Excalidraw vs Looka
Which one should you choose? Here's how they compare.
| Feature | Excalidraw | Looka |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.2 | ★ 4 |
| Pricing | Free | $20 one-time |
| Type | free | paid |
| Company | Open Source | Looka |
| Founded | 2020 | 2016 |
Excalidraw Features
- •Hand-drawn style
- •Collaborative
- •End-to-end encryption
- •Open source
Looka Features
- •Logo generation
- •Brand kit
- •Social media
- •Business cards
Excalidraw Pros
- ✓Unique hand-drawn look
- ✓Free
- ✓Great collaboration
Excalidraw Cons
- ✗Limited design tools
- ✗No AI features
- ✗Basic functionality
Looka Pros
- ✓Fast logo creation
- ✓Affordable
- ✓Brand kit included
Looka Cons
- ✗Less unique than custom
- ✗Limited customization
- ✗Stock-like feel
The Verdict
Excalidraw (by Open Source, founded 2020) and Looka (by Looka, founded 2016) both compete in the design space, but they serve slightly different needs. Both tools offer 4 core features, but their strengths differ. Excalidraw excels at hand-drawn style, whereas Looka puts more emphasis on brand kit. However, Excalidraw has a distinct advantage for Sketching and Prototyping. On the other hand, Looka is better suited for Logo design and Brand identity. Excalidraw is particularly popular among Developers and Designers, while Looka tends to attract Startups and Small businesses. Excalidraw offers a free tier, making it the more accessible option for individuals or small teams. Looka's paid model starts at $20 one-time. No tool is perfect. Excalidraw's main limitation is limited design tools, which might be a dealbreaker for some workflows. Meanwhile, Looka's biggest drawback is less unique than custom. We recommend Excalidraw as the stronger overall choice (4.2 vs 4). It pulls ahead with stronger hand-drawn style capabilities. However, if your workflow centers on logo generation, Looka remains a highly capable alternative.
- • You prioritize hand-drawn style
- • You prioritize collaborative
- • You prioritize logo generation
- • You prioritize brand kit