Excalidraw vs Whimsical
Updated June 2026 · A structured head-to-head comparison.
Hand-drawn style whiteboard, free.
The verdict
Both Excalidraw and Whimsical are credible whiteboarding tools, and the right pick comes down to your priorities.
Choose Excalidraw if you want a higher overall rating (4.8/5). Hand-drawn style whiteboard, free.
Whimsical — Flowcharts, wireframes, and docs.
Excalidraw vs Whimsical: side by side
| Dimension | Excalidraw | Whimsical |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free – $7/mo | Free – $10/editor/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Best for | Developers, Designers | Product Teams, Designers |
| Platforms | Web, Self Hosted | Web |
| Rating | 4.8/5Winner | 4.6/5 |
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
Whimsical key facts
- Vendor
- Whimsical
- Pricing
- Freemium — Free – $10/editor/mo
- Free tier
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web
- Best for
- Product Teams, Designers
- Editor rating
- 4.6 / 5
- Founded
- 2017
- Headquarters
- San Francisco, CA, USA
Frequently asked questions
Is Excalidraw better than Whimsical?
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 Whimsical cheaper?
Excalidraw is the more affordable of the two to get started, at free – $7/mo. Excalidraw starts at free – $7/mo; Whimsical starts at free – $10/editor/mo.
Can Excalidraw replace Whimsical?
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.