Comparison
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 drag-and-drop editing, PDF/ePub export, and a free hardback book on paid plans. Here's how it compares to ToonyStory.
Create Your Book FreeQuick Verdict
Choose ToonyStory if…
You want photo-based Pixar-quality characters that look like your child, scene-by-scene editing, video + hardcover output, commercial rights on every plan, and pricing that starts free.
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 a free printed hardback included with your subscription.
Head to Head
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Scrively | ToonyStory |
|---|---|---|
| Photo-to-character | ||
| Character consistency | ||
| Scene-by-scene editing | ||
| Video output | ||
| Hardcover printing | PDF/ePub export | |
| Magic Editor (AI image editing) | ||
| Art styles | 10-100 (by plan) | 5 (Pixar, Realistic, Anime, Watercolor, Comic) |
| Commercial rights | Pro plan only ($79/mo) | All plans |
| Pricing | $49-79/mo (or legacy $67 one-time) | Free tier, 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. Characters are AI-generated from templates, not from photos. The Standard plan includes 10 image styles; Pro unlocks 100. 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's pricing is complex. The public pricing page shows Standard at $49/month ($490/year) and Pro at $79/month ($790/year). Legacy funnel offers of $67 one-time and $97 Pro upsell appear in ads and affiliate reviews, creating confusion about the actual cost.
A key friction point: commercial rights are only included in the Pro plan. Reddit users have noted this as a dealbreaker for writers and educators who want to sell custom stories.
ToonyStory offers a free tier with credits on signup, then $9.99/month (Story Starter) or $19.99/month (Family Unlimited). Commercial rights are included on all plans. For families making 1–2 books per month, the cost difference is significant.
Output Formats & Printing
Scrively exports to PDF and ePub and includes a free hardback book with paid plans. Resolution is 150 DPI on Standard and 300 DPI on Pro. Book sizes are limited to 1 on Standard, 4 on Pro.
ToonyStory creates both animated video and hardcover book from the same project. 4 hardcover sizes with premium paper, plus shareable video with narration. 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 a free printed copy. Best if you prefer a template-driven approach and don't need video output or photo-based characters.
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.
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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