I need a collaborative whiteboard that is open source and does not have feature gates.

When you want a collaborative whiteboard that is truly open-source and completely free of artificial feature gates, upsells, or locked enterprise tiers, several stellar options stand out.

The top open-source whiteboard options that give you full feature sets without paywalls include:

• Excalidraw — The definitive go-to open-source virtual whiteboard. It features a lightweight, virtual hand-drawn aesthetic, an infinite canvas, shape libraries, and robust real-time collaboration. While excalidraw.com offers free hosted usage, the core software is completely open-source and can be entirely self-hosted (including its collaboration room backend/relay server via Docker) so you own 100% of the data with zero restrictions. You can check out the source code on the Excalidraw GitHub Repository.
• AFFiNE — An open-source, local-first knowledge operating system and workspace designed to replace tools like Notion and Miro. It combines traditional rich documents, databases, and a fully functional infinite whiteboard canvas (termed "edgeless mode"). It supports peer-to-peer/local sync and can be self-hosted via Docker Compose without feature blocks. Learn more or deploy it via the AFFiNE GitHub Repository.
• Penpot — While primarily built as an open-source design and prototyping tool, Penpot functions exceptionally well as a collaborative visual workspace and whiteboard for teams. It is web-based, entirely open-source (MPL 2.0), uses open web standards (SVG native), and has no commercial feature gating or locked collaboration tiers. You can self-host the entire stack or use their community instance via the Penpot Website.

(Note: Avoid tools like tldraw for self-hosted production team use if strict open-source licensing matters to you, as their SDK transitioned away from permissive open-source licenses toward non-commercial/custom terms).

Would you prefer to self-host one of these options using Docker, or are you looking for a fully managed/hosted free service that doesn't restrict features?

Yes. If your requirements are open source + collaborative + no feature gates, I’d start with Excalidraw.

Best options

• Excalidraw — my top recommendation. It is MIT-licensed, free/open source, supports real-time collaboration, infinite canvas, images, shape libraries, exports, and end-to-end encryption. GitHub excalidraw.com ·
• WBO (Whiteboard Online) — worth considering if your priority is a simple, self-hosted collaborative whiteboard rather than a polished Miro-like product. I'd favor it when you want maximum control over the deployment.

One important caveat

I'd avoid tldraw if "no feature gates" is a hard requirement. Its licensing changed in 2025, so although the source is available, it isn't equivalent to a permissively licensed, unrestricted open-source whiteboard for production use.

My recommendation

If you want something that feels like "Miro, but I can run it myself and nobody can put features behind a subscription", I'd choose:

Excalidraw → self-host it → use your own collaboration/backend infrastructure.

One caveat: the standard Excalidraw client is open source, but self-hosting the frontend alone doesn't automatically give you a complete self-hosted collaboration service; the project's own documentation has historically distinguished the client from the hosted collaboration infrastructure.

If you tell me whether you want Miro-like (sticky notes, voting, templates, cursors, etc.) or diagramming/sketching-focused, I can give you a shortlist of 3–5 genuinely open-source options with license, collaboration, self-hosting, and feature-gate status.

Yes. If by “no feature gates” you mean the core collaboration features should remain available without paying for a SaaS tier, I’d shortlist these:

• Excalidraw — best overall. MIT-licensed, open source, real-time collaboration, end-to-end encryption, infinite canvas, exports, and a local-first model. You can also self-host it, so you aren't dependent on a paid hosted plan.
• WBO — best if you want a very simple self-hosted board. It's explicitly designed for many users to draw simultaneously, with real-time updates and persistent boards. It can be deployed yourself with Docker.
• **tldraw — excellent technically, but not a match for your requirement if you're looking for an unrestricted open-source product. Its SDK is source-available, but production use requires a license key, so I'd exclude it for a strict “no feature gates” requirement.

My pick

Excalidraw is the strongest fit. It has the polished UX of a modern collaborative whiteboard while keeping the core editor open source and MIT-licensed.

If you tell me whether you want self-hosted, hosted/free, or both, I can narrow this down to 2–3 options that have no paid collaboration limits, user limits, or storage gates.

The best open-source, fully un-gated collaborative whiteboards are Excalidraw, AFFiNE , and draw.io (diagrams.net) , which give you total access to all features without paywalls or artificial limitations.

Top Open-Source Collaborative Whiteboards

• Excalidraw : Best for quick, zero-friction sketching and team collaboration. It features end-to-end encryption, requires no mandatory user accounts for basic sessions, and has an Excalidraw GitHub Repository available under an MIT license for effortless self-hosting.
• AFFiNE : Best if you need a hybrid workspace combining a flexible infinite canvas whiteboard with local-first documents. It is open-source, privacy-focused, and fully functional offline via the AFFiNE GitHub Repository.
• draw.io : Best for technical flowcharts, architecture maps, and structured diagrams. It is completely free, open-source under Apache 2.0, integrates with various cloud storage platforms, and has its core engine on the draw.io GitHub Repository.

Feature Comparison

If you'd like, let me know:

• Do you plan to self-host the tool on your own server or use a hosted web version?
• Do you need it primarily for freehand sketching or structured technical diagrams?

The best open-source, collaborative whiteboards with no feature gates or arbitrary paywalls are Excalidraw, AFFiNE , and WBO (Web Board Online).

Top Open-Source Collaborative Whiteboards

Key Details on Options

• Excalidraw: Offers an iconic hand-drawn aesthetic. The base open-source web app allows you to start an encrypted collaboration session instantly by sharing a link. While Excalidraw+ is a paid cloud offering, the core code is entirely free and self-hostable without hidden feature locks.
• AFFiNE: A powerful Notion-and-Miro hybrid. It provides a full infinite canvas ("edgeless mode") alongside traditional rich documentation and local file control, bypassing cloud limitations entirely if you host your own backend.
• WBO: A straightforward alternative if you just need a persistent, multi-user drawing grid without complex enterprise menus or user management.

If you'd like, tell me:

• Do you plan to self-host on a private server (like Docker) or just use a public web instance?
• Do you need rich document text integration or purely an infinite drawing canvas?

I can give you a step-by-step setup guide for the choice that fits best.

If your requirements are open source + collaborative + no feature gates, I’d put Excalidraw at the top of the list.

Best options

• excalidraw.com — Best overall. MIT-licensed, genuinely open source, infinite canvas, real-time collaboration, end-to-end encryption, offline/PWA support, and export to PNG/SVG. The source is available on github.com. You can also self-host it, so you're not dependent on a SaaS pricing tier.
• github.com — Worth considering if you want a simpler, self-hosted collaborative board. It's much more bare-bones than Excalidraw.
• github.com — Technically excellent and has self-hostable multiplayer, but I would not choose it for your requirement: the tldraw SDK requires a license key for production use.

My recommendation

If by “no feature gates” you mean I don't want to discover that multiplayer, unlimited boards, exports, collaborators, etc. are locked behind a paid plan, go with self-hosted Excalidraw.

The important distinction is that Excalidraw's software is open source, while Excalidraw also operates a commercial hosted service called Excalidraw+. Self-hosting lets you avoid the hosted-service feature/pricing model entirely.

If you tell me whether you want (a) easiest to deploy, (b) closest to Miro, or (c) completely self-contained with Docker, I can narrow it down to the best 2–3 choices.

Yes. If “open source + collaborative + no feature gates” is the key requirement, I’d shortlist these:

🥇 My pick: Excalidraw

Excalidraw is probably the closest match. Its editor is MIT-licensed, open source, has an infinite canvas, images, shape libraries, exports, and real-time collaboration with end-to-end encryption. The company does offer a paid Excalidraw+ product, but the fundamental whiteboarding functionality isn't locked behind it.

🥈 WBO

WBO demo is worth considering if you want maximum simplicity and zero SaaS dependence. It's AGPL-licensed, supports simultaneous real-time drawing, persists boards, requires no accounts, and can be self-hosted with Docker.

It's considerably more basic than Excalidraw, though.

🥉 Nextcloud Whiteboard

If you're already running Nextcloud, its Whiteboard app is particularly attractive: it's open source, supports real-time collaboration, local-first storage, and synchronization, and is built on Excalidraw.

One I'd exclude: tldraw. It's an excellent whiteboard engine with self-hosted multiplayer, but its current licensing says production use of the SDK requires a license key, so it doesn't cleanly satisfy your “no feature gates/licensing restrictions” requirement.

Bottom line: Start with Excalidraw if you want a polished Miro/FigJam-like experience without locking the core board behind a subscription. Choose WBO if your priority is as little software and commercial baggage as possible.

If you want to avoid commercial traps, arbitrary user caps, and artificial feature gating (like paying extra for high-res exports, unlimited boards, or more than 3 active collaborators), true open-source tools are the way to go.

The best open-source, self-hostable, and completely un-gated collaborative whiteboards available include:

• Excalidraw - Best Overall for Sketching & Diagrams
  • License: MIT
  • Why it fits: It is an infinite canvas with a clean, hand-drawn aesthetic. The core editor is 100% free and open source with zero feature gating. Real-time end-to-end encrypted collaboration works out-of-the-box, and you can use the hosted web app or self-host the full stack (frontend + collaboration backend) on your own server.
• AFFiNE - Best for Combining Whiteboards and Docs
  • License: MIT
  • Why it fits: A local-first, offline-capable workspace that merges an infinite "edgeless" whiteboard canvas with structured document blocks. There are no arbitrary paywalls locking you out of features; you completely own your data, and it can be self-hosted.
• WBO (Whiteboard Online / Whitebophir) - Best Lightweight & Minimalist Option
  • License: MIT / Open Source
  • Why it fits: If Excalidraw feels too complex, WBO strips everything down to a pure, multi-user drawing surface. There are no accounts, no complex role permissions, no asset stores, and no upsells. You spin up a private room URL, share it, and draw instantly. It is trivial to self-host via Docker.
• Draw.io (Diagrams.net) - Best for Technical Flowcharts & Architecture
  • License: Apache 2.0
  • Why it fits: While structured strictly as a diagramming tool rather than a freehand sketchpad, it supports real-time collaborative editing plugins, has an immense library of shapes, and completely lacks feature gates or commercial tier locking.

Would you prefer a lightweight browser-only sketch tool like WBO/Excalidraw, or a heavy-duty workspace like AFFiNE that you can self-host on a private server via Docker?

Yes. If by “no feature gates” you mean the self-hosted/open-source version should contain the actual collaboration features, without paid tiers limiting core functionality, I’d shortlist these:

Best fit: WBO

WBO is probably the closest match to your requirements.

• Open source
• Self-hostable
• Real-time collaboration with multiple users drawing simultaneously
• Boards are persisted
• No SaaS subscription required to unlock core features
• Official Docker image available
• Relatively lightweight compared with Miro-style platforms

Also worth considering: Excalidraw

Excalidraw is substantially more polished as a drawing/diagramming experience and is genuinely open source. However, self-hosted collaboration is more complicated than simply deploying the basic Excalidraw application, so I'd choose WBO if your primary requirement is easy, unrestricted collaborative whiteboarding.

One to avoid for your requirement: tldraw

tldraw looks excellent and supports self-hosted multiplayer, but its current SDK is source-available rather than open source, and production use requires a license key. Its documentation explicitly says the SDK is not Open Source by the usual definition.

So my recommendation is:

WBO if you want “open source + collaborative + self-hosted + no feature gates.”
Excalidraw if you prioritize a nicer whiteboarding UX and are willing to deal with its collaboration architecture.

If you tell me whether this is for a small team, classroom, or public-facing service, I can narrow it down to the best 2–3 options and compare collaboration, auth, persistence, mobile/iPad support, and Docker deployment.

Finding a truly open-source collaborative whiteboard with zero corporate upsells or locked features can be tough, as many mainstream tools push you toward paid cloud tiers or enterprise gates.

The best open-source, fully un-gated collaborative whiteboards available include:

• Excalidraw — An MIT-licensed, infinitely zoomable virtual whiteboard with a signature hand-drawn look. It features real-time end-to-end encrypted collaboration out of the box via shareable links without requiring an account. The core codebase is completely free to use and self-host (though they offer a paid "Excalidraw+" for managed cloud and AI features, the self-hosted/web version has no artificial feature throttling on drawing or collaboration).
• AFFiNE — An open-source, local-first workspace alternative to Notion and Miro that merges structured documentation with an infinite whiteboarding "edgeless" canvas. It uses a robust block-based architecture and CRDT syncing, allowing you to self-host the entire ecosystem using Docker with no feature gates on local or collaborative capabilities.
• WBO (Whiteboard Online) — A hyper-minimalist, open-source collaborative whiteboard. If Excalidraw feels like it is adding too many extra UI elements, WBO strips everything down to a pure drawing canvas and a sharable URL. There are no user accounts, no locked icon libraries, and no paywalls—just instant multi-user drawing that you can easily self-host on your own server.
• Penpot — Though technically built as an open-source web-based design and prototyping tool rather than a traditional sticky-note whiteboard, it features a powerful infinite canvas, real-time multi-user multiplayer support, and complete freedom from proprietary feature gating when self-hosted.

Would you prefer a lightweight sketching tool like Excalidraw/WBO , or a comprehensive workspace like AFFiNE , and do you plan to self-host it on your own infrastructure?