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Excalidraw alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Excalidraw: few workshop features like voting or timers, and free version saves only one scene in the browser. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Excalidraw, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. tldraw currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1WBO logoWBOOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted4 of 455.3
  1. WBO logo

    1. WBOTop pick

    Best for: Teachers, tinkerers and teams wanting a free shared drawing board they can self-host

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Excalidraw

    Another free open-source board, built for freehand drawing together.

    Pros

    • Free with no account needed
    • Open source and easy to self-host
    • Real-time drawing with link sharing

    Cons

    • Very basic tools, no sticky notes or templates
    • Anyone with the link can edit
    • No integrations
    Visit WBO Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is WBO a good Excalidraw alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Open source
    Yes, free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026wbo.ophir.dev(opens source in a new tab)
    Storage
    Boards saved on the server
    Checked Oct 25, 2026wbo.ophir.dev(opens source in a new tab)
    Private boards
    Link-only random names
    Checked Oct 25, 2026wbo.ophir.dev(opens source in a new tab)
    License
    AGPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Excalidraw alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

tldraw logo

Best Excalidraw alternative for most people

tldraw

A similarly fast canvas with a cleaner style and a developer SDK.

WBO logo

Best Excalidraw alternative for a free option

WBO

Another free open-source board, built for freehand drawing together.

Miro logo

Best Excalidraw alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Miro

Templates, integrations and facilitation tools for full workshops.

WBO logo

Best Excalidraw alternative for open source

WBO

Another free open-source board, built for freehand drawing together.

WBO logo

Best Excalidraw alternative for self-hosting

WBO

Another free open-source board, built for freehand drawing together.

FigJam logo

Best Excalidraw alternative for Mac

FigJam

A friendlier team whiteboard with stickies and voting.

Wh

Best Excalidraw alternative for Windows

Whimsical

Neater flowcharts and wireframes with docs alongside.

Miro logo

Best Excalidraw alternative for iPhone and Android

Miro

Templates, integrations and facilitation tools for full workshops.

tldraw logo

Best Excalidraw alternative for working in the browser

tldraw

A similarly fast canvas with a cleaner style and a developer SDK.

Excalidraw alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Excalidraw?

tldraw ranks first right now. A similarly fast canvas with a cleaner style and a developer SDK. Miro and FigJam follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Excalidraw?

Yes. tldraw (free plan + paid), Miro (free plan + paid), FigJam (free plan + paid) and WBO (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Excalidraw?

Yes: WBO. WBO can also be self-hosted.

Why do people switch from Excalidraw?

The complaints we hear most: few workshop features like voting or timers; free version saves only one scene in the browser; not suited to large, structured boards.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Excalidraw, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.