1.Excalidraw
DesignNewFree
Best for: Quick diagrams with a hand-drawn look
Boxes, arrows and notes that look like they came off a napkin. Share a link to draw together, and export PNG or SVG. Free.
Installable
Free online whiteboards and diagram tools
By the Linkstore editors · Updated · 10 apps
A whiteboard is for thinking, and a diagram tool is for explaining. Some apps do both. The difference matters: a loose canvas is faster when you're working an idea out, and a structured tool saves time when the drawing has to be right.
Everything here opens in a tab, and most are free for one person.
The picks at a glance
- 1ExcalidrawQuick diagrams with a hand-drawn look
- 2
tldrawAn infinite canvas that keeps up - 3
MiroWorkshops and team planning - 4
AFFiNENotes and a canvas on one page - 5
draw.ioFree flowcharts and architecture diagrams
- 6
WhimsicalFast flowcharts and wireframes - 7
LucidchartOrg charts and process diagrams for teams
- 8
Mermaid ChartWriting diagrams as code
- 9
EraserEngineering docs with diagrams
- 10
NapkinTurning notes into visuals
Sketch and think
2.tldraw
DesignNewFree
Best for: An infinite canvas that keeps up
Draw, write and arrange on a canvas that's multiplayer by default, with a tidy set of shapes. Free.
Installable
3.Miro
ProductivityNewFreemium
Best for: Workshops and team planning
Brainstorms, user journeys and sprint planning on a shared board with sticky notes and templates.
4.AFFiNE
ProductivityNewFreemium
Best for: Notes and a canvas on one page
A document and an infinite canvas side by side, synced between devices.
Diagrams that need to be right
5.draw.io
DesignNewFree
Best for: Free flowcharts and architecture diagrams
Flowcharts, architecture diagrams and wireframes, saved to Google Drive, GitHub or your computer. Free, nothing to install.
Installable
6.Whimsical
ProductivityNewFreemium
Best for: Fast flowcharts and wireframes
Sensible defaults, so lines snap into place and you keep thinking about the idea.
7.Lucidchart
DesignNewFreemium
Best for: Org charts and process diagrams for teams
Structured diagrams with templates for processes, systems and networks.
Diagrams from text
8.Mermaid Chart
Developer ToolsNewFreemium
Best for: Writing diagrams as code
Write Mermaid syntax and see the diagram drawn as you type, with a visual editor when you'd rather drag.
9.Eraser
DesignNewFreemium
Best for: Engineering docs with diagrams
A Markdown doc and diagrams you can describe in text, so architecture notes live next to the drawing.
10.Napkin
ProductivityNewFreemium
Best for: Turning notes into visuals
Paste a paragraph and it suggests diagrams and graphics you can restyle and export.
How we picked
We picked from the whiteboard and diagram apps on Linkstore, each checked by a person, and grouped them by how you work. Prices and ratings come from the listings. Nobody paid to be in this guide, and sponsored apps get no special place in it.
Compare the top picks
Price, ratings and features side by side.
