Freedom251 › Collaborative Whiteboard Software
WBO
What WBO is
WBO is a collaborative online whiteboard where multiple people can draw on one large virtual board at the same time. Connected users see changes in real time, and the board’s state is persisted. To work together, users share a board URL; boards can be public, private through a random link, or named private. The maker lists art, entertainment, design, and teaching as possible uses, and diagramming tools are included. WBO is free and open source under the AGPL-3.0 license, with a free plan and web access. It can also be self-hosted: the project documents running it with Docker or Node.js, with Node.js version 22 or later required for direct deployment. Self-hosted instances support JSON Web Token authentication and capabilities for opening, editing, and clearing boards. The README also documents OpenTelemetry export for server metrics, logs, and traces. Its initial capability-refactor phase lacks board owners, administrators, sharing controls, and a permission-management interface.
Who it suits
WBO suits people who want to draw or diagram together for activities such as design, teaching, art, or entertainment. It also fits teams that want to self-host a web whiteboard.
What it does well
- Free plan and AGPL-3.0 open-source license
- Real-time drawing with persisted board state
- Public, random-link private, and named private boards
- Self-hosting documented with Docker or Node.js
What to know first
- Direct Node.js deployment requires version 22 or later
- No board owners, administrators, or sharing controls in the initial refactor phase
- Permission management UI is not included
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| WBO | Free and open-source online whiteboard | Free |
As wbo.dev.mur.at lists them, read 9 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
WBO combines shared real-time drawing with web access and a self-hosting option. Its documented permission-management gaps may matter to groups that need board owners, sharing controls, or an administrative interface.
Facts from WBO's own pages
- Authentication
- Self-hosted instances support authentication with JSON Web Tokens, including board-specific access claims. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Deployment requirement
- The README specifies Node.js version 22 or later for running WBO directly without Docker. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The README documents OpenTelemetry export for server metrics, logs, and traces using OTLP environment variables. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- License
- The GitHub repository lists the project under the AGPL-3.0 license. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Limits
- The README says the first phase of its capability refactor does not add board owners, administrators, sharing controls, or a permission management UI. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Permissions
- The README describes board capabilities for opening, editing, and clearing, with moderator claims granting clear access. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Platforms
- WBO is accessed as an online whiteboard and can be run on a web server; the maker page does not list desktop or mobile apps. · wbo.dev.mur.at, 9 Oct 2026
- Product
- WBO is an online collaborative whiteboard where many users can draw simultaneously on a large virtual board. · wbo.dev.mur.at, 9 Oct 2026
- Real-time collaboration
- The board updates in real time for connected users, and its state is persisted. · wbo.dev.mur.at, 9 Oct 2026
- Self-hosting
- The project README documents running WBO on your own web server, using Docker or Node.js. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Sharing
- Users can collaborate by sharing a board URL; the site offers public, random-link private, and named private boards. · wbo.dev.mur.at, 9 Oct 2026
- Support
- The README directs users to open a GitHub issue to report a problem or propose a feature. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Use cases
- The site says WBO can be used for art, entertainment, design, and teaching. · wbo.dev.mur.at, 9 Oct 2026
Where WBO stands on Freedom251
- Collaborative Whiteboard Software#24 of 29