Why would I switch from Excalidraw to cnvs.app?

If you need multiple saved boards or real-time multi-user collaboration on the free tier. Excalidraw.com's free tier is a single scene — switching to a new scene overwrites the current one unless you export to a file first. cnvs.app's free tier gives you unlimited boards with live multi-user sync.

Is cnvs.app open source like Excalidraw?

No. Excalidraw is MIT-licensed and self-hostable. cnvs.app is hosted-only and not open source — we run the service ourselves so the privacy guarantees (no AI training, no activity logging, permanent destruction after delete) can actually be enforced.

Can I export from cnvs.app to .excalidraw format?

No. cnvs.app's structured export is JSON via GET /json/ and a schematic SVG via GET /svg-preview/ . PDF export is built in. The .excalidraw file format is specific to Excalidraw's data model.

Home › About › Excalidraw alternative

An Excalidraw alternative with real-time sync and multiple boards on the free tier

Excalidraw is excellent and the closest cousin to cnvs.app in spirit. The two main practical differences: Excalidraw.com's free tier is limited to a single scene (switching overwrites it unless you export first), and live multi-user collaboration sits behind Excalidraw+ ($7/user/mo) or self-hosting. cnvs.app puts both on the free tier with no signup.

Open a free board now → See the comparison

TL;DR

Excalidraw wins on aesthetics (the hand-drawn look), library of custom shapes, file-based workflows (.excalidraw), and being open-source / self-hostable. Free tier = one scene.
Excalidraw+ ($7/user/mo) adds the workspace: multiple saved scenes, libraries, version history, AI, SSO.
cnvs.app gives you unlimited boards and live multi-user sync at $0, with no signup for anyone. Plus Mermaid diagrams from plain text and a public MCP endpoint for AI collaborators.

Excalidraw vs cnvs.app at a glance

Capability	Excalidraw (free)	Excalidraw+ ($7/u/mo)	cnvs.app
Signup required	No	Yes	No
Multiple saved boards	1 scene	Yes	Unlimited
Real-time multi-user sync	Self-host or Plus	Yes	Yes, free tier
Open source / self-host	Yes (MIT)	—	No
Hand-drawn aesthetic	Yes	Yes	No (clean vector)
Custom shape libraries	Yes	Yes	No
Mermaid diagrams	Import only	Import only	Built in (live re-render)
Clipboard image & URL paste	Images	Images	Both
AI collaboration	—	Excalidraw AI (in-app)	Public MCP endpoint
Installable PWA + offline	Yes	Yes	Yes (offline read-only)

When to pick which

Pick Excalidraw when

You love the hand-drawn aesthetic, want to self-host, or work in file-based flows (.excalidraw files in a repo, version-controlled). If you're a single user and one scene at a time is fine, the free tier is great.

Pick Excalidraw+ when

You want Excalidraw's look-and-feel plus multiple saved scenes, version history, libraries, AI inside the app, and you're OK paying per seat.

Pick cnvs.app when

You want real-time multi-user sync without paying or self-hosting, you need more than one saved board, and you'd like an open AI protocol (MCP) so any agent — not just one app's built-in AI — can edit alongside you.

FAQ

Can I have multiple boards on cnvs.app like Excalidraw+?

Yes — unlimited, free. The recent-boards sidebar surfaces every board you've opened in this browser. No "switch scene overwrites current" behaviour.

Does cnvs.app have the Excalidraw hand-drawn aesthetic?

No, cnvs.app strokes are clean vector lines (SVG paths). If the hand-drawn look is core to your workflow, Excalidraw is the better pick.

Is cnvs.app open source?

No. We run it ourselves so the privacy guarantees can be enforced. Excalidraw's open-source license is one of its biggest strengths if self-hosting matters to you.

Mermaid: cnvs.app vs Excalidraw?

Excalidraw supports importing a Mermaid diagram as a one-shot conversion. cnvs.app renders Mermaid live inside any text node — edit the source and the diagram re-renders for all viewers. Details.