excalidraw
An open-source whiteboard for hand-drawn diagrams and wireframes, with offline use and collaboration on Excalidraw.com.
- Stars
- 135k
- Forks
- 16k
- Last update
- 5 Nov 2026
Overview
Excalidraw lets you sketch diagrams and wireframes on an infinite canvas, then export them as images or editable files. Excalidraw.com adds offline support, browser autosave and encrypted real-time collaboration. The documented self-hosted Docker client does not support sharing or collaboration.
Who it's for
Tech stack
Features and benefits
Key features
- Infinite canvas with a hand-drawn visual style
- Rectangles, circles, diamonds, arrows, lines, free drawing and eraser tools
- Arrow binding and labeled arrows
- Image support and reusable shape libraries
- PNG, SVG and clipboard export
- Editable drawings saved in the open .excalidraw JSON format
- Dark mode, undo/redo, zoom and panning
- Customizable editor with localization support
- Offline PWA support and browser autosave on Excalidraw.com
- Real-time collaboration, end-to-end encryption and read-only shareable links on Excalidraw.com
Why it helps in Pakistan
- Explain processes and layouts visually with diagrams and wireframes.
- Reuse saved drawings instead of recreating them from scratch.
- Export diagrams for use in presentations and project documents.
- Keep sketching during internet outages using Excalidraw.com's offline support.
- Embed the editor in your own app through its React component.
Pakistan use cases
- 01
A Lahore software agency sketches website wireframes before client review.
- 02
A Karachi retailer draws an order-handling process and exports it for staff training.
- 03
An Islamabad teaching team creates diagrams for lesson materials.
- 04
A distributed Pakistani development team uses Excalidraw.com to discuss architecture on a shared canvas.
- 05
A freelancer continues sketching during an internet outage using the hosted app's offline support.
Requirements
- Hardware
- Check the official docs
- Operating system
- Check the official docs
- Skills
- Command-line skills for local development or self-hostingReact development for embedding the editorDocker knowledge for container deployment
- Accounts needed
- Check the official docs
Setup guide
Commands are copied from the project's README and official docs.
- 1
Get the repository
For local Docker Compose development, clone the repository withgit clone https://github.com/excalidraw/excalidraw.gitand work from its directory. - 2
Start Docker Compose
Rundocker-compose up --build -dto work locally without setting up a Node.js environment. - 3
Confirm access
Check the official docs for Docker Compose access details and environment prerequisites.Not fully covered in the README. Check the official docs before running this step.
Works with
What it costs
| Software | Free to self-host under the MIT licence. |
|---|---|
| Hosting | A small VPS usually costs about $5-20 per month; check current prices. The sources do not specify RAM or CPU requirements, so confirm sizing before choosing a host. |
| Paid cloud option | Excalidraw.com is the official hosted editor. The README also links Excalidraw+ as a way to support the project; pricing is not provided in the sources. |
FAQ
Can I use Excalidraw offline?
Excalidraw.com supports offline use through its PWA and autosaves drawings to the browser.
Does self-hosting include collaboration?
No. The documented self-hosted Docker client does not support sharing or collaboration. Local development collaboration requires a separate collaboration server.
Which export formats are supported?
The editor exports PNG, SVG and clipboard content, plus editable .excalidraw JSON files.
Can I embed it in my own application?
Yes. The npm package provides a React component. The README distinguishes the core editor from hosted-app features such as collaboration and offline PWA support.
Is Urdu supported?
The sources state that localization is supported, but do not confirm Urdu. Check the official docs for available languages.
Troubleshooting
The embedded editor is invisible or has no usable canvas.
Give the containing block non-zero width and height. Excalidraw takes 100% of that block's dimensions.
Fonts do not load in a self-hosted integration.
Copy the package's dist/prod/fonts contents to your served assets directory and point window.EXCALIDRAW_ASSET_PATH to that path. See the official installation docs.
Collaboration is missing from the Docker deployment.
This is a documented limitation of self-hosting, not a configuration toggle. Use Excalidraw.com for its documented collaboration feature; local development requires a collaboration server.
The local development server does not start.
Check Node.js, Git and the documented Yarn version requirement, then check dependency installation and terminal logs; see the official docs.
Official links
Get it set up for you
Don't want to install it yourself? A Jugaad maker can set up excalidraw for your business. Payment is held in Safe Deal until it works.
No maker offers a setup gig for this yet. Post a request and makers will quote.
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Built by excalidraw and contributors on GitHub. All credit goes to the authors. GitHub stats refresh daily. Jugaad does not host, copy or sell this code.
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