The right Excalidraw alternative depends on how you sketch: browser whiteboards suit quick diagrams with your team, visual note apps suit organising ideas and research, and drawing apps suit tablet and stylus users. Whichever you choose, know where your drawings are saved, because browser-saved work can vanish with your browser data.
Excalidraw is loved for its hand-drawn look and instant start. Open a tab, sketch a diagram, share a link. But some people want stronger organisation, a tablet-first app, or a board that's easier for non-technical colleagues.
Below are ten alternatives in no particular order, sorted alphabetically, from small indie apps to tools from big companies. Each description comes from the tool's own website, re-checked today. If you're sketching interfaces, my tips to speed up the UX design process pair well with quick whiteboard work.
Think about what happens after the sketch. Some boards are throwaway, while others become the plan your team follows for weeks, and that changes which tool you need.
Excalidraw alternatives at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site describes a free plan or free use, Trial only means a time-limited trial, and No means neither is stated. Free plans may limit boards or shared files.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concepts | Infinite canvas sketching app | Tablet sketching with a stylus | Yes |
| Eraser | Diagrams and docs for developers | Technical diagrams with notes | Yes |
| Freeform | Apple whiteboard app | Free boards on Apple devices | Yes |
| Heptabase | Visual note-taking app | Mapping research and ideas | Trial only |
| Microsoft Whiteboard | Digital whiteboard app | Whiteboards inside Microsoft 365 | Yes |
| Milanote | Visual board app | Creative mood boards and plans | Yes |
| OpenBoard | Open-source teaching whiteboard | Interactive lessons in classrooms | Yes |
| tldraw | Online whiteboard | Quick freehand sketches in a browser | Yes |
| Witeboard | Shareable online whiteboard | Instant boards with a link | Yes |
| Ziteboard | Online whiteboard | Tutoring and remote explanations | Yes |
Ten whiteboard tools to consider instead of Excalidraw
Concepts
Best for: Designers and architects who want precise, flexible sketching on a tablet.
Eraser
Best for: Engineering teams who want diagrams and documents together, including diagrams written as code.
Freeform
Best for: Apple users who want a built-in whiteboard for sketches, notes and files across iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Heptabase
Best for: Researchers and thinkers who want to arrange notes on whiteboards to understand complex topics.
Microsoft Whiteboard
Best for: Teams already using Microsoft 365 who want a whiteboard that works with their meetings.
Milanote
Best for: Creatives who want to collect images, notes and links on visual boards for projects.
OpenBoard
Best for: Teachers who want a free, open-source whiteboard for interactive lessons.
tldraw
Best for: People who want a fast, friendly browser whiteboard for sketches and simple diagrams.
Witeboard
Best for: Anyone who wants a blank board they can share by link in seconds.
Ziteboard
Best for: Tutors and remote teams who want a simple shared whiteboard for explanations.
Where your drawings are saved by default
Here's the catch with browser whiteboards. Excalidraw's own repository describes local-first support that autosaves to the browser. That's quick and private, but it means a drawing can disappear if you clear your browser data, switch computers or use a private window.
So save anything important somewhere safer, either by exporting the file, using a shareable link that stores it online, or choosing a tool with cloud accounts. Treat a browser-saved board like a sticky note: handy, but not where you keep the only copy of a plan.
Choosing a whiteboard for the job
- Quick diagrams: a browser board with a hand-drawn style.
- Team workshops: real-time boards with sticky notes and voting.
- Research and thinking: visual note apps with linked cards.
- Teaching: classroom whiteboards with pens and slides.
- Tablet sketching: apps built for a stylus.
Turning a messy sketch into a clear diagram
- Sketch freely first without worrying about neatness.
- Group related ideas into boxes or areas.
- Draw arrows only where the flow matters.
- Add a short title and a key if you've used colours.
- Export or share it, and keep a copy somewhere safe.
Whiteboards in client work
A live sketch during a client call can do more than a polished proposal. Drawing the process while they talk shows you've understood, and it gives them something to correct before you build anything. Keep it rough on purpose, so people feel free to change it.
Collaboration habits matter as much as tools, and my look at the benefits of team collaboration covers how to get more from working together.
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It's worth agreeing a few simple conventions with your team as well, such as one colour for questions and another for decisions. You'll read each other's boards much faster.
Give boards clear names with dates, too. A folder of untitled boards is almost as unhelpful as no boards at all.
Do you make whiteboard tools? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on Excalidraw alternatives
Use the simplest board that does the job. A whiteboard is a thinking tool, and the fewer menus you see, the more you'll think about the problem rather than the software.
And save the sketches that led to decisions. A photo or export of the board, dated and filed with the project, saves a lot of arguments about what was agreed.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good alternative to Excalidraw?
Browser whiteboards suit quick sketches, visual note apps suit research, and tablet apps suit stylus drawing.
Where does Excalidraw save my drawings?
Its repository describes local-first support that autosaves to the browser, so export important work.
Is there a free whiteboard like Excalidraw?
Yes. Several browser and app whiteboards are free to use.
Which whiteboard is best for teams?
Real-time boards with comments, sticky notes and sharing suit team workshops.
Can I use a whiteboard on an iPad?
Yes. Several apps are built for tablets and styluses.
Which tool is best for teaching?
Classroom whiteboards and simple shareable boards work well for lessons and tutoring.
Can I make diagrams from code?
Some developer-focused tools let you describe diagrams in text and draw them automatically.
Do I need an account?
Some boards work instantly without one, while others need sign-up to save and share.
Can I export whiteboards as images?
Most tools export images or PDFs for sharing.
Can I collaborate in real time for free?
Several boards let people draw together live on free plans, though some limit how many boards you can keep.
What's the difference between a whiteboard and a diagram tool?
A whiteboard is freeform for sketching ideas, while a diagram tool has shapes and connectors for neat, structured charts.
