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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
  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)

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.