tldraw vs FigJam
tldraw is open-source collaborative whiteboard with a friendly interface and embeddable SDK, while FigJam is collaborative whiteboard from Figma for brainstorming, diagramming, and workshops. tldraw is open source and can be self-hosted, giving you full control over your data. tldraw is built for developers wanting an embeddable whiteboard canvas, whereas FigJam targets figma users wanting collaborative brainstorming and diagramming.
At a glance
|
tldraw
|
FigJam
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Developers wanting an embeddable whiteboard canvas | Figma users wanting collaborative brainstorming and diagramming |
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Free tier | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | ✓ | — |
| Free tier available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | ✓ | — |
| Embeddable | ✓ | — |
| Multiplayer | ✓ | — |
| Open Source | ✓ | — |
| SDK | ✓ | — |
| Sticky Notes | — | ✓ |
| Voting | — | ✓ |
| Whiteboard | — | ✓ |
| Widgets | — | ✓ |
tldraw
Strengths
- Open source and transparent
- Open-source codebase gives you full transparency and community-driven development
- Fully open-source — you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in
- The core product is free with no paywalled essentials
Weaknesses
- May lack some advanced features
- Self-hosting is free but requires server maintenance and DevOps knowledge
- Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
- Ecosystem of third-party integrations is smaller than the market leaders in diagramming
FigJam
Strengths
- Infinite whiteboard canvas for brainstorming and visual thinking
- Sticky notes and drawing tools make remote workshops feel hands-on
- Free for 3 FigJam files — generous enough for most small teams to get real work done
- Includes voting alongside the core feature set — fewer separate tools needed
Weaknesses
- Free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade
- Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
- Ecosystem of third-party integrations is smaller than the market leaders in diagramming
- Relatively new (founded 2021) — the feature set and integrations are still maturing
The bottom line
Pricing: Both tldraw and FigJam are free. You can try both without spending a dollar.
Feature gaps: tldraw offers Embeddable, Multiplayer and Open Source that FigJam lacks. FigJam brings Sticky Notes, Voting and Whiteboard that tldraw does not have.
Team fit: Both tools target any size teams, so the decision hinges on features and workflow fit rather than scale.
Open source: tldraw is open source, meaning you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in. FigJam is proprietary — you are trusting the vendor with your data and uptime.
Where each tool shines: tldraw's biggest strengths are: open source and transparent. open-source codebase gives you full transparency and community-driven development. FigJam's biggest strengths are: infinite whiteboard canvas for brainstorming and visual thinking. sticky notes and drawing tools make remote workshops feel hands-on.
Watch out for: With tldraw, users commonly note that may lack some advanced features. With FigJam, the main complaint is that free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade.
Choose tldraw if...
- Your profile matches its sweet spot: developers wanting an embeddable whiteboard canvas
- You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code
- You specifically need Embeddable and Multiplayer
- You care about open-source codebase gives you full transparency and community-driven development
Choose FigJam if...
- You need a tool built for figma users wanting collaborative brainstorming and diagramming
- You specifically need Sticky Notes and Voting
- You care about sticky notes and drawing tools make remote workshops feel hands-on
- The free tier works for you: free for 3 figjam files
Looking for more options?
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