Excalidraw vs Figma — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
Excalidraw starts at $7/mo. Figma starts at $20/mo. Excalidraw is $13/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Figma.
See price history: Excalidraw · Figma
Open-source hand-drawn-style whiteboard for sketching diagrams, wireframes, and architecture flows. Positioned as the alternative to Miro/FigJam for engineers and technical folks who want low-fidelity 'thinking together' tools that don't feel like corporate whiteboards. Distinctive charmingly-imperfect aesthetic (looks like a sharpie sketch). Base tool is free forever; Excalidraw+ at $7/mo adds cloud storage + collaboration. Popular with engineering teams and technical Twitter.
Browser-based design tool that killed Sketch (Mac-only) through real-time collaboration. Adobe tried to acquire for $20B in 2022; deal blocked by regulators. Figma IPO'd in 2025 at higher valuation than the failed Adobe deal. Now expanding into product management (FigJam whiteboards, Figma Slides). Priced per editor across three seat types (Collab $3, Dev $12, Full $16) — the real cost lever is which seats each teammate needs, not which plan.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | Excalidraw monthly | Excalidraw annual | Figma monthly | Figma annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free / starter | Free / Starter | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Entry paid | Plus / Professional | $7 | $6 | $20 | $16 |
| Teams | — / Organization | — | — | $55 | $55 |
| Enterprise | — / Enterprise | — | — | $90 | $90 |
Tier names differ across vendors. Rows are aligned by tier role, not name. Full tier structures on each tool's page.
What each is best for
Excalidraw is worth it if… engineers, PMs, and designers who need whiteboarding + diagrams + collaborative sketches with a distinctive hand-drawn aesthetic — particularly for technical architecture docs and lightweight wireframes. Free (open-source) covers unlimited use; Plus tier adds cloud storage, versioning, and team libraries.
Figma is worth it if… Figma is the design tool of choice for teams of 3+ working on web/mobile UI/UX with real-time collaboration and cross-functional handoff to PMs and engineers. Professional covers most design teams; Organization adds design systems and SSO.
Bottom line: Similar positioning, closer to a preference call than a strategic one.
Choose Excalidraw over Figma if…
Choose Excalidraw if…
- You're comfortable with Excalidraw's from $7/mo entry point.
- You match the profile Excalidraw is built for: engineers, PMs, and designers who need whiteboarding + diagrams + collaborative sketches with a distinctive hand-drawn aesthetic — particularly for technical architecture docs and lightweight wireframes.
- You need a general-purpose design & creative option rather than a vertical-specific one.
Choose Figma if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (per seat, from $20/mo).
- You match the profile Figma is built for: the design tool of choice for teams of 3+ working on web/mobile UI/UX with real-time collaboration and cross-functional handoff to PMs and engineers.
- You need a general-purpose design & creative option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| Excalidraw | Figma | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Entry price | $7/mo | $20/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | — | Per Seat |
| Last verified | September 15, 2026 | September 10, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified September 15, 2026. Tracked daily.
Frequently asked questions
See other alternatives in Design & Creative
Explore more alternatives
Common questions about Excalidraw and Figma
- How much does Excalidraw cost in 2026?
- Does Excalidraw have a free plan?
- How often does Excalidraw change prices?
- What are the best Excalidraw alternatives in 2026?
- How much does Figma cost in 2026?
- Does Figma have a free plan?
- How often does Figma change prices?
- What are the best Figma alternatives in 2026?