Kanvaz

Free plan LinuxMacWindows

What Kanvaz is

Kanvaz is a free offline reference board with an infinite canvas for collecting and connecting visual material. Its boards can contain 3D models, images, GIFs, video, audio, notes, colors, URLs, and file pointers. Supported 3D models can be orbited live, viewed with different shading modes, and played with animations; previewing .blend files requires Blender.

Users can connect references through seven typed relationships and explore them as a graph in Map View. A card can appear on multiple boards, with edits reflected wherever it is used. The optional MCP Bridge lets Claude Desktop or Claude Code read and modify the active board over local IPC, and those changes are recorded in undo history. Plugins can add card types, commands, themes, and features; the maker says creators can sell plugins without a marketplace cut. The maker says boards are stored locally, with no accounts, telemetry, or cloud storage, and network requests are user initiated. Kanvaz runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Who it suits

Kanvaz suits VFX and 3D artists, as well as others who collect, connect, and revisit references. It may fit people who want an offline board for multiple kinds of media and linked visual material.

What it does well

Boards support a range of media and file pointers
Map View graphs seven typed relationships
Cards can be shared across multiple boards
Boards are stored locally without accounts or telemetry
Available for Linux, macOS, and Windows

What to know first

Previewing .blend files requires Blender
Collaboration level is listed as none
Known limitations include no PDF text search
macOS build is unsigned

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Free	Free forever · MIT licensed · no feature paywall	Free

As github.com lists them, read 4 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Open the Kanvaz project on GitHub.
Download the release for Linux, macOS, or Windows.
Install or launch Kanvaz on your chosen platform.
Create a board and add supported media or reference cards.
Optionally install Blender to preview .blend files.

Verdict

Kanvaz combines a local visual board with linked references, 3D previews, and plugin support. Consider its listed playback and PDF limitations, as well as the Blender requirement for .blend previews.

Questions

How much does Kanvaz cost?

The listed plan costs nothing. It is MIT licensed and has no feature paywall.

Which platforms does Kanvaz support?

Kanvaz runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Does Kanvaz support collaboration?

Its listed collaboration level is none.

Does Kanvaz store boards online?

The maker says boards are stored locally and that Kanvaz has no cloud storage, accounts, or telemetry.

Can I preview .blend files?

Yes, but Blender must be installed to preview .blend files.

Can Claude access a Kanvaz board?

The optional MCP Bridge lets Claude Desktop or Claude Code read and modify the active board over local IPC.

Facts from Kanvaz's own pages

3D preview: Supported 3D models can be orbited live with multiple shading modes and animation playback; Blender must be installed to preview .blend files. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Audience: The maker describes Kanvaz as built for VFX artists, 3D artists, and people whose work involves collecting, connecting, and revisiting references. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Connections: Users can connect references through seven typed relationships and view them as a graph in Map View. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
File format: A .kanvaz board is a ZIP container with board data and embedded assets, each checked with a SHA-256 integrity hash. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Headquarters: Navi Mumbai, India · github.com, 28 Sept 2026
Integrations: The optional MCP Bridge lets Claude Desktop or Claude Code read and modify the active board over local IPC, with changes recorded in undo history. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Limitations: The maker lists text-only custom properties, possible MKV/AVI playback issues, no PDF text search, and an unsigned macOS build among known limitations. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Media: Boards support 3D models, images, GIFs, video, audio, notes, colors, URLs, and file pointers. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Plugins: Kanvaz supports plugins for card types, commands, themes, and features, and says creators can sell plugins without a marketplace cut. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Privacy: The maker says Kanvaz has no accounts, telemetry, or cloud storage, and that network requests are user initiated; boards are stored locally. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Purpose: Kanvaz is an offline infinite-canvas reference board for VFX and 3D artists and others who collect and connect visual references. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Security: The security policy says only the latest release receives security updates and asks vulnerability reporters to email the maker rather than open a public issue. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Shared cards: The same reference card can appear on multiple boards, with edits reflected wherever it is used. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Support: The maker invites bug reports and feature requests through GitHub issues or email and says updates ship most weeks. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026

Where Kanvaz stands on Freedom251

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