Best Online Whiteboard Software in 2026
Collaborate visually from anywhere
By Toolradar Editorial Team · Updated
Miro is the most powerful option with extensive templates and integrations—ideal for teams that use whiteboards heavily. FigJam is simpler and perfect if you already use Figma. Microsoft Whiteboard is free with Microsoft 365 and works well for casual use. For quick, free whiteboarding, Excalidraw is surprisingly good.
Digital whiteboards exploded during remote work and haven't slowed down. They recreate the spontaneous collaboration of physical whiteboards while adding features that analog can't match—infinite canvas, templates, voting, timer tools, and persistent boards you can return to.
The market has matured into clear categories: enterprise powerhouses, design-focused tools, and lightweight free options. Here's how to pick.
What Digital Whiteboards Do
Online whiteboard software provides a shared canvas where teams can draw, add sticky notes, create diagrams, and collaborate in real-time. Unlike document collaboration, whiteboards are spatial—ideas can be arranged, grouped, and connected visually. Modern tools add facilitation features like voting, timers, and structured templates.
Why Digital Whiteboards Matter
Remote and hybrid work makes spontaneous collaboration harder. Digital whiteboards bring back the brainstorming energy of being in a room together. They're essential for workshops, retrospectives, strategic planning, and any session where visual thinking helps. The best teams use them as a default collaboration space.
Key Features to Look For
Multiple users editing simultaneously
Unlimited space for ideas
Basic building blocks for visual work
Pre-built structures for common meetings and processes
Dot voting, emoji reactions for prioritization
Run structured workshops
Connect with Slack, Jira, Zoom, etc.
Freehand sketching and annotation
Add calls or recordings to boards
How to Choose
Evaluation Checklist
Pricing Overview
Most powerful option for teams using whiteboards as core collaboration tool
Design teams already using Figma—simple, playful, and free
Developers and quick sketching with charming hand-drawn style
Top Picks
Based on features, user feedback, and value for money.
Teams that use whiteboards as a core collaboration tool for workshops and planning
Design teams and Figma users who want quick, fun collaboration without complexity
Quick sketching, developers, and teams who value simplicity and privacy
Mistakes to Avoid
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Paying for Miro when FigJam or Excalidraw would suffice — FigJam is free with unlimited files. Excalidraw is free with no limits. Test these before committing to Miro at $8/member/mo
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Creating boards that become too large and slow — A board with 1,000+ stickies is unusable. Break large workshops into separate boards by topic or phase. Archive completed boards
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Not using templates for structured workshops — Setting up a retrospective from scratch takes 15 minutes. Miro's templates have pre-built structures that save setup time and guide facilitation
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Forgetting that Microsoft Whiteboard exists — If your organization uses Microsoft 365, Whiteboard is included free. It's basic but handles simple brainstorming and meeting sketches well
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Over-facilitating with too many tools on the board — Timers, voting, stickers, and drawing tools are powerful but confusing when used all at once. Start simple and add facilitation tools as needed
Expert Tips
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Start with FigJam or Excalidraw to test if whiteboarding fits your workflow — Both are free and reveal whether your team actually benefits from visual collaboration before you invest in Miro
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Miro's template library is worth exploring even on the free tier — Search for your specific use case (sprint planning, empathy mapping, SWOT analysis) and save time with pre-built structures
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Set board ground rules before workshops — Define sticky note colors (yellow = ideas, pink = concerns), voting limits (3 dots per person), and time boxes. This prevents chaos with large groups
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Keep boards focused—create new boards instead of expanding — One board per workshop or meeting. Don't create a 'master board' that grows indefinitely. Boards are cheap; cognitive overload is expensive
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Use Excalidraw for technical diagrams and architecture discussions — Its hand-drawn style keeps diagrams informal, discouraging over-polishing. Developers especially love this for system design conversations
Red Flags to Watch For
- !Free tier limited to 3 boards with no way to archive (Miro)—you'll hit the limit quickly and be forced to delete or upgrade
- !No real-time collaboration or significant lag between participants—defeats the purpose of a digital whiteboard
- !Boards automatically deleted after inactivity—persistent boards are essential for ongoing projects
- !No export options—you should be able to save boards as images or PDFs for documentation
The Bottom Line
Miro (Free for 3 boards, $8/member/mo) for teams that use whiteboards as a core collaboration tool. FigJam (free unlimited) for Figma users who want simple, playful collaboration. Excalidraw (free, open source) for quick sketching and technical diagrams. Don't pay for enterprise features unless you're actually running structured workshops regularly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Miro vs. FigJam - which should I choose?
Miro for power and versatility—better templates, integrations, and facilitation tools. FigJam for simplicity and if you use Figma. FigJam is more fun to use; Miro is more capable for serious workshops.
Are digital whiteboards good for remote teams?
Essential for remote teams. They bring back the spontaneous visual collaboration that's lost in remote work. Regular use takes some adjustment, but teams who embrace them often can't go back.
Can I use these for in-person meetings too?
Absolutely—cast to a screen or projector and use as a shared digital canvas. Many teams use digital whiteboards in meeting rooms even when everyone's present, for persistence and flexibility.
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