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tldraw vs Excalidraw

The verdict

If you're a developer or product team looking to create applications with a robust and polished infinite canvas, tldraw is the better choice. Its real-time collaboration features and the ability to embed a React SDK for custom applications make it ideal for more intricate projects. However, keep in mind that if you're using it commercially, you'll need to pay for a license to remove watermarks.

On the other hand, if you prefer a straightforward, hand-drawn aesthetic for quick sketches or brainstorming sessions, Excalidraw is the way to go. Its open-source nature allows for self-hosting and keeping your data local, making it suitable for teams who value privacy. Just note that it’s not suited for high-fidelity designs or polished visuals; if that’s what you need, you might want to consider a different tool.

Side-by-side comparison of tldraw, Excalidraw
tldrawExcalidraw
PricingFrom USD 0Free
Platformswebweb
RatingNo reviewsNo reviews
AI assistanceNativeNot supported
API accessNativeNot supported
Offline supportNot supportedNative
Open sourceNot supportedNative
Real-time collaborationNativeLimited
SDKsNativeNot supported
Self-hostableNot supportedNative
Pros
  • Polished infinite canvas with real-time collaboration
  • Embeddable React SDK for custom canvas apps
  • The "make real" feature turns sketches into working UI
  • Strong developer documentation
  • Charming hand-drawn aesthetic that suits sketches
  • Free, open source, and self-hostable
  • Works offline; data stays local by default
  • End-to-end encrypted live collaboration
Cons
  • Source-available, not OSI open source
  • Commercial use needs a paid license to drop the watermark
  • SDK power is wasted if you only want a whiteboard
  • Intentionally low-fidelity, not for polished visuals
  • Lighter feature set than commercial canvases
  • Teams/cloud features need paid Excalidraw+
Ideal for
  • developers_building_canvas_apps
  • product_teams
  • diagramming_and_whiteboarding
  • developers_sketching_architecture
  • quick_brainstorms
  • open_source_advocates
Avoid if
  • need_a_truly_open_source_license
  • just_want_a_simple_free_sketchpad
  • need_high_fidelity_polished_diagrams
  • want_a_full_design_tool
tldraw

An infinite canvas you can build on

Visit tldraw
Excalidraw

A virtual hand-drawn whiteboard

Visit Excalidraw
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