere XML and EDL. Video generation produces 1–15 second clips at 720p, while extensions add 2–10 seconds to a source video. Cygnus recommends projects of 1–5 minutes, 3–10 scenes, and 8–35 shots; longer work can be divided into acts or sequences. Browser access is available, alongside a notarized macOS app requiring macOS 14 or later. The free plan includes 200 credits per month, two projects, and watermarked 720p exports. Paid plans include commercial-use licensing for generated content.