Your search for an Excalidraw alternative ends here

Excalidraw is an open-source drawing tool with a distinctive hand-drawn aesthetic and an infinite canvas. It has gained popularity among developers and technical teams for its lightweight feel, keyboard shortcuts, and the ability to create quick diagrams and wireframes with a sketch-like appearance. The open-source nature means it can be self-hosted, and there is a thriving library of community-created components. However, the free version stores everything locally in your browser, meaning your work can be lost if you clear your cache or switch devices.

Excalidraw is best suited for developers and technical teams who enjoy the hand-drawn visual style and want a lightweight tool for creating diagrams, architecture sketches, and technical illustrations. If you appreciate open-source software and are comfortable with local storage or willing to pay for Excalidraw Plus for cloud features, it is a capable tool for its niche.

Jotboard stores all boards in the cloud automatically, so your work is always safe and accessible from any device. Instead of the hand-drawn style that Excalidraw enforces, Jotboard offers a clean, professional look that works for any context — from business presentations to classroom lessons. The slide-based approach helps you organize your content into logical sections, and with real-time collaboration, up to 5 free collaborators, Google sign-in, and PDF import and export, Jotboard provides a more complete and reliable whiteboarding experience without requiring any technical setup.