Softwr

Productivity · head to head

tldraw vs Yap

tldraw logo

tldraw

Productivity

Open-source infinite canvas whiteboard and React SDK for drawing applications

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit tldrawFull review
Yap logo

Yap

Productivity

Fast dictation. Private by design.

From
$6.9/month
Free plan
No
Visit YapFull review

The short version

  • tldraw is free; Yap starts at $6.9/mo.
  • Where tldraw falls short: production SDK use requires a license key; the dual licensing model means open-source development is free but commercial deployments are not.
  • Where Yap falls short: intel Macs are not supported; the Mac app needs Apple Silicon (M1 or later), and the iPhone app needs an iPhone 12 Pro, 13 Pro, 14 or newer.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which tldraw and Yap actually diverge.

Attributes where tldraw and Yap differ
AttributetldrawYap
Starting priceFree$6.9/month
Pricing modelFreemiumSubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, ReactmacOS, Windows, iOS, Android

Identical on both: category (Productivity).

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 tldraw

Nothing recorded that Yap does not also cover.

Only in Yap

  • Dictation at the cursor
  • On-device recognition
  • Automatic language detection
  • Text cleanup
  • Hands-free recording
  • Local history
  • Voice input for coding tools
  • Phone keyboards

What people use each for

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

tldraw

  • Collaborative whiteboarding for distributed teams (internal tool alternative to Miro)not Yap
  • Developer SDK for building custom design tools and diagramming platformsnot Yap
  • Wireframing and UX prototyping applicationsnot Yap
  • Integrating drawing capabilities into larger applications (CMS, collaboration tools, learning platforms)not Yap
  • AI-powered drawing assistants and generative design toolsnot Yap
  • Educational applications and interactive learning environmentsnot Yap

Yap

  • Dictating emails, messages and documents in any app on Mac or Windowsnot tldraw
  • Speaking long prompts into ChatGPT, Claude or a coding agentnot tldraw
  • Voice input for developers who cannot send code or screen contents to a cloud servicenot tldraw
  • Reducing keyboard use for people with RSI or wrist painnot tldraw
  • Drafting by voice where audio must not leave the device, such as legal or therapy notesnot tldraw

Where each one falls short

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

tldraw

  • Production SDK use requires a license key; the dual licensing model means open-source development is free but commercial deployments are not
  • Limited ecosystem of community plugins; third-party extensibility less mature than some competitors
  • Multiplayer functionality requires custom backend implementation; real-time sync is not fully managed by tldraw
  • Mobile touch experience is functional but less optimised than desktop; precision drawing on tablets is challenging

Yap

  • Intel Macs are not supported; the Mac app needs Apple Silicon (M1 or later), and the iPhone app needs an iPhone 12 Pro, 13 Pro, 14 or newer
  • Recognition is local but the app is not fully offline: it needs internet for first launch, activation and periodic access checks, and offline access lasts at most 24 hours
  • The Windows installer downloaded from the website is not code-signed, so Windows shows a SmartScreen warning; the Microsoft Store version is signed
  • 25 languages are supported, and the vendor notes accuracy varies by language, voice and recording conditions
  • The free period is only 3 days, after which continuing requires a card for the 10-day trial; there is no free tier

Pricing, plan by plan

tldraw

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the tldraw review.

Yap

$6.9/month
  • Monthly$6.9/mo
    • Unlimited on-device dictation
    • 25 languages, detected as you speak
    • Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android
  • Yearly$69/yr
    • Same app and features as monthly
    • Saves $13.80 a year against monthly billing
    • 10-day trial with a card

Which should you pick?

Choose tldraw if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, React.
tldraw review

Choose Yap if

  • You need dictation at the cursor.
  • You work on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android.
  • You also want on-device recognition.
Yap review

Questions people ask

Is tldraw or Yap better?
Neither clearly leads. tldraw starts at Free and Yap at $6.9/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, tldraw or Yap?
tldraw has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for tldraw and $6.9/month for Yap.
Does tldraw or Yap run on more platforms?
tldraw runs on Web, React. Yap runs on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android.
Can I use tldraw for free?
Yes. tldraw has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Yap starts at $6.9/month.
What is tldraw best used for?
tldraw is most often used for collaborative whiteboarding for distributed teams (internal tool alternative to miro), developer sdk for building custom design tools and diagramming platforms, wireframing and ux prototyping applications, integrating drawing capabilities into larger applications (cms, collaboration tools, learning platforms). Of those, collaborative whiteboarding for distributed teams (internal tool alternative to miro) and developer sdk for building custom design tools and diagramming platforms are not what Yap is typically brought in for.
What can tldraw do that Yap cannot?
Yap covers Dictation at the cursor, On-device recognition, Automatic language detection, Text cleanup.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

tldraw: Is tldraw free to use?

The tldraw web application is free and open-source. SDK development (creating applications using tldraw) is free in development; production deployments require a license key purchased from tldraw Labs.

Source
Yap: How much does Yap cost?

A free account works for 3 days with no card. After that a 10-day trial with a card leads to $6.90 a month or $69 a year. Cancel before the trial ends and you are not charged.

Source
tldraw: Can I host tldraw on my own servers?

Yes. tldraw can be self-hosted. The web application is open-source; multiplayer functionality requires you to implement or host your own backend (e.g., WebSocket server for real-time sync).

Source
Yap: Does Yap upload my voice?

No. Speech recognition runs on the device and audio is not uploaded to a transcription service. Completed text is kept in a local history you can copy or delete. An internet connection is needed to download the speech model on first use.

Source
tldraw: Can I embed tldraw into my application?

Yes. The tldraw SDK is a React library providing drawing capabilities for custom applications. Development is free; production use requires a license key from tldraw Labs.

Source
Yap: Which computers does Yap run on?

Apple Silicon Macs (M1 and later) and Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit. Intel Macs are not supported. There are also apps for iPhone (iOS 17 or later) and Android 10 or later, covered by the same subscription.

Source
Yap: Which languages does Yap support?

25 languages. Each recording detects its own language from the audio, so there is no need to select languages in advance.

Source
Yap: Does Yap work offline?

Transcription runs locally, but internet access is required for first launch, activation and periodic access checks. Offline access lasts up to 24 hours.

Source
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