draw.io
Best for self-hosting
Why teams pick it
Organizations needing self-hosted diagramming without backend infrastructure
Open-source alternatives to Creately
Compare community-driven replacements for Creately in whiteboards & visual collaboration workflows. We curate active, self-hostable options with transparent licensing so you can evaluate the right fit quickly.
Creately
Creately is a visual workspace for teams to map processes and ideas with flowcharts, org charts, mind maps, ER diagrams, and more. It offers an infinite canvas, real-time multiplayer editing, comments/mentions, data-linked shapes, templates, and integrations with tools like Confluence, Jira, and Slack.Read more
Key stats
- 6Alternatives
- 3Support self-hosting
Run on infrastructure you control
- 6Active development
Recent commits in the last 6 months
- 3Permissive licenses
MIT, Apache, and similar licenses
Counts reflect projects currently indexed as alternatives to Creately.
Start with these picks
These projects match the most common migration paths for teams replacing Creately.
Excalidraw
Privacy-first alternative
Why teams pick it
Teams needing quick, collaborative visual brainstorming with privacy
All open-source alternatives
Lorien
Infinite canvas drawing app optimized for performance and simplicity
Active developmentPermissive licenseIntegration-friendlyGDScript
Why teams choose it
- Vector-based rendering produces extremely small savefiles while maintaining infinite zoom and canvas
- Infinite undo/redo with support for pressure-sensitive drawing tablets
- Multiple simultaneous documents with SVG export and custom color palettes
Watch for
Not suitable for bitmap-based artwork or photo editing
Migration highlight
Technical Diagramming
Engineers sketch system architectures and flowcharts with infinite canvas space, exporting clean SVGs for documentation
draw.io
Configurable JavaScript diagramming and whiteboarding visualization application
Self-host friendlyActive developmentPermissive licenseJavaScript
Why teams choose it
- Client-side JavaScript architecture requiring no server backend
- Comprehensive diagramming tools for technical and business visualizations
- Multiple deployment options: GitHub Pages, Docker, desktop, or .war servlet
Watch for
No collaborative real-time editing support
Migration highlight
Enterprise Network Documentation
IT teams create and maintain network topology diagrams entirely on-premises without cloud dependencies or data exposure
tldraw
React library for infinite canvas whiteboard experiences
Active developmentIntegration-friendlyAI-powered workflowsTypeScript
Why teams choose it
- Infinite canvas with smooth zoom and pan
- Ready‑to‑use React component
- Real‑time multiplayer synchronization support
Watch for
Tied to the React ecosystem
Migration highlight
Real‑time brainstorming session
Participants draw, move, and annotate on a shared infinite canvas, with changes instantly synced across all users.
Excalidraw
Virtual whiteboard for hand-drawn style diagrams and collaboration
Self-host friendlyActive developmentPermissive licenseTypeScript
Why teams choose it
- Hand-drawn aesthetic with infinite canvas for natural-feeling diagrams
- Real-time collaboration with end-to-end encryption
- Export to PNG, SVG, or open JSON format
Watch for
Hand-drawn aesthetic may not suit formal technical documentation needs
Migration highlight
Remote team brainstorming
Distributed teams collaborate in real-time on system architecture sketches with encrypted sessions, exporting diagrams directly to documentation
AFFiNE
Unified canvas for writing, drawing, and planning together
Active developmentPrivacy-firstFast to deployTypeScript
Why teams choose it
- Edgeless canvas supporting any block type—text, embeds, databases, slides, code.
- Multimodal AI that creates outlines, slides, mind maps, and prototype code from prompts.
- Local‑first storage with optional real‑time collaboration across web and desktop.
Watch for
Feature set still maturing; some advanced plugins not yet available.
Migration highlight
Product roadmap planning
Combine sticky notes, timelines, and AI‑generated mind maps to visualize milestones and assign tasks in a single canvas.
WBO
Real-time collaborative whiteboard for teams and classrooms
Self-host friendlyActive developmentPrivacy-firstJavaScript
Why teams choose it
- Real-time multi-user drawing with instant synchronization across all connected clients
- Persistent board state with automatic saving and configurable storage directory
- JWT authentication with role-based access control and board-specific permissions
Watch for
Limited built-in drawing tools compared to commercial whiteboard platforms
Migration highlight
Remote Mathematics Instruction
Teachers draw equations and diagrams in real time while students follow along and contribute solutions on a persistent shared canvas
Choosing a whiteboards & visual collaboration alternative
Teams replacing Creately in whiteboards & visual collaboration workflows typically weigh self-hosting needs, integration coverage, and licensing obligations.
- 3 projects let you self-host and keep customer data on infrastructure you control.
- 6 options are actively maintained with recent commits.
Tip: shortlist one hosted and one self-hosted option so stakeholders can compare trade-offs before migrating away from Creately.