Free alternatives to Excalidraw+
1 free program that can replace Excalidraw+, a pairing checked by Radar's AI reviewer or by Radar.
Excalidraw+ is the paid, online version of a well-known whiteboard-style drawing tool. People use it to sketch diagrams, wireframes and quick explanations, alone or together with a team. Because it is a subscription service, your drawings and shared workspace are kept on the vendor's servers, and that is the first thing to plan for when you leave.
Before switching, check these points:
- Whether you can export your drawings as images, vector files or the tool's own format, and open them again later.
- Whether teammates and clients can still view and edit what you share, or will only receive exported pictures.
- Whether you depend on shared workspaces, saved libraries of shapes or live editing, which a free option may need you to set up yourself.
- How much of your work is loose, hand-drawn sketching and how much needs strict diagram symbols.
The list below shows the open-source options for this need, including Excalidraw and draw.io Desktop.
| Program | Ease | You need | Risk signals | Stars | Downloads this week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExcalidrawDraw diagrams, sketches and screen layouts in your browser in a hand-drawn style, and share the same board with other people. | Ease Adownload and open · Web | Nothing extra | Few signals | 134,938+322 in 5 days | 34 |
Frequently asked questions
Which free alternative to Excalidraw+ is the easiest to install?
Excalidraw is the only option, with ease rating A (download and open · Web).
Is there a free alternative to Excalidraw+ for Windows, Mac and Linux?
Windows: none yet. macOS: none yet. Linux: none yet.
Are the alternatives to Excalidraw+ really free?
Excalidraw depends on a paid service or key for some features.
How can I tell whether an alternative is trustworthy?
Each card shows the risk signals found, with the evidence. Excalidraw has no signal rated attention or high. See also the guide How to find a GitHub project's official repository and avoid fake copies.