HiWhiteboardHow to choose a free online whiteboard
Updated
There is no single best free online whiteboard. The right one depends on four questions. Answer them first, then pick from the table below.
Four questions to ask
- Do other people need to edit the same board at the same time? If yes, you need real-time collaboration and share links. If you only present, a single-editor whiteboard is simpler.
- Do you want to create an account? Some tools open with one click; others need sign-up before the free plan works.
- Where should your work be stored? Some tools keep boards on their servers (easy to reopen anywhere); others keep them only in your browser (more private, but tied to that device unless you export a backup).
- What else do you need? Classroom features (student boards, timers), templates, Kanban cards, or exports such as PNG, SVG, or PDF.
Free online whiteboards compared
Facts below come from each product’s own website or source code page, checked on November 1, 2026. Free plans change; check the linked page before you decide.
| Tool | Best for | Account for the free version | Real-time collaboration | Where boards are kept |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HiWhiteboard | One person sketching, teaching on a shared screen, planning, and personal Kanban | None | No | In your browser on your device; export a backup to move it |
| Excalidraw | Hand-drawn diagrams, alone or with others through a link | None for drawing; Excalidraw+ (paid) adds cloud-saved scenes | Yes, with a share link | Locally in your browser; live sessions are end-to-end encrypted |
| WBO | Many people drawing on one large board at once | None | Yes | On the WBO server (open-source; you can host your own) |
| Miro | Team workshops and projects | Required | Yes | In your Miro account; the free plan keeps 3 boards editable |
| Whiteboard.fi | Teachers checking each student’s work during a lesson | Teacher sign-in | Students work on their own boards | On Whiteboard.fi’s service |
| Classroomscreen | Running a classroom screen: timers, polls, and other widgets | Free Basic plan | Not a shared whiteboard | In your Classroomscreen account |
Sources: Miro pricing (“3 editable boards” on the free plan), Excalidraw+ pricing (free tier with export to PNG, SVG, or file and end-to-end encryption in the browser), WBO source code (“the server saves boards as SVG files”), Whiteboard.fi (designed for teachers and classrooms and formative assessment), Classroomscreen pricing (Basic plan, $0 per month).
When HiWhiteboard is a good fit
- You want to start drawing or planning right now, with no account and no sign-up.
- You are the only person editing: explaining on a projector, tutoring over a shared screen, or planning your own week.
- You want your boards to stay private on your device, with editable backups you control.
- You want ready-made boards: templates for classes, math, chalkboard, lined paper, planning, games, retrospectives, and a real Kanban board.
When to choose something else
- Several people must edit the same board at once: use Excalidraw, WBO, or Miro.
- Every student should write on their own board while you watch: use a classroom tool such as Whiteboard.fi.
- You need your boards on every device automatically: use a tool with cloud accounts. HiWhiteboard has no cloud sync.
- You need PDF export, comments, or team workspaces: HiWhiteboard does not offer them; Kanban boards can be printed or saved as PDF from the browser’s print dialog.
Questions
What is the best free alternative to Miro?
It depends on why you use Miro. For live team collaboration without an account, Excalidraw and WBO both offer share links. For working alone with no account, templates, and a Kanban board, HiWhiteboard is a fit. Miro’s free plan keeps 3 boards editable.
Which free whiteboard needs no sign-up?
HiWhiteboard, Excalidraw (for drawing), and WBO all open without an account. Miro and Whiteboard.fi need sign-up or sign-in for their free plans.
Which free online whiteboard keeps my work private?
Tools that store boards only in your browser keep the content on your device. HiWhiteboard never uploads board content. Excalidraw keeps scenes locally and encrypts live sessions end to end. Server-based tools keep a copy on their servers.
Templates for this guide
- Classroom whiteboard template — Topic and date header, a working area, key points, and practice questions.
- Math whiteboard template — A coordinate plane on graph paper, a worked equation, and a number line.
- Kanban board template — To do, Doing, and Done columns with a WIP limit of 3 on Doing.