Design comparison
Two of the best design tools, compared side-by-side. Here’s how each one stacks up.
Whiteboard sketches that look like whiteboard sketches.
🎯 Why it’s useful
When you need a diagram in a doc that looks "drawn", not "designed", nothing else compares. Perfect for engineering blog posts.
💜 Why we like it
It's free, works offline, and the export is crisp. We use it for every architecture diagram.
The browser-based design tool everyone uses.
🎯 Why it’s useful
Universal lingua franca for design. Every designer you hire already knows it.
💜 Why we like it
Auto Layout + Variables make design tokens that actually work for engineers.
| Excalidraw | Figma | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Freemium |
| Category | Design | Design |
| Editor’s Pick | — | ★ Yes |
| Tagline | Whiteboard sketches that look like whiteboard sketches. | The browser-based design tool everyone uses. |
| Website | excalidraw.com ↗ | figma.com ↗ |
We make no money when you click through to either tool unless an affiliate link is in place — disclosed on the individual tool page.