What this tool does
This whiteboard helps you sketch diagrams, flows and rough UI ideas quickly so early thinking and collaboration do not depend on heavyweight design tools.
- Provides a freeform visual canvas for sketching diagrams, architecture maps, wireframes and flows using drag-and-drop shapes and freehand drawing.
- Uses the Excalidraw open-source library to give a hand-drawn aesthetic that is clear and approachable without looking overly formal.
- Helps teams capture early-stage thinking visually when text descriptions are not enough and heavyweight design tools would slow things down.
How to use it
- 1
Start drawing by adding shapes, lines, text labels or freehand strokes from the toolbar.
- 2
Connect shapes to create flows, relationships or dependency maps.
- 3
Add labels to clarify component names, roles or system boundaries.
- 4
Export the drawing or copy it as an image to share in a document, ticket, pull request or presentation.
Example
An engineer sketches a quick microservice communication diagram during a planning call, labels the services and data flows, and exports the result for inclusion in a design document.
Freeform sketch of three services with arrows showing request direction and a shared database component.Exported PNG or SVG diagram ready to embed in a Confluence page, GitHub issue or design doc.Use cases
- Sketching architecture ideas during planning sessions.
- Creating rough wireframes for product or internal tooling work.
- Explaining flows visually before they are turned into formal docs.
Common mistakes
Trying to make whiteboard sketches production-quality
Excalidraw diagrams are meant for rough, fast communication. If you need polished architecture diagrams, consider dedicated tooling after the idea is settled.
Not labelling components clearly
A diagram with unlabelled boxes communicates nothing. Take a moment to add names, roles or brief descriptions to each component.
Not saving the work before closing
Browser-based whiteboards do not always persist between sessions. Export the diagram or save the source before closing the tab.
FAQ
Can I collaborate with teammates on the whiteboard?
The browser-based version here is for individual use. Excalidraw also has a collaborative version at excalidraw.com with real-time multiplayer support.
Can I export my diagrams?
Yes. Diagrams can typically be exported as PNG or SVG for embedding in documents, presentations or issue trackers.
Is my drawing saved automatically?
Export or save your diagram manually before closing the tab to avoid losing your work.
Does this upload my diagram data?
No. The whiteboard runs locally in the browser by default.
When should I use a whiteboard instead of Mermaid?
Use the whiteboard for freeform, visual-first thinking when diagram structure is not yet defined. Use Mermaid when you need structured, text-based diagrams that can live in source control.
Privacy and security
- Board activity stays in the browser during editing.
- No sketches are uploaded to a third-party service by default.
- That is helpful for internal product ideas, drafts and unreleased diagrams.
Related tools
Related tools for the next step in the same workflow:
Next step
Sketch the idea locally, then move into documentation tools when the whiteboard needs a cleaner written follow-up.