Freedom251 › Whiteboard Animation Software
Chalkboard
What Chalkboard is
Chalkboard turns a prompt into a narrated video with a whiteboard style and exports the result as an MP4. It offers 16:9 explainers, vertical reels, and cinematic documentaries. In Cinematic mode, it researches a topic and adds cited sources to the script. It can create hand-drawn diagrams, use SVG art, or generate images with OpenAI’s gpt-image-2. Image generation needs an OpenAI API key and may incur costs; it can be disabled or capped per video. Script generation supports Anthropic, OpenAI, and local Ollama, while narration can use Piper, OpenAI, or ElevenLabs. A production can be dubbed into multiple languages in one run, with subtitles in a language different from the narration. Subtitles and mood-matched music are enabled by default; users can select Jamendo music or supply a track. Chalkboard provides a command-line interface, library, HTTP API, and web studio, and can run self-hosted. Local Ollama and Piper can provide script generation and narration at zero marginal cost per video. API keys are read from the server environment, while the web UI does not see them. The MIT-licensed software is free.
Who it suits
Chalkboard suits people who want to make narrated explainers, reels, or cinematic videos from prompts, including productions with multilingual narration and subtitles. Its self-hosted tools may fit users who want to run script generation and narration locally.
What it does well
- Exports narrated videos as MP4.
- Supports three video formats.
- Can dub productions into multiple languages.
- Offers CLI, library, API, and web studio.
- MIT-licensed and free to use.
What to know first
- Generated images require a paid OpenAI API key.
- Local generation depends on Ollama and Piper.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Free | MIT-licensed software · local providers available at zero marginal cost per video | Free |
As github.com lists them, read 9 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open the Chalkboard project website on GitHub.
- Choose the command-line interface, library, HTTP API, or web studio.
- Select script generation with Anthropic, OpenAI, or local Ollama.
- Choose narration with Piper, OpenAI, or ElevenLabs.
- Set the video format, languages, subtitles, and background music.
- Provide an OpenAI API key if you want generated images, and set an image cap if needed.
Verdict
Chalkboard combines prompt-based video creation with research, drawing, narration, and subtitle options. Image generation may add costs, while local Ollama and Piper can handle script generation and narration at zero marginal cost per video.
Questions
How much does Chalkboard cost?
The listed Free plan costs nothing. The software is released under the MIT License.
Can I use Chalkboard without per-video provider costs?
The project can use local Ollama for script generation and Piper for narration at zero marginal cost per video.
Which platforms does Chalkboard support?
The listed platforms are self-hosted and web.
Which AI providers can it use?
Script generation supports Anthropic, OpenAI, and local Ollama. Narration supports Piper, OpenAI, and ElevenLabs.
Does image generation cost extra?
Generated images require an OpenAI API key and incur costs. Image generation can be disabled or capped per video.
Can the videos be used commercially?
Commercial use is listed as supported.
Facts from Chalkboard's own pages
- AI providers
- Script generation supports Anthropic, OpenAI, and local Ollama; narration supports Piper, OpenAI, and ElevenLabs. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Audio
- Subtitles and mood-matched background music are enabled by default, and users can choose Jamendo music or provide their own track. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Cost limits
- Generated images require an OpenAI API key and incur costs; the README says image generation can be disabled or capped per video. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Languages
- A production can be dubbed into multiple languages in one run, with subtitles in a language different from the narration. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- License
- Chalkboard is released under the MIT License. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Chalkboard turns a prompt into a narrated, whiteboard-style explainer video exported as an MP4. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Research
- The Cinematic mode researches topics and injects cited sources into the script to ground the narration. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Security detail
- The README says API keys are read from the server environment and the web UI never sees them. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Self-hosting
- The project runs on the user's machine and can use Ollama and Piper for local script generation and narration at zero marginal cost per video. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Video formats
- It supports 16:9 explainers, vertical short-form reels, and research-backed cinematic documentaries. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Visuals
- It creates hand-drawn diagrams and can generate images with OpenAI's gpt-image-2; SVG art is also supported. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Ways to use
- The project provides a command-line interface, a library, an HTTP API, and a web studio. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Where Chalkboard stands on Freedom251
- Whiteboard Animation Software#5 of 26
- Reverse Engineering Tools#17 of 73