vs
draw.io vs Excalidraw
Both free and open source, but they make different diagrams. draw.io is for precise shape-based diagrams with big shape libraries and Visio import; Excalidraw is a hand-drawn whiteboard with free live collaboration and AI drawing.
Which one to pick
Pick draw.io if
ShapesCodeWords
- You need formal diagrams: UML, network, cloud architecture, BPMN
- You want Mermaid and PlantUML rendered on the same canvas
- You need desktop apps or Visio import
Pick Excalidraw if
SketchWords
- You're sketching ideas and want them to look unfinished
- You want to draw live with others, free, on one shared scene
- You want AI to draw the first version from a prompt
Where they differ most
Ways to draw
- draw.io
- Shapes, Code, Words
- Excalidraw
- Sketch, Words
Cheapest paid plan
- draw.io
- Free; paid add-ons priced separately
- Excalidraw
- $6/month, Plus (billed yearly)
Diagram code
- draw.io
- Mermaid, PlantUML
- Excalidraw
- Imports Mermaid only
Where diagrams are stored
- draw.io
- Files on your device, Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, GitHub
- Excalidraw
- Files on your device, Maker's cloud
Apps
- draw.io
- Web, Windows, Mac, Linux
- Excalidraw
- Web
Owned by
- draw.io
- Independent
- Excalidraw
- Not stated
Every fact, side by side
Highlighted rows differ. Rows with an info mark open a note.
draw.ioExcalidrawHow you make a diagram
Ways to draw (differs)Shapes, Code, WordsSketch, Words
AI limits (differs)10,000 characters per request on draw.io's hosted AI; no daily or monthly cap stated; no cap with your own model10 requests a day free, 100 a day on Plus; no limit with your own key
Free plan and prices
Free limits (differs)Unlimited diagrams, no account needed1 infinite scene, unlimited collaborators, 10 AI requests a day
Cheapest paid plan (differs)Free; paid add-ons priced separately$6/month, Plus (billed yearly)
What you get out
PNG YesYesYesYes
Where it runs and where files live
Apps (differs)Web, Windows, Mac, LinuxWeb
Who you're trusting
Data residency (differs)Atlassian apps follow the Atlassian instance's data residency; other storage is your ownNone stated; the site is hosted in the United States
