Top 10 Open Source Alternatives to FigmaJam in 2025

As FigmaJam continues to be a go-to tool for collaborative design and whiteboarding, 2025 has introduced a plethora of powerful open-source alternatives, each bringing unique functionalities and collaborative tools. This article explores the top 10 open-source alternatives to FigmaJam, comparing them on key data points like pricing, ease of use, use cases, and collaboration capabilities.

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1. AFFiNE

Description: AFFiNE is an all-in-one workspace combining whiteboarding, document editing, and project management, ensuring data privacy by allowing users to keep data locally.
Key Features:
Combines note-taking, drawing, and task management.
Focus on data security with local data storage.
AI integration for writing, drawing, and planning.
Modular blocks for flexible workspace customization.
Open-source nature for community-driven improvements.
Collaboration: Real-time collaboration.
Data Privacy: Focus on data privacy, allowing users to keep data locally.
Pricing: Free, with paid pro and team/enterprise plans coming soon.
User Ratings: 4.7/5 on Product Hunt. Learn more about AFFiNE

2. Excalidraw

Description: Excalidraw is a virtual whiteboard app known for creating hand-drawn-like diagrams with simplicity and low-friction input.
Key Features:
Hand-drawn style visual elements.
Real-time collaboration capabilities.
End-to-end encryption.
Export to PNG, SVG, and clipboard.
Wide range of drawing tools.
Collaboration: Real-time collaboration with shareable links.
Data Privacy: End-to-end encryption.
Pricing: Free and open-source, with a paid version (Excalidraw+) available for organizations.
Adoption: Used by over 100K people in the last month.
Integrations: Integrates with Google Cloud, Meta, CodeSandbox, Obsidian, Replit, Slite, Notion, HackerRank and many others. Explore Excalidraw & GitHub Repository

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3. tldraw

Description: tldraw is a collaborative digital whiteboard known for its infinite canvas capabilities and is also a React library for building your own infinite canvas applications.
Key Features:
Infinite canvas for extensive diagrams and brainstorming.
Open-source editor, UI, and underlying libraries.
Can be used as a drop-in whiteboard for other products.
Modern React integration.
Offers a simple workflow design.
Collaboration: Real-time collaborative digital whiteboard.
Data Privacy: Open-source nature provides transparency.
Pricing: Free and open-source.
Use Cases: Suitable for building both simple whiteboards and complex collaborative design tools.
Technology: Built with React. Discover tldraw & Learn more about tldraw.dev

4. Draw.io (Diagrams.net)

Description: Draw.io is a free, open-source diagramming platform supporting a wide variety of diagrams, available both online and offline.
Key Features:
Extensive library of shapes, icons, and connectors.
Supports flowcharts, UML diagrams, network diagrams, and more.
Real-time collaboration through Google Drive integration.
Desktop version available for offline work.
Does not store your data.
Collaboration: Real-time collaboration using Google Drive.
Data Privacy: Does not store your data.
Pricing: Free and open-source.
Customization: Highly customizable with various layouts and tools.
Accessibility: Available online and as a downloadable desktop application. Learn more about Draw.io

5. Penpot

Description: Penpot is an open-source design and prototyping platform serving as an alternative to Figma, with robust collaborative features.
Key Features:
Focuses on design and prototyping.
Open-source alternative to Figma.
Collaborative design environment.
Collaboration: Collaborative design and prototyping.
Data Privacy: Open-source nature offers transparency.
Pricing: Free and open-source.
Use Cases: Suitable for both design and collaborative whiteboarding needs. Explore Penpot

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6. Whitebird

Description: Whitebird is a web-based, collaborative, digital whiteboard built with NestJS, MongoDB, NuxtJs, and FabricJs.
Key Features:
Creation of whiteboard rooms.
Join rooms via codes or links.
Concurrent working on the whiteboard.
Export as .png or .pdf.
Changeable backgrounds.
Collaboration: Concurrent real-time collaboration.
Data Privacy: Open-source nature provides transparency.
Pricing: Free and open-source.
Development Status: In early development with a focus on collaborative features.
Technology: Built using NestJS, MongoDB, NuxtJs, and FabricJs. Search for "Whitebird open source whiteboard"

7. ioDraw

Description: ioDraw is a free online drawing software used for creating flowcharts, mind maps, Gantt charts, and whiteboards.
Key Features:
Support for flowcharts, mind maps, Gantt charts, and whiteboards.
Hand-drawing capabilities.
No registration is required.
Collaboration: Implied by the whiteboard feature.
Data Privacy: Not explicitly mentioned.
Pricing: Free to use.
Accessibility: Available online.
Use Cases: Suitable for various diagrams and visual planning. Search for "ioDraw"

8. Docmost

Description: Docmost is an open-source collaborative wiki and documentation software that includes built-in support for diagramming tools.
Key Features:
Real-time collaborative editor with support for diagrams.
Built-in support for Mermaid, Draw.io, and Excalidraw diagramming.
Spaces for organizing content.
Permissions system for controlling access.
Comment system for discussions.
Collaboration: Real-time collaborative editing and diagramming.
Data Privacy: Robust permission systems and version tracking.
Pricing: Free and open-source.
Diagramming: Built-in support for multiple diagramming tools.
Focus: Primarily a wiki and documentation tool, with strong collaborative diagramming. Discover Docmost

9. OpenBoard

Description: OpenBoard is an open-source tool with a focus on educational settings, offering whiteboarding capabilities.
Key Features:
Designed for educational purposes.
Whiteboarding capabilities.
Collaboration: Likely has collaborative features suitable for educational settings.
Data Privacy: Open-source nature provides transparency.
Pricing: Free and open-source.
Focus: Intended for educational environments. Search for "OpenBoard"

10. BoardMix

Description: Boardmix is a collaborative whiteboard with enhanced security features.
Key Features:
Collaborative capabilities.
Security features like user authentication.
Cloud-based storage.
Collaboration: Real-time collaborative whiteboard.
Data Privacy: User authentication for secure access.
Pricing: Starts at $6.6 per month.
Storage: Cloud-based with secure online storage.
Accessibility: Accessible anywhere with an internet connection. Search for "Boardmix"

These 10 options provide a range of choices for teams seeking open-source alternatives to FigmaJam. Each option offers a unique set of features and focuses on different collaborative approaches. Always evaluate each tool based on your specific requirements and try out the ones that seem most suitable.

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FAQ

1. What is AFFiNE?

AFFiNE is an all-in-one workspace that combines note-taking, drawing, and task management with a focus on data privacy by allowing users to keep data locally. Learn more about AFFiNE

2. Can Excalidraw be used for real-time collaboration?

Yes, Excalidraw offers real-time collaboration capabilities with shareable links and end-to-end encryption. Learn more about Excalidraw

3. What features does tldraw offer?

tldraw provides an infinite canvas for extensive diagrams and brainstorming, along with modern React integration and simple workflow design. Discover tldraw

4. How does Draw.io ensure data privacy?

Draw.io does not store your data and provides real-time collaboration through Google Drive integration. Explore Draw.io

5. What is Penpot used for?

Penpot is an open-source design and prototyping platform that offers a collaborative design environment. It serves as an alternative to Figma. (No link provided)

6. What technologies are used to build Whitebird?

Whitebird is built with NestJS, MongoDB, NuxtJs, and FabricJs and supports creation of whiteboard rooms for concurrent real-time collaboration. (No link provided)

7. What can ioDraw be used for?

ioDraw is a free online drawing software suitable for creating flowcharts, mind maps, Gantt charts, and whiteboards. (No link provided)

8. What diagramming tools does Docmost support?

Docmost includes built-in support for Mermaid, Draw.io, and Excalidraw diagramming tools, along with spaces for organizing content and permissions system for controlling access. Learn more about Docmost

9. What is OpenBoard designed for?

OpenBoard is an open-source tool primarily designed for educational purposes, offering collaborative whiteboarding capabilities. (No link provided)

10. How much does BoardMix cost?

BoardMix is a collaborative whiteboard with enhanced security features like user authentication, and its pricing starts at $6.6 per month. (No link provided)

About the Author

Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.

Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).

She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.

For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.

About the Publication

Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.

Mission and Purpose

Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.

Key Features

The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:

Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials

Impact and Growth

Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:

3,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
100+ startup tools built
5,000+ pieces of articles and news written

Partnerships

Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.

Recognition

Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.