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The 9 best free and open interactive whiteboard software options are Excalidraw, OpenBoard, WBO, Drawpile, Nextcloud Whiteboard, CryptPad Whiteboard, Lorien, Refurboard, and OurBoard. Excalidraw is the best general-purpose browser canvas; OpenBoard leads for classrooms; WBO is the simplest self-hosted collaboration choice. “Free” and “open” have different meanings, so check each license and hosting model.
The recommendations below are ordered by audience rather than by a single universal score. A teacher annotating a lesson, an artist sharing a canvas, a remote team protecting confidential notes, and a hobbyist setting up a projector need different software.
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Key takeaways
- Excalidraw is the best overall browser whiteboard for quick sketching, diagrams, exports, and real-time collaboration.
- OpenBoard is the strongest classroom choice, with Windows, macOS, and Linux support, no registration requirement, and a GPLv3 license.
- WBO is the best lightweight self-hosted option, with real-time boards, persistent state, private boards, Docker deployment, and an AGPL-3.0 license.
- Drawpile is better for collaborative drawing, painting, and animation than for conventional business diagrams.
- CryptPad Whiteboard is the privacy-focused choice because content is encrypted in the browser under its stated design assumptions.
- Free software does not always mean zero cost: self-hosting can still require a server, domain, backups, maintenance, and technical knowledge.
What does “free and open” mean for interactive whiteboard software?
Free and open interactive whiteboard software usually means that the source code is publicly available under a recognized free or open-source license, not merely that a hosted website has a free tier. A free download, free hosted use, open-source licensing, and self-hosting are separate properties.
This list prioritizes software with publicly available source code and an identifiable free or open-source license. Where the dossier does not specify a particular license, the article says so rather than guessing. Hosted services can be convenient, but self-hosting may add hosting, domain, backup, administration, and upgrade costs.
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- 【Wide Application】These touch screen stylus pens can be used for writing, clicking, education presentations, and other operations on the infrared touch screen.
- 【Durable Material】These pens are made from premium plastic material, which is sturdy and Durable.
- 【Precise Sensitivity】The touch screen and smart board contact head has excellent response and sensitivity on infrared screen, can avoid the damage to the screen.
- 【Easy Operation】The touch pen is small size, lightweight and incredibly easy to use and operate, which allows for effortless handling.
- 【Flexible Use】These Electronic Whiteboard Teacher Pen support infrared, pressure sensors, optical whiteboards and interactive tablets.
“Interactive whiteboard” also has two meanings. Most entries are software canvases that work with a mouse, stylus, or touchscreen. Refurboard is different: it helps turn an ordinary projector or display into a physical interactive whiteboard using a webcam and infrared pen.
Which free and open interactive whiteboard software is best?
Excalidraw is the best general-purpose choice, OpenBoard is best for teachers, WBO is best for a small self-hosted collaborative board, and Drawpile is best for collaborative art. The right choice depends more on collaboration, privacy, offline use, and hardware than on a universal feature count.
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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →| Software | Best for | Access and platforms | Collaboration | Self-hosting or deployment | License | Main caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excalidraw | Quick browser whiteboarding | Web browser; local-first browser workflow | Real-time collaboration; hosted editor includes end-to-end encryption | Hosted editor plus library integration and related deployments | MIT | Less classroom-specific than OpenBoard |
| OpenBoard | Schools and classrooms | Windows, macOS, Linux; officially maintained versions include Windows 10+, macOS 12+, and Debian 12 | Primarily local presentation, handwriting, and annotation | Desktop installation rather than a hosted collaboration server | GPLv3 | Not primarily a remote real-time collaboration service |
| WBO | Lightweight self-hosted collaboration | Web browser with a server deployment | Multiple users draw simultaneously; boards update in real time and persist | Docker and Node.js deployment; private boards | AGPL-3.0 | Smaller feature set than large visual-workspace products |
| Drawpile | Collaborative drawing and painting | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and browser | Shared drawing, painting, sketching, and animation sessions | Community-hosted sessions are available | Free/libre/open-source project; specific license not stated in the dossier | Art-oriented rather than diagram-oriented |
| Nextcloud Whiteboard | Existing Nextcloud teams | Browser app inside Nextcloud | Real-time collaboration with shapes, text, connectors, and synchronization | Runs with a Nextcloud installation and WebSocket server | AGPL-3.0 | Best fit requires an existing or planned Nextcloud deployment |
| CryptPad Whiteboard | Privacy-focused collaboration | Browser; hosted instances or self-hosted software | Collaborative encrypted-suite workflow | Flagship hosted instance, other public instances, or self-hosting | AGPL | Whiteboard is one application in a broader office suite |
| Lorien | Offline notes and brainstorming | Windows, Linux, and macOS desktop app | Primarily individual use | Local desktop application | MIT | Work in progress; save-file format may change |
| Refurboard | Projector-based interactive boards | Windows, macOS, and Linux with webcam, infrared pen, and projector or display | Classroom participation and lesson annotation, not cloud collaboration | Local hardware-and-software setup | Free/open-source project; specific license not stated in the dossier | Requires compatible hardware and calibration |
| OurBoard | Simple self-hosted canvas | Web browser with a server deployment | Online collaborative canvas | Self-hostable | Open-source project; specific license not stated in the dossier | Project evidence and feature documentation are less extensive |
1. Excalidraw: best overall for quick browser whiteboarding
Excalidraw is the best overall free and open interactive whiteboard software for people who want to open a browser and start sketching immediately. The hand-drawn visual style makes rough diagrams, flowcharts, wireframes, architecture sketches, and meeting notes feel less formal without sacrificing basic diagramming utility.
Excalidraw provides an infinite canvas, shape libraries, image support, PNG and SVG export, real-time collaboration, and an open .excalidraw file format. Its browser-based workflow is local-first, which is useful when a user wants to begin without building a server. The official hosted editor also provides end-to-end encryption for collaborative sessions, while developers can integrate the MIT-licensed library or build related deployments from the public project.
The main trade-off is focus. Excalidraw is a flexible visual canvas, not a classroom-specific teaching application or a full project-management workspace. Choose OpenBoard if the priority is lesson delivery on an interactive classroom display, and choose WBO or Nextcloud Whiteboard if the priority is controlling the collaboration server.
2. OpenBoard: best free whiteboard software for teachers
OpenBoard is the best choice for teachers, schools, universities, and presenters who need a desktop teaching whiteboard rather than a browser-based team canvas. OpenBoard supports handwriting and annotation with a mouse, tablet, or interactive whiteboard and does not require registration.
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OpenBoard is free, cross-platform, and GPLv3-licensed. The official project repository identifies version 1.7.7 as the latest stable release at the time represented by the research, with Windows 10+, macOS 12+, and Debian 12 listed among the officially maintained platforms. The repository also identifies version 1.8.0 as under active development; consult the official OpenBoard repository before selecting an installer for a managed school fleet.
OpenBoard is primarily a local classroom-presenter tool. It is a strong fit for writing over lessons, demonstrating concepts, and letting students interact with a projected or touch-enabled board, but it should not be treated as a direct replacement for a remote real-time collaboration service such as Excalidraw, WBO, Drawpile, or Nextcloud Whiteboard.
A mouse works, but a stylus can make handwriting and annotation more natural. A pressure-sensitive drawing tablet is an optional input upgrade for teachers who do not have an interactive display; OpenBoard supports tablet input, but a tablet is not required for ordinary use.
3. WBO: best lightweight self-hosted collaborative whiteboard
WBO is the best fit for a team that wants a small, transparent, self-hosted online whiteboard without adopting a large commercial visual-workspace suite. Multiple users can draw on the same large virtual board, boards update in real time, and board state persists.
WBO keeps collaboration simple: create or open a board, then share its URL with the other participants. The project documents Docker and Node.js deployment, private boards, SVG preview export, and AGPL-3.0 licensing in its official repository.
WBO is a practical choice when deployment control matters more than polished enterprise features. The administrator remains responsible for server security, access control, backups, updates, and availability. “Self-hosted” means the software can be run under your control; it does not mean that the server, domain, storage, or maintenance is free.
4. Drawpile: best for collaborative drawing, painting, and animation
Drawpile is the best option for artists, illustrators, hobby groups, and classrooms centered on shared drawing rather than business diagrams. It lets multiple people draw, paint, sketch, and animate on the same canvas and supports pressure-sensitive drawing tablets, offline use, more than 200 built-in brushes, and community-hosted sessions.
Drawpile supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and a browser version. The project is better understood as a collaborative drawing studio that can also act as a whiteboard, not as a conventional flowchart or planning application. Its official site reported version 2.3.1-beta.1 on May 16, 2026; because that is a beta release, verify the current stable download and platform notes on the Drawpile documentation and About page before deploying it broadly.
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- Infrared touch screen pen is a stylus pen used for operating infrared touch screens such as projectors. Stylus pens for touch screen can be used for writing, clicking, education presentations, and other operations on the infrared touch screen. Whiteboard optical touch pen, usually used for teaching, conference rooms, lectures, training, business presentations, etc.
- Touch infrared screen pen, is in size of :16mm x 130mm/0.63-inch x 5-inch(D*L), 10mm/0.4-inch pen tips size
- Highly sensitive and high-precision stylus touch pen, soft, and does not harm the infrared capacitive touch screen, used for electronic whiteboard, electronic display screen, and digital signature board. Lightweight, small in size, easy to carry around, can be placed in a pocket and used at any time, making it convenient for education demonstration; Ergonomic design for comfortable and durable grip
- Using an infrared touch screen pen, you can write on infrared screen devices such as projectors, with precise touch control and smooth writing, and the pen head can be repeatedly replaced
- Please note that the stylus pen only applies to infrared screen devices
Drawpile is especially compelling when pen pressure, brush variety, and shared artistic technique matter. A pressure-sensitive drawing tablet can improve the drawing experience, although Drawpile can also be used with other supported input methods. Choose Excalidraw for cleaner diagrams and quick browser access.
5. Nextcloud Whiteboard: best for teams already using Nextcloud
Nextcloud Whiteboard is the best whiteboard choice for an organization that already operates Nextcloud and wants an infinite canvas inside that environment. The AGPL-3.0 app supports real-time collaboration, shapes, text, connectors, browser storage, automatic synchronization, and semi-offline operation.
The application uses a client-first architecture and a WebSocket server for live sessions. The Nextcloud App Store listing identifies stable version 1.5.9 for Nextcloud versions 28 through 34 in the represented release information. Version compatibility matters: confirm the app’s supported range against the organization’s actual Nextcloud version before installation.
Nextcloud Whiteboard has a strong administrative advantage for existing Nextcloud users because identity, storage, and deployment can sit within the same broader platform. The trade-off is complexity for everyone else. Installing Nextcloud solely to obtain a whiteboard may require more server administration than using Excalidraw, WBO, or a hosted CryptPad instance. Nextcloud’s commercial Enterprise packaging should also be distinguished from the open-source Whiteboard app itself.
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6. CryptPad Whiteboard: best for privacy-focused collaboration
CryptPad Whiteboard is the strongest choice for users who want a collaborative whiteboard within an encrypted office suite. CryptPad encrypts content in the browser, and its official materials state that service administrators cannot read the content under the design’s stated assumptions.
Users can work from the flagship hosted instance, choose another public instance, or self-host the software. The CryptPad documentation about public and self-hosted instances explains those deployment choices. The public project is AGPL-licensed and includes multiple collaborative applications, so CryptPad Whiteboard is one component of a broader encrypted suite rather than a narrowly focused whiteboard product.
CryptPad is a better fit than a generic whiteboard when confidentiality and data control are central requirements. Encryption does not remove every operational responsibility: users still need to assess the chosen instance, account recovery model, sharing permissions, availability, and backups. Self-hosting may improve control while adding administration.
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Lorien is the best option for personal offline notes, brainstorming, and a lightweight digital notebook. The MIT-licensed desktop app runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS and provides an infinite canvas focused on performance, simplicity, and small save files.
Lorien stores brush strokes as collections of points rather than as bitmap images. That design suits handwritten notes and sketches that need to remain editable and compact. Lorien is primarily an individual tool, not a real-time collaborative whiteboard service.
The project describes Lorien as a work in progress and warns that its save-file format may change. Use Lorien for personal notes, idea mapping, and offline sketching; do not make it the sole repository for mission-critical shared work unless the project’s format and backup risks are acceptable.
8. Refurboard: best for turning a projector into an interactive whiteboard
Refurboard is the best choice when the goal is to add interactive functionality to an existing projector or display rather than merely open a software canvas. The classroom project uses a webcam and infrared pen to track writing, drawing, lesson annotation, student participation, and educational activities on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Refurboard requires compatible hardware and calibration, so it is not a cloud collaboration platform and is not a substitute for Excalidraw or WBO when participants need to join remotely. The setup can be attractive for schools that already have a projector or display and want to avoid buying a proprietary interactive panel.
The hardware is the critical compatibility point. An infrared pen for interactive whiteboard may be required, but not every infrared stylus works with every camera or calibration workflow. Refurboard’s official materials describe compatible low-cost infrared-pen approaches; confirm the camera, pen, operating system, and projector geometry before purchasing.
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- 2-in-1 Dual Tip Design: This smartboard pen features a unique double‑head design: a durable felt tip at the top for smooth writing and a sensitive PE tip at the bottom for precise navigation. Two tools in one cover all your interactive screen needs.
- No Charging or Pairing Required: These smart board pens are ready to use right out of the box – no Bluetooth pairing, no batteries, no charging. Simply pick up and write, making them reliable for meetings, classes, and presentations without interruptions.
- High Sensitivity & Scratch‑Free: Crafted with high‑quality ABS material and precision tips, this digital pen delivers ultra‑high sensitivity and accurate tracking on infrared screens. The smooth, rounded tips protect your screen from scratches while providing a natural writing feel.
- Compatible with All Infrared Touch Screens: These stylus pen are specifically designed for infrared‑based interactive whiteboards, smartboards, and displays. Perfect for use IR touch screens. (Not for capacitive touchscreens like phones or tablets.)
- Wide Application for Home, Office & Classroom: Ideal for teachers, presenters, and home users. Use this smartboard pen for office meetings, lectures, brainstorming sessions, remote collaboration, or creative drawing. A must‑have accessory for any infrared touch screen environment.
Refurboard also needs a webcam capable of seeing infrared light, or a smartphone used as a webcam. An infrared-sensitive USB webcam is an optional setup component, not a universal accessory for ordinary whiteboard software. If no suitable projector or display exists, an interactive classroom display is an alternative, but that changes the cost and hardware requirements substantially.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.9. OurBoard: best simple self-hosted alternative
OurBoard is a sensible choice for users who want a simple online whiteboard that is free to use, open source, and self-hostable. The project is intentionally positioned as a lightweight alternative to larger visual-collaboration products.
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OurBoard’s appeal is low friction: users who can deploy a small web application can run a straightforward collaborative canvas under their own control. However, the available project evidence is less extensive than the documentation for Excalidraw, OpenBoard, WBO, or Drawpile. Treat OurBoard conservatively: choose it for a simple canvas and straightforward deployment, not for a mature feature matrix, extensive integrations, or proven enterprise operations that the dossier does not document.
How should you choose between the nine whiteboards?
Choose by workflow first, then by license and deployment model. A classroom presenter, remote team, digital artist, privacy-sensitive organization, and offline note-taker need different kinds of “whiteboard.”
| Your priority | Recommended choice | Why | What to verify first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast browser sketching and diagrams | Excalidraw | Infinite canvas, shape libraries, image support, exports, open file format, and real-time collaboration | Whether the hosted workflow or a related deployment meets data-control requirements |
| Teaching and lesson annotation | OpenBoard | Desktop classroom application with handwriting, annotation, no registration, and interactive-whiteboard support | Operating-system version and classroom input hardware |
| Small self-hosted team board | WBO | Real-time shared boards, persistence, private boards, and documented Docker/Node.js deployment | Server administration, access control, backups, and HTTPS setup |
| Collaborative art | Drawpile | Shared drawing, painting, animation, pressure-sensitive tablet support, and extensive brush selection | Current stable release and session-hosting arrangement |
| Existing Nextcloud installation | Nextcloud Whiteboard | Whiteboard features inside an existing Nextcloud deployment with synchronization and live sessions | Nextcloud/app version compatibility and WebSocket configuration |
| Encrypted collaboration | CryptPad Whiteboard | Browser-side encryption and hosted, public-instance, or self-hosted options | Instance trust, sharing controls, recovery, and backup expectations |
| Offline personal notes | Lorien | Local infinite canvas, small save files, and simple point-based brush storage | Work-in-progress status and possible save-format changes |
| Projector-based classroom interaction | Refurboard | Uses webcam and infrared pen tracking to add interactivity to a projector or display | Infrared camera, pen compatibility, calibration, and room setup |
| Minimal self-hosted canvas | OurBoard | Simple open-source, free-to-use, self-hostable online board | Feature maturity, documentation, and maintenance requirements |
Do you need a server to use free whiteboard software?
You do not need a server for local tools such as OpenBoard and Lorien, or for starting with Excalidraw’s browser-based workflow. A server becomes relevant when you want to host collaborative boards yourself, integrate a board into an existing platform, or control where shared data is stored.
WBO, Nextcloud Whiteboard, CryptPad, and OurBoard can support self-hosted workflows in different ways. Self-hosting requires more than installing the application: plan for updates, authentication, permissions, encryption in transit, backups, monitoring, and recovery. A hosted instance or managed service reduces administration but introduces a provider and data-location decision.
Can these tools work with a tablet or interactive display?
Yes, but hardware support differs by application. OpenBoard supports handwriting and annotation with a mouse, tablet, or interactive whiteboard, while Drawpile supports pressure-sensitive drawing tablets. Excalidraw and other browser canvases can accept mouse, stylus, or touchscreen input when the operating system and browser expose that input correctly.
Refurboard is the hardware-specific exception. Refurboard needs an infrared-capable webcam, an infrared pen, a projector or display, and calibration. A normal graphics tablet does not automatically turn a projector into an interactive display.
Is tldraw included among the nine open-source whiteboards?
No. tldraw should not be counted as one of the nine free and open-source products because its official license documentation says that the SDK is not open source under the relevant definition. Its repository and source code are public, but production use requires a valid license key; commercial projects require a commercial license, while noncommercial projects may request a discretionary hobby license with a watermark. See the tldraw license documentation before treating it as an alternative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does free whiteboard software always mean open source?
Free download, free hosted use, and open-source licensing are different. Open-source software makes source code available under a license, while a hosted service may be free to use but can still limit features, storage, or control; self-hosting can add server and maintenance costs.
Do I need a server to use an open-source whiteboard?
No. OpenBoard and Lorien can run locally without a collaboration server, while WBO, Nextcloud Whiteboard, CryptPad, and OurBoard involve server-based deployment for self-hosted collaboration. Excalidraw can be used through its browser workflow without setting up your own server.
Which free whiteboard software works with a projector?
Refurboard is the option designed to make an existing projector or display interactive, but it requires a compatible infrared-sensitive webcam, infrared pen, and calibration. The other recommendations are primarily software canvases and do not by themselves add touch tracking to ordinary projection hardware.
Which open-source whiteboard is best for privacy?
CryptPad Whiteboard is the privacy-focused choice because CryptPad encrypts content in the browser under its stated design assumptions. Users can choose the flagship hosted instance, another public instance, or self-host the software, but the instance and operational setup still need to be evaluated.
Is tldraw open-source whiteboard software?
No. tldraw has public source code, but its official license documentation says the SDK is not open source under the relevant definition and requires a valid production license key. Commercial projects require a commercial license, while noncommercial users may request a discretionary hobby license with a watermark.
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The Bottom Line
For most people, start with Excalidraw. Choose OpenBoard for classroom teaching, WBO for a small self-hosted collaborative board, Drawpile for collaborative art, CryptPad Whiteboard for browser-encrypted collaboration, Lorien for offline personal notes, Refurboard for projector-based interactivity, and Nextcloud Whiteboard when Nextcloud is already part of the organization’s infrastructure.
