Excalidraw AlternativesDiagram Editors & Mind Mapping Tools like Excalidraw

Excalidraw is described as 'Open-source whiteboard tool that lets you easily sketch diagrams that have a hand-drawn feel to them. Available directly online as a web app and also through CodeSandbox to easily see how the code works, and the app vailable for self-hosting' and is a popular Diagram Editor in the photos & graphics category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Excalidraw for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Web-based, Linux and Android apps. The best Excalidraw alternative is draw.io, which is free. Other great apps like Excalidraw are Xournal++, LibreOffice - Draw, Dia and DeepNotes.

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Excalidraw alternatives are mainly Diagram Editors but may also be Mind Mapping Tools or Note-taking Tools.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Excalidraw.
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Excalidraw is an open-source whiteboard tool that lets you easily sketch diagrams that have a hand-drawn feel to them. Available directly online as a web app and also through CodeSandbox to easily see how the code works,...

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Excalidraw alternatives page was last updated Apr 19, 2025
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Alternatives
  1. Lucidchart icon
    Sponsored

    Lucidchart is a cloud-based platform that promotes teamwork through diagramming, collaboration, and data visualization. It serves millions worldwide, offering flowcharts, UML, real-time collaboration, Visio support, and browser access. Designed for innovation and understanding, it integrates easily into workflows.

    48 Lucidchart alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)

    Top Lucidchart Features

    1.  Real time collaboration
    2.  Flow Chart
    3.  Web-Based
    4.  Export to PDF
    5.  General-purpose diagramming
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Support for @mentions
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  AI-Powered
    10.  Charts
    11.  Scalable UI
    12.  Online collaboration
  2. draw.io icon
     977 likes
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    Feature-rich diagram editor offering privacy-focused, ad-free experience with real-time collaboration, offline usage, dark mode, and cloud storage support. No registration required and compatible with various diagram formats, it excels in simplicity by not tracking user data.

    122 draw.io alternatives

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Chrome OS
    • Notion
    • Self-Hosted
    • Microsoft SharePoint
    • Microsoft OneDrive
    • PortableApps.com
    • Google Drive
    • Google Docs
    • Microsoft Teams
    • Google Slides
    • Google Sheets

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Flow Chart
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  Export to PDF
    4.  Mind Mapping
    5.  Web-Based
    6.  Sync with Google Drive
    7.  Multiple export options
    8.  Export to SVG
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Interior Design
    11.  Ad-free
    12.  Single Line Diagram

    draw.io VS Excalidraw

     
    • draw.io is the most popular Web-based, Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Excalidraw.

    • draw.io is the most popular free alternative to Excalidraw.

    • draw.io is Free and ProprietaryExcalidraw is Freemium and Open Source
  3. Xournal++ icon
     169 likes
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    Xournal++ (a fork of Xournal) is a handwriting Notetaking software with PDF annotation support. Written in C++ with platform independent GTK, supporting Linux, e.g. Ubuntu, Debian, Arch, Suse, macOS and Windows 10. Supports Pen input like Wacom Tablets.

    51 Xournal++ alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Top Xournal++ Features

    1.  Handwritten Notes
    2.  PDF annotation
    3.  Support for styluses
    4.  Handwriting
    5.  Export to PDF
    6.  Works Offline
    7.  LaTeX Math
    8.  Pen Support
    9.  Pressure Sensitivity
    10.  Freehand Writing
    11.  Multi layer drawing
    12.  Audio with notes

    Xournal++ VS Excalidraw

     
    • Xournal++ is the most popular Open Source alternative to Excalidraw.

    • Xournal++ is Free and Open SourceExcalidraw is Freemium and Open Source
  4. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Draw lets you produce anything from a quick sketch to a complex plan, and gives you the means to communicate with graphics and diagrams. With a maximum page size of 300cm by 300cm, Draw is a an excellent package for producing technical drawings, general posters, and much else.

    95 LibreOffice - Draw alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PortableApps.com
    • Flathub

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Export to PDF
    2.  Portable
    3.  Sequence Diagrams
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Support for Layers
    6.  Works Offline
    7.  No registration required
    8.  Auto Layout
    9.  WYSIWYG Support
    10.  RAW Photo Editors
    11.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    12.  Import CSV Data

    LibreOffice - Draw VS Excalidraw

     
  5. Dia icon
     451 likes
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    Dia is a GTK+ based diagram creation program for Linux, Unix, Mac OS X and Windows released under the GPL license.

    94 Dia alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • PortableApps.com
    • FreeBSD
    • Xfce
    • DragonFly BSD
    • NetBSD
    • OpenBSD

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Flow Chart
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  Workflow
    4.  WYSIWYG Support
    5.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions

    Dia VS Excalidraw

     
  6. DeepNotes icon
     37 likes
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    DeepNotes is an open source, end-to-end encrypted visual note-taking app with deep page navigation and live collaboration. Create mind maps, diagrams, kanban boards, among others. Infinite nesting of infinite canvases.

    56 DeepNotes alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  Scrum Boards
    3.  Two-factor Authentication
    4. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX
    5.  Visual Pinboard
    6.  Syntax Highlighting
    7.  Encrypted Backup
    8.  WYSIWYG Support
    9.  Cloud Sync
    10.  End-to-End Encryption
    11.  Unlimited storage
    12.  No Tracking

    DeepNotes VS Excalidraw

     
    • DeepNotes is the most popular Android, iPhone, iPad, SaaS & Android Tablet alternative to Excalidraw.

    • DeepNotes is Freemium and Open SourceExcalidraw is also Freemium and Open Source
    • DeepNotes is Privacy focusedExcalidraw is not according to our users
  7. Miro icon
     111 likes
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    A secure collaboration platform for distributed teams offering real-time and asynchronous capabilities, infinite canvas, integrations with major tools like Google Suite, Slack, and Dropbox, and features for enhanced product development and design workflows.

    99 Miro alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)

    Top Miro Features

    1.  Real time collaboration
    2.  Team Collaboration
    3.  Interactive Whiteboard
    4.  Prototyping
    5.  Mind Map view
    6.  Mind Mapping
    7.  Shared whiteboard
    8.  Visual planning
    9.  Kanban Board
    10.  Online collaboration
    11.  AI-Powered
    12.  Brainstorming

    Miro VS Excalidraw

     
  8. Lucidchart icon
     535 likes
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    Lucidchart is a cloud-based platform that promotes teamwork through diagramming, collaboration, and data visualization. It serves millions worldwide, offering flowcharts, UML, real-time collaboration, Visio support, and browser access. Designed for innovation and understanding, it integrates easily into workflows.

    48 Lucidchart alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)

    Top Lucidchart Features

    1.  Real time collaboration
    2.  Flow Chart
    3.  Web-Based
    4.  Export to PDF
    5.  General-purpose diagramming
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Support for @mentions
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  AI-Powered
    10.  Charts
    11.  Scalable UI
    12.  Online collaboration

    Lucidchart VS Excalidraw

     
  9. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    OpenBoard is a cross-platform (Linux / Windows / macOS) interactive whiteboard application. It is currently maintained by the Education Department (DIP) of the Canton of Geneva in Switzerland.

    87 OpenBoard Whiteboard alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Educational

    Features

    1.  Interactive Whiteboard
    2.  Handwritten Notes
    3.  Fullscreen support
    4.  Freeform notes
    5.  Pressure Sensitivity
    6.  Pencil
    7.  Dark Mode
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  Real time collaboration
    10.  Handwriting
    11.  Dual screen support
    12.  Export to PDF

    OpenBoard Whiteboard VS Excalidraw

     
  10. Microsoft Visio icon
     250 likes
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    Create data-connected diagrams with real-time collaboration as part of the Office Suite. Ideal for IT and business professionals, it visualizes complex info with ease, providing intuitive tools for diagramming, mind mapping, and vector graphics.

    119 Microsoft Visio alternatives

    License model

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Microsoft Visio Features

    1.  Real time collaboration
    2.  Flow Chart
    3.  Workflow
    4.  Brainstorming

    Microsoft Visio VS Excalidraw

     
    • Microsoft Visio is the most popular commercial alternative to Excalidraw.

    • Microsoft Visio is Paid and ProprietaryExcalidraw is Freemium and Open Source
  11. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Butterfly is a note app where your ideas come first. You can paint, add texts, and export them easily on every device. This app works on android, windows, linux, and in the web.

    41 Linwood Butterfly alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • Self-Hosted
    • F-Droid
    • Flathub
    • Snapcraft
    • AltStore
    • iPhone

    Properties

    1.  Distraction-free
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Lightweight
    4.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  No Tracking
    3.  Handwritten Notes
    4.  No registration required
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Works Offline
    7.  End-to-End Encryption
    8.  Portable
    9.  Cloud Sync
    10.  Decentralized
    11.  Handwriting
    12.  Built-in Note Taker

    Linwood Butterfly VS Excalidraw

     
  12. LimanDoc icon
     10 likes
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    LimanDoc is a simple yet powerful tool for visualize files, diagrams, and construct a mind map with the possibility to edit Markdown text. It is an offline first desktop app with a 2D canvas that allows a preview of the inner folders (boards).

    33 LimanDoc alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    LimanDoc Features

    1.  Works Offline
    2.  Support for MarkDown
    3.  PDF support
    4.  Cross-Platform
    5.  Infinite canvas
    6.  Infinite hierarchical depth
    7.  Unlimited Canvas Area
    8.  Flow diagram visualisation

    LimanDoc VS Excalidraw

     
  13. PlantUML icon
     115 likes
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    PlantUML is an open-source tool that uses simple textual descriptions to draw UML diagrams. The generator can be run anywhere within JVM and integrated with various application such as wiki, text editor, IDE, programming language, documentation generator, and others.

    115 PlantUML alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • FR flagFrance
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • Chrome OS

    PlantUML Features

    1.  Text Based Format
    2.  Portable
    3.  Java based
    4.  VCS Friendly
    5.  Support for MarkDown
    6.  Workflow
    7.  Rendering
    8.  Create UML entities
    9.  Flow Chart

    PlantUML VS Excalidraw

     
13 of 74 Excalidraw alternatives