Excalidraw vs Runway — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
Excalidraw starts at $7/mo. Runway uses custom pricing — request a quote to compare.
See price history: Excalidraw · Runway
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.
Leader in AI video generation (Gen-3 Alpha, Gen-4). Pricing: Free (limited daily credits), Standard $15/mo (625 credits), Pro $35/mo (2,250 credits), Unlimited $95/mo (unlimited generations), Enterprise custom. Popular with filmmakers, marketers, and content creators producing AI-generated video at high quality.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | Excalidraw monthly | Excalidraw annual | Runway monthly | Runway annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free / starter | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Entry paid | Plus / Standard | $7 | $6 | $15 | $12 |
| Mid tier | — / Pro | — | — | $35 | $28 |
| Pro / power | — / Unlimited | — | — | $95 | $76 |
| Enterprise | — / Enterprise | — | — | Custom | Custom |
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.
Runway is worth it if… filmmakers and video-heavy content creators who need the highest-quality AI video generation available. Standard ($15) suits casual experimentation; Pro ($35) suits regular creator use; Unlimited ($95) suits professional filmmakers.
Bottom line: Similar positioning, closer to a preference call than a strategic one.
Choose Excalidraw over Runway 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 Runway if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (tiered, custom pricing).
- You match the profile Runway is built for: filmmakers and video-heavy content creators who need the highest-quality AI video generation available.
- You need a general-purpose design & creative option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| Excalidraw | Runway | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Entry price | $7/mo | Custom |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | — | Tiered |
| Last verified | September 15, 2026 | — |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified September 15, 2026. Tracked daily.