Brainstorming ideas, planning projects, and collaborating with remote teams can be challenging when everyone works from different locations.
Traditional whiteboards are useful for visualizing ideas, but they lack the flexibility and accessibility needed for modern teamwork.
Fortunately, online whiteboard apps provide interactive digital canvases where teams can brainstorm, draw diagrams, organize information, and collaborate in real time.
Whether you're a designer, teacher, project manager, or business professional, the right online whiteboard software can improve communication, encourage creativity, and streamline collaboration.
In this guide, we'll explore the 7 best online whiteboard apps, compare their key features, and show you how to access them more conveniently with WebCatalog.
Quick Comparison: Best Online Whiteboard Apps
| App | Best For | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Miro | Overall team collaboration | Infinite canvas and integrations |
| FigJam | Design teams | Interactive brainstorming tools |
| MURAL | Workshops and planning | Facilitated team collaboration |
| Microsoft Whiteboard | Microsoft 365 users | Microsoft Teams integration |
| Lucid (Lucidspark) | Visual project planning | Structured brainstorming and diagrams |
| Excalidraw | Simple drawing and sketches | Free, hand-drawn-style whiteboard |
| Canva Whiteboards | Creative brainstorming | Visual templates and design tools |
1. Miro
Miro is one of the most popular online whiteboard platforms, helping teams brainstorm, plan projects, and collaborate visually in a shared digital workspace.
Its infinite canvas allows users to organize sticky notes, diagrams, mind maps, and project plans without space limitations.
Miro also offers a large library of customizable templates for brainstorming sessions, agile workflows, customer journey mapping, and strategic planning.
With real-time collaboration and integrations with popular productivity tools, Miro is particularly useful for distributed teams.
Key Features:
- Infinite collaborative whiteboard.
- Real-time editing and commenting.
- Extensive templates for brainstorming and planning.
- Integrations with Jira, Slack, and other productivity apps.
Best for: Remote teams, businesses, and professionals looking for a comprehensive online whiteboard solution.
2. FigJam
FigJam is an interactive online whiteboard developed by Figma, designed to help teams brainstorm, visualize ideas, and collaborate creatively.
It provides a simple interface where users can add sticky notes, shapes, diagrams, and illustrations to a shared canvas.
FigJam also includes interactive tools such as stamps, reactions, and voting, making brainstorming sessions more engaging.
Its close integration with Figma makes it especially useful for product designers and development teams working on user experiences and product ideas.
Key Features:
- Interactive whiteboard with sticky notes and diagrams.
- Real-time collaboration and commenting.
- Voting, reactions, and brainstorming activities.
- Integration with Figma design workflows.
Best for: Designers, product teams, and creative professionals who need a collaborative brainstorming workspace.
3. MURAL
MURAL is a visual collaboration platform that helps teams organize ideas, facilitate workshops, and develop strategies together.
Its digital whiteboard provides an interactive canvas where participants can contribute sticky notes, create diagrams, and collaborate on shared projects.
MURAL is particularly well suited for structured brainstorming sessions, design thinking workshops, and team planning activities.
Its templates and facilitation tools help teams guide discussions, organize feedback, and turn ideas into actionable plans.
Key Features:
- Infinite canvas for collaborative brainstorming.
- Templates for workshops and strategic planning.
- Facilitation tools for group discussions.
- Real-time collaboration and visual feedback.
Best for: Business teams, facilitators, and organizations conducting workshops, meetings, and strategic planning sessions.
4. Microsoft Whiteboard
Microsoft Whiteboard is a digital collaboration tool that allows individuals and teams to brainstorm, sketch ideas, and work together on a shared canvas.
It integrates with Microsoft Teams and other Microsoft services, making it a convenient choice for businesses already using Microsoft 365.
Users can draw freely, add sticky notes, insert images, and organize ideas using templates and visual elements.
Microsoft Whiteboard also supports real-time collaboration, allowing multiple participants to contribute during virtual meetings.
Key Features:
- Real-time collaborative whiteboard.
- Integration with Microsoft Teams.
- Drawing tools, sticky notes, and templates.
- Cloud-based saving and synchronization.
Best for: Organizations, educators, and teams that rely on Microsoft 365 for communication and collaboration.
5. Lucid (Lucidspark)
Lucid provides visual collaboration tools, including Lucidspark, an online whiteboard designed for brainstorming, planning, and teamwork.
Lucidspark offers an infinite canvas where users can organize ideas, create diagrams, and collaborate on projects in real time.
Its features include sticky notes, mind maps, voting activities, and structured brainstorming templates.
Combined with Lucid's diagramming capabilities, it helps teams move from initial ideas to organized workflows and project plans.
Key Features:
- Infinite collaborative canvas.
- Brainstorming and mind mapping tools.
- Voting and meeting facilitation features.
- Visual project planning and diagramming.
Best for: Project managers, business analysts, and teams that need to turn brainstorming ideas into structured plans.
6. Excalidraw
Excalidraw is a free, open-source online whiteboard that allows users to create diagrams, sketches, and visual explanations with a distinctive hand-drawn style.
Its minimalist interface makes it easy to create flowcharts, wireframes, and simple illustrations without complicated design tools.
Excalidraw also supports real-time collaboration, allowing multiple users to work on the same drawing.
Its simplicity and flexibility make it particularly useful for developers, educators, and individuals who need a quick way to visualize ideas.
Key Features:
- Free and open-source drawing tool.
- Hand-drawn-style diagrams and sketches.
- Real-time collaborative editing.
- Export options including PNG and SVG.
Best for: Developers, students, educators, and anyone looking for a simple online whiteboard for quick sketches and diagrams.
7. Canva Whiteboards
Canva Whiteboards is a collaborative visual workspace within Canva that helps users brainstorm ideas, plan projects, and create engaging visual content.
It provides an infinite canvas where teams can combine sticky notes, diagrams, illustrations, and design elements.
With Canva's extensive template library and drag-and-drop editor, users can quickly create visually appealing whiteboards without advanced design experience.
Canva Whiteboards also allows users to connect brainstorming sessions with presentations and other creative projects within the Canva ecosystem.
Key Features:
- Infinite whiteboard canvas.
- Ready-made brainstorming and planning templates.
- Real-time team collaboration.
- Integration with Canva's design and presentation tools.
Best for: Marketing teams, educators, content creators, and professionals who want visually engaging brainstorming sessions.
How to Choose the Best Online Whiteboard App
The best online whiteboard software depends on your team's collaboration needs, preferred tools, and project complexity.
If you're looking for a comprehensive visual collaboration platform, Miro is an excellent all-around option.
For designers and product teams, FigJam offers an intuitive workspace that integrates with design workflows.
MURAL is particularly useful for facilitated workshops, while Microsoft Whiteboard is a convenient choice for organizations using Microsoft 365.
If your projects require structured brainstorming and planning, Lucid provides flexible visual collaboration tools.
For simple sketches and diagrams, Excalidraw offers a lightweight solution. Meanwhile, Canva Whiteboards is ideal for creative teams that want to combine brainstorming with visual design.
Before choosing a platform, consider factors such as ease of use, collaboration features, templates, integrations, pricing, and export options.
Manage Your Online Whiteboard Apps with WebCatalog
Working across multiple online whiteboard platforms can become overwhelming, especially when managing different projects, teams, or client accounts.
With WebCatalog Desktop, you can access your favorite online whiteboard apps in dedicated desktop windows, helping you stay organized and focused.
WebCatalog helps you:
- Access apps in dedicated windows: Open Miro, FigJam, MURAL, and other whiteboard tools without cluttering your browser tabs.
- Manage multiple accounts: Stay signed in to different accounts for work, personal projects, or clients without repeatedly logging out.
- Organize your workspace: Group your whiteboard and productivity apps into separate spaces for different projects.
- Switch between apps easily: Move between brainstorming boards, project management tools, and communication apps more efficiently.
Whether you're running a virtual workshop, planning a project, or collaborating with your team, WebCatalog provides a convenient way to organize your favorite online whiteboard apps on your desktop.
Conclusion
Online whiteboard apps have become essential tools for modern collaboration, helping teams brainstorm ideas, visualize information, and work together regardless of location.
From comprehensive platforms like Miro and MURAL to creative tools like FigJam and Canva Whiteboards, each application offers unique advantages for different workflows.
The best choice depends on whether you prioritize real-time collaboration, simple drawing, structured planning, or creative brainstorming.
With WebCatalog, you can keep your online whiteboard apps organized, manage multiple accounts, and enjoy a more productive desktop workflow.
