Excalidraw vs Miro
Side-by-side comparison to help you pick the right tool.
| Excalidraw | Miro | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | Open-source whiteboard that produces hand-drawn-style diagrams. | Online collaborative whiteboard for brainstorming and diagramming. |
| Category | Design Illustration | Design Illustration |
| Pricing | Free | Freemium |
| Skill Level | Beginner | Beginner |
| Platforms | Web, Browser | Web, Browser, Windows, Mac, Ios, Android |
| Use Cases | Solo Indie, Small Team, Side Project, Collaboration | Small Team, Collaboration, Client Work, Solo Indie |
| Traits | Open Source, Has Free Tier, Offline Capable, Fast To Set Up | Has Free Tier, Fast To Set Up, Active Development |
| Best For | Best for developers and technical teams who need quick, clean architecture diagrams and wireframes without installing anything. | Best for remote teams who need a shared visual space for workshops, sprint planning, journey mapping, and async collaboration. |
Excalidraw
Excalidraw is a free, open-source virtual whiteboard tool available in the browser as a progressive web app (PWA) with a distinctive hand-drawn aesthetic. It requires no account to use — open excalidraw.com and draw immediately. It supports real-time collaboration via shared links, exporting diagrams as SVG or PNG, and an extensive library of community-contributed shapes. As a PWA, it works offline after the first load. The open-source codebase is actively maintained and can be self-hosted or embedded in other applications. Excalidraw is used by developers and technical teams who need quick, clean architecture diagrams, system design sketches, and wireframes with a low-friction, no-setup workflow that any team member can access from a link.
View detailsMiro
Miro is an online collaborative whiteboard platform available on web, Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, providing an infinite canvas for brainstorming, diagramming, workshop facilitation, and visual collaboration. Teams use sticky notes, mind maps, flowcharts, wireframe templates, voting widgets, and timer tools to run remote workshops, sprint retrospectives, journey mapping sessions, and product planning. Miro integrates with Jira, Asana, Figma, Slack, and Google Workspace. The free tier provides three editable boards; paid plans remove limits and add facilitation features. Miro is the most widely used digital whiteboard for remote and distributed teams, replacing the physical whiteboard for teams who work across multiple offices or time zones.
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