Excalidraw is a free, open-source virtual whiteboard that lets you sketch hand-drawn style diagrams, wireframes, and notes. You can use it instantly in a browser with no account required.
The fastest way to use Excalidraw is to visit the hosted version at excalidraw.com. Nothing to install. It works offline after the first load because it is a Progressive Web App (PWA). Your drawings are saved automatically in your browser — they stay there even if you close the tab.
The toolbar on the left holds all the tools: rectangle, circle, diamond, arrow, line, text, free-draw, and eraser. Click a shape, then click and drag on the canvas to place it. Press V to go back to the selection tool. Double-click any shape to add a label. Use the scroll wheel to zoom, and hold Space then drag to pan around the canvas.
Accidentally deleted something
Press Ctrl+Z (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Z (Mac) to undo. Excalidraw has unlimited undo steps.
Excalidraw auto-saves to your browser storage, but that can be lost if you clear browser data. To keep a permanent copy, export the drawing as an .excalidraw file. You can reopen this file later and continue editing. You can also export a PNG or SVG image if you just need a picture.
Browser blocks the download
Allow downloads from excalidraw.com in your browser's site permissions, then try again.
Excalidraw has built-in real-time collaboration with end-to-end encryption. Click the 'Live collaboration' button (the people icon in the top toolbar). A shareable link is generated. Send that link to anyone. Everyone who opens it can draw on the same canvas simultaneously. The encryption key is in the URL fragment, so the Excalidraw servers never see your content.
Collaborators see a blank canvas instead of your drawing
Make sure you share the full URL including the # part at the end — that is the encryption key. Shortening the URL will break it.
If you need a fully self-hosted copy — for example on a private network — you can run Excalidraw locally using Node.js. The commands below clone the repository and start a local development server. After this, the app runs at http://localhost:3000 on your machine only.
npm install fails with Node version errors
Run 'node -v' to check your version. You need Node.js 18 or higher. Download it from nodejs.org, then retry.
A fully functional hand-drawn style whiteboard running in your browser. You can sketch diagrams, export them as PNG/SVG/.excalidraw files, and optionally invite others to collaborate in real time.
The hosted version at excalidraw.com is the easiest path and works for most people. Real-time collaboration and shareable links only work on the hosted version — the local dev server does not include the collaboration backend. The npm package is for developers embedding Excalidraw inside their own web app, not for standalone use. If you just want a whiteboard, skip steps 4 and 5.