can i fork it?

🧑‍🏫 whiteboards · 3 paid apps · 5 free alternatives

Free alternatives to
whiteboards software.

We indexed 3 paid whiteboards subscriptions costing $10/mo ($120/yr) combined and mapped them to 5 genuinely free and open-source alternatives.

Paid whiteboards Apps vs Top Free Alternatives

3 SaaS bills you can cancel

Paid SaaS AppMonthly PriceVibe-Code VerdictTop Free / Open-Source Replacements
Excalidraw+variesweekend build
Lucidsparkvariescore only · fork it
Miro$10/mocore only · fork it

Top Free & Open-Source whiteboards Tools

5 distinct tools · sorted by coverage & stars

Excalidraw
open sourceMITLocal or hosted★ 124k

The same drawing engine, free: multiplayer, share links, libraries, local-first files, and end-to-end encrypted collaboration; cloud workspace management is leaner.

Replaces: Excalidraw+, Lucidspark, Miro
CryptPad
open sourceAGPL-3.0+Local or hosted★ 7.8k

A persistent encrypted drive with collaborative whiteboards, folders, sharing, and access controls; less delightful drawing, stronger workspace bones.

Replaces: Excalidraw+, Lucidspark, Miro
WBO
open sourceAGPL-3.0+Local or hosted★ 2.6k

Persistent collaborative boards with a free hosted instance and optional Docker; primitive libraries, refreshingly little ceremony.

Replaces: Excalidraw+, Lucidspark, Miro
AFFiNE
freeMITLocal or hosted★ $0 forever

Notion and a whiteboard had one child, then let it keep files locally.

Replaces: Excalidraw+, Lucidspark, Miro
tldraw
freetldrawHosted★ $0 forever

A polished free multiplayer canvas with instant sharing and no install; its code is source-available, not open source for production use.

Replaces: Excalidraw+, Lucidspark, Miro

whiteboards Open-Source FAQ

What are the best free alternatives to whiteboards paid tools?+

The top free alternatives to whiteboards software are Excalidraw, CryptPad, WBO, AFFiNE. Across this category, there are 5 verified free tools (3 open source) that replace 3 paid SaaS products.

Which paid whiteboards apps can be replaced with free alternatives?+

You can replace Excalidraw+, Lucidspark, Miro using free and self-hostable alternatives, saving up to $10/mo ($120/yr) in combined subscription fees.

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