tldraw vs Figma

The verdict

If you’re a developer looking to build custom canvas applications or a product team needing a polished infinite canvas, tldraw is your best bet. Its real-time collaboration and specialized features like the "make real" option can turn rough sketches into functioning designs, making it ideal for those focused on interactive projects. However, if you rely on truly open-source tools or just want a simple sketchpad, this tool may not be suitable for you.

On the other hand, if you're a product designer or part of a design team, Figma is the go-to choice. Its strong focus on collaborative interface design and extensive plugin ecosystem makes it superior for creating and managing design systems. However, be aware that as your team grows, editor seat costs can add up, and if you're working on lower-end machines, large files may be a challenge. Avoid this if you prefer open-source tools or need full offline functionality.

Side-by-side comparison of tldraw, Figma
	tldraw	Figma
Pricing	From USD 0	From USD 0
Platforms	web	web, mac, windows
Rating	No reviews	No reviews
AI assistance	Native	Limited
API access	Native	Native
Extensions / plugins	Not supported	Native
Real-time collaboration	Native	Native
SDKs	Native	Not supported
Templates	Not supported	Native
Version history	Not supported	Native
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	Real-time multiplayer design in the browser Strong components and design-system support Huge plugin and community-template ecosystem Prototyping and developer hand-off built in
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	Editor seats get expensive for larger teams Heavy files can strain lower-end machines Closed source
Ideal for	developers_building_canvas_apps product_teams diagramming_and_whiteboarding	product_designers design_teams cross_functional_collaboration
Avoid if	need_a_truly_open_source_license just_want_a_simple_free_sketchpad	want_an_open_source_tool need_fully_offline_work

tldraw

An infinite canvas you can build on

Visit tldraw

Figma

The collaborative interface design standard

Visit Figma

Have a specific use case? Get a tailored recommendation