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Comparison · Whiteboard and diagramming tools

Excalidraw vs tldraw: which is better in 2026?

Excalidraw87.5#4 in best whiteboard and diagramming toolstldraw82.0#7 in best whiteboard and diagramming tools

Excalidraw ranks higher in our list of whiteboard and diagramming tools (#4 against #7, score 87.5 against 82.0).

How we rank Share

  • 87.5
    Editorial score
    82.0
  • 1
    Platforms
    1
  • Yes
    Free to use
    Yes
  • Yes
    Open source
    No

Which should you choose?

Choose Excalidraw if you want

Open-source sketches and early architecture ideas.

Open-source MIT whiteboard with a hand-drawn style that suits early sketches. It has fewer templates and workshop features than Miro or FigJam.

Choose tldraw if you want

Quick free whiteboards and canvas apps for developers.

A free, sign-up-free whiteboard that runs in any browser, plus a React SDK for developers. Its code is under tldraw's own license rather than an open-source one, so it ranks below the open-source tools.

The main differences

  • Excalidraw is open source; tldraw is not.

Side by side

Excalidrawtldraw
Score87.582.0
Rank in list#4 of 10#7 of 10
PriceFree and open sourceFree and open source under MITFree plan, paid upgradesFree whiteboard at tldraw.com; SDK licensing is separate
Free to useYesYes
Open sourceYesNo
PlatformsWebWebWebWeb
Made byNot statedNot stated
Main useHand-drawn sketchesInfinite canvas whiteboard
Best forOpen-source sketches and early architecture ideasQuick free whiteboards and canvas apps for developers
Strengths
  • Open source under the MIT license
  • Hand-drawn style suits early sketches
  • Runs in a browser at excalidraw.com
  • Free whiteboard that needs no sign-up
  • Works in browsers on mobile, tablet and desktop
  • React SDK for building canvas features
Limits
  • Fewer templates and workshop features than Miro
  • Less suited to large, formal diagram sets
  • Source is under tldraw's own license, not an open-source license
  • Some SDK uses need a separate license from tldraw
LinksVisit site Visit site

Questions about Excalidraw vs tldraw

Is Excalidraw better than tldraw?
Excalidraw ranks higher in our list of whiteboard and diagramming tools (#4 against #7, score 87.5 against 82.0). Excalidraw is best for: open-source sketches and early architecture ideas. tldraw is best for: quick free whiteboards and canvas apps for developers.
Which is cheaper, Excalidraw or tldraw?
Excalidraw: Free and open source under MIT. tldraw: Free whiteboard at tldraw.com; SDK licensing is separate.
Do Excalidraw and tldraw run on the same platforms?
Excalidraw supports Web. tldraw supports Web.

Choosing between the two

Learning Center
1:17Beginner · 4 min readHow to decide between two good optionsSettle a close call by sorting it by how hard it is to undo, setting a deadline, scoring the criteria as a tie-breaker and writing down why you chose.1:20Beginner · 6 min readHow to compare products fairly: what to keep in mindDefine the job, cap the must-haves, compare like with like, count total cost over one period and weigh the criteria. Includes a worked example.

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