Excalidraw vs Figma
Figma is our Editor's Pick in Design & Creative Tools, but Excalidraw is a strong alternative depending on your needs.
Compared as of July 2026
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Design & Creative Tools | Design & Creative Tools |
| Pricing | Open Source | Freemium |
| Platforms | Web | Web, macOS, Windows |
| Rating | — | — |
| Best for | — | Product designers working with engineers — Dev Mode gives developers direct access to CSS, measurements, and assets |
| Editor's take | — | Figma effectively ended the Sketch vs. Adobe XD debate — it is the design tool for product teams. |
Which should you choose?
Excalidraw
Virtual whiteboard for sketching hand-drawn diagrams
Figma
- Choose if Product designers working with engineers — Dev Mode gives developers direct access to CSS, measurements, and assets
- Choose if Design teams who need real-time co-editing and stakeholder review in a single shareable link
- Choose if Freelancers presenting interactive prototypes to clients without writing code
- Skip if Your work is primarily illustration or print — Figma is optimized for UI/screen design, not editorial or brand design
- Skip if You work offline frequently — full functionality requires an internet connection
- Skip if You are a solo designer on a tight budget — paid plans can reach $540+/year per seat