Balsamiq vs Excalidraw: Pricing Comparison 2026
Side-by-side pricing comparison of Balsamiq and Excalidraw. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.
Bottom line: Balsamiq starts at $12/mo and Excalidraw starts at Custom pricing. Compare all 3 pricing tiers side by side.
Last updated: July 6, 2026
Balsamiq - Balsamiq's UI component library makes it more efficient for regular wireframing.
Balsamiq vs Excalidraw: Quick Pricing Facts
| Feature | Balsamiq | Excalidraw |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $12/mo | Custom pricing |
| Number of Plans | 2 | 1 |
| Free Tier | No | Yes |
| Pricing Model | flat | open-source |
| Annual Discount | N/A | N/A |
Balsamiq and Excalidraw are both priced at $12/mo, making them equally accessible Design Tools. Together they offer 3 pricing plans with 14 features compared, so the best choice comes down to which features match your needs.
Excalidraw stands out with a free plan for getting started. Balsamiq uses flat 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 |  Balsamiq Try free |  Excalidraw Try free |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Business $12/month Includes
| Try the forever free editor for yourself $0/monthCheapest |
| Tier 2 | Enterprise $18/monthCheapest Includes
| - |
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Excalidraw
Free open-source virtual whiteboard for hand-drawn style diagrams
View all Excalidraw plansBalsamiq
Balsamiq's UI component library makes it more efficient for regular wireframing.
Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.
Try Balsamiq freeFrom $12/moWhich Should You Choose?
Choose Balsamiq if:
- •You need a library of pre-built UI components - buttons, forms, checkboxes - for wireframing
- •Balsamiq's wireframing-specific toolset speeds up UI flow creation significantly
- •Paid plans from $9/month include team collaboration and project organization
Choose Excalidraw if:
- •You need a free, open-source collaborative sketching tool for informal diagrams and wireframes
- •Excalidraw is completely free with no account required for basic use
- •Quick, informal visual communication without needing a wireframe-specific tool
Balsamiq is a paid wireframing tool with a rich UI component library. Excalidraw is a free hand-drawn style sketching tool. For serious wireframing work, Balsamiq's UI components (form elements, navigation patterns, mobile screens) speed things up considerably. Excalidraw can sketch out a rough flow for free but lacks the purpose-built UI library. If you wireframe regularly, Balsamiq at $9/month is worth it. For occasional quick sketches, Excalidraw is the free alternative.
Frequently Asked Questions: Balsamiq vs Excalidraw
How many pricing plans does Balsamiq have vs Excalidraw?
Does Balsamiq or Excalidraw offer a free plan?
What pricing models do Balsamiq and Excalidraw use?
How do Balsamiq and Excalidraw compare for Design Tools?
Sources
- Balsamiq Official Pricing- Vendor pricing page
- Excalidraw Official Pricing- Vendor pricing page
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