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Open-Source Miro Alternatives (2027): 10 Self-Hosted Online Whiteboards Checked, From Excalidraw to AFFiNE

Open-Source Miro Alternatives: Self-Hosted Online Whiteboards for Brainstorming, Workshops and Planning

Miro is the default online whiteboard for many teams, but its free plan keeps only three boards editable and every paid seat adds up. It also runs only in Miro's cloud. If you want a whiteboard you can host on your own server, keep client data private, or simply use without a subscription, an open-source alternative is the way to go. We checked each tool below on its GitHub repository and official website in October 2026: the exact licence (open source or only source-available), the latest release, whether people can draw together live, and how hard it is to self-host. Abandoned projects and tools that are not open source any more are listed separately. If you want free AI features (sorting sticky notes, diagrams from a prompt, board summaries) without self-hosting anything, see our free Miro AI alternatives.
Quick answer: for the closest free, open-source Miro replacement, use Excalidraw; for docs, databases and whiteboards in one workspace, use AFFiNE; if your team already runs Nextcloud, add Nextcloud Whiteboard; for an instant board with no accounts at a workshop, use WBO; and for end-to-end encrypted boards, use CryptPad. Looking for free hosted tools instead? See our list of free Miro alternatives.
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What Miro Costs in 2027, and What You Replace

On the Miro pricing page (checked October 2026) the Free plan keeps 3 boards editable and includes about 10 AI credits a month. Starter costs $8 and Business $20 per member per month, billed yearly; Enterprise is quoted and starts at 30 members. Miro offers data residency in the EU on all plans, but no self-hosted version. Every tool below can run on your own server for free; you pay for the server and your own time instead.

Open-Source Miro Alternatives Compared

ToolBest forLicenceLive collaborationHosting
ExcalidrawQuick sketches, diagrams, remote brainstormingMITYes, end-to-end encrypted share linksexcalidraw.com free; self-host with Docker
AFFiNEDocs, databases and whiteboards in oneMIT (apps); MPL 2.0 community server; paid EE partsYesCloud free for 3 members; self-hosted community edition free
Nextcloud WhiteboardTeams that already use NextcloudAGPL-3.0Yes, with a collaboration serverInside your Nextcloud
WBOWorkshops and classes, no sign-upAGPL-3.0Yes, anyone with the linkFree public instance; one Docker container
CryptPadPrivate, encrypted team boardsAGPL-3.0Yes, end-to-end encryptedcryptpad.fr or self-hosted
draw.io (Sketch theme)Diagrams on a whiteboard-style canvasApache 2.0Not in the open-source versionapp.diagrams.net; Docker test image
OpenBoardTeaching and presentingGPL-3.0No, one screenDesktop app (Windows, macOS, Linux)
DrawpileDrawing and painting togetherGPL-3.0Yes, shared sessionsDesktop, Android, browser; own server optional
Freeplane / WiseMappingMind mapsGPL / WiseMapping licence (Apache 2.0 + notice)WiseMapping: sharingDesktop / free web app or self-hosted
tldrawFast sketches; building whiteboards into appstldraw licence (source-available)Yes, on tldraw.comtldraw.com free; SDK needs a licence in production
Sources: each project's GitHub repository (licence file, releases) and official website, checked 27 October 2026. Self-hosting is free, but you pay for the server and your own time.

The Best Open-Source Miro Alternatives in 2027

1. Excalidraw: the closest free, open-source Miro replacement

Excalidraw is an MIT-licensed whiteboard with a hand-drawn look: an infinite canvas with shapes, arrows that bind to shapes, free drawing, text, images and shape libraries. On excalidraw.com you can start drawing without an account, invite people to a live session through an end-to-end encrypted link, share read-only links and export to PNG, SVG or the open .excalidraw format. The free plan includes one saved scene, unlimited collaborators and 10 AI requests a day; Excalidraw+ costs $6 per user per month for unlimited scenes, cloud saving, comments, presentations and voice calls. To self-host, the Excalidraw repository includes a Dockerfile, and live collaboration needs a separate collaboration server (Excalidraw publishes an MIT example called excalidraw-room). The code was updated almost daily in October 2026.

2. AFFiNE: whiteboards, docs and databases in one workspace

AFFiNE is the open-source pick if you use Miro next to Notion: every page can switch between a document and Edgeless mode, its infinite whiteboard, with real-time collaboration. The AFFiNE licence file shows a mixed setup: the apps are MIT, the community parts of the server are MPL 2.0, and enterprise features need a paid licence. On AFFiNE's pricing page the self-hosted community edition is free, the cloud Free plan includes 10 GB and up to 3 members per workspace, Pro is $6.75 a month and Team $10 per seat. The AI add-on (writing, mind maps, presentations) costs $8.9 a month billed annually. Canary builds came out daily in October 2026.

3. Nextcloud Whiteboard: Miro inside your own Nextcloud

Nextcloud Whiteboard is the official whiteboard app for Nextcloud and is built on Excalidraw, so it feels familiar. Boards are files in your Nextcloud, you share them like any other file, and people edit them together in real time. The Whiteboard repository (AGPL-3.0) explains the one catch: live collaboration needs a separate collaboration server (Node.js or a Docker image) that shares a secret with Nextcloud, and board recordings also need Chromium and ffmpeg. Version 2.1.2 came out in October 2026. Choose it if your files and calendars already live in Nextcloud.

4. WBO: an instant shared board with no accounts

WBO (short for Whitebophir) is a simple AGPL-3.0 whiteboard where many people draw on a large board at the same time. You create a private board with a random or custom name, send the link, and everyone draws together; nobody needs an account, and the server saves each board as an SVG file. The WBO repository offers one Docker image, read-only boards, optional sign-in tokens and moderation tools for public boards. It has none of Miro's templates or voting, but for a quick workshop or class it is the easiest board to run. Version 2.18.25 was released in October 2026.

5. CryptPad Whiteboard: encrypted boards for private work

CryptPad is an end-to-end encrypted, AGPL-3.0 office suite, so even the server cannot read your boards. Next to documents and spreadsheets it has a Whiteboard for freehand drawing, text and images, a Diagram app for structured diagrams and a Kanban board for planning. The Whiteboard guide shows it is simpler than Miro: you paint, select, move, add text and export to PNG, and only logged-in users can insert images. You can self-host it or use the flagship instance cryptpad.fr, and its Autumn release (2026.10.0) came out in October 2026.
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6. draw.io: diagrams on a whiteboard-style canvas

If your Miro boards are mostly flowcharts, user flows and org charts, draw.io may be enough. Its Sketch theme gives you an endless whiteboard-style canvas with a simple toolbar, freehand drawing and sticky notes, and the source code is Apache 2.0. Two limits from the draw.io repository: the open-source version does not support real-time collaborative editing, and the team does not accept outside pull requests. Its Docker image is labelled a test version, with a paid production version available. We compare it in detail in our open-source draw.io alternatives and draw.io alternatives.

7. OpenBoard: a whiteboard for teaching and presenting

OpenBoard is a GPLv3 interactive whiteboard for schools and universities, maintained by the education department of the canton of Geneva. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, needs no registration, and works with an interactive board, a tablet and projector, or just a computer and mouse. It is not a shared online board, so it suits a founder giving a workshop or training more than a remote team. Version 1.7.7 came out in March 2026.

8. Drawpile: drawing together in real time

Drawpile is a GPLv3 drawing program where several people draw, sketch, paint and even animate on the same canvas at once. You host a session on a server and others join; it runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android and in the browser, including on iPads. It is closer to a shared sketchbook than to Miro's sticky notes, so pick it for visual brainstorming, storyboards and design jams. Version 2.3.1 came out in October 2026.

9. Freeplane and WiseMapping: open-source mind maps

Many teams use Miro mainly for mind maps. Freeplane is a GPL desktop mind-mapping app written in Java that runs on any system with Java, even from a USB drive; pre-releases of version 1.13.4 came out in October 2026. WiseMapping is a free web mind-mapping tool you can share with others, and its open-source edition can be self-hosted. Its licence is Apache 2.0 with one extra term: a "powered by WiseMapping" notice must stay on each page. Version 6.0.11 was released in October 2026.

10. tldraw: a free whiteboard, but no longer open source

tldraw is a fast, clean whiteboard with sticky notes, arrows, drawing and images; tldraw.com is free to use, and you sign in to share a board. The code is public, but the tldraw licence is source-available, not open source: you may not use the SDK in production without a licence key, and the software checks that key. According to tldraw's pricing page, there is a 100-day free trial, a free hobby licence for personal projects and a commercial licence priced by quote. Use tldraw.com as a free board, but do not plan to self-host it for your team without a licence.

Open-Source Miro Alternatives That Are Discontinued, Not Open Source or Not a Fit

The 2025 version of this article listed several tools that no longer belong on an open-source Miro shortlist:
  • FreeMind: the last release, 1.0.1, came out in April 2014. Freeplane, which grew out of FreeMind, is the maintained choice.
  • Xmind: there is no open-source version of the current Xmind apps; xmind.net now redirects to the commercial xmind.com.
  • MindMup: the open-source legacy version was discontinued on 1 January 2017 and its repository is archived. Today's MindMup is a hosted service.
  • Spacedeck Open: often listed as an open-source Miro alternative, but its last release is from 2018 and the last code change from September 2023.
  • tldraw: its licence now forbids production use without a licence key, so it moved from our main list to the source-available entry above.
  • Penpot: open source (MPL 2.0) and free, but it is a design and prototyping tool for wireframes and UI, not a whiteboard. See our open-source Figma alternatives.

Which Open-Source Miro Alternative Should You Choose?

  • You want the closest free Miro replacement today: Excalidraw on excalidraw.com, then self-host it once the team grows.
  • You want boards next to your docs and wiki: AFFiNE.
  • Your company already runs Nextcloud: Nextcloud Whiteboard.
  • You run workshops or classes with guests: WBO (no accounts) or OpenBoard (one screen).
  • Your boards hold sensitive client or investor information: CryptPad, end-to-end encrypted.
  • Your boards are mostly diagrams or mind maps: draw.io, Freeplane or WiseMapping.
  • You need sticky-note templates, voting and timers out of the box: open-source tools are thinner here; compare the hosted options in our Miro alternatives list.
Want AI features on the board? See our open-source alternatives to Miro AI. Replacing other visual tools too? We have checked open-source Mural alternatives, open-source Lucidchart alternatives and open-source PlantUML alternatives, and compared Figma vs Miro and Miro vs Notion.

How Founders Use an Open-Source Whiteboard

For an early-stage startup, a whiteboard is where the business takes shape: the customer journey, the lean canvas, the first user flows and the weekly planning board. Start with one shared board per project and move decisions into your task tool once they are made; our lists of open-source Trello alternatives with AI and open-source Notion alternatives with AI cover that side. For a distributed team, see the collaboration tools for remote startups and our remote team management practices, and for running the sessions themselves, these brainstorming tools for startups.
If you still prefer Miro itself, check the Miro for Startups programme before you pay. When the board turns into a pitch or social posts, the free Canva Pro alternatives help with the visuals. Before you build anything, test the idea with real customers, and turn your research into articles with the F/MS AI SEO Tool so people find you in Google and AI assistants.
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FAQ About Open-Source Miro Alternatives

What is the best open-source alternative to Miro?

Excalidraw is the closest free match: an MIT-licensed infinite whiteboard with live collaboration through end-to-end encrypted links, which you can use on excalidraw.com or host yourself. AFFiNE is the better pick if you also want docs and databases.

Can I self-host a Miro alternative?

Yes. Excalidraw, AFFiNE, Nextcloud Whiteboard, WBO and CryptPad can all run on your own server. Miro itself has no self-hosted version.

Is Excalidraw free?

Yes. The code is MIT-licensed and excalidraw.com is free with one saved scene, unlimited collaborators and 10 AI requests a day. Excalidraw+ costs $6 per user per month for unlimited scenes and cloud saving.

Is tldraw open source?

Not any more in the strict sense. The tldraw licence allows development use, but production use of the SDK needs a licence key. The tldraw.com whiteboard is free to use.

How much does Miro cost in 2027?

When we checked in October 2026, Miro's Free plan kept 3 boards editable, Starter cost $8 and Business $20 per member per month billed yearly, and Enterprise was quoted from 30 members.

Which open-source whiteboard works without accounts?

WBO: you create a board, send the link and everyone draws together without signing up. Excalidraw also lets you start a live session without an account.

Is there an encrypted alternative to Miro?

CryptPad's Whiteboard and Diagram apps are end-to-end encrypted, and Excalidraw's live collaboration links are end-to-end encrypted too.

Does draw.io support real-time collaboration?

Not in the open-source version. Its GitHub README says real-time collaborative editing is not supported in that version. Use Excalidraw, Nextcloud Whiteboard or CryptPad if people need to draw together live.

What happened to FreeMind and MindMup?

FreeMind's last release came out in April 2014, and MindMup's open-source legacy version was discontinued in 2017. Freeplane and WiseMapping are the maintained open-source mind-mapping tools.

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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. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
2026-10-27 22:48 Top Alternatives