Excalidraw
Hand-drawn-looking diagrams that somehow stay legible, with live collaboration and no account. The whiteboard for people who hate whiteboards.
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How to get the most from it
Excalidraw sits in Unreasonably Useful under Learn, filed as coffee break.
- Set aside five to fifteen minutes and give it your proper attention.
- Use a laptop or desktop computer — we file it as desktop only.
- It works with the sound off, so it is fine on a train or in a quiet office.
- No account needed — you can start without signing up.
- Go in expecting something useful and cosy.
About this category: Sites that quietly do a job you would otherwise pay for or install software for. Included because being this good for free is genuinely strange.
Good for
- Filling a coffee break properly
- Getting something practical done
- Somewhere low-key to settle into
- A quiet break at your desk
- Trying it with zero commitment
Excalidraw: quick answers
Is Excalidraw free?
Yes. Excalidraw is free to use and needs no account.
Do I need an account to use Excalidraw?
No. You can use Excalidraw without signing up for anything.
Does Excalidraw work on a phone?
Not well. We file Excalidraw as desktop only, so open it on a laptop or desktop computer.
Is Excalidraw safe for work?
Yes, we file it as safe for work. It also works muted.
How long does Excalidraw take?
We file it as "Coffee break": Five to fifteen minutes of proper attention.
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