12 Best Excalidraw Alternatives in 2026
Quick answer
The best Excalidraw alternative is Miro — The visual collaboration and online whiteboard platform. Mural and FigJam are also strong options, depending on what you're missing in Excalidraw. Below we rank all 12 Excalidraw alternatives and explain what sets each apart.
Key takeaways
- Miro is the best all-round Excalidraw alternative for most people.
- Switch for a real reason — price, a missing feature, or workflow fit — not just for the sake of change.
- Several alternatives here have free plans, so you can try before you commit.
- The best Excalidraw alternative is whichever one fixes what made you look elsewhere.
Excalidraw is a genuinely good diagrams & whiteboard tool — but it isn't the right fit for everyone. Maybe it's the pricing, a feature you need that's missing, the learning curve, or you just want to see what else is out there.
Whatever your reason for looking, you have options. We track hundreds of diagrams & whiteboard tools on DesignBookmark, and below are the 12 best Excalidraw alternatives in 2026 — each a capable replacement rather than a pale imitation.
Every pick comes with an honest note on what it does well and who it's for, plus a quick comparison table so you can find your match fast.
Why look for a Excalidraw alternative?
Most people switch from Excalidraw for one of three reasons: price, a specific feature it's missing, or simply a workflow that fits them better.
There's nothing wrong with Excalidraw — it's popular for good reason. But "popular" doesn't mean "perfect for you." A cheaper plan, a simpler interface, a particular integration, or a different pricing model can each be reason enough to look elsewhere.
The good news is that the diagrams & whiteboard tools space is competitive, so strong alternatives exist for almost every need. The list below covers the best of them — whether you want something more powerful, more affordable, or just different.
At a glance
The 12 best picks
1
Miro
Topping our list is Miro. The visual collaboration and online whiteboard platform. Everything sits roughly where you'd expect, which makes the first session feel familiar instead of frustrating.
The team behind it ships steadily, so it keeps getting better rather than standing still. Give it a real project rather than a five-minute test — that's when its strengths actually show.
Best for: creators who care more about results than feature checklists.
Visit Miro2
Mural
Next up is Mural. A digital workspace for visual collaboration and workshops. Everything sits roughly where you'd expect, which makes the first session feel familiar instead of frustrating.
What pushes it up our list is how thoughtfully it's built — the small details add up fast. Give it a real project rather than a five-minute test — that's when its strengths actually show.
Best for: both beginners finding their feet and pros tightening an existing workflow.
Visit Mural3
FigJam
That brings us to FigJam. Figma's online whiteboard for teams to ideate together. The result is a tool you can open without thinking — about the highest compliment you can pay software like this.
The team behind it ships steadily, so it keeps getting better rather than standing still. Give it a real project rather than a five-minute test — that's when its strengths actually show.
Best for: anyone who'd rather get started than wade through documentation.
Visit FigJam4
tldraw
That brings us to tldraw. A tiny, infinite canvas whiteboard SDK and app. In practice, that means less time wrestling with setup and more time doing the work that matters.
Where it really shines is reliability: it does what it promises, release after release. No tool is flawless, but the trade-offs here feel reasonable for what you get.
Best for: people building a lean, modern diagrams & whiteboard tools setup from scratch.
Visit tldraw5
Whimsical
Don't overlook Whimsical. Flowcharts, wireframes, mind maps and docs in one place. It keeps the interface clean and the core workflow front and center, so you're productive almost right away.
The team behind it ships steadily, so it keeps getting better rather than standing still. Give it a real project rather than a five-minute test — that's when its strengths actually show.
Best for: anyone who'd rather get started than wade through documentation.
Visit Whimsical6
Lucidchart
Lucidchart is another one worth your time. Intelligent diagramming for flowcharts and architecture. In practice, that means less time wrestling with setup and more time doing the work that matters.
It earns its place by being genuinely useful day to day, not just impressive in a quick demo. No tool is flawless, but the trade-offs here feel reasonable for what you get.
Best for: people building a lean, modern diagrams & whiteboard tools setup from scratch.
Visit Lucidchart7
draw.io
Don't overlook draw.io. Free, open-source diagramming for any kind of chart. It covers the fundamentals properly before reaching for anything flashy, and that focus pays off daily.
It earns its place by being genuinely useful day to day, not just impressive in a quick demo. No tool is flawless, but the trade-offs here feel reasonable for what you get.
Best for: solo creators and small teams who value speed over endless configuration.
Visit draw.io8
Eraser
Eraser is another one worth your time. The whiteboard for engineering teams — diagrams as code. Everything sits roughly where you'd expect, which makes the first session feel familiar instead of frustrating.
What pushes it up our list is how thoughtfully it's built — the small details add up fast. Give it a real project rather than a five-minute test — that's when its strengths actually show.
Best for: both beginners finding their feet and pros tightening an existing workflow.
Visit Eraser9
Mermaid
Mermaid is another one worth your time. Create diagrams and charts from text and code. It keeps the interface clean and the core workflow front and center, so you're productive almost right away.
Its biggest strength is focus — it solves its core problem better than most of the alternatives. It won't be the perfect fit for everyone, but if its approach clicks with you, it's hard to give up.
Best for: creators who care more about results than feature checklists.
Visit Mermaid10
Creately
Creately is another one worth your time. A visual workspace for diagrams, whiteboards and data. In practice, that means less time wrestling with setup and more time doing the work that matters.
Its biggest strength is focus — it solves its core problem better than most of the alternatives. Give it a real project rather than a five-minute test — that's when its strengths actually show.
Best for: both beginners finding their feet and pros tightening an existing workflow.
Visit Creately11
Milanote
Milanote has quietly become a favorite among diagrams & whiteboard tools users. Organize your creative projects on a flexible canvas. It keeps the interface clean and the core workflow front and center, so you're productive almost right away.
The team behind it ships steadily, so it keeps getting better rather than standing still. Give it a real project rather than a five-minute test — that's when its strengths actually show.
Best for: anyone who'd rather get started than wade through documentation.
Visit Milanote12
FlowMapp
Don't overlook FlowMapp. A visual UX planning tool for sitemaps and user flows. It keeps the interface clean and the core workflow front and center, so you're productive almost right away.
It earns its place by being genuinely useful day to day, not just impressive in a quick demo. Like any tool, it rewards a little time spent learning it, after which it mostly gets out of your way.
Best for: anyone who wants a dependable default they won't have to second-guess.
Visit FlowMapp
How they compare
| # | Tool | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miro | creators who care more about results than feature checklists |
| 2 | Mural | both beginners finding their feet and pros tightening an existing workflow |
| 3 | FigJam | anyone who'd rather get started than wade through documentation |
| 4 | tldraw | people building a lean, modern diagrams & whiteboard tools setup from scratch |
| 5 | Whimsical | anyone who'd rather get started than wade through documentation |
| 6 | Lucidchart | people building a lean, modern diagrams & whiteboard tools setup from scratch |
| 7 | draw.io | solo creators and small teams who value speed over endless configuration |
| 8 | Eraser | both beginners finding their feet and pros tightening an existing workflow |
| 9 | Mermaid | creators who care more about results than feature checklists |
| 10 | Creately | both beginners finding their feet and pros tightening an existing workflow |
| 11 | Milanote | anyone who'd rather get started than wade through documentation |
| 12 | FlowMapp | anyone who wants a dependable default they won't have to second-guess |
How to choose
It fits how you already work
The best diagrams & whiteboard tools slot into your existing routine instead of forcing a new one. Look for sensible defaults, integrations with the apps you already use, and a workflow that feels obvious within the first few minutes.
Honest, predictable pricing
Free trials are nice, but check what happens after. A clear free tier or a fair flat price beats a cheap plan that locks the features you actually need behind a much higher one. Always click through to confirm current pricing — plans change often.
It's actively maintained
A tool is only as good as the team behind it. Recent updates, a responsive changelog, and an active community are strong signals that a tool will still be around — and still improving — a year from now.
It does one thing really well
Be wary of tools that try to do everything. The picks that last tend to be focused: they solve a specific problem better than anything else, and they play nicely with the rest of your stack.
How we picked
Every tool in this guide is part of the curated DesignBookmark directory, where we track hundreds of diagrams & whiteboard tools and keep only the ones genuinely worth recommending. We prioritize tools that are useful day to day, actively maintained, and trusted by the design and developer community — not just whatever launched most recently. Rankings favor the strongest all-rounders first, and we refresh this guide as new tools appear and others change.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Excalidraw alternative?+
For most people, Miro is the best all-round Excalidraw alternative — it's the first pick above. Mural is also excellent and may suit you better depending on your needs. The right choice comes down to why you're leaving Excalidraw in the first place.
Is there a free Excalidraw alternative?+
Yes — several alternatives on this list offer a free plan or free tier, including tools like Miro, Mural, FigJam. Free plans usually cover solo use or smaller projects. Click through to each to check current pricing, since plans change often.
Is Miro better than Excalidraw?+
It depends on what you need. Miro is a popular switch from Excalidraw and stands out on its own merits, but Excalidraw still has real strengths. The best way to decide is to try Miro on a real project and see if it fits how you work.
Why do people switch from Excalidraw?+
Usually for one of three reasons: pricing, a missing feature, or a workflow that suits them better. The alternatives above each address at least one of those — so start with whichever matches your reason for looking.
How was this list of Excalidraw alternatives chosen?+
Every alternative here is part of the curated DesignBookmark directory, drawn from the same category as Excalidraw and ranked with the strongest all-rounders first. We favor tools that are useful day to day and actively maintained, and we refresh the list as the space changes.
The bottom line
The bottom line: Miro is the Excalidraw alternative we'd try first — it's the most well-rounded option here. But the best alternative is the one that fixes whatever made you look beyond Excalidraw. Skim the 12 picks above, try one or two, and switch with confidence.