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Deep Code vs Excalidraw

Deep Code logo

Deep Code

Developer Tools

Desktop AI coding assistant that runs on DeepSeek models

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
Excalidraw logo

Excalidraw

Technology

Virtual whiteboard for sketching hand-drawn like diagrams

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Deep Code model choice is narrow. Bring your own key covers DeepSeek-V4-Pro and Flash plus the GLM and Mimo coding plans, and no frontier model from OpenAI, Anthropic or Google.; Excalidraw advanced features (unlimited private scenes/folders, cloud storage, access management, presentations, extended AI, team management) are gated behind Excalidraw+
  • They diverge on capability: Deep Code covers DeepSeek-backed agent, Excalidraw covers Hand-drawn style diagrams.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 15 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Deep Code and Excalidraw actually diverge.

Attributes where Deep Code and Excalidraw differ
AttributeDeep CodeExcalidraw
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWeb
CategoryDeveloper ToolsTechnology
FoundedUnknown2020

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Deep Code

  • DeepSeek-backed agent
  • Session management
  • File explorer
  • Snippets panel
  • Voice input
  • Bring your own key

Only in Excalidraw

  • Hand-drawn style diagrams
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Infinite canvas
  • Shape libraries
  • Text support
  • Image import
  • Export options
  • Keyboard shortcuts

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Deep Code

  • AI-assisted coding on a budgetnot Excalidraw
  • Debugging and bug fixingnot Excalidraw
  • Refactoring existing codenot Excalidraw
  • Reusing prompt templates across projectsnot Excalidraw
  • Using an existing DeepSeek API key without proxy setupnot Excalidraw

Excalidraw

  • Wireframing and diagrammingnot Deep Code
  • Real-time collaborative whiteboardingnot Deep Code
  • Hand-drawn-style illustrations for docs and decksnot Deep Code
  • Embedding a whiteboard into third-party apps via the npm packagenot Deep Code
  • Visual planning and note-takingnot Deep Code

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Deep Code

  • Model choice is narrow. Bring your own key covers DeepSeek-V4-Pro and Flash plus the GLM and Mimo coding plans, and no frontier model from OpenAI, Anthropic or Google.
  • The Pro tier caps included usage at 100 Pro Credits per day rather than offering an unmetered plan.
  • Bring your own key is a paid feature, so the free tier cannot be pointed at your own DeepSeek account.
  • Desktop only, with no editor extension, web version or team seat management as of September 2026.
  • A small, young vendor with no independent review coverage yet, so there is nothing outside the vendor's own site to corroborate the cost claim.

Excalidraw

  • Advanced features (unlimited private scenes/folders, cloud storage, access management, presentations, extended AI, team management) are gated behind Excalidraw+
  • Free hosted version persists via scene links/local storage rather than a managed multi-scene workspace
  • Self-hosting the full collaborative stack requires standing up a websocket server and storage beyond the npm editor package
  • No official native desktop or app-store mobile apps - web/PWA only

Pricing, plan by plan

Deep Code

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Session management
    • File explorer and snippets panel
    • Voice input
  • Pro$5/month
    • All Free features
    • 100 daily Pro Credits
    • BYOK across DeepSeek-V4-Pro, DeepSeek-V4-Flash, GLM Coding Plan and Mimo Coding Plan

Excalidraw

Free
  • Excalidraw+$6/month
    • Unlimited private scenes and folders
    • Cloud storage
    • Access management

Which should you pick?

Choose Deep Code if

  • You need deepseek-backed agent.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want session management.
Deep Code review

Choose Excalidraw if

  • You need hand-drawn style diagrams.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want real-time collaboration.
Excalidraw review

Questions people ask

Is Deep Code or Excalidraw better?
Neither clearly leads. Deep Code starts at Free and Excalidraw at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Deep Code or Excalidraw?
Deep Code starts at Free and Excalidraw at Free.
Does Deep Code or Excalidraw run on more platforms?
Deep Code runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Excalidraw runs on Web.
Can I use Deep Code for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Deep Code best used for?
Deep Code is most often used for ai-assisted coding on a budget, debugging and bug fixing, refactoring existing code, reusing prompt templates across projects. Of those, ai-assisted coding on a budget and debugging and bug fixing are not what Excalidraw is typically brought in for.
What can Deep Code do that Excalidraw cannot?
Deep Code covers DeepSeek-backed agent, Session management, File explorer, Snippets panel. Excalidraw covers Hand-drawn style diagrams, Real-time collaboration, Infinite canvas, Shape libraries.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Deep Code: Which models does Deep Code run on?

DeepSeek V4 family models, with the vendor's headline built around DeepSeek V4.1. The free tier's included credits run on DeepSeek-V4-Flash. Paid users bringing their own key can also use DeepSeek-V4-Pro, the GLM Coding Plan and the Mimo Coding Plan.

Source
Excalidraw: Is Excalidraw free?

Excalidraw appears to be a free drawing application available at no cost to users. The website does not display information about pricing tiers or premium features, suggesting it is offered as a free service.

Source
Deep Code: What does Deep Code cost?

There are two tiers. Free is $0 per month and includes session management, the file explorer, snippets, voice input and weekly free credits on DeepSeek-V4-Flash. Pro is $5 per month and adds 100 daily Pro Credits plus bring-your-own-key support for multiple models.

Source
Excalidraw: Does Excalidraw offer paid plans?

No pricing tiers or paid upgrade options are mentioned on the Excalidraw website, which indicates the service is available entirely free without commercial pricing models.

Source
Deep Code: Do I need my own API key to use it?

No. The free tier includes weekly credits and needs no credit card, so the app works without a key. Bring your own key is available on the $5 per month Pro tier and covers DeepSeek-V4-Pro, DeepSeek-V4-Flash, the GLM Coding Plan and the Mimo Coding Plan.

Source
Deep Code: Which operating systems does it run on?

Windows, macOS and Linux. It is a desktop application rather than an editor extension, so it runs alongside whatever editor you already use.

Source
Deep Code: Is the 95 percent cheaper claim independently verified?

No. It is the vendor's own figure, based on DeepSeek token pricing against frontier model pricing. Actual savings depend on which model you compare against and how much of your usage falls inside the included credits.

Source
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