Excalidraw vs Plane
A comprehensive head-to-head comparison of two leading technology solutions in 2026. Compare features, pricing, ratings, and more to find the right fit.
Quick Verdict
Choose Excalidraw if you need Hand-drawn style diagrams and prefer a free starting option. Choose Plane if you prioritize Issue tracking and want a free tier to start. Excalidraw has a higher user rating (4.9 vs 4.7).
Excalidraw vs Plane: At a Glance
| Criteria | Excalidraw | Plane |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | 4.9 | 4.7 |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Pricing Model | free | freemium |
| Free Plan | ||
| Platforms | Web, Desktop | Web, Api, Self-hosted |
| Category | Technology | Technology |
| Founded | 2020 | 2022 |
Feature Comparison: Excalidraw vs Plane
| Feature | Excalidraw | Plane |
|---|---|---|
| Hand-drawn style diagrams | ||
| Real-time collaboration | ||
| Infinite canvas | ||
| Shape libraries | ||
| Text support | ||
| Image import | ||
| Export options | ||
| Keyboard shortcuts | ||
| GitHub | ||
| Notion | ||
| Obsidian | ||
| Roam Research | ||
| End-to-end encryption | ||
| Local storage option | ||
| Cloud deployment | ||
| Issue tracking | ||
| Cycles (Sprints) | ||
| Modules | ||
| Views & layouts | ||
| Pages (Docs) | ||
| Analytics | ||
| API access | ||
| Webhooks | ||
| GitLab | ||
| Slack | ||
| Discord | ||
| Linear import | ||
| Jira import | ||
| Asana import |
Excalidraw vs Plane: Pricing Breakdown
Excalidraw Pricing
Model: free
- Unlimited drawings
- Real-time collaboration
- Export to PNG/SVG
- Shareable links
- End-to-end encryption
- Version history
- Advanced collaboration
- Priority support
Plane Pricing
Model: freemium
- Unlimited users
- Unlimited projects
- All features
- Self-hosted
- Up to 5 users
- Unlimited projects
- Core features
- Cloud hosted
- Unlimited users
- Priority support
- Advanced analytics
- Custom domains
- Dedicated infrastructure
- SLA guarantees
- Custom integrations
- White-label options
Pros and Cons
Excalidraw
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.9/5)
- Free plan available to get started
- Rich feature set with 15+ capabilities
- Strong Hand-drawn style diagrams functionality
- Strong Real-time collaboration functionality
Cons
- May require time to learn advanced features
Plane
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.7/5)
- Free plan available to get started
- Available on 3 platforms (Web, Api, Self-hosted)
- Rich feature set with 15+ capabilities
- Strong Issue tracking functionality
- Strong Cycles (Sprints) functionality
Cons
- May require time to learn advanced features
Who Should Use Excalidraw vs Plane?
Choose Excalidraw if you:
- Need Hand-drawn style diagrams
- Want to start for free
- Work primarily on Web and Desktop
- Value Real-time collaboration
Choose Plane if you:
- Need Issue tracking
- Want to start for free
- Work primarily on Web and Api
- Value Cycles (Sprints)
Frequently Asked Questions: Excalidraw vs Plane
Is Excalidraw better than Plane?
It depends on your needs. Excalidraw has a 4.9/5 user rating while Plane has 4.7/5. Excalidraw excels in Hand-drawn style diagrams and Real-time collaboration, while Plane stands out with Issue tracking and Cycles (Sprints). Consider your budget (Free vs Free), platform needs, and specific feature requirements.
Which is cheaper, Excalidraw or Plane?
Excalidraw offers a free plan and starts at Free. Plane offers a free plan and starts at Free. Compare the specific plan features to determine the best value for your use case.
Can I use Excalidraw and Plane together?
While both are technology tools, some teams use complementary software together. Check each product's API and integration capabilities for compatibility. However, most users find that one solution covers their core technology needs.
What are the main differences between Excalidraw and Plane?
The key differences include: pricing model (free vs freemium), platform support (Web, Desktop vs Web, Api, Self-hosted), and feature focus. Excalidraw emphasizes Hand-drawn style diagrams, Real-time collaboration, Infinite canvas while Plane focuses on Issue tracking, Cycles (Sprints), Modules. User ratings differ slightly: 4.9 vs 4.7 out of 5.
Ready to choose?
Explore detailed reviews, user ratings, and pricing for both Excalidraw and Plane.