Online whiteboards are ideal tools for collaboration in your team. They bring employees together across the boundaries of offices, departments or remote workstations.
There are numerous alternatives for a tool such as Excalidraw, as the hand-drawn character of the presentation is not always the best way to present it in a professional environment. These alternatives retain the creative character but offer a more precise display method and are sometimes better positioned regarding data protection and security.
In this article, we will introduce you to various Excalidraw alternatives and provide an overview of their functions, advantages, and disadvantages. Click here to go directly to the providers.
Important Decision Criteria when Choosing the Best Online Whiteboard
When looking for a suitable Excalidraw alternative, it is important to compare the following functions and features of the providers:
When looking for a suitable Excalidraw alternative, it is important to compare the following functions and features of the providers:
- Security: High standards such as end-to-end encryption, GDPR-compliant storage, and detailed access control
- Functionality and ease of use: real-time editing, diagrams, mind mapping, flexible permissions, and templates. An intuitive user interface with drag-and-drop and fast response is crucial.
- Flexibility and integration: Seamless integration into tools such as Microsoft Teams or Slack and cross-platform use on different devices.
- Collaboration: Real-time collaboration, role management, comment functions, release options, timers and version control support productive work.
- Value for money: Flexible pricing models that meet different user needs.
The Best Excalidraw Alternatives
1, Collaboard: The Solution for Data Protection and Security
Collaboard is an excellent alternative to Excalidraw, especially for organizations with high-security requirements, such as public administrations or universities. Thanks to end-to-end encryption and data storage on European servers, it meets the strict requirements of the GDPR and, therefore, offers a high level of data protection.
In addition to security, Collaboard impresses with its extensive functions:
- Infinitely large whiteboard canvas: with sticky notes, shapes, digital pens, lines, etc.
- Real-time collaboration: several users can work on the whiteboard simultaneously.
- Extensive visualization tools: Mindmaps, Kanban boards, flowcharts and more.
- User-friendliness: Intuitive user interface that is easy to learn and operate.
- Security functions: Encryption, detailed access controls and European server locations.
- Flexible hosting options: GDPR-compliant cloud and on-premises hosting are possible.
Collaboard supports creative work processes without being too playful. It is a flexible platform that can be seamlessly integrated into existing workflows and meets the highest security standards.
Disadvantages of Collaboard:
- Costs: Collaboard offers a permanent free version, but some of the more advanced functions are only available in higher-priced models. Smaller teams with a limited budget should, therefore, test it first (free of charge) and evaluate the range of functions for themselves.
- Diagram tools: Some tools offer specialized diagramming tools for specific use cases. These are not available in Collaboard.
Miro: A Comprehensive Collaboration Platform
Miro is considered one of the leading visual platforms and supports teams with a wide range of functions and benefits:
- Main functions: Endless canvas, mind mapping, prototyping, wireframing and many templates.
- Integration: Connections to tools such as Slack, Jira, Trello, Google Workspace and Microsoft Teams.
- Security: SOC-2, PCI compliance as well as SSO, SSL encryption and extended user management.
- User-friendliness: Quick access to the interface for experienced users and a wide range of templates.
- Collaboration: real-time synchronization, comment function, voting and screen sharing.
Disadvantages of Miro:
- Costs: Premium functions and large teams cost more
- Offline use: Numerous functions are only available with an active Internet connection.
- Complexity: New users may be overwhelmed by the variety of functions.
Mural: For Creative Working Teams
As an Excalidraw alternative, Mural is deliberately designed for creative teams and offers special features for design thinking and the development of innovative ideas:
- Brainstorming tools: Templates and tools for brainstorming.
- Design Thinking: Functions to support design thinking processes.
- Real-time collaboration: Simultaneous editing and feedback in real time.
- Security features: Multiple security standards, including GDPR as well as CCPA compliance.
Disadvantages of Mural:
- Learning curve: Getting started requires a longer training period for newer users
- Prices: Extended functions such as single sign-on (SSO) are only available at the highest price level.
Microsoft Whiteboard: Within the Microsoft Environment
A whiteboard is also available specifically for working within the Microsoft 365 environment. Basic functions can be used here and work can be done visually to a certain extent. The advantages are therefore primarily within the ecosystem:
- Seamless integration: The whiteboard is fully integrated into Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Teams. This makes it easy to exchange data with the familiar Excel, Word and other applications.
- Ease of use: Microsoft focuses on easy access and offers templates and real-time collaboration.
- Cost-effectiveness: The whiteboard is included in most Microsoft 365 subscriptions and is therefore a cost-effective alternative to Excalidraw, provided the functions are sufficient.
- Security: Many security features and compliance standards are offered (incl. GDPR conformity and SOC 2)
Disadvantages of Microsoft Whiteboard:
- Limited range of functions: Microsoft cannot keep up with specialized whiteboard tools, especially for more complex projects.
- Performance issues: There are some user reports of latency when drawing and moving objects.
- Lack of offline functionality: An active Internet connection is mandatory at all times.
Stormboard: Visual Collaboration
Stormboard focuses on the functions for brainstorming, project planning and problem solving. Tools for optimizing work processes are also available.
- Data-oriented: The collection and organization of data is one of Stormboard's great strengths. Teams are able to organize data in real time and feed it into projects.
- Templates: Users will find templates for a wide range of use cases (brainstorming, project planning, workshops)
- Operation: Stormboard is known for its user-friendliness. The interface allows you to work intuitively and quickly become productive.
- Security: Enterprise-grade security is offered (including GDPR compliance and single sign-on).
Disadvantages of Stormboard:
- Limited integration: Compared to some competitors, Stormboard offers fewer integration options with other tools. Especially teams with a high need for comprehensive integration reach their limits here.
- Outdated design: On the design side, some users describe the user interface as outdated, which has a negative impact on the user experience.
- Limited mobile functions: The mobile app only offers smartphone users a limited selection of functions.
Is Collaboard the Best Excalidraw Alternative?
As an Excalidraw alternative, Collaboard offers a tidy display and also relies on extremely high data protection standards. Therefore, public institutions or sensitive industries do not have to make any compromises with this tool and can work in a legally compliant manner. Further features of Collaboard are
- Whiteboard tools: Infinitely large whiteboard with maps, shapes, digital pens, lines etc.
- Moderation: Digital workshop moderation (timer, presentation mode, quick links)
- Voting and Rating: feedback, voting and rating function
- Multimedia: Import documents and media, record videos and images directly on the whiteboard
- Templates: Over 150 templates in various languages. New: Community templates.
- Guests: Fair license model, invite guests with editing rights to your boards
The best way to gain an insight into the range of functions and specific handling of a tool is to test it. Some of the online whiteboards mentioned offer free trial periods for this purpose.
Excalidraw Alternative - Frequently Asked Questions & Answers
Can my team work on a whiteboard at the same time?
Collaboard is designed for simultaneous editing. This means that you can work on a project in parallel and all team members, whether in the office or remotely, are on the same page.
Are online whiteboards safe?
Yes, most platforms offer security measures, including GDPR compliance, for example. However, the specific services in terms of data encryption and data security vary from tool to tool.
Do online whiteboards offer ready-made templates?
Collaboard offers a wide range of whiteboard templates, e.g. for project management, brainstorming, retrospectives or educational purposes.
How do online whiteboards help in education?
Teachers can create interactive lessons, hold virtual classrooms and invite students to collaborate. Student groups (without teachers/lecturers) can also work together remotely.
Do online whiteboards also offer offline access?
Offline access to a board can only ever display the most recently updated version and naturally cannot show what colleagues have changed in the meantime. However, an offline meeting with colleagues present does not require an active internet connection.
