Handout to accompany presentation offered at the 2014 Summer Institute on Distance Learning and Instructional Technology (SIDLIT) on "Creating Comics and PowToons for Instruction.".

1. Cartoon Apps Comparison Table (all prices, features and comments subject to change)
App Cost Built-in
Assets
Import
Photos
Shoot
Photos
Platform Export/Share to Notes
BitStrips
***
Free Yes No No iOS,
Android
Message, Email,Facebook,
Bitstrips or selected BitStrip
colleagues
Comic images selected from captionlesscartoons
Bubble
*
Free, $2.99 full
upgrade or $1.99
unlimited bubbles
No No Yes iOS Save, Print,AirDrop,
Message, email,Facebook
Free version:pop-up ads,can re-edit images. Paid version:
unlimited bubbles, unlocks additional fonts,colors,bubble
styles,eliminates ads
Captions
(Perfect
Captions)
****
Free, $1.99
upgrade to full
version
No Yes Yes iOS Email,Facebook, Twitter,
Flickr,Photos,Clipboard,
Print
Can create albums to group your captioned images,includes
quick reference, can re-edit images. Import from DropBox.
ChatterPix
****
Free No Yes Yes iOS Facebook, Email,YouTube
or Photos
Can record sound on iPad or iPhone; app automatically
animates mouth (you draw straightlinefor mouth) to
match audio recording
Comic Life
****
$4.99 (iOS),
$29.99 (Mac,
Windows,$10
discountfor
education)
Yes Yes Yes iOS,Mac,
Windows
Email,Facebook, DropBox,
iTunes and using“In Tray”
system.
Templates, filters,iPad version slightly different from
Windows and Mac versions.
PicStrip
*
Free, $.99 to
unlock all filters
Yes Yes iOS Clipboard,Email,Photos,
Facebook, Instagram
With free version,every time you want to use a locked
filter,you must firstwatch an ad.Even with paid version,
you’ll have pop-up ads throughout app. Only supports
vertical rectangular panels.Doesn’t savewithin app for
future editing. No help or tutorial.
PowToon
****
Free to SIDLIT
2014 attendees
Yes Yes No Mac,
Windows
MP4, YouTube Outputs video or slides,typically notused for single
cartoon, but rather for animation.
Strip Designer
(POW!)
****
$2.99 Art
Tools
Yes Yes iOS Clipboard,Email,Photos,
Facebook, Twitter, Flickr,
Dropbox, WebDav, Air Print,
iTunes or any photo capable
app
Can also includedrawings,maps,photos from Facebook or
Dropbox. Onlinetutorials.
Toon ToolKit
****
$2.99, character
packs $0.99 each
Yes No No iOS Clipboard,Photos,iTunes
for filesharing,Twitter
Has characters and props .5 additional character packs
includeHome & garden, OfficeProps,Bedroom Props,The
Princess Roomand Restaurant. can only work with
character packs included.
ToonCamera
****
No No Yes iOS Photos, Email,Twitter,
Facebook, Flickr,Tumblr,
Instagram,Text, Print, Copy,
Postcard (printing)
Cannot add balloons. Applies filters to photos or video you
shoot.