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Boardssey vs Playtest Parlor

Playtest Parlor runs a great session. Boardssey holds the game the session is about.

The short answer

Playtest Parlor is built for one job and does it very well: testers join free with no account, up to 16 players plus spectators, surveys after every session, full replays, a no-code automation builder and Discord voice. From $84 a year, it's hard to beat as a pure playtest room. Boardssey starts earlier and ends later: you design the components from your data, test them on the built-in table, and keep every session, version, rule change and sell sheet in the same place. Plenty of designers will happily use both.

Side by side

Boardssey
Playtest Parlor
Head to head
Testers join free, no account
Boardssey
Playtest Parlor
Components designed from your data
Boardssey
Playtest ParlorCreate in the table or import from The Game Crafter
No-code automations
Boardssey
Playtest Parlor
Playtester feedback
BoardsseyFeedback forms on every playtest
Playtest ParlorSurveys after every session
Session replay
Boardssey
Playtest ParlorFull timeline
Spectators and Discord voice
Boardssey
Playtest Parlor
History across versions of the game
BoardsseyEvery session saved on the game
Playtest ParlorCheckpoints inside each table
Print-and-play and Tabletop Simulator export
Boardssey
Playtest Parlor
Rules, versions and sell sheets
Boardssey
Playtest Parlor
Designing the components
Master pages that update every card
BoardsseyUnlink any element to edit it on one card. Pathfinder and up.
Playtest ParlorNot listed on their site
Import PDF, Illustrator and Photoshop files
BoardsseyPages become editable pages of the component. Pathfinder and up.
Playtest ParlorNot listed on their site
Designer toolkit
3D mockups
BoardsseyFlat artwork to 3D box, card and component renders
Playtest ParlorNot listed on their site
Dieline templates
BoardsseyBoxes, boards, punchboards and more
Playtest ParlorNot listed on their site
Probability calculator
BoardsseyOdds for any dice expression
Playtest ParlorNot listed on their site
Variables distribution
BoardsseySplit elements into balanced groups
Playtest ParlorNot listed on their site
Color-blindness simulator
BoardsseyCheck your palette for every type of color blindness
Playtest ParlorNot listed on their site
Size and scale reference
BoardsseyShow your game next to a person for scale
Playtest ParlorNot listed on their site
Component spec sheets
BoardsseyFor wooden, plastic and other non-paper parts
Playtest ParlorNot listed on their site
Carton marks
BoardsseyLabels for your manufacturing shipping cartons
Playtest ParlorNot listed on their site
Invoices and purchase orders
BoardsseySaved and attached to your games
Playtest ParlorNot listed on their site
Table helpers
BoardsseyCustom dice, score pad, timer, coin flip, starting player
Playtest ParlorDice and counters on the table
MCP connector for AI assistants
BoardsseyConnect Claude, ChatGPT and other AI assistants to your games, playtests and components
Playtest ParlorNot listed on their site
Pitching and running the project
Public game catalog for publishers
BoardsseyA live page per game that publishers can browse
Playtest ParlorNot listed on their site
Publisher pitches and contacts
BoardsseyTrack who you pitched, when, and what happened next
Playtest ParlorNot listed on their site
Tasks and project boards
BoardsseyKanban, calendar and task tables across your games
Playtest ParlorNot listed on their site
Team chat and whiteboard
BoardsseyChannels per game, plus a shared whiteboard
Playtest ParlorNot listed on their site
Unlimited teammates
BoardsseyOn every plan
Playtest ParlorNot listed on their site
Plans
Free to start
Boardssey14-day trial
Playtest Parlor12 free sessions
Price
Boardssey$15/month or $150/year (Pathfinder, where Prototypes starts)
Playtest Parlor$84/year, or $3.50 per 10 sessions

Verified September 2026

Where Playtest Parlor is the better pick

  • You want session replays and surveys built into the table.

  • You run big sessions with spectators or play over Discord voice.

  • You already design elsewhere and only need a table.

Why designers pick Boardssey

  • Design and table in one place. Build components from your spreadsheet and send them to the table without exporting.

  • A record across the whole game. Each session is saved on the game and tied to the version, not just to one table.

  • Feedback forms included. Collect playtester feedback on every playtest.

  • Pitch-ready. Sell sheets and publisher contacts come from the same place.

  • Your whole team, one price. Unlimited teammates on every plan.

Switching

  1. Build your components in the Boardssey designer from your spreadsheet.

  2. Export them to a virtual table room and share the join code.

  3. Log the session on the game and send testers a feedback form.

Questions

Is Playtest Parlor better for playtesting?

For the session itself, often yes: replays, surveys, spectators and Discord voice are built in. Boardssey is stronger on everything around the session: design, versions and the game's full history.

Can I use both?

Yes. Design and track the game in Boardssey, and run sessions wherever your testers are happiest.

Which one is cheaper?

Playtest Parlor, at $84 a year or $3.50 per 10 sessions. Boardssey's price includes the component designer, playtest tracking, sell sheets and unlimited teammates.

Do testers need an account?

Neither tool requires one for testers.

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