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Excalidraw: Quickly Diagram Relationships and Keep Editable Files

Use a browser to draw hand-drawn style flowcharts, relationship diagrams, and wireframe sketches. Start with a small scenario, and save the editable drawing and image preview separately.

Creator: Excalidraw contributors0.18.1Oct 25, 2026MITSource repository
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Quick start

Open https://excalidraw.com/ in a modern browser; the web editor requires no local installation. Place a few shapes, connect them with arrows and add labels; save the editable .excalidraw scene, then export PNG or SVG as needed for those who only need a preview. To integrate the editor into a React application, refer to the official npm package documentation separately; the feature scope of the editor package differs from that of the online collaboration service.

First, Diagram One Thing Clearly

When a few boxes, arrows, and labels can explain a process better than a paragraph of text, Excalidraw is a good starting point. The official editor supports hand-drawn style graphics, image import, shape libraries, and PNG/SVG export. The online website additionally offers real-time collaboration and browser-local saving; the embeddable React editor package does not automatically include all features of the online service.

First, identify a problem: which steps or components need to be connected? Only draw those objects, write the relationships clearly on the arrows, and share the preview only after others can understand it. The official mobile phone example below showcases shapes and style controls, not a finished product design ready for delivery.

Mobile phone shape and style example provided by the Excalidraw official repository. This is a project illustration, not a hands-on test by Boloop; the current interface may differ. Source: Excalidraw contributors, MIT.
Mobile phone shape and style example provided by the Excalidraw official repository. This is a project illustration, not a hands-on test by Boloop; the current interface may differ. Source: Excalidraw contributors, MIT. Image source

Separately Retain Images and Editable Drawings

PNG or SVG is convenient for viewing, while the .excalidraw scene file is for continued editing; these should be treated as different deliverables. Browser-local saving is convenient, but don't rely solely on it when clearing storage or switching devices; saving the scene file separately and checking if it can be reopened is more prudent.

A ToolBrivio Editorial browser usage log from October 13 provides a specific but limited example: after modifying three lines of storyboard text, the changes persisted after a single refresh and could be copied as PNG. Its file download path was limited by the test browser's file picker policy. The author did not complete saving and reopening the editable scene, nor verified collaboration. This log supports the use case for simple text and previews; it cannot prove that all export paths are available in all environments.

Understand the Version and the Scope of the Scene

As of the latest check on October 24, 2026, the latest editor package tag is v0.18.1, released on April 21 with a security fix; this package version does not represent the continuously deployed online website version. In issue 12437, sethmart15-34 used a scene with about 3000 elements to compare Electron/Chromium integrations, reporting slower panning and free-drawing within boxes in next build 0.18.0-17d8904 compared to 0.18.1. The issue remains open; this is the user's report from a specific environment and cannot be taken as a performance conclusion for all Excalidraw deployments.

If you need to quickly explain a process or sketch wireframes, the easy-to-use canvas and open scene format are worth considering; if you need to embed a large editor or deliver important drawings, verify the actual build, scene, and export paths you are using. Boloop's judgment comes from the listed sources and has not personally tested these application operations. For access points and version information, please refer to the official repository; Excalidraw+ is another hosting service, and its service terms cannot be inferred from the source code's MIT license.

Sources and further reading

  1. Excalidraw README: editor, web app and open scene formatOfficial documentation · Excalidraw contributors
  2. v0.18.1 security patch releaseOfficial documentation · Excalidraw contributors
  3. Revise a storyboard note before trusting the handoffUsage record · ToolBrivio Editorial
  4. Large-scene next-build performance regression report #12437Review · sethmart15-34
  5. Excalidraw MIT copyright and permission noticeOfficial documentation · Excalidraw contributors