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: March 16, 2026
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 10 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 it free |  Excalidraw Try it 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 plansWhich Should You Choose?
Choose Balsamiq 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—Balsamiq offers 10 additional features across its plans
- •You prioritize Balsamiq'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)
- •You prefer Excalidraw's open-source model with its single-tier structure
Excalidraw offers a free plan [1], eliminating the cost barrier for evaluation, while Balsamiq 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 Balsamiq's tiering starting at $12/mo to assess total cost of ownership over 12 months. Excalidraw's 1 tier provide flexibility at different budgets, while Balsamiq'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.
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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