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tldraw alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave tldraw: SDK licence is source-available, not open source, and commercial SDK use needs a paid licence. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces tldraw, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Excalidraw currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Excalidraw logoExcalidrawOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted5 of 566.5
2FigJam logoFigJamFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +15 of 562.6
3Miro logoMiroFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +25 of 559.6
4Freeform logoFreeformFreeNoiOS, macOS4 of 457.2
5Ziteboard logoZiteboardFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android +15 of 555.3
  1. Excalidraw logo

    1. ExcalidrawTop pick

    Best for: Engineers and anyone who wants fast, informal sketches and diagrams without an account

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from tldraw

    Truly open source under MIT, with a hand-drawn look and paid team hosting.

    Pros

    • Start drawing instantly with no account
    • Open source and embeddable in other tools
    • Distinctive hand-drawn style for informal diagrams

    Cons

    • Few workshop features like voting or timers
    • Free version saves only one scene in the browser
    • Not suited to large, structured boards
    Visit Excalidraw Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    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 Excalidraw a good tldraw alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    No account needed
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026plus.excalidraw.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Excalidraw+ price
    $6 per user/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026plus.excalidraw.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    14 days (Excalidraw+)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026plus.excalidraw.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Currency
    USD
    Checked Oct 25, 2026plus.excalidraw.com(opens source in a new tab)
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. FigJam logo

    2. FigJam

    Best for: Product and design teams already using Figma who want a friendly shared whiteboard

    Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from tldraw

    A team whiteboard with stickies, voting and templates.

    Pros

    • Included with Figma seats; cheap Collab seat for others
    • Approachable, playful interface
    • Works directly with Figma design files

    Cons

    • Lighter facilitation tools than Miro or Mural
    • No Android app
    • Best value depends on already using Figma
    Visit FigJam Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    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 FigJam a good tldraw alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Included with Figma
    All seats on every plan
    Checked Oct 25, 2026figma.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Collab seat
    $3/month (Professional)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026figma.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan
    Starter, limited access
    Checked Oct 25, 2026figma.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Open sessions
    Guests join for 24 hours
    Checked Oct 25, 2026figma.com(opens source in a new tab)
    iPad app
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026help.figma.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Miro logo

    3. Miro

    Best for: Teams running workshops and planning sessions that need the broadest template and integration library

    Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from tldraw

    Full workshop features and integrations for larger teams.

    Pros

    • Huge template library and facilitation tools
    • Integrates with most work tools
    • Apps on every desktop and mobile platform

    Cons

    • Free plan limits you to three editable boards
    • Busy interface with many features
    • Per-member pricing adds up for large teams
    Visit Miro Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    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 Miro a good tldraw alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    3 editable boards
    Checked Oct 25, 2026miro.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starter price
    $8 per member/month, billed yearly
    Checked Oct 25, 2026miro.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Business price
    $20 per member/month, billed yearly
    Checked Oct 25, 2026miro.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Desktop apps
    Mac and Windows
    Checked Oct 25, 2026miro.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Mobile apps
    iOS and Android
    Checked Oct 25, 2026miro.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Freeform logo

    4. Freeform

    Best for: People on iPhone, iPad and Mac who want a free sketching and planning canvas

    FreeiOS, macOS

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from tldraw

    Free on Apple devices with Pencil support and iCloud sharing.

    Pros

    • Free and preinstalled on Apple devices
    • Excellent Apple Pencil support
    • Real-time collaboration through iCloud

    Cons

    • Apple devices and accounts only
    • No templates, voting or business integrations
    • Collaborators also need Apple devices
    Visit Freeform Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    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 Freeform a good tldraw alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Subscription
    Not required for boards
    Checked Oct 25, 2026apps.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Vision Pro, Mac, iPad, iPhone
    Checked Oct 25, 2026apps.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Creator Studio
    Optional premium bundle
    Checked Oct 25, 2026apps.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Content types
    Photos, video, audio, PDFs, links
    Checked Oct 25, 2026apps.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Ziteboard logo

    5. Ziteboard

    Best for: Online tutors and teachers who need a simple shared board with pen support

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android, Browser extension

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from tldraw

    A simple online board aimed at tutoring and quick sessions.

    Pros

    • Simple and good with pen and touch
    • Built-in audio and video chat on Pro
    • Week pass for short-term needs

    Cons

    • Few features beyond drawing and chat
    • Free plan limits boards and data
    • Dated interface
    Visit Ziteboard 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 Ziteboard a good tldraw alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    3 boards, unlimited collaborators
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ziteboard.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Monthly Pro
    $9 per month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ziteboard.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Annual Pro
    $85 per year
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ziteboard.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Week pass
    $5 one-time
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ziteboard.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Apps
    iPad and Android
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ziteboard.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best tldraw alternative for…

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

Excalidraw logo

Best tldraw alternative for most people

Excalidraw

Truly open source under MIT, with a hand-drawn look and paid team hosting.

Freeform logo

Best tldraw alternative for a free option

Freeform

Free on Apple devices with Pencil support and iCloud sharing.

FigJam logo

Best tldraw alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

FigJam

A team whiteboard with stickies, voting and templates.

Excalidraw logo

Best tldraw alternative for open source

Excalidraw

Truly open source under MIT, with a hand-drawn look and paid team hosting.

Excalidraw logo

Best tldraw alternative for self-hosting

Excalidraw

Truly open source under MIT, with a hand-drawn look and paid team hosting.

Miro logo

Best tldraw alternative for Mac

Miro

Full workshop features and integrations for larger teams.

FigJam logo

Best tldraw alternative for Windows

FigJam

A team whiteboard with stickies, voting and templates.

Ziteboard logo

Best tldraw alternative for iPhone and Android

Ziteboard

A simple online board aimed at tutoring and quick sessions.

Excalidraw logo

Best tldraw alternative for working in the browser

Excalidraw

Truly open source under MIT, with a hand-drawn look and paid team hosting.

tldraw alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to tldraw?

Excalidraw ranks first right now. Truly open source under MIT, with a hand-drawn look and paid team hosting. FigJam and Miro follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to tldraw?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to tldraw?

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

Why do people switch from tldraw?

The complaints we hear most: SDK licence is source-available, not open source; commercial SDK use needs a paid licence; no workshop templates or facilitation tools.

How is this list ranked?

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