5 Best Free Online Digital Whiteboard Apps for 2023 (Features, Price)

Imagine this:

You're using Office Word to organize your thoughts, but you find its limitations to be incredibly inconvenient. The inability to collaborate and visually present your ideas becomes a source of frustration. Suddenly, you reminisce about the old-school whiteboards you used in the past, covered in sticky notes and magnets, where you had the freedom to draw and describe freely. However, even though those whiteboards offered more flexibility, they still couldn't meet your needs for collaboration and convenience. The limited boundaries and the constant erasing of incorrect content made them unattractive and impractical.

This is where modern whiteboard tools come into play. There are now various whiteboard tools available in the market, but which one is the best? Which one is truly worth using?

This article will guide you through the selection process, helping you find the perfect whiteboard tool for your needs. Let's explore this new era of creative tools together, unleashing your imagination and enhancing your productivity. Whether you're a professional or a student, whiteboard tools will become your indispensable partner, enabling you to achieve greater success in collaboration and creativity.

Why whiteboard? And what makes up a good whiteboard?

When this comes to whiteboard, it is a versatile tool that has become an integral part of various professional settings, educational institutions, and creative environments. It is typically a smooth, erasable surface that allows users to write, draw, and visualize ideas using markers or pens. The simplicity and flexibility of a whiteboard make it a powerful medium for brainstorming, problem-solving, and collaborative work. Here are a few reasons why whiteboards are so widely embraced:

1. Visual Communication: Whiteboards enable visual communication by transforming abstract concepts into tangible representations. Whether it's sketching diagrams, illustrating workflows, or mapping out strategies, a whiteboard provides a clear and easily understandable visual medium.
2. Idea Generation and Exploration: The spaciousness of a whiteboard encourages free thinking and exploration of ideas. It serves as a canvas where concepts can be brainstormed, expanded upon, and refined in real-time, fostering creativity and innovation.
3. Collaboration and Teamwork: Whiteboards are excellent tools for fostering collaboration within teams. They facilitate group discussions, allowing team members to contribute, build upon each other's ideas, and collectively solve problems. The interactive nature of whiteboards encourages active engagement and participation.

In terms of what makes up a good whiteboard, we believe it incorporates those key elements:

1. Intuitive User Interface: A clean and user-friendly interface makes it easy to navigate and use the app effectively.
2. Versatile Drawing Tools: A variety of drawing tools, such as pens, markers, shapes, and colors, allow for creative expression and precise visualization.
3. Collaboration Features: Real-time collaboration features enable multiple users to work together on the same whiteboard, fostering teamwork and idea sharing.
4. File Integration and Sharing: The ability to import images, documents, and other files enhances the visual representation of ideas, and easy sharing promotes seamless collaboration.
5. Save and Export Options: The capability to save and export whiteboard content in various formats, such as images or PDFs, enables easy sharing and future reference. These elements combine to create a comprehensive and feature-rich whiteboard app, enhancing collaboration, creativity, and productivity.

Fortunately, you're in good hands. 😊

After extensive research, testing, comparison, and review, we've compiled the ultimate list of the top whiteboard software available. We've carefully ranked these tools to provide you with a convenient reference, so you can unleash your brainstorming potential like a true professional.

5 virtual whiteboard tools that are so hot right now

With a plethora of digital whiteboard options at your fingertips, it's important to note that they are not created equal. Take the time to read and evaluate each option carefully, considering your specific needs and requirements. By doing so, you'll ensure that you're choosing the perfect brainstorming tool that aligns with your dreams and aspirations.****

1.AFFiNE

AFFiNE's Edgeless mode, functioning as a whiteboard, offers users a secure and private workspace where they have absolute control over their data. In addition, AFFiNE's Edgeless mode offers a series of features like shapes with the way to edit its size, background, and boundary, pens with different colours, connectors to visualize and connect your ideas.

One of the standout features of AFFiNE is its ability to seamlessly switch between paper mode and whiteboard mode (Page and Edgeless), making it a versatile tool for brainstorming, planning, and collaboration. So it facilitates users to transition his/her mindset from linear thinking (Page mode) to visualizing thinking (Edgeless mode)

Here are some quick views of what AFFiNE can do:

• Powerful Edgeless mode
  • Visualize and connect your ideas smoothly with better cartoon-style shape, slick pen, and connectors. No constraints. Limited only by your imagination. Ohhh, by the way, images now are supported to upload!! We just make everything easy for you, now you may enjoy your drawing time!

• Database (plus one, you can use it to do something more than just whiteboard)
  • Easily create, organize, and track your data like never before. Say goodbye to complex processes and welcome an unprecedented ease-of-use way

AFFiNE’s Price:

In addition to those mentioned above, AFFiNE is a fantastic, completely free daily planner app that welcomes everyone to experience its powerful features, making it a delightful surprise for those seeking a comprehensive solution for their daily planning needs.

• Come and check out our latest beta version, enjoy your creative moments.
• For more things related to AFFiNE, come and check out our website: AFFiNE — All In One KnowledgeOS
• Wanna try it online:https://app.affine.pro/

2.Miro

Miro, a remarkable collaborative whiteboard software, embraces the philosophy that success thrives when we support and cheer for others. Let's face it: Miro is undeniably cool! This powerful platform is purpose-built for mind mapping and productive brainstorming sessions, making it a go-to choice for teams worldwide.

Designed to cater to diverse team dynamics, Miro offers an intuitive interface that unleashes the potential of visual idea presentation. With its expansive whiteboards, you can express your thoughts in a visual and engaging manner, facilitating asynchronous communication, hosting efficient meetings, and even co-creating organizational charts—all without the fear of running out of space.

Miro empowers teams of all sizes and backgrounds to collaborate seamlessly, fostering a creative and inclusive environment where ideas flow freely. Its robust features and user-friendly approach make it a trusted ally for enhancing productivity and driving innovation.

Pros of Miro✔:

1. Seamless Collaboration: Miro enables real-time collaboration, enhancing communication and productivity.

2. Versatile Visual Tools: With a range of visual tools, Miro allows creative expression and engaging visual representations.

3. Integrations and Customization: Miro integrates with third-party apps and offers customization options for tailored workflows. Cons of Miro❌:

4. Learning Curve: Miro's extensive features may require time to explore and master.

5. Limited Free Plan: Miro's free plan has limitations on the number of boards and users.

6. Pricing: Miro's pricing can be relatively high for larger teams or organizations. Miro offers various pricing plans to cater to different needs:

7. Free Plan: Includes unlimited team members, three editable boards, core integrations, premade templates, and basic attention management.

8. Team Plan ($8 per member, per month): Provides unlimited boards, unlimited visitors, custom templates, project management, and private boards.

9. Business Plan ($16 per member, per month): Offers unlimited guests, smart diagramming, and single sign-on (SSO) integration.

10. Enterprise Plan (contact for pricing): Designed for large organizations and includes enterprise-grade security and compliance, data governance, centralized account management and insights, and premium support.

3.Clickup

The much-anticipated Whiteboards feature is now available in ClickUp. After being announced and released in beta in November 2021, it has quickly become a favorite among users. As the only collaborative whiteboard within ClickUp, it allows teams to seamlessly transform real-time ideas into actionable projects. This highly requested feature has propelled ClickUp Whiteboards to the top spot on our list, winning the hearts of users with its powerful functionality and seamless integration with the ClickUp productivity platform.

Pros✔:

1. Seamless integration: ClickUp Whiteboards seamlessly integrates with the ClickUp productivity platform, allowing teams to effortlessly turn ideas into actionable projects.

2. Real-time collaboration: The collaborative nature of ClickUp Whiteboards enables teams to work together in real-time, fostering creativity and productivity.

3. Versatile and customizable: With a wide range of tools and options, ClickUp Whiteboards offer flexibility and customization to suit various brainstorming and planning needs. Cons❌:

4. Limited functionality: While ClickUp Whiteboards provide essential collaborative features, they may lack the advanced functionalities found in dedicated whiteboard tools.

5. Learning curve: Users unfamiliar with the ClickUp platform may require some time to learn and navigate the interface of ClickUp Whiteboards.

6. Platform dependency: ClickUp Whiteboards are tightly integrated with the ClickUp productivity platform, which means users need to rely on ClickUp for accessing and utilizing their whiteboard content. Clickup Price:

7. Free Forever: This plan offers a range of powerful Whiteboard features, unlimited tasks and members, 100MB of storage, and more.

8. Unlimited ($5 per member, per month): With the Unlimited plan, you get unlimited storage, unlimited integrations, unlimited Dashboards, Agile reporting, and more.

9. Business ($12 per member, per month): The business plan includes features such as Google SSO, unlimited teams, custom exporting, advanced public sharing, advanced automations.

10. Business Plus ($19 per member, per month): The Business Plus plan offers additional features like subtasks in multiple lists, custom role creation, custom permissions, increased automations and API access, and more.

11. Enterprise (contact sales for pricing): The Enterprise plan provides white labeling options, enterprise API access, guided onboarding, and a dedicated success manager.

4.Limnu

Limnu is a versatile and collaborative whiteboard software designed for real-time brainstorming and idea visualization. It offers an intuitive interface, allowing multiple team members to work together simultaneously. With a range of tools like sticky notes, drawing pens, and image uploads, Limnu empowers users to express their ideas creatively. The platform is accessible via a mobile app, ensuring flexibility and convenience. Users can customize the whiteboard's appearance, manage collaboration controls, and upgrade to unlock additional features and integration capabilities. Limnu is an ideal solution for teams looking to enhance their collaborative and visual brainstorming process.

Pros✔:

1. Real-time Collaboration: Limnu allows team members to collaborate in real-time, enabling seamless communication and idea sharing. Multiple users can work on the whiteboard simultaneously, making it ideal for remote teams.

2. Intuitive Interface: Limnu offers a simple and user-friendly interface, making it easy for both beginners and experienced users to navigate and utilize its features. The intuitive design enhances the overall user experience.

3. Versatile Tools: Limnu provides a variety of tools, such as sticky notes, drawing pens, and image uploads, to enhance creativity and visual representation. Users can express their ideas effectively and customize the whiteboard to suit their needs. Cons❌:

4. Limited Free Version: The free version of Limnu has limitations on the number of boards and the amount of storage available. Users with more extensive collaboration needs may need to upgrade to a paid plan.

5. Mobile App Limitations: While Limnu offers a mobile app, it may not provide the same level of functionality as the desktop version. Some advanced features may be limited or not available on mobile devices.

6. Integration Options: Limnu's integration options with other software and platforms may be more limited compared to some other whiteboard tools. Users who require extensive integration with other tools may need to consider this limitation. Limnu price:

7. Team Plan: This plan is priced at $8 per user, per month when billed annually. It includes features such as unlimited boards, real-time collaboration, basic integrations, and access to the Limnu mobile app.

8. Enterprise Plan: For larger organizations with advanced requirements, Limnu offers custom pricing for its Enterprise plan.

5.Excalidraw

Excalidraw is an open-source, web-based virtual whiteboard that allows users to create diagrams, mind maps, flowcharts, and other visual representations in a collaborative and interactive manner. It offers a simple and minimalist interface that resembles a traditional whiteboard, making it easy to use and navigate for both beginners and experienced users.

Excalidraw’s object library is relatively limited compared to Miro’s extensive collection of templates, widgets, and integrations. Miro offers a wide range of pre-designed templates for different use cases, making it more suitable for specific industries or workflows. In addition, it does not even offer note taking methods which may cause loads of inconveniences compared with other apps like AFFiNE not only offering the Edgeless mode(whiteboard), but also offering the smooth transition to page mode so users can write with the support of blockhubs.

AFFiNE is still in beta, but we are continuing to build to a more feature-rich and stable build. Come and join us on our journey over on our media platforms

Excalidraw is an open source whiteboard, so it doesn't charge at all.

Which Digital whiteboard app offers the best solution?

While each of the Digital whiteboard apps discussed offers its own unique and appealing features, we encourage users to choose the ideal option based on their specific needs and pain points. However, with a humble perspective, we still propose that AFFiNE emerges as the ultimate winner in this evaluation, providing a comprehensive and versatile solution for drawing and visualizing ideas, daily tasks and goals, catering to a wide range of user requirements.AFFiNE is still in its beta, but we are continuing to build to a more feature-rich and stable build. Come and join us on our journey over on our media platforms.

• Official Website: https://affine.pro/
• GitHub: https://github.com/toeverything/AFFiNE
• Discord: https://discord.gg/Arn7TqJBvG
• Telegram: https://t.me/affineworkos