StudioBinder vs Yamdu

StudioBinder is the best film production software in the industry and a powerful alternative to Yamdu. Read our Yamdu review below.

Different Approaches

Yamdu is a production tool. StudioBinder is mission control.

Yamdu is a cloud based solution that provides indie filmmakers with tools to perform script breakdowns, schedules, and collaborate online. 

Yamdu is similar to StudioBinder, but it does not provide the same feature integration which is why our solution is more predictive, more seamless, and provides your team with a much faster workflow.

This modern approach is what defines us here at StudioBinder.

Bottom Line:

Yamdu helps you breakdown and plan your shoots.

StudioBinder is mission control for production teams.

Call Sheet Creator

Industry standard call sheets with more clarity

StudioBinder and Yamdu both offer online call sheet builders. However, the process couldn't be more different.

Easier to Create

StudioBinder auto-populates call sheets with data from other pages, and you can include personalized notes and file attachments like maps and parking directions  in every email. 

Our call sheets are integrated with Google Places and DarkSky Weather APIs that include Google Maplinks and up-to-date weather changes.

Easier to Understand

Yamdu call sheets are not formatted to industry standards.

StudioBinder call sheets use an enhanced version of industry standard call sheets so that recipients can find a more robust digest of relevant information on a easily understood and familiar layout.

Easier to Track

Yamdu does not track the delivery of a call sheet.

StudioBinder sends call sheets as emails, PDFs and text messages with one-click, and tracks the delivery status, view counts, and RSVPs of every call sheet that is sent to a specific recipient.

Notice someone didn't open their call sheet? No problem, you know exactly why, and can swiftly resolve and resend.

"Feature Film" Call Sheet Template

"Photoshoot" Call Sheet Template

Don't Stay in the Dark.
Track Your Call Sheet Delivery.

Shot Lists & Storyboard

Shot Lists & Storyboards

Yamdu's shot lists and storyboards are similar StudioBinder's, but they do not feed creativity with the same intuitive layout and workflow. 

Better Details

Yamdu shot lists and storyboards give you fewer opportunities to describe and plan your creative goals. You have fewer options to customize aspect ratios, page layout, custom numbering, or preview your script. 

StudioBinder also helps you bucket shots with camera setups so that you can build the most efficient plan for your days on set. 

Better Workflow

Yamdu does not offer the same professional workflow. Shots are tied to the script breakdown feature, which suggests the assistant director or line producer will be choosing shots - which often is not the case.

StudioBinder gives you the most professional and logical workflow.

Better Creativity

Yamdu's shot list layout is built in a way that supports production, but limits creativity. There is no presentation mode to show clients a real time plan, and shots are not seen as a creative plan, but rather logistical goal.

StudioBinder helps you plan more than shots... we help you plan scenes. 

Wonder Woman Shot List & Storyboard | Made in StudioBinder

Script Breakdowns

Script Breakdowns

Yamdu offers a script breakdown feature that is similar to StudioBinder.

StudioBinder script breakdowns are much more intuitive.

Intuitive Tagger

Yamdu's breakdown tagger is pretty similar to StudioBinder's, but they force you to open the tagger in a new window, which means every time you tag an element you have up to four windows open on your screen.

Intuitive Interface

Yamdu's interface is pretty clean, but important buttons and icons are hidden because they've merged production reports and breakdowns onto a single feature page. This results in information overload.  

Intuitive Experience

Yamdu does not have a quantity count, element variant, or a clear way to add elements that are not expressed in the script, which means details will need to be documented at some other time - not an ideal workflow.

StudioBinder helps you read between the lines and cover bases. 

Baby Driver Script Breakdown | Made in StudioBinder

Film Scheduling

Film Scheduling

Yamdu offers a shooting schedule feature that is similar to StudioBinder. Working with StudioBinder stripboards is much easier.

Easier Layout

Yamdu's stripboard layout is somehow needlessly complicated. They've strayed from the industry standard stripboard, as well as creating a scene assignment workflow rather than simply rearranging strips.

It's a clever system, though needlessly complicated. 

Easier Versioning

Yamdu stripboards can create multiple schedules, but your progress is linked to your entire project rather than your project version. 

StudioBinder provides a more holistic approach. Create schedules tied to versions. Adjustments will be reflected across each version of your plan. 

Easier Sorting

Yamdu's stripboards allow you to only sort strips based on a single parameter rather than allowing advanced sorting. Your preliminary schedule will need to be built by hand which adds time to your workflow.

StudioBinder allows you to fire off a preliminary schedule based on advanced sorting with ascending parameters. What takes hours in a Yamdu schedule can be accomplished in minutes with StudioBinder.

Touring Man Schedule | Made in StudioBinder

PLAN YOUR MOVIE

Production Calendar

Yamdu does not give you the ability to build Gantt Charts, Calendars focus purely on shooting rather than your entire company. 

Better Layout

Yamdu calendar does not provide a workflow tab to track and sort events, or dependencies that inform your order of operations.

StudioBinder gives you multiple layout options. 

Better Versioning

Yamdu makes it difficult to create and navigate multiple versions of your calendar, which means fewer options for game plans.

StudioBinder lets you build new versions and templates with one click.

Touring Man Production Calendar | Made in StudioBinder

Touring Man Screenplay in StudioBinder

MONTHLY & ANNUAL PLANS

Flexible Pricing

StudioBinder offers an annual pricing plan in case you’d like to pay once every twelve months. Pay for the whole year and get a discounted rate.

How about another perk for going annual?

Like any company, our pricing may change as StudioBinder’s feature set evolves and improves. When you purchase an annual plan, you’ll be locking in your current discounted rate for the next 12 months.

THE BOTTOMLINE

Why is StudioBinder better than Yamdu?

The short version?

StudioBinder is better for studios, video agencies and production companies who want a more intuitive all-in-one solution for planning their projects.

You’ll have better status tracking. Stress free call sheets, better task workflows, project management, total integration, all built to emphasize your team’s creativity.

StudioBinder is best if…

• You want to create, send and track personalized call sheets
• You want integrated project management features like tasks and calendars
• You need to robust shot list and storyboarding functions

Yamdu may be a better choice when…

• You just want to generate general production documents
• You don’t want to create, send, and track personalized call sheets
• Film project management and communication are not a priority