INDEPENDENT COMPARISON
Showcard and Mainboard (Portfoliopad) compared
Mainboard's Portfoliopad is an established agency platform spanning bookings, packages, invoicing, websites and a talent app, with support from an in-house team. Mainboard publishes no price list on the pages we reviewed, so a cost comparison needs a written quote. Showcard prices by agency revenue with unlimited staff and talent (no seat or roster caps).
Mainboard builds software for model and talent agencies. Portfoliopad stores talent details, images and video, and covers booking, packages, invoicing and a talent login. For an agency that prizes established workflows and live support, that is a serious offering.
Showcard approaches the market from two sides: a paid agency operating platform, and a free workspace models can use on their own.
Unlimited staff and talent means no seat or roster caps; the fair-use principles for AI, storage and email still apply.
At a glance
| Topic | Showcard | Mainboard |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $29 to $249 a month by earned agency revenue over the prior 12 months (commissions and fees you keep, not pass-through talent money). See Pricing | Various packages for agencies of different sizes. No numeric prices on the pages reviewed; contact Mainboard for a quote. Source: mainboard.com/faq |
| Staff users | Unlimited staff accounts. No per-seat charge. | Not stated on the pages reviewed. Ask Mainboard about your team. Source: mainboard.com/faq |
| Talent records | Unlimited talent records on every plan. | Mainboard's FAQ says you can have as many talent as you want and do not pay more for extra talent or models. Source: mainboard.com/faq |
| Booking, packages and invoicing | Options and bookings with conflict detection, client packages, and fees, commissions and invoices with CSV export. No accounting integrations. | Booking with customizable appointment types, packages with analytics, and invoices with payment tracking, including what is owed to talent. Optional QuickBooks and Xero integration is listed. Source: mainboard.com |
| Websites | Showcard does not include an agency website builder. | Integrated agency websites managed from Portfoliopad. Source: mainboard.com/talent-agency-software |
| Talent app | A web-based talent app that works on phones and can be installed from the browser (a progressive web app). There are no native iOS or Android apps. | Agencies control what talent can view, edit and update from iOS, Android and web apps. Source: mainboard.com |
| Casting | Projects and briefs become shortlists and client packages, in every band. | Casting from brief through booking, including self-tapes, is listed. Source: mainboard.com |
| Support | Agency access is by invitation. A person replies to chat and email, though we cannot promise a reply time. | A dedicated in-house support and development team, with set-up, training and ongoing live support. Source: mainboard.com |
Pricing in context
Mainboard says it has packages to suit agencies of all sizes but does not list prices on the official pages we reviewed, so we do not compare numbers. Ask for a written quote that states what is included, how many staff users it covers, and what any integrations or websites cost.
Mainboard states that adding talent costs nothing extra, so an unlimited roster is not unique to Showcard. Showcard's published difference is that its price follows agency revenue, and it publishes its price bands openly.
Where Mainboard may fit better
- You value a long-established platform and a dedicated in-house support team.
- You need integrated websites, QuickBooks or Xero options, or its casting workflow with self-tapes. Showcard has no website builder and no accounting integrations.
- You want iOS and Android apps for your talent. Showcard's talent app is a web app you install from the browser.
- You want a quote-based package built for your agency's size.
Where Showcard may fit better
- You want published price bands that follow agency revenue, with unlimited staff accounts.
- You want models to have a free workspace of their own for portfolios, comp cards, jobs and money records, with no agency required.
- You want to try an agency demo with fictional data before talking to anyone.
Before you decide
Run one real client brief through each product, from shortlist to package, option, booking and invoice, and ask each vendor for a written quote that states what is included. Switching tools? Showcard's move-your-data page explains what imports and what does not.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Mainboard charge per model?
- Its FAQ says you can have as many talent as you want and do not pay more for extra talent or models.
- How much does Mainboard cost?
- The official pages we reviewed list no prices. Request a current quote from Mainboard.
- What makes Showcard different for models?
- An adult model can use Showcard for Models for free, even if no agency they work with uses Showcard.
Sources and review
Facts about Mainboard come from its public pages, last reviewed 13 November 2026: Mainboard · Mainboard FAQ · Mainboard talent agency software. Check each vendor's current page and quote; plans and prices change. Euro and dollar figures are shown as published, without conversion.
This is an independent comparison written by Showcard. Showcard is not affiliated with or endorsed by Mainboard; the name is used only to identify it, and trademarks belong to their owners. We have tried to be accurate and fair, and we would rather correct a mistake than leave it: tell us at hello@useshowcard.com.
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