tldraw is an infinite-canvas whiteboard and, underneath, a powerful React SDK for building your own canvas apps. The hosted app is great for diagrams and collaboration, while the SDK powers custom tools; its "make real" feature even turns sketches into working UI with AI.

Highlights

Polished infinite canvas with real-time collaboration
Embeddable React SDK for custom canvas apps
The "make real" feature turns sketches into working UI
Strong developer documentation

Watch-outs

Source-available, not OSI open source
Commercial use needs a paid license to drop the watermark
SDK power is wasted if you only want a whiteboard

Good for

Build UI with AI Whiteboarding Diagramming

tldraw stands out for developers who want to embed a canvas in their own product, not just draw on one — the SDK is its real differentiator. As a plain whiteboard it competes with Excalidraw, which is fully open source and free; as a build surface it is in a class of its own. Choose tldraw when you want to build with a canvas, Excalidraw when you just want to sketch.

When to use it

developers_building_canvas_apps
product_teams
diagramming_and_whiteboarding

Avoid if

need_a_truly_open_source_license
just_want_a_simple_free_sketchpad

From USD 0

Free tierAPI

Source-available under the tldraw license: free to use with a small watermark, with a paid license to remove it for commercial products.

API access
Native
SDKs
Native
Real-time collaboration
Native
AI assistance
Native

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tldraw

Highlights

Watch-outs

Good for

When to use it