Figma vs Excalidraw

Which one should you choose? Here's how they compare.

Feature	Figma	Excalidraw
Rating	★ 4.7	★ 4.2
Pricing	$15/mo	Free
Type	freemium	free
Company	Figma	Open Source
Founded	2012	2020

Figma Features

•UI design
•Prototyping
•Collaboration
•AI plugins

Excalidraw Features

•Hand-drawn style
•Collaborative
•End-to-end encryption
•Open source

Figma Pros

✓Best for UI/UX
✓Real-time collaboration
✓Plugin ecosystem

Figma Cons

✗Learning curve
✗Can be slow
✗Paid for teams

Excalidraw Pros

✓Unique hand-drawn look
✓Free
✓Great collaboration

Excalidraw Cons

✗Limited design tools
✗No AI features
✗Basic functionality

The Verdict

Figma (by Figma, founded 2012) and Excalidraw (by Open Source, founded 2020) both compete in the design space, but they serve slightly different needs. Both tools offer 4 core features, but their strengths differ. Figma excels at ui design, whereas Excalidraw puts more emphasis on collaborative. Both Figma and Excalidraw are excellent for Prototyping. However, Figma has a distinct advantage for UI design and Design systems. On the other hand, Excalidraw is better suited for Sketching and Documentation. Figma is particularly popular among UI/UX designers and Product teams, while Excalidraw tends to attract Developers and Designers. Excalidraw offers a free tier, making it the more accessible option for individuals or small teams. Figma's freemium model starts at $15/mo. No tool is perfect. Figma's main limitation is learning curve, which might be a dealbreaker for some workflows. Meanwhile, Excalidraw's biggest drawback is limited design tools. We recommend Figma as the stronger overall choice (4.7 vs 4.2). It pulls ahead with stronger ui design capabilities. However, if your workflow centers on hand-drawn style, Excalidraw remains a highly capable alternative.

Choose Figma if:

• You prioritize ui design
• You prioritize prototyping

Choose Excalidraw if:

• You prioritize hand-drawn style
• You prioritize collaborative