Excalidraw review
A flexible open-source whiteboard with strong diagramming and self-hosting options.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Excalidraw is an open-source online whiteboard for sketching diagrams, wireframes, notes, and other visual ideas. It suits individuals, teams, developers, and organizations that want a hand-drawn visual workspace with an infinite canvas. The browser editor works without requiring an account, while web, API, and self-hosted deployment options support different workflows. Real-time collaboration, shape libraries, image support, comments, presentations, generative AI features, and shareable read-only links extend it beyond basic diagramming.
The free plan includes the full editor functions, 1 infinite scene, unlimited collaborators, PNG, SVG, and file export, libraries, and integrations with Notion, Obsidian, and other tools. A 14-day free trial is also available. The Plus plan costs $6 per user per month with monthly billing and adds unlimited scenes and folders, cloud storage, access management, edit and view sharing rights, read-only links and embeds, and presentations. This creates a clear split: the free tier covers core creation and collaboration, while Plus is aimed at users who need organized cloud workspaces and more controlled sharing.
Excalidraw fits teams that value open-source software, self-hosting, flexible exports, and a focused diagramming experience. Its npm package and integrations with Notion, Obsidian, Visual Studio Code, and npm support broader technical workflows. However, the free plan's single-scene limit can constrain ongoing projects, and workshop-oriented requirements such as verified templates and voting are not part of the offering described here. Choose Excalidraw for diagrams, wireframes, visual notes, and collaborative sketching; consider another whiteboard when structured workshop facilitation is the priority.
Excalidraw pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Open-source with web, API, and self-hosted deployment options
- Infinite canvas with real-time collaboration and hand-drawn styling
- Exports to PNG, SVG, clipboard, JSON, and files
- Where it doesn't
- Free plan is limited to 1 infinite scene
- Workshop templates and voting are not included
- Cloud storage and access controls require the Plus plan
Excalidraw fact sheet, pricing and score →
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