Excalidraw
Virtual whiteboard — hand-drawn diagrams, real-time collaboration.
MIT-licensed alternative to Miro with E2EE collaboration, component library, and export to PNG/SVG/JSON. React npm package for embedding.
Figma is the dominant proprietary design and prototyping tool, run entirely in Figma's cloud. It's the industry standard for UI design, but files live on Figma's servers, seat-based pricing adds up for larger teams, and there's no self-hosted option.
Excalidraw isn't a full Figma replacement for high-fidelity UI design — it's a virtual whiteboard for hand-drawn-style diagrams and quick collaborative sketching. It's worth reaching for when what you actually need is fast, informal visual collaboration rather than pixel-precise interface design.
FAQ
Is there a free, open-source alternative to Figma?
Excalidraw is open source (MIT) and free to self-host, though it's built for whiteboarding and sketching rather than detailed UI design work.
What's the best open-source alternative to Figma?
For real-time collaborative sketching and diagramming, Excalidraw is a strong open-source pick. For full UI design fidelity matching Figma itself, open-source options remain limited.
What are the top open-source alternatives to Figma?
Browse all open-source alternatives to Figma above, or explore the full Communication & Community category for more options.