FrameThrower vs AdForum: built for the creative
FrameThrower is the ads library for creatives: 35,887 commercials cut into 1,017,873 shots, each searchable by describing it, with full credits, frames and clips you can take, and a canvas to build the idea on. AdForum is an agency directory with a creative library, used to choose agencies.
Short answer: AdForum is built for choosing agencies and licensing whole ads. FrameThrower is built for the creative: search inside every shot of 35,887 commercials, take the exact frame or clip, and build the idea on a canvas you can share.
Built for the creative
Not the media buyer
AdForum is built for marketing, "from creative ideation to brand strategy to agency new business"; creative professionals, marketing managers, search consultants, schools. FrameThrower is built for the people making the work: directors, agency creatives and producers, treatment writers.
Inside every shot
1,017,873 shots, searchable
35,887 commercials cut shot by shot. Describe the shot, or search by image or by what is said, and land on the exact moment, with who made it.
From idea to canvas
Collect, build, share
Pull frames and clips onto a moodboard canvas or into a lookbook, export to PDF and slides, and share it by link with your team or client.
FrameThrower vs AdForum, side by side
| Feature | FrameThrower | AdForum |
|---|---|---|
| The library | ||
| Built for | Creatives: directors, agency creatives and producers, treatment writers, AI filmmakers | Marketing, "from creative ideation to brand strategy to agency new business"; creative professionals, marketing managers, search consultants, schools |
| Library | 35,887 commercials cut into 1,017,873 shots, each a still and a clip; plus films and animation | More than 250,000 ads, web films and case studies; 175+ added each week |
| What it holds | TV and brand commercials 1990–2026, award winners from 27 shows, with full credits | Film, print, online and integrated ads, case studies; agency and production-company search |
| Search by | Describe the shot, image, script, colour, brand, director, agency, production company, award | Brand, agency, award, keyword, media type, sector, country, date, credits |
| Finding the shot | ||
| Search inside a commercial, shot by shot | Yes | Not stated |
| Describe a shot in plain words | Yes | Not stated |
| Search by image | Yes | Not stated |
| Search by what is said | Yes | Not stated |
| Using it | ||
| Download frames | Yes | Hi-res image downloads (credits) |
| Download clips | Yes | Hi-res video downloads (credits) |
| Credits by role | Yes | Yes |
| Award winners | 27 award shows, 1990–2026 | Cannes Lions, CLIOs, ANDYs and more |
| Building the idea | ||
| Collect references | Boards | Playlists, search alerts |
| Moodboard canvas | Yes | Not stated |
| Lookbook / treatment builder | Lookbooks, export to PDF and slides | Not stated |
| Share by link | Yes | Share playlists |
| API and MCP for AI tools | Yes | Not stated |
| Price | ||
| Free | 10 searches a day, 5 downloads a week | Not stated for the Creative Library |
| Paid | Pro $14/mo, or $84 a year | Single user, group (3 users $83/mo, 10 users $192/mo, billed yearly) or company-wide; downloads by credit, $10 a print, $20 a video |
| Free trial | 5-day free trial of Pro | Not stated |
AdForum describes itself as: “The only archive of the most important, impactful and awarded advertising globally.” (adforum.com/info/creative-library)
Which one should you use?
Choose FrameThrower when
- · You need the exact shot: a look, a move, a moment, not just the campaign name.
- · You want the frame or clip in your treatment or deck, with who shot it.
- · You build ideas on a canvas or in a lookbook and share them with your team or client.
- · You want award winners from 27 shows on an individual price.
Choose AdForum when
- · You are choosing an agency, or running an agency search.
- · You need broadcast-quality downloads of whole ads and case studies.
Where AdForum is stronger: Agency and production-company search for marketers, case studies alongside the ads, and high-resolution downloads of whole ads.
Questions
Is FrameThrower an alternative to AdForum?+
For creative reference, yes. AdForum is strongest as an agency directory with a library of whole ads; FrameThrower searches inside every shot and gives you frames, clips, a canvas and lookbooks to build and share an idea.
Other commercials comparisons
- ↗ FrameThrower vs LBB (Little Black Book)
- ↗ FrameThrower vs Ads of the World
- ↗ FrameThrower vs The Work (Cannes Lions)
- ↗ FrameThrower vs shots
- ↗ FrameThrower vs Directors Library
- ↗ All comparisons
- ↗ The commercials library
Trusted by creatives from Netflix, ILM, Apple TV, Wētā FX, DNEG, Prime Video, Amazon MGM Studios and Eyeline Studios.
Try FrameThrower next to AdForum
Free plan, no card. Describe a shot and see every commercial that has it.
ShotDeck, Flim, FilmGrab, Frameset, StillsLab, MovieStillsDB, shot.cafe, EyeCandy, ShotBook, frmz, Film Vibes, Movie-Screencaps.com and Fancaps are trademarks of their owners. FrameThrower is not affiliated with any of them. Descriptions, prices and library sizes are quoted from each site; if something has changed or is wrong, email contact@framethrower.ai and we will correct it.