Excalidraw vs tldraw
Updated June 2026 · A structured head-to-head comparison.
Hand-drawn style whiteboard, free.
The verdict
Both Excalidraw and tldraw are credible whiteboarding tools, and the right pick comes down to your priorities.
Excalidraw — Hand-drawn style whiteboard, free.
tldraw — An infinite canvas for everyone.
Excalidraw vs tldraw: side by side
| Dimension | Excalidraw | tldraw |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free – $7/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Open source |
| Best for | Developers, Designers | Developers, Designers |
| Platforms | Web, Self Hosted | Web |
| Rating | 4.8/5 | 4.7/5 |
Excalidraw key facts
- Vendor
- Excalidraw
- Pricing
- Freemium — Free – $7/mo
- Free tier
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web, Self Hosted
- Best for
- Developers, Designers
- Editor rating
- 4.8 / 5
- Founded
- 2020
- Headquarters
- Open source
tldraw key facts
- Vendor
- tldraw
- Pricing
- Open source — Free
- Free tier
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web
- Best for
- Developers, Designers
- Editor rating
- 4.7 / 5
- Founded
- 2021
- Headquarters
- Remote
Frequently asked questions
Is Excalidraw better than tldraw?
Neither is universally better — Excalidraw edges ahead on overall rating, but the best choice depends on price, platforms, and your use case. See the side-by-side table above.
Is Excalidraw or tldraw cheaper?
Excalidraw is the more affordable of the two to get started, at free – $7/mo. Excalidraw starts at free – $7/mo; tldraw starts at free.
Can Excalidraw replace tldraw?
Yes for most teams — both are whiteboarding tools with heavily overlapping features. The main trade-offs are pricing and platform support, covered in the comparison above.