Excalidraw+ wants a subscription.
These cost $0.
5 free alternatives to Excalidraw+, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
Excalidraw+ vs Free Alternatives Matrix
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs paid
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excalidraw | open source | MIT | Local or hosted | ★ 124k | Excalidraw+ vs Excalidraw → |
| AFFiNE | open source | MIT | Local or hosted | ★ 71k | Excalidraw+ vs AFFiNE → |
| CryptPad | open source | AGPL-3.0+ | Local or hosted | ★ 7.8k | Excalidraw+ vs CryptPad → |
| WBO | open source | AGPL-3.0+ | Local or hosted | ★ 2.6k | Excalidraw+ vs WBO → |
| tldraw | free | tldraw | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | Excalidraw+ vs tldraw → |
The picks
4 open source · 1 free to use · ranked by fit
- 01
Excalidraw
open sourceMITLocal or hosted124kaug 2026The same drawing engine, free: multiplayer, share links, libraries, local-first files, and end-to-end encrypted collaboration; cloud workspace management is leaner.
The catch vs Excalidraw+The free app has the same drawing engine but lacks Excalidraw+'s persistent managed workspace, team administration, organized files, and richer collaboration history.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedthey host it
- install
- Open the hosted web app/PWA, or deploy the static app and optional collaboration server
- setup
- None for the hosted app; the trade-off appears later because durable workspace organization, centralized team administration, and managed version history are deliberately minimal
- your data
- Solo drawings are stored in browser storage or explicit .excalidraw JSON files; exports include PNG and SVG; multiplayer room data is end-to-end encrypted and the decryption key is carried in the share URL
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 02
AFFiNE
open sourceMITLocal or hosted71kaug 2026Persistent team workspaces, an infinite canvas, diagrams, comments, docs, and databases; heavier than Excalidraw and heavier to self-host.
The catch vs Excalidraw+AFFiNE is much heavier and less immediate for quick hand-drawn collaboration, while its canvas does not share Excalidraw's library ecosystem and distinctive interaction feel.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopwebself-hostedself-host, real ops
- install
- Hosted signup or desktop app; Docker Compose for self-hosting
- setup
- The hosted/desktop app installs cleanly; self-hosting is a multi-service Docker deployment that needs a domain, TLS, secrets, storage, backups, and AI-provider keys for AI features
- engines
- Self-hosted AFFiNE AI can be configured with OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, and FAL credentials
- your data
- Local-first clients keep workspace data locally and sync to AFFiNE Cloud or the operator's server; self-hosting uses PostgreSQL, Redis, and persistent blob storage
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 03
CryptPad
open sourceAGPL-3.0+Local or hosted7.8kjul 2026A persistent encrypted drive with collaborative whiteboards, folders, sharing, and access controls; less delightful drawing, stronger workspace bones.
The catch vs Excalidraw+CryptPad provides a stronger encrypted drive but its whiteboard is markedly less delightful and capable for drawing, libraries, and diagram composition than Excalidraw+.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedthey host it
- install
- Use a public CryptPad instance, or self-host the Node.js service behind a reverse proxy
- setup
- Public hosting is immediate; self-hosting requires two domains or subdomains, HTTPS, strict security headers, Node.js configuration, persistent storage, and careful upgrades/backups
- your data
- Documents are encrypted in the browser before upload; the server stores encrypted document files, blobs, and account pin metadata on its filesystem and cannot read document content
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 04
WBO
open sourceAGPL-3.0+Local or hosted2.6kaug 2026Persistent collaborative boards with a free hosted instance and optional Docker; primitive libraries, refreshingly little ceremony.
The catch vs Excalidraw+WBO lacks Excalidraw's polished drawing tools, reusable libraries, file organization, export quality, and managed team workspace.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedthey host it
- install
- Use the free hosted instance, or run the Docker image/Node.js server
- setup
- None for the public instance; self-hosting needs Docker or Node.js, a persistent writable volume with the expected user ownership, backups, and a public URL/TLS
- your data
- Boards are persisted as JSON files in the server's data directory; a Docker deployment must mount that directory, while public-hosted boards live on the operator's server
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 05
tldraw
freetldrawHostedA polished free multiplayer canvas with instant sharing and no install; its code is source-available, not open source for production use.
The catch vs Excalidraw+tldraw is a different canvas ecosystem with no Excalidraw library compatibility and much less team-workspace administration than Excalidraw+.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webthey host it
- install
- Open tldraw.com in a browser; no account is required for a quick canvas
- your data
- Hosted shared canvases live in tldraw's cloud; local/offline documents use browser IndexedDB, and snapshots or .tldr JSON files can be exported
- checked
- 2026-08-10
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · Excalidraw+ open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to Excalidraw+?+
The top free alternative to Excalidraw+ is Excalidraw (open source, MIT). The same drawing engine, free: multiplayer, share links, libraries, local-first files, and end-to-end encrypted collaboration; cloud workspace management is leaner. Other popular Excalidraw+ replacements include AFFiNE, CryptPad, WBO.
Can I self-host a free replacement for Excalidraw+?+
Yes. Of the 5 free alternatives to Excalidraw+, 4 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: Excalidraw (MIT), AFFiNE (MIT), CryptPad (AGPL-3.0+), WBO (AGPL-3.0+).
Should I vibe-code or build my own Excalidraw+ clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for Excalidraw+ is YES (the core loop fits in a weekend). Excalidraw+'s solo core is compact: build a browser-based collaborative whiteboard editor with drag, resize, connect, keyboard shortcuts, autosave, and SVG or PNG export. A competent builder can reach a useful personal version in one sitting, while the paid product mainly wins on interaction polish, collaboration.
What is the catch when switching from Excalidraw+ to Excalidraw?+
The free app has the same drawing engine but lacks Excalidraw+'s persistent managed workspace, team administration, organized files, and richer collaboration history.
