Top 10 Open Source Alternatives to FigmaJam in 2025: Comprehensive Comparison
As FigmaJam continues to dominate the collaborative whiteboarding and brainstorming tool landscape, 2025 brings a wave of powerful open-source alternatives. Whether you're looking for simplicity, better integration, or enhanced features, this article explores the top 10 open-source alternatives to FigmaJam, comparing them based on key data points like features, type, use cases, and licensing.
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1. Excalidraw
- Type: Collaborative digital whiteboard
- Features: Simple drawing tools, real-time collaboration, export to various formats
- License: Open Source
- Use Case: Brainstorming, sketching, and simple diagramming
- Additional Information: Has a commercial version "Excalidraw+" which offers account-based access
- Explore Excalidraw
2. tldraw
- Type: Collaborative digital whiteboard
- Features: Infinite canvas, collaborative editing, flexible integration
- License: Open Source
- Technology: Built with React and available on npm
- Check out tldraw
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3. WBO (Whiteboard Online)
- Type: Collaborative online whiteboard
- Features: Real-time updates, persistent board state, URL-based sharing
- License: Open Source
- Use Case: Art, entertainment, design, teaching and online collaboration
- Learn more about WBO
4. OurBoard
- Type: Collaborative online whiteboard
- Features: Simple drawing tools, board sharing
- License: Open Source
- Use Case: Collaborative drawing and brainstorming
- Discover OurBoard
5. OpenBoard
- Type: Interactive whiteboard software
- Features: Dual-screen support, handwriting recognition, supports interactive whiteboards and pen tablets
- License: Open Source (GPLv3)
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Explore OpenBoard
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6. Draw.io (Diagrams.net)
- Type: Diagramming tool
- Features: Cloud integration for saving and sharing files, wide variety of diagram types
- License: Open Source
- Platforms: Web, Desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux)
- Learn more about Draw.io
7. FreeMind
- Type: Mind mapping software
- Features: Fast navigation, export to various formats, drag-and-drop operations
- License: Open Source
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Explore FreeMind
8. WiseMapping
- Type: Online mind mapping tool
- Features: Collaboration, embedding on web pages, export to multiple formats
- License: Open Source
- Platform: Web-based
- Check out WiseMapping
9. Whitebird
- Type: Collaborative whiteboard
- Features: Creation and joining whiteboard rooms, concurrent editing and export to .png/pdf
- License: Open Source
- Technology: Built with NestJS, MongoDB, NuxtJs and FabricJs
- Learn more about Whitebird
10. Penpot
- Type: Design and prototyping platform
- Features: Vector graphics, collaborative design, prototyping
- License: Open Source
- Use Case: UI/UX design, team collaboration, prototyping
- Explore Penpot
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FAQ
1. What is Excalidraw? Excalidraw is a virtual whiteboard designed for sketching hand-drawn-like diagrams, featuring simple drawing tools and real-time collaboration. Learn more about Excalidraw
2. How does tldraw differ from other whiteboards?
tldraw offers an infinite canvas and collaborative editing, making it a flexible tool for custom applications. Explore tldraw
3. What makes WBO (Whiteboard Online) unique?
WBO allows real-time updates and easy sharing via URLs, ideal for collaborative environments. Check out WBO
4. What can I use OurBoard for?
OurBoard is perfect for simple collaborative drawing and brainstorming sessions. Discover OurBoard
5. Where can I use OpenBoard?
OpenBoard is an interactive whiteboard software suitable for educational institutions, supporting multiple platforms. Learn more about OpenBoard
6. How versatile is Draw.io (Diagrams.net)? Draw.io is a versatile diagramming tool, ideal for creating mind maps, flowcharts, and various types of diagrams. Explore Draw.io
7. What features does FreeMind offer?
FreeMind’s mind mapping software supports fast navigation, drag-and-drop operations, and exporting to various formats. Check out FreeMind
8. What is WiseMapping's primary use?
WiseMapping is a web-based tool designed for creating, collaborating on, and sharing mind maps. Discover WiseMapping
9. What are the features of Whitebird?
Whitebird supports creating and joining whiteboard rooms, concurrent editing, and exporting to .png/pdf. Learn about Whitebird
10. What is Penpot used for?
Penpot is an open-source platform for collaborative design and prototyping, supporting vector graphics. Explore Penpot
References
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.