Excalidraw vs Sketch — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
Excalidraw starts at $7/mo. Sketch starts at $14/mo. Excalidraw is $7/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Sketch.
See price history: Excalidraw · Sketch
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.
The design tool that dominated pro workflows in 2015-2019 before Figma killed it through real-time collaboration. Positioned as the alternative to Figma for designers who prefer Mac-native performance and offline capability. Distinctive for one-time purchase option ($120) plus subscription ($12/user/mo) — Figma is subscription-only. Bootstrapped Dutch company, still profitable serving pro Mac users who never made the Figma switch.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | Excalidraw monthly | Excalidraw annual | Sketch monthly | Sketch annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free / starter | Free / — | Free | Free | — | — |
| Entry paid | Plus / Standard | $7 | $6 | $14 | $12 |
| Teams | — / Business | — | — | — | $20 |
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.
Sketch is worth it if… macOS designers who want one-time-purchase native UI/UX design tools — the OG Figma alternative for teams that don't need real-time browser collaboration. Standard subscription for latest updates; alternative one-time purchase for a version.
Bottom line: Similar positioning, closer to a preference call than a strategic one.
Choose Excalidraw over Sketch 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 Sketch if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (per seat, from $14/mo).
- You match the profile Sketch is built for: macOS designers who want one-time-purchase native UI/UX design tools — the OG Figma alternative for teams that don't need real-time browser collaboration.
- You need a general-purpose design & creative option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| Excalidraw | Sketch | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Entry price | $7/mo | $14/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | — | Per Seat |
| Last verified | September 15, 2026 | September 12, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified September 15, 2026. Tracked daily.
Frequently asked questions
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Common questions about Excalidraw and Sketch
- 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 Sketch cost in 2026?
- Does Sketch have a free plan?
- How often does Sketch change prices?
- What are the best Sketch alternatives in 2026?