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Adobe XD vs Excalidraw: Pricing Comparison 2026

Side-by-side pricing comparison of Adobe XD and Excalidraw. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.

Bottom line: Adobe XD starts at $9.99/mo and Excalidraw starts at Custom pricing. Compare all 3 pricing tiers side by side.

Last updated: April 2, 2026

Data compiled by Arthur Jacquemin
Updated April 2, 2026
Try Adobe XD freeTry Excalidraw freePrice updated todayPrice updated 2d ago

Adobe XD vs Excalidraw: Quick Pricing Facts

FeatureAdobe XDExcalidraw
Starting Price$9.99/moCustom pricing
Number of Plans21
Free TierNoYes
Pricing Modelper-seatopen-source
Annual DiscountN/AN/A

Adobe XD and Excalidraw are both priced at $9.99/mo, making them equally accessible Design Tools. Together they offer 3 pricing plans with 7 features compared, so the best choice comes down to which features match your needs.

Excalidraw stands out with a free plan for getting started. Adobe XD uses per-seat pricing while Excalidraw uses open-source pricing, which may affect your total cost at scale.

Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your Design Tools needs.

Pricing Plans
Adobe XD
Adobe XD
Try it free
Excalidraw
Excalidraw
Try it free
Tier 1
XD Single App
$10/month
Includes
  • XD desktop app
  • Unlimited prototypes
  • Shared design specs
  • Adobe Fonts
Try the forever free editor for yourself
$0/monthCheapest
Tier 2
All Apps (Creative Cloud)
$55/monthCheapest
Includes
  • XD + 20 Creative Cloud apps
  • 100GB cloud storage
  • Adobe Fonts

← Swipe to compare plans →

Adobe XD

UI/UX design and prototyping tool for web and mobile apps

View all Adobe XD plans

Excalidraw

Free open-source virtual whiteboard for hand-drawn style diagrams

View all Excalidraw plans

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Adobe XD if:

  • You need 2 pricing tiers for flexible team sizing—more options mean less overpaying for features you don't need
  • You want more features built-in—Adobe XD offers 7 additional features across its plans
  • You prioritize Adobe XD's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)

Choose Excalidraw if:

  • You need a free plan with core features—Excalidraw offers no-cost access with no credit card required
  • You prioritize Excalidraw's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)
  • Excalidraw's open-source pricing lets you match exact team size without tier gaps

Excalidraw offers a free plan [1], eliminating the cost barrier for evaluation, while Adobe XD requires paid subscription from the start. This gives Excalidraw a significant advantage for teams with budget constraints or extended trial periods. Once you outgrow Excalidraw's free tier, upgrading to a paid plan at approximately Custom pricing provides substantial additional functionality. Compare this pricing path against Adobe XD's tiering starting at $9.99/mo to assess total cost of ownership over 12 months. Excalidraw's 1 tier provide flexibility at different budgets, while Adobe XD's 2 tiers structure may force you into higher-cost plans than necessary for your use case. If evaluation cost matters to your decision, Excalidraw is the obvious starting point with zero financial commitment. Use the free tier to validate core functionality before committing to paid plans from either tool.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Adobe XD vs Excalidraw

How many pricing plans does Adobe XD have vs Excalidraw?
Adobe XD offers 2 pricing plans, while Excalidraw offers 1 plan. More plans typically means more flexibility to match your exact needs and budget.
Does Adobe XD or Excalidraw offer a free plan?
Excalidraw offers a free plan, while Adobe XD does not. If budget is a concern, Excalidraw lets you get started at no cost.
What pricing models do Adobe XD and Excalidraw use?
Adobe XD uses a per-seat pricing model, while Excalidraw uses open-source pricing. The right model depends on your team size and usage patterns.
How do Adobe XD and Excalidraw compare for Design Tools?
Both Adobe XD and Excalidraw are Design Tools. Adobe XD offers 2 plans starting at $9.99/mo, while Excalidraw offers 1 plan starting at Custom pricing. Review the feature breakdowns above to see which better fits your Design Tools needs.

Sources

  1. Adobe XD Official PricingVendor pricing page
  2. Excalidraw Official PricingVendor pricing page

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