Best Mood Board Creators Shortlist
Here’s my shortlist of the best mood board creators:
Our one-on-one guidance will help you find the perfect fit.
Managing a project is never easy, especially when you're juggling multiple tasks and trying to keep your team on the same page. Mood board creators can help you bring your ideas to life and foster collaboration among your team members.
In my experience, the right tool can make all the difference. It helps you visualize concepts, share inspiration, and get everyone aligned without the usual headaches. I’ve done the hard work for you, testing and reviewing various options to find the best solutions on the market.
In this article, I’ll share my top picks for mood board creators, highlighting what makes each one unique. You'll find insights to help you choose the right tool for your team’s needs.
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Best Mood Board Creator Summary
This comparison chart summarizes pricing details for my top mood board creator selections to help you find the best one for your budget and business needs.
Tool | Best For | Trial Info | Price | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Best for user-friendly drag-and-drop visual brainstorming | Free plan available | From $12.99/month (billed annually) | Website | |
2 | Best for pre-made templates | Free plan + 14-day free trial available | From $10/user/month | Website | |
3 | Best for idea organization and collaboration | Free plan available | From $0/month | Website | |
4 | Best for beginner-friendly mood board design | Free plan available | From $3.33/user/month | Website | |
5 | Best for simple moodboards with strong photo editing | Free plan available | From $6.99/user/month | Website | |
6 | Best for advanced graphic design | Free trial available | From $22.99/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
7 | Best for creative professionals and teams | 14-day free trial + free plan available | From $12.50/user/month | Website | |
8 | Best for film and photo production planning | Free plan + free demo available | From $49/month (billed annually) | Website | |
9 | Best for presentations and visual storytelling | 14-day free trial + free plan available | From $12.25/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
10 | Best for AI-powered brainstorming | Free trial available | From $0/month | Website |
Best Mood Board Creator Reviews
Below are my detailed summaries of the best mood board creation tools that made it onto my shortlist. My reviews offer a detailed look at the key features, pros & cons, integrations, and ideal use cases of each tool to help you find the best one for you.
Canva is a graphic design platform that offers an intuitive interface for creating mood boards and various design projects. It provides a wide range of customizable templates, images, and design elements to suit different creative needs.
Why I picked Canva:
Canva makes it easy to create professional-looking mood boards with drag-and-drop functionality and a vast library of stock photos, graphics, and fonts. You can collaborate with your team in real-time and access your designs from any device. The platform’s simplicity and range of tools make it a practical choice for beginners and experienced designers alike.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include a user-friendly interface, real-time collaboration, and a wide selection of templates. You can organize and save your designs to folders, making them easy to access later. Sharing and exporting your designs is straightforward, allowing for quick feedback and revisions.
Integrations include Dropbox, Google Drive, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Slack, and HubSpot.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor
- Extensive template library
- Real-time collaboration
Cons:
- Limited control over advanced design features
- Mobile app lacks certain functionalities
VistaCreate offers a straightforward design tool with a range of pre-made templates for mood boards and other visual projects. It’s geared towards users seeking a quick and easy way to create designs.
Why I picked VistaCreate:
VistaCreate offers a library of ready-made templates that you can customize to suit your design needs. Its simple interface is ideal for those who want to create mood boards without starting from scratch. You can export designs in multiple formats and share them with your team for feedback.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include customizable templates, drag-and-drop functionality, and various export options. You can save designs for future use and make edits anytime. Sharing your work for feedback is also easy.
Integrations include Google Drive, Dropbox, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Generous free plan with quality assets
- Brand kit support (even on lower tiers)
- Intuitive UI for non-designers
Cons:
- Designs can start to feel templated
- Limited layout flexibility than come competitors
Weje is an online collaboration tool designed for creative teams to organize and share visual ideas. It serves as a versatile platform, offering users the ability to create mood boards, mind maps, and more.
Why I picked Weje: It excels in real-time collaboration, allowing your team to engage and share ideas seamlessly. The tool supports a variety of file types, including JPG, PNG, and PDF, making it versatile for different projects. Its user-friendly interface simplifies the process of creating visually appealing mood boards. The integration of features like sticky notes and Kanban boards enhances collaborative workflows.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include an intuitive online whiteboard, a web clipper for easy content saving, and templates for lesson and action plans. The Android app ensures you can work on the go, adding flexibility to your creative process.
Integrations include Google Drive, Dropbox, Trello, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Asana, Evernote, Jira, GitHub, and Zoom.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Real-time collaboration
- Supports multiple file types
- User-friendly interface
Cons:
- Limited advanced features
- May lack in-depth customization
Fotor is an online mood board maker designed for individuals and teams looking to enhance their visual projects. It's popular among designers and marketers for its extensive editing features and creative customization options.
Why I picked Fotor: It excels in photo editing, offering a variety of templates and design layouts to suit your creative needs. The tool provides access to a library of high-resolution, copyright-free photos and a range of stickers and vectors. You can customize your mood boards with different fonts and graphics, enhancing the overall design. The mobile app allows your team to create and share mood boards on the go.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include a wide selection of templates and backgrounds that make designing easy. The high-resolution photo library offers copyright-free images to enhance your boards. The mobile app supports on-the-go creation and direct sharing on social media.
Integrations include Google Drive, Dropbox, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Extensive photo editing features
- High-resolution image library
- Mobile app for on-the-go creation
Cons:
- No advanced design features
- Limited customization for free users
BeFunky is an intuitive online tool designed for individuals and teams looking to create mood boards quickly. It's popular among designers and planners for its ability to support fast visual content creation and editing.
Why I picked BeFunky: It offers a straightforward interface that lets you create mood boards in no time. The tool provides multiple layout templates and an image manager for easy photo uploads or selection from a stock library. You can add text and graphics to personalize your boards further. Saving options to your computer or cloud make it convenient for ongoing projects.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include multiple layout templates that simplify the design process. The image manager lets you upload photos or choose from a stock library. Options to add text and graphics help personalize your mood boards.
Integrations include Google Drive, Dropbox, and Facebook.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Multiple layout templates
- Image manager with stock library
- Easy text and graphic additions
Cons:
- Limited advanced features
- Learning curve for new users
Adobe Photoshop is a professional image editing software offering powerful tools for creating detailed and sophisticated mood boards. It’s designed for users who require precision and control over their design projects.
Why I picked Adobe Photoshop:
Adobe Photoshop offers an extensive suite of tools for creating mood boards with advanced editing features like layers, masks, and smart objects. You can manipulate images with precision, customize templates, and save your designs in various formats. The software's flexibility allows you to achieve a high level of detail and creativity.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include advanced layering capabilities, custom brushes, and precise image manipulation tools. You can create high-quality mood boards with intricate details and save your work in different formats. Photoshop also supports non-destructive editing, allowing you to revise your designs without losing quality.
Integrations include Adobe Creative Cloud, Lightroom, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, After Effects, InDesign, and Microsoft Teams.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- High level of customization
- Supports non-destructive editing
- Advanced layering capabilities
Cons:
- Steep learning curve for beginners
- Can feel overwhelming for simple tasks
Milanote is a visual tool aimed at creative professionals for organizing ideas and projects. It's widely used by designers, marketers, and writers to streamline creative processes and facilitate collaboration.
Why I picked Milanote: It's designed specifically for creative teams, offering a flexible drag-and-drop interface that makes organizing content intuitive. You can save content from the web directly into your mood boards, which is perfect for gathering inspiration. Collaboration tools allow your team to brainstorm and share ideas in real-time, making it ideal for creative projects. Its accessibility on multiple devices ensures you can work from anywhere.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include a simple drag-and-drop interface, web clipping abilities for saving online content, and real-time collaboration tools. These features enhance your ability to gather and organize creative ideas efficiently.
Integrations include Slack, Adobe Creative Cloud, Google Drive, Dropbox, Unsplash, Giphy, and Sketch.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Visual organization of ideas
- Easy drag-and-drop interface
- Web clipping feature
Cons:
- Limited offline capabilities
- Fewer integrations than some competitors
StudioBinder is a versatile production management tool tailored for filmmakers and creative professionals. It helps users visualize projects through comprehensive mood boards, enhancing collaboration and project planning.
Why I picked StudioBinder: It's ideal for filmmakers, offering features like image management and editing tools to organize visual content. You can upload and edit images, adjusting brightness and applying filters to suit your project needs. Sharing mood boards via links allows your team to gather feedback and track comments, fostering collaboration. The ability to export boards as PDFs with customizable settings adds flexibility to your creative process.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include image management, allowing you to upload and organize photos in a searchable library. Editing tools let you crop images, adjust brightness, and apply filters. You can also capture images directly into your mood boards using webcam integration.
Integrations include Google Drive, Dropbox, Slack, Trello, Asana, Evernote, Jira, GitHub, and Zoom.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Streamlines production workflows
- Enhances collaboration
- Centralized visual content management
Cons:
- Lacks flexible canvas-style moodboarding
- Visuals are tied to script elements, not creative ideation
Visme is an online design tool tailored for businesses and educators looking to create engaging presentations and visual content. It caters to marketers, educators, and project managers who need versatile design capabilities for various projects.
Why I picked Visme: It excels in creating presentations with its wide array of customizable templates. The tool offers drag-and-drop functionality, making it easy to include charts, graphs, and multimedia elements. You can also access a library of icons and images to enhance your presentations. Visme allows you to collaborate with your team in real-time, ensuring your projects are polished and professional.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include a vast library of templates that cater to different industries and project types. The drag-and-drop editor simplifies the design process, allowing you to add multimedia elements with ease. Real-time collaboration tools ensure your team can work together without workflow disruption.
Integrations include Google Drive, Dropbox, Slack, YouTube, Vimeo, HubSpot, Mailchimp, Salesforce, Marketo, and WordPress.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Drag-and-drop editor
- Multimedia integration
- Suitable for various industries
Cons:
- Slight learning curve
- Can be resource-intensive
MyMap.AI provides an AI-assisted platform for creating mood boards and organizing ideas. It focuses on enhancing creativity through automated suggestions and smart organization tools.
Why I picked MyMap.AI:
MyMap.AI offers AI-driven tools to help you build mood boards quickly and efficiently. Its automated suggestions can inspire new ideas and improve your creative process. The software also provides smart organization features that help keep your designs neat and accessible.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include AI-generated suggestions, smart categorization, and automated content organization. You can save and revisit your designs with ease, making it a handy tool for iterative projects.
Integrations include Slack, Google Drive, Dropbox, Trello, Notion, Figma, and monday.com.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- AI-assisted mind mapping
- Smart content organization
- Multiple views such as mind mapping, lists, or linear views
Cons:
- Can feel impersonal due to automation
- No embedding of images, videos, or files in nodes
Other Mood Board Creators
Here are some additional mood board creator options that didn’t make it onto my shortlist, but are still worth checking out:
- MattoBoard
For hyper-realism and 3D material boards
- Miro
For collaborative visual planning
- Figma
For design collaboration
- Adobe Express
For quick design edits
- Centric Software
For the fashion industry
- Moodboard Creator
For AI-assisted and branded board creation
- Future Tools
For future tech integration
- Product Hunt
For early access to trending tech and tools
Mood Board Creator Selection Criteria
When selecting the best mood board creator to include in this list, I considered common buyer needs and pain points like ease of collaboration and customization options. I also used the following framework to keep my evaluation structured and fair:
Core Functionality (25% of total score)
To be considered for inclusion in this list, each solution had to fulfill these common use cases:
- Create and edit mood boards
- Import and organize images
- Add text and annotations
- Share boards with team members
- Export boards in various formats
Additional Standout Features (25% of total score)
To help further narrow down the competition, I also looked for unique features, such as:
- Real-time collaboration tools
- Integration with design software
- Access to stock photo libraries
- Customizable templates and layouts
- AI-powered design suggestions
Usability (10% of total score)
To get a sense of the usability of each system, I considered the following:
- Intuitive user interface
- Easy navigation and layout
- Minimal learning curve
- Responsive design across devices
- Customizable user settings
Onboarding (10% of total score)
To evaluate the onboarding experience for each platform, I considered the following:
- Availability of training videos
- Interactive product tours
- Access to templates and resources
- Onboarding webinars and workshops
- Support from chatbots or live chat
Customer Support (10% of total score)
To assess each software provider’s customer support services, I considered the following:
- Availability of live chat support
- Comprehensive help center
- Responsive email support
- Access to community forums
- Dedicated account managers
Value For Money (10% of total score)
To evaluate the value for money of each platform, I considered the following:
- Competitive pricing tiers
- Features included in each plan
- Discounts for annual billing
- Free trial or demo availability
- Overall cost versus benefits
Customer Reviews (10% of total score)
To get a sense of overall customer satisfaction, I considered the following when reading customer reviews:
- Overall satisfaction ratings
- Commonly mentioned pros and cons
- Feedback on customer support
- User-reported ease of use
- Reviews on feature effectiveness
How to Choose a Mood Board Creator
It’s easy to get bogged down in long feature lists and complex pricing structures. To help you stay focused as you work through your unique software selection process, here’s a checklist of factors to keep in mind:
Factor | What to Consider |
Scalability | Ensure the tool can grow with your team. Look for features that accommodate increasing users and projects without compromising performance. |
Integrations | Check if it integrates with design tools your team already uses, like Adobe Creative Cloud or Slack, to streamline your workflow. |
Customizability | Make sure you can tailor the tool to fit your specific needs, such as adjusting templates or setting up custom workflows. |
Ease of Use | The interface should be intuitive for all users. Consider the learning curve and how quickly your team can get up and running. |
Budget | Compare pricing plans to find one that fits your budget. Evaluate what features you get for the price and consider any discounts for annual subscriptions. |
Security Safeguards | Prioritize tools that offer robust security measures, like data encryption and user access controls, to protect your creative assets. |
Collaboration | Look for features that support teamwork, like real-time editing and comment threads, to ensure efficient collaboration among your team. |
Support | Consider the availability of customer support options, such as live chat or phone support, to assist your team when issues arise. |
Trends in Mood Board Creator
In my research, I sourced countless product updates, press releases, and release logs from different mood board creator vendors. Here are some of the emerging trends I’m keeping an eye on:
- AI-Driven Design Suggestions: More tools are incorporating AI to offer design suggestions and automate repetitive tasks. This helps users create visually appealing boards faster. For instance, some vendors now use AI to suggest color palettes and layout options based on the content.
- 3D Visualization: The addition of 3D elements allows users to create more immersive and realistic mood boards. This trend is especially useful for industries like interior design and architecture, where visualizing depth and space is crucial.
- Collaboration Enhancements: Real-time collaboration features are becoming more sophisticated, enabling users to work together more effectively. Tools now offer advanced commenting systems and version control to keep projects organized and teams aligned.
- Augmented Reality (AR) Integration: Some vendors are exploring AR to allow users to visualize their mood boards in real-world settings. This is particularly useful for retail and event planning, where seeing designs in context can enhance decision-making.
- Sustainability Features: There's a growing focus on sustainability, with tools offering features that help users create eco-friendly designs. This includes options for selecting sustainable materials and reducing digital waste by optimizing file sizes.
What Is a Mood Board Creator?
Mood board creator is a digital tool used to compile images, text, and other visual elements to convey a concept or theme. Designers, marketers, and creative professionals often use these tools to organize ideas and present visual concepts effectively. Features like drag-and-drop interfaces, real-time collaboration, and customizable templates help users quickly bring their ideas to life, improve teamwork, and enhance creativity. Overall, these tools simplify the process of visual storytelling and idea sharing.
Features of a Mood Board Creator
When selecting a mood board creator, keep an eye out for the following key features:
- Drag-and-drop interface: Allows users to easily arrange and organize visual elements, making the design process intuitive and efficient.
- Real-time collaboration: Enables team members to work together simultaneously, enhancing communication and teamwork on projects.
- Customizable templates: Offers pre-designed layouts that can be tailored to fit specific needs, saving time and effort in creating mood boards from scratch.
- Image library access: Provides a collection of stock photos and graphics, giving users a wide range of visual resources to enhance their boards.
- AI design suggestions: Uses artificial intelligence to recommend design elements, such as color palettes and layouts, helping users create aesthetically pleasing boards.
- 3D visualization: Allows users to incorporate 3D elements for a more immersive and realistic representation of ideas.
- Export options: Supports exporting boards in various formats, such as PDF or image files, for easy sharing and presentation.
- Annotation tools: Includes features for adding text and notes, enabling users to provide context and explanations for their visual elements.
- Mobile app availability: Ensures users can create and edit mood boards on the go, providing flexibility and convenience.
- Security safeguards: Offers data encryption and user access controls to protect creative assets and sensitive information.
Benefits of a Mood Board Creator
Implementing a mood board creator benefits your team and your business. Here are a few you can look forward to:
- Enhanced creativity: The use of customizable templates and an extensive image library sparks new ideas and helps visualize concepts more effectively.
- Improved collaboration: Real-time collaboration features allow team members to work together efficiently, leading to better teamwork and communication.
- Time savings: Drag-and-drop interfaces and AI design suggestions speed up the design process, making it easier to create mood boards quickly.
- Better presentation: Export options let you share polished and professional-looking boards in various formats, enhancing presentations to clients or stakeholders.
- Flexibility: Mobile app availability ensures you can create and edit mood boards from anywhere, providing convenience and adaptability to different work environments.
- Informed decision-making: Features like 3D visualization help teams visualize ideas in context, leading to more informed and confident decisions.
- Data security: Security safeguards protect your creative assets and sensitive information, giving you peace of mind when sharing and collaborating online.
Costs and Pricing of Mood Board Creator
Selecting a mood board creator requires an understanding of the various pricing models and plans available. Costs vary based on features, team size, add-ons, and more. The table below summarizes common plans, their average prices, and typical features included in mood board creator solutions:
Plan Comparison Table for Mood Board Creator
Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features |
Free Plan | $0 | Access to basic templates, limited storage, and basic editing tools. |
Personal Plan | $5-$25/user/month | Customizable templates, access to stock image library, and export options in multiple formats. |
Business Plan | $25-$50/ user/month | Real-time collaboration, advanced editing tools, and integration with third-party apps. |
Enterprise Plan | $50-$100/ user/month | Unlimited storage, dedicated support, advanced security features, and custom onboarding services. |
Mood Board Creator FAQs
Here are some answers to common questions about mood board creators:
What do mood boards need to include?
There are no strict rules for creating mood boards, but they should effectively convey your theme, color, and motif direction. Focus on creating a cohesive look that aligns with your project’s goals. Remember, a mood board is a tool to inspire and guide your design process.
What are the disadvantages of mood boards?
Mood boards often show only one angle, providing a static view of your concept. They can’t mimic lighting or dynamic elements, which can be a limitation for some projects. Additionally, mood boards lack realism, as they can’t fully represent how a design will function in real life.
What 5 elements must you include on a mood board?
A successful mood board should include a creative concept that goes beyond aesthetics and color schemes. While consistent design concepts and a color palette are important also consider typography choices, swatches for textures and prints, visual direction, and relevant imagery. These elements help create a cohesive visual representation of your project vision.
What makes a successful mood board?
A perfect mood board sets a clear project direction and includes a variety of inspiring materials and design inspiration concepts. Whether a physical or digital mood board, it should be organized, with a balance of colors, fonts, and curated imagery that aligns with your project’s goals. Be open to inspiration from various sources to enhance your own mood board.
How do I choose photos for my mood board?
Choose photos that align with your project’s theme and evoke the desired mood to create engaging and beautiful moodboards. Consider trying mood board templates and playing around with the color palette, composition, and overall aesthetic when selecting images. Mix different types of visuals, like textures and patterns, to add depth and interest to your grids.
Can mood boards be used for non-design projects?
Yes, mood boards can be used for a variety of projects beyond design. They’re great for planning events, developing marketing strategies, or brainstorming ideas for new products. The visual format helps communicate concepts and align team members on a shared vision.
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