ToonyStory vs Scrively: Which AI Children's Book Creator Is Better for Your Family?
Scrively is an all-in-one children's book creation platform with AI story generation, AI illustrations, templates, and layout for non-technical parents. It offers one free book, one-time Plus and Pro packs, PDF downloads, and printed hardcovers ordered separately. Here's how it compares to ToonyStory.
Quick Verdict
Choose ToonyStory if…
You want characters made from your own photos that keep their likeness on every page, scene-by-scene editing, video + hardcover output, commercial use on every plan, and a free preview of your whole book.
Choose Scrively if…
You want a template-driven book builder with a large library of preset children's book styles, drag-and-drop layout, and one-time pricing with no monthly fee.
Head to Head
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Scrively | ToonyStory |
|---|---|---|
| Photo-to-character | ||
| Character consistency | ||
| Scene-by-scene editing | ||
| Video output | StoryMovie credits sold separately | |
| Hardcover printing | Ordered and paid for separately | |
| Magic Editor (AI image editing) | ||
| Art styles | 10 (Plus) or 110+ (Pro) | 15 (3D Animated, Watercolor, Anime, Comic and more) |
| Commercial rights | Pro only ($69 one-time, for its 10 books) | All plans |
| Pricing | Free book, then $49 (5 books) or $69 (10 books) one-time | Free to create and preview, then $9.99/mo |
Story Creation & Ease of Use
Scrively uses a template-driven flow: pick a theme, use AI to generate your story text, generate illustrations from preset styles, and arrange pages with a drag-and-drop editor. The workflow is designed for non-technical parents who want a finished book without learning design tools.
ToonyStory uses a storyboard-first approach where you build scenes individually, upload photos to create characters, and edit any scene independently with a Magic Editor. You get more control over every page, and both tools target non-technical users.
Character Consistency & Art Quality
Scrively generates illustrations from preset children's book styles. You can upload a child's photo for its quick photo books and reuse characters from a library. Plus includes 10 art styles; Pro unlocks 110+. Community feedback notes the tool can be “amazing and frustrating” with some UX inconsistencies.
ToonyStory creates characters from actual photos — your child's face, your pet, your family — and maintains that likeness across every page, every video frame, and every future book. Characters are stored in a reusable library so they look the same in book two as they did in book one.
Pricing & Commercial Rights
Scrively lets you create one book free. Its paid plans are one-time payments with no monthly fee: Plus at $49 for 5 book credits and Pro at $69 for 10 book credits. Credits do not expire. Older reviews and ads quote monthly prices that no longer appear on its pricing page.
A key friction point: commercial rights are only included in the Pro plan, and only for the 10 books it includes. Reddit users have noted this as a dealbreaker for writers and educators who want to sell custom stories.
ToonyStory is free to create and preview a book. Paid plans are Starter at $9.99/month ($7.99/month billed yearly) and Family at $19.99/month ($15.99/month billed yearly). Commercial use is allowed on every plan. If you make a few books once, Scrively's one-time packs can cost less. If you keep making books, a ToonyStory plan spreads the cost across months.
Output Formats & Printing
Scrively offers PDF and individual illustration downloads, online book sharing, coloring book versions, and Studio credits for narration, music and sound effects. Printed hardcovers are ordered and paid for separately. Book sizes are 3 on Plus and 4 on Pro.
ToonyStory creates both a narrated video and a printed book from the same project. Books come in hardcover or softcover in 8 trim sizes, printed by Lulu near the customer, with hardcovers from $35 and softcovers from $16, plus shipping (about $6.50 in the US). Physical books include QR codes linking to the digital/video version.
Choose Your Path
Who Each Tool Is Best For
Scrively
Non-technical parents who want a turnkey book creation workflow with preset templates, AI story writing, and one-time pricing. Best if you prefer a template-driven approach and want to pay once for a set number of books.
ToonyStory
Parents, grandparents, and teachers who want personalized stories starring real people. The photo-to-character creator, scene-by-scene editing, video + hardcover output, and commercial rights on every plan make it ideal for keepsakes, gifts, and creative projects.
Scrively details checked on scrively.com on . Features and prices change, so check there for the latest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Create Stories That Look Like Your Family?
Photo-accurate characters, scene-by-scene control, video + hardcover from one project. Free preview, no credit card required.
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