Excalidraw. An online whiteboard for classroom and distance learning

Last updated on 23 March 2025

Excalidraw is a free online collaborative whiteboard which is distinguished by its simplicity and power.

A good open source tool if you are a trainer or teacher and are looking for a simple way to involve your students remotely and in person, without encountering the usual technical obstacles: software to install, accounts to create, complex … interfaces

A minimalist approach that makes a difference

The interface of Excalidraw stands out for its intentional minimalism. No superfluous features, no complex menus: only essential tools for drawing, annotate and collaborate. This simplicity has three major advantages:

1. Focus on the essentials : Students focus on content rather than tool
2. Immediate handling : Learning in minutes for the whole class
3. Universal accessibility : Works on all devices with a recent browser

The tool is free of charge and there are no technical constraints make it a particularly suitable solution for use in education.

Ultra-fluid real-time collaboration

The real strength of Excalidraw is that everything is done live. With one click, you generate a sharing link and everyone can join the session immediately. We see everyone's contributions appear in real time, with colored pointers to identify who does what. A built-in chat also makes it easy to chat during the session, and the teacher may at any time switch froma Collaborative Mode a read-only mode to keep your hands on the activity.

Schematics adapted to all materials

Excalidraw makes it possible to create a wide variety of diagrams and diagrams, in particular:

• Flow diagrams and organizational charts

• Wireframes and interface models

• Mind maps

• Storyboards

• Architectural schematics

• Design sketches

• Process diagrams

The tool offers significant flexibility thanks to its functionalities:

• Basic shapes (rectangles, diamonds, circles)

• Free drawing tools (pencil)

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• Arrows and lines

• Text

• Library of predefined objects

In addition, Excalidraw now offers a AI functionality An innovative tool called ‘Text to Diagram’, capable of automatically creating a diagram from a simple text description.

Thanks to its ease of use and versatility, Excalidraw adapts to many needs in terms of creating diagrams and diagrams.

Some tips for using it well in class

To make the most of Excalidraw, it is better to anticipate a little:

• Prepare a few templates in advance to save time.
• Organise the workspace so that contributions remain legible.
• Thinking about regular backups to avoid any loss of content.
• Manage access rights to keep control over who can change what.

A tool to test without hesitation

In summary, Excalidraw is a good tool for teaching. Its ease of use, collaborative features and accessibility make it a perfect solution to make more interactive courses and stimulate student participation.

Easy to handle, it adapts to all needs, whether for lectures, interactive workshops or group work. If you have not tested it yet, now is the time to try it.

Excalidraw is an Open Source Tool completely free of charge, with no usage limits. The interface is available in French, providing a smooth and accessible experience. A professional version, via a paid subscription, offers advanced features specifically designed for business needs.

FAQ: Questions you may have about Excalidraw

🔒 Are the tables created private and secure?
The tables are accessible only to people with the link. For added security, you can enable password protection. Data is encrypted end-to-end.

💰 Are there any paid features?
Excalidraw is completely free for basic use. A paid ‘Plus’ version exists for advanced features (unlimited storage, extensive customisation), but it is not necessary for classroom use.

💾 How to save your work?
The tables can be saved:

• Locally on your computer (.excalidraw)
• As an image (PNG, SVG)
• On the cloud if you create a free account

Does 📱 work on a tablet?
Yes, Excalidraw is compatible with tablets and even supports stylus. The interface automatically adapts to touch screens.

🌐 What internet connection is needed?
A standard connection is enough. In the event of a break, the work continues locally and synchronizes automatically once the connection is restored.

👥 How many students can collaborate simultaneously?
Technically, there is no strict limit. In practice, to keep a smooth experience, it is recommended not to exceed 30 active participants.

🔧 How to deal with common technical problems?

• Refreshing the page solves most synchronization issues
• Offline mode allows you to continue in case of network problems
• Automatic backup protects against data loss

♿ Is it accessible to students with disabilities?
Excalidraw is compatible with screen readers and offers keyboard shortcuts. The high-contrast interface makes reading easier for the visually impaired.