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.

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Show all 5 alternatives

The best Excalidraw alternative for…

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

Best Excalidraw alternative for most people

tldraw

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

Best Excalidraw alternative for a free option

WBO

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

Best Excalidraw alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Miro

Templates, integrations and facilitation tools for full workshops.

Best Excalidraw alternative for open source

WBO

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

Best Excalidraw alternative for self-hosting

WBO

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

Best Excalidraw alternative for Mac

FigJam

A friendlier team whiteboard with stickies and voting.

Best Excalidraw alternative for Windows

Whimsical

Neater flowcharts and wireframes with docs alongside.

Best Excalidraw alternative for iPhone and Android

Miro

Templates, integrations and facilitation tools for full workshops.

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.